So Close.....

Been a while since we last got together so time for an update. We hope to have MacGyver's floathome on the market within 30 days. As you can see by the photo, it's mid winter on the Volga...er.. I mean the Fraser.
The plan is to put it on ebay. I've been a seller there since 1997, so I'm pretty comfortable with it. We hope this will allow a wider audience as it may have some nostalgic value for some of the MacGyver fans.

Over the course of a very busy summer, we managed to have the upstairs floors put in, a beautiful deep rick mahogany color with a 25 year guarantee. Just this last week I managed to replace the front porch so all is safe and sound. Next on the agenda is a full inside paint in a comforting neutral. This will allow the art to pop. Adele and I also had the kitchen counters redone with bright white 6" tiles. Clean and modern. One last thing in the next week, full restoration of the kitchen floors. We're going to sand them down and have the real Larch refinished.
We hope to have a video done shortly. This will allow you all to get a look around for yourself.

New photos, winter 2008

Oh, how could we ever forget the winter of 2008? 

The river froze and the snow accumulated on top of the frozen water,

 it looked like we could almost walk right across to Maple Ridge! 

(the view below is of the centre of the marina looking north).

We shovelled the snow from our decks and the flat roof but soon had nowhere to put it. 

Snow is usually pushed easily into the river but at that time shovels were heaping it on either side of the docks.

This view (above) is looking north, the centre walkway is a wooden finger dock between 2 homes, 

then the snow continues right across the river to the other shore.

 The tides still rose and fell twice daily, cracking the ice and reforming, creating hard ridges. 

Marina residents kept watch over their floatation, as beautiful as the ice and snow can be, 

the heavy ice could cause damage as well.

Our neighbour on the live-a-board boat (above) also had to contend with the elements, 

not to mention a very slippery passage between the dock and her boat deck.

 In this view you are looking east, the snow you see piled on either side of the dock

 is sitting on the river ice - at least two feet below.

 Looking east (above) the morning sun reflects on Golden Ears. 

A good natured marina rivalry exists between the East-enders (above) and the 

West-enders (below), with the West-enders being the most colourful group 

(of course!)

Looking west (below) you can see the Golden Ears bridge in the distance 

and home sweet home.

Came home tonight & threw open all the windows!

She says:
Yes, it's truly one of those beautiful, glorious, wonderful sun-filled days on the river, I came home tonight and threw open all the windows! Our little Chihuahua Elvis followed me excitedly from room to room as I unlocked latches and flung back the sheers and let the river breezes clear out all the stale winter air. I could even hear some of my neighbours talking on the docks (a normal occurrence in warm weather of course but nice to hear once again after the closed doors and windows of winter).
I listened to the birds and even a woodpecker! Then I heard then real harbinger of spring - the first power boat zooming up-river, motoring too close to our homes (very typical) and the wake bounced our homes about and threw bright reflections from sun on water high up on our walls and reflected brightly through stained glass and crystal wind chimes.
I checked my stats for this blog tonight, and wow, we've had over 1800 visits, most from the United States and Canada, but some from Norway, Italy and Greece! Many of you come here from the MacGyver fan site (see the site link on this page, and Hello to you Rocky!)
Welcome all and please take time to leave a comment, we would love to hear from you!
I will be posting new photos later this week.
Cheers!

In the Palm of Her Hand

She says:
Well, it's the first week of Spring 2011 and the welcome sun is shining down through the clouds upon the river this evening. It's still too cold to think about finishing the outside painting, or changing out the new bumpers, but winter is finally over and warm weather is really heading our way. It was low tide when I got home tonight, stepping cautiously down the ramp I wondered about freshet this year, there wasn't much in the way of snow in the Lower Mainland this winter but the same may not be true for the mountains, so as the melt begins the water will rise.
The world watched while Japan was hit by an awful earthquake 10 days ago and while we kept the Japanese people uppermost in our thoughts and prayers the realization of a remote but possible tsunami began to surface here on the coast. There isn't much we can do in the marina except to be sure our lines are in good repair and that we are cross-tied tightly enough - but with the ability to still flex so lines won't break.
There's a connection to the Earth here on our floating home that I have never felt in a home on land. The big, beautiful Super Moon shone on the river last Saturday night, neighbours celebrated the bright moon and the onset of spring, while we keep an eye on the weather and the mountains and wonder if a rapid rise in Spring temperatures will melt snow too quickly, and if that rapid melt will impact freshet - either way the river will rise, it's only a question of when and how much.
There was a small earthquake off Vancouver Island a few days ago, in response to the plate movement in Japan, I wonder?
No tsunami tides here, just a quiet beginning to Spring 2011 in southern BC and as much as we human beings attempt to alter our world and harness her resources and assert our dominance over her, for me this March 2011 is just a reminder that Mother Nature holds us all in the palm of her hand.

Winter Wonderland

He says: 
Okay, as pretty as this is, I'm ready for summer. This was shot from the shore, looking out to the marina. It really can be a winter wonderland.
Getting ready to sell MacGyver's floathome has been a bigger project than we imagined. We have replaced nearly every window and door, we have gutted and rebuilt the bathroom, we have added a luscious dark larch hardwood floor to the kitchen along with adding a window seat storage area. This, along with the countless other small things including paint etc, has been a huge challenge.
It's time for us to get back on land. With wifey's business and the need for dirt, we're going to let someone else have the privelege of floating on the river. It truly has been a fabulous 5 years. When we bought the floathome we knew it was going to be a lifestyle change, but it has truly touched us in many ways. If you have never lived in a community of common interest, you'll be in for a treat.
Respect and privacy were things that we were concerned about when we first moved here. It turned out it was a needless worry. No one bangs on your door asking why aren't your at so and so's get together. Everyone smiles, nods, says a few kind words when we meet on the dock and we all go about our merry way. No pressure to participate, but warm hugs when you do.
From live bands, to summer barbeques, to Chrismas sing a longs to  floating luminaries in remembrance of loved ones, there are many wonderful things to do as a community. You can also walk along the beach watching the beaver, bike the quiet roads, saunter to the dog park or chase deer in the dog walking field. It truly is a great place and we will miss it, but, like my favorite saying goes: "embrace change, it's gonna happen anyway"