(or Cultus Lake: The Finale Finally. Click your way to yesterday’s entry for if you want for the cast of characters.)
Canada is vast. So vast, in fact, that “vast” is too small a word to describe it. “Huge” contains a “g” — and one of those odd-shaped lower case ones at that — which gives it a manly sound but it is still just four letters. “Humongous” is more than twice as long and has a “g” to boot… however, it’s sort of a ridiculous word.
So we’ll go with “vast.”
Canada is vast and there’s a lot of room there that’s going unused. There’s no excuse for anyplace in Canada to have a parking lot that is too small.
And yet, Cultus Lake’s has just that. Eight cars too small by my count as that’s the number of us that were constantly circling around looking for a parking spot. It wasn’t always the same eight of us. The other seven would typically rotate out of our trolling-for-a-parking-spot circle after a few minutes, making room new contestants, but I remained.
Diane, and you’ll recall we took two cars, had found a parking spot fairly early and it wasn’t until she asked me a second time if I wanted her to park the minivan that I remembered that getting good parking spots is her super power (mine, as you may remember is that I never have to wait in line in a store or restaurant … Samson’s is that any bathroom he steps into has just been cleaned). So, I eventually turned the keys over to Diane; she had us parked in just moments.
We dragged the cooler and the horde out of the cars and headed for the Cultus Lake turnstiles.
“How many of you are there?” asked the gal at the gate.
“Ten I said.” As even the shortest of us was taller than the reduced-price cut-off height, we were all going to have to pay full price. The total was $250.00. (Diane and I knew this before we made plans but it was still kind of shocking to to hear.)
“Evening hours start in 30 minutes, if you want to wait,” said the gate gal.
“How much is admission then?” I asked. And while I don’t remember the exact admission amount, I do remember that the savings was darned near $100. (So, I’m guessing, about $10 per person.)
We took a place second in line and decided to have lunch. Everybody was content… nobody complained… you could not have asked for eight better-behaved children.
Once inside the big kids all took off for the big slides. Diane and I stayed at the kiddie slides with the younger children.
A fun time was had by all.
As I stood in the pool, water about waist deep, I looked around and took in the beauty that is British Columbia.
The clear air.
The mountains.
The trees.
Why don’t they cut a couple of them down and add some parking?
OMG. I totally had to youtube Chilliwack, because I could not remember the tune even though I remembered the words… Anyway – that IS weird, and WOW I completely forgot about that song!!!!
(Also, I know it was the last post but… this is how I roll.)
It was one of those songs you couldn’t get out of your head when it was new. I imagine it will haunt you for several days, even now.
You can’t pave paradise and put up a parking lot…
Shit Joni is going to kill me for that one…
what you gonna do when I’m gone watchu gonna do… whatchu gonna do… when I’m gone.
You know for a small country, we have produced some pretty crapstastic music.
Nat: But you gotta love Rush, April Wine, The Kings and Bryan Adams. (And, on a recent visit, I heard a Spirits of the West song I liked — something about having to get home from vacation as the drinking-related R&R is killing the band)