My brother Rob hosted Christmas Eve dinner. I captured a few photos — mostly of the kids.
Thanks for the fun and feed!
Christmas 2006 – Yvonne and Rob – a photoset on Flickr
Category: McCharles family
Robert J. Sawyer tribute to Randy McCharles
Canada’s greatest SciFi writer toasted (almost roasted) my brother who had been chosen for an award at a SciFi convention in Vancouver.
Congratulations Rand on recognition for your many years contribution to SciFi Fantasy Fiction.
In Vancouver today, the science-fiction convention VCon 31 begins. Fan Guest of Honour is my great friend Randy McCharles. I wrote the tribute to him for the convention’s program book (and will also be conducting the Guest of Honour interview with him on Saturday afternoon). Here’s the tribute:
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These days, the only ethnic jokes that can be made with impunity are those about one’s own group. Randy McCharles likes to portray himself as being thrifty, and often underscores this by saying, “I’m Scottish,” as if a certain parsimony was bred in his bones.
It’s true that Randy likes to get value for his money: he loves salt-and-pepper chicken wings, and can tell you which Calgary pubs have them cheap on which nights of the week. (Still, he expects quality; I was with him recently when he lamented, “These aren’t really fifteen-cent wings; they’re more like nine-cent wings.”) But all of his apparent cheapness hides an incredible generosity of spirit. I have never seen Randy fail to provide a lift to someone, no matter how far out of his way it took him, and he’s always there to help a friend. When my travels have brought me to Calgary, Randy has often put me up at his immaculate townhouse; at times, it’s been quite the hotel for writers, with three or four of us crashing simultaneously at Chez McCharles. … read more
boating Alberni Inlet with Dad
It was too late to fish — the (poor) fishing season had ended — but Dad thought we might run his boat for a couple of hours then take it in to be winterized.
The Fall weather was so good he decided to leave it at the marina in Port Alberni for at least one more trip.
» next travelogue post on this trip – thanks Stacey, thanks Bevan
Jack Russell dog races
We took my parent’s Jack Russell “Pete” to the dog races in Parksville, BC.
Pete could have won the “Senior / special needs” division — there were no other entries at his advanced age (11) — but Pete decided only to cheer on the younger dogs.
The competitors were alternately cute and snippy. There was a fair bit of trash talk between races.
Click PLAY or watch Jack Russells on YouTube.
» next travelogue post on this trip – boating Alberni Inlet with Dad
Arthur Black – comedian
My Mom treated me to an entertainment by Arthur Black.
He spoke just down the street at the Parksville City Hall. Black was on tour flogging his 11th book, Pitch Black.
After the late, great, beloved Peter Gzowski, no other personality was more the voice of Canadian radio to me than Arthur Black. He retired to Salt Spring Island, BC 11-years-ago — but he is still in fine form, as sharp and witty as ever.
I had forgotten that Black first introduced the comedian who played Father Guido Sarducci who went on to Saturday Night Live fame. The Stephen Colbert of the 1970s, Sarducci posed as gossip columnist and rock critic for a Vatican newspaper.
» next travelogue post on this trip – flee to Coombs, BC
Parksville, BC in the Fall
Grabbed a chance to visit my parents at the new house in quaint Parksville on the east coast of Vancouver Island. We had great weather for the end of September!
This was the start of 5 weeks on the road.
I posted a few photos of the trip on Flickr — click “view as slideshow” to see them.
» next travelogue post on this trip – Arthur Black – comedian
Parksville, British Colombia.
I drove out with my brother Rob to visit our parents in Parksville on Vancouver Island.
Mom and Dad are mid-70s, doing great and enjoying the new scenery on the Liquid Sunshine Coast. They recently relocated from the Kootenays in central BC.
Rob set up the “guest room” in the garage.
We made several trips to the dump.
Rob and Yvonne booked 3 days at a lovely resort called Pacific Shores. The highlight is a huge salt water fish tank.
Parksville is still a quaint, undeveloped seaside town of barbershops and thrift stores. Starbucks opened recently but it’s empty. Pensioners don’t cotton to yuppie over-priced coffee chains.
Rob & Yvonne will eventually move out to the coast too. Rob’s doing about C$8000 of renovations to the house this summer, squeezed between fishing & golf days.
Alexander, a neighbour, has the most fantastic rose garden.
This is the hub of a new “Waterfront Walkway” – a shoreline boardwalk.
McCharles family in Mazatlan
The day before departing for Mexico, Rob announced he was leaving his job of 20-years. For one thing, he & partner Yvonne want more flexibility in vacationing.
Randy’s condo vista at the Inn at Mazatlan. He hosted us for the week there.
I love the west facing view.
This 2-week holiday was a rare chance for the whole McCharles nuclear family to get together. Randy (left) does not have much free holiday time.
Dad is no sunbather. But he loves the fishing in Mexico.
Boarding for the excellent “jungle tour”.
Our most memorable restaurant was the Canadian managed “Casa Country”.
Mom checking the unique ponds at Costa Bonita.
Dad’s coffee station. I worked on that Kaluha bottle for 2 weeks.
Twice we went out for ribs. Very good in Maz.
A rare sighting of Eric McCharles in a swimming pool. (The chemicals tend to irritate his skin.)
Mom loves to walk. The long beaches here are perfect for her.
I’ve always loved walking south down the coast towards the city centre.
Yvonne too walks a lot. She delivers the mail.
Loading up in a “pulmonia” taxi, a VW Beetle rigged like a golf cart.
fishing out of Mazatlan
6:20 AM departure Mazatlan marina.
The boats were busy as trips from the previous 2 days had been cancelled due to high wind.
Sunrise from the boat.
Dad had taken many Mexican fishing trips in the past & was looking forward to another one.
The anchor is welded rebar, quite flexible just-in-case it gets snagged.
The highlight of the trip for me was an unexpected acrobatic show by California Grey whales!
El Capitano. 18 years piloting these waters.
We were bottom fishing. Light rods, 2 hooks baited with shrimp.
Yvonne caught the first fish and the biggest Grouper.
The water was choppy on the 90 minute ride out. I felt slightly seasick all day.
We had 6 Canadians with rods in the water. Cost about US$50 / person. (Boat is US$250 plus tip for a 7hr day.)
We were out with the Escuelo fleet, recommended by gingo locals.
It was difficult to “feel” a hit with 200ft of line out.
Bottom fishing you catch many small fish but have no chance at big Dorado or Marlin.
With our haul in the cooler & much smoother seas, the trip in was relaxing.
Giant iguana guarding the harbour.
Disclaimer: Rick did NOT catch this fish.
Skipper cleaning our red snapper.
Larry from Alberta let us keep his fish.
Dinner for 4. Yvonne’s grouper & 3 snapper. We gave the rest away.
travelogue – McCharles family photos, Mazatlán
My nuclear family played “Mexican Train” nearly every night. That’s a game requiring dominos, luck & alcohol.
As I recall it was my modest self who won most nights.
Between games we mostly read, lounged by the pool & walked the beach.
See (in a new window) the final batch of annotated photos of the McCharles family trip to Mazatlán . 
Next travelogue on this trip >> Mexican dental vacation.
Rick McCharles 