arrived Loreto, Baja

On March 8, 2010March 8, 2010 By Rick McIn McCharles family, travel, travel MexicoLeave a comment

Safe and sound in Loreto, after a leisurely but long 3450km (2143mi) drive over 5 days.

The northern Baja, one of the great scenic drives of the world, was much more challenging than I expected. A motorcycle would be the best vehicle so long as you didn’t hit one of the giant speed bumps at high velocity.

Loreto’s a quiet seaside town of about 10,000. Tourists love it.

more photos tagged Loreto

We’re here to holiday and visit with friends of my parents, Canadian snowbirds, who live several months a year on a boat.

Likely we’ll stay a week. Move south to La Paz. Then cross over to the mainland by ferry returning via my Uncle’s place in California.

happy birthday Eric McCharles

On March 4, 2010March 4, 2010 By Rick McIn McCharles family, travel2 Comments

79yrs-young today.

We celebrated at the Motel 6 Resort in Santa Nella, California.

Santa Nella is astoundingly popular … with long distance truckers. I assume they all stop here to dine at the memorable Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant, as we did.

Dad’s fishing boat

On October 18, 2009October 16, 2009 By Rick McIn McCharles familyLeave a comment

We took it out of the marina in Port Alberni, B.C.. The fishing season is over.

And pulled it to the shop for minor repairs. And to be winterized.

That’s Dad’s new truck, a Ford.

more photos

Randy McCharles published

On October 2, 2009October 2, 2009 By Rick McIn books, McCharles family, product endorsements1 Comment

My brother had an award winning novella selected for Tor’s annual best of Fantasy fiction.

Twenty-eight doses of wonder. From the distant past to the present day, from Antarctica and Mars to worlds that never were, the tales in this book bring news from nowhere-and everywhere. Fantasy is a mode of storytelling, a method of entertainment, a mode of argument, and a way of seeing. Here, presented by two of the most distinguished anthologists of the day, are twenty-eight stories that see, tell, argue, and entertain.

Tor store – Year’s Best Fantasy 9

Congrats, Bro.

Randy at work - photographer Robert Sawyer

It’s got an odd title for a work of fantasy: “Ringing in the Changes in Okotoks, Alberta”. (Good press for Okotoks.)

Despite that, fans across Canada voted it BEST SHORT-FORM WORK IN ENGLISH. … How do I nominate it for the Auroras and the Hugos ??

Coincidentally, when he was getting his award in Montreal, he received a second special award as organizer of the 2008 World Fantasy convention in Calgary.

This is Randy’s second publication by Tor, I think. The first was Tesseracts Twelve.

Bill went fishing with my Dad

On August 18, 2009August 18, 2009 By Rick McIn food, friends, McCharles familyLeave a comment

Great weather. They caught 10 fish over the 2 days! Alberni Inlet has been good this season.

… sounds like Bill walked off with 9 of them. Hmmm

Bill-with-fish

Dad wins fishing trip to the Charlottes

On July 6, 2009July 4, 2009 By Rick McIn McCharles family1 Comment

Hoo hoo.

My father, Eric, recently bought a fancy GPS for his boat. At the same time he entered a contest.

Dad

Yesterday they phoned to say he won an all expenses paid 5 day trip for 2 in August to Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands). He’s taking my brother Rob.

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