Vancouver's Gem: Mountainview Conservation Society

Zorro the Zebra
Red Ruffed Lemur

Ring Tailed Lemur

Baby Leopard Cat

We had a special treat today. Yvonne and I had a play-date scheduled with her school chum, Zachary. We weren't sure what to do today, but our friend Lori had heard of Mountain View Conservation Society in Langley. It is a breeding centre for endangered species, which is similar to the Wild Animal Park north of San Diego. It is open for tours, but guided only and with reservations. We were fortunate to call yesterday and get tacked onto a small group this morning. It was quite a treat. All the animals are kept with minimal human contact as the eventual plan is to be releasing young back into the wild. They put on a great, informative tour on a tram throughout the park. We managed to see a variety of unusual animals. They have free-ranging Bison, giraffe, gazelle, tapirs, a variety of lemurs, and a variety of carniverous cats. This is well worth a bit of a hefty admission price as it goes to helping conserve these beautiful specimens:

http://www.mtnviewconservation.org/about-us

The newest glass creations Firery cross and the pinwheel. Lots of neat glass in these 2. I have moved the stained glass onto its own blog. http://splicer1.blogspot.com

It has been a busy summer and we managed to break away and go to Whistler for a few days. We joined John, Lila and Marina. We were surprised at how much work is left to do in the village and on the hwy up but I suppose they have it well in hand. Lots of mountain biking and other things going on up there. Yvonne and Marina sure enjoy each others company.

The week after we got home Yvonne spent a night with Sarah and then went to Grandma and Grandpas place on the island. Then I was away on the fishing trip and did not get to see her for almost 11 days. Thats never happenned before. I sure missed the little boog.

Leslie has picked up a lot more work and is very busy. Summer is usually a slack time for her but not this year. I went to work for Westpac Cable this year and there is not as much overtime as last year, I am enjoying the early get shorter days.

We are looking forward to getting away this winter down south but it is probably going to be our last one for awhile. We will adventure during the summer next year and ski the following winter. A house will be on our shopping list in the near future.

Have a great summer everyone. Till next time. Cheers Jim

It has been awhile since we updated the blog so I guess I had better get with it. This past weekend Myself and a few friends went fishing on the Fraser and landed a couple of fish as you can see. The smaller ones are about 34 inches and the large on at the top is approx 180 pds and 6'10 inches long . It took us all rotating turns about an hour or so to land this puppy. We were all pretty arm, back and leg sore but beer and adrenalin have a way of making it all go away.

Other than myself there were my work buddies John Burn, Dave Flowers, and Bo Hardy taking part in the big boy. Dave and myself caught the other smaller ones and John Burn snagged the big boy on Sunday morn. The big boy was a fighter and even in the boat he thrashed all over, broke the cradle and hit the floor a couple of times but after we checked to see if he was tagged and measured he went back into the Fraser. Sturgeon are have been on our planet for about 1700 years. Swim in salt or fresh water and have travelled up the Fraser to Hells Gate and then have been tracked on the Columbia river in Oregon. They travel down the fraser to the ocean to the Columbia approx 400 miles.

Anyway we had a blast and some of the boys may head into the tourney in Nov. and I will be down south again. Maybr next fall. Cheers all Jim