And just like that, in 5 and a half hours, we covered the ground that had taken us 5 and a half months to cover by boat.   We arrived in Vancouver fairly late at night and stayed at a local hotel.   What a shock it was to wake up the next morning to a cold, rainy day!   We had not seen rain in months and though we weren’t enjoying it, we were so thankful it was not snow!    The day got off to a good start with a call from my hair salon, to whom I had sent an urgent message begging for an appointment – they were able to fit me in that week which meant my hair, which was approaching a cross between Einstein and Kramer, could finally be tamed!!!

After a quick (and so not inexpensive!) breakfast, we ordered an uber to take us to the ferry and we were on our way to the Island!   Somewhere mid-strait the sun came out and so, when we finally landed in Nanaimo, it was actually much warmer than I had expected.   Harvey picked us up and took us to Owen’s Mom’s house – as she was already in Melaque, awaiting our eventual arrival by boat, we were able to stay at her house and use her car.   A short visit with Harvey later, and we headed over to my Mom’s.

There were tears and smiles and hugs and surprises!!!   My aunt, who had been scheduled to leave the day before we arrived, had changed her flight to be there when we got in!!   What a surprise!!  My sister had already been staying at Mom and Bob’s and so we had one big family reunion that night, with Mom’s stew, bottles of wine and great conversation.   Although Mom had a bit of paralysis on her left side, she was otherwise just Mom – the same funny, engaging, wonderful person that she always was!!  It did our hearts so good to see that, though she was facing her terrible diagnosis, she was doing so with smiles and laughter.

After a long day of travel, and knowing my Aunt had a frightfully early flight the next day, we headed back to Owen’s Mom’s for the night.  The next day, after a quick grocery trip to stock up the house, was spent visiting at Mom’s – really just talking about everything and anything.  We all headed out for dinner at a local restaurant and enjoyed yet more great conversation and laughter.  When we got home that night we both had a little tickle in the back of our throats.  Owen was particularly concerned that he might be getting sick – “oh no”, I said, “we do not have time for a man cold – pop some Tylenol, lets get some sleep and suck it up!!!” 

The next day, we both had sniffles and Owen was feeling particularly under the weather.  He dropped me off at the house and went back to get some sleep – I drove into the hair salon later that afternoon and was just finishing up when I got a text from Owen that put a huge damper on our trip – “I have covid”.    Oh god – we had just spent time with my family and now this (stupid airplanes!).   I went home and tested negative.   Owen had already sequestered himself in the basement rumpus room so I delivered his dinner on a tray outside the door, along with a handful of extra blankets and pillows.  

The next day I again tested negative and so, after talking with Mom and Gwen about it, did go over to visit – though this time everyone was wearing masks and keeping their distance.  Mom had a bit of a cough and I was worried that we had not in fact dodged that bullet.  The next day I was not feeling great and decided to not go for a visit (so hard to do when I knew that we only had a few days left!).  Owen stayed hidden away in the basement and I curled up with a blankie and watched bad daytime television.  My only real symptom was a never-ending runny nose, and I was still testing negative. 

I went over to the house the next day and found both Mom and Bob not feeling entirely themselves.  We kept the visit short and sure enough – not long after I got home, Gwen sent me a text to let me know that both my Mom and Bob had Covid – oh God!!!  We felt so truly terrible – here we were coming home to get a visit in and instead we were trying to make the entire family sick!!!   Sure enough, the next morning I also tested positive!!!   At least Owen could let himself out of his basement hideaway at that point!! 

The next morning Mom and Bob let us know that we should come over since we were all now in the same boat – Gwen was planning to keep to other rooms while we were there since she still had managed to avoid a positive test.  Despite the odd coughing fit and runny noses, we did manage to have good visits over the next few days.   Negative tests were finally coming in and we were all starting to feel on the mend.    We had pushed our flights back a couple of days once we knew we had tested positive but our trip quickly wrapped up and we were soon headed back home.

Despite the fact that nearly all of us ended up sick, it was still such a good visit.   We were glad to have been able to spend so much time with Mom.   We had so wanted to be able to meet up with a few very dear friends while we were home but of course, a Covid diagnosis does not make you great company!   Lots of hugs were given before we left, with the fervent hope that we would all be seeing each other in just a few months. 

Before we were ready, we took the ferry back to Vancouver, stayed over another night and then flew back to Puerto Vallarta.  On landing, we went to grab a cab, only to find that they wanted double what we had paid to get to the airport!!!   No thank you!!   Instead, we walked across the foot bridge to the other side of the highway and ordered an Uber.  Ten minutes later we were back on our way to La Cruz for about 40% of the cost that they wanted at the airport – just a little travel tip there – unless you are completely bogged down with baggage and cannot make it up and over the foot bridge (ramps, not stairs), do not pay the exorbitant fees at the airport.   The taxis are half the price across the street and a ride-share is probably less!

It was evening when we made it back to La Cruz and we were so glad to find the boat as we had left her (though a little hot!).   We made the executive decision to open up the hatches and head to Blanca Ballena for a good burger!  

Harvey and Linda were to arrive in just a few days so we had a lot of work ahead of us!!!