Day 9 - Wine tasting, Raptor center and Car Ralley

The day started with wine tasting at 10 am at Twenty Two Oaks Winery. It is located on a small vineyard over looking Quamichan lake. It is the perfect setting to look at the views of our vines, the lake, and the mountains of Vancouver Island and Salt Spring. Opening in late summer of 2009, we tasted one white and three red wines from 2008. The first harvest of Cabernet Foch from their own vineyard in October. By next year, their Marechal Foch, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir will be ready to pick as well. Check out www.wineislands.ca/members/twenty-two-oaks-winery for more information



















Located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley just north of Duncan on Vancouver Island BC, is a Raptor centre. We were so lucky to get a show by Gordon's daughter Robyn who showed us Eagles, Hawks, Owls and Falcons, so that their wings brushed our hair as they flew overhead. For mor information check out www.pnwraptors.com/

In the afternoon Duncan Rotary took us on a Car Rally Scavenger Hunt in the Duncan area. Starting at Maple Bay Elementary School, Scott and Judith had prepared clues to solve the riddle. The teams celebrated at the BBQ at Nora's house with well tasting steakes, chicken, salads and too much delicious desserts to choose from.

Day 8 Whalewatching & the local market

There's no seagoing experience quite like watching, close-up, a sleek whale weighing thousands of pounds frolic like a child in it's natural habitat. Orcas (killer whales), Gray whales and Humpback whales ply the waves and perform their watery rituals.

Our whale watching boat was just big enough to host 10 people, and got us after a long journey of over 50 miles to the whales. Thanks to Helly Hansen dresses, warm clothes we enjoyed four hour long trip in for the season cold and a bit rainy weather.

Day 7 - Vocational Day, tour of Chemainus & BBQ at Duncan Marina

After the vocational day, we were taken for lunch at a local cafe in Chemainus, north of Duncan. The cafe had a good athmosphere to it with lots of old furniture and quality products for sale.

By horse and carriage we were touring the village to see the outdoor gallery of murals. There are more than 35 of them, and also 13 sculptures at display. And more mureals are in process at the moment.

There were also time for some shopping in the tiny, original and artistic stores in this charming village by the sea.

In the afternoon we were taken for a neat "mini cruise" at Maple Bay. A bit grey and rainy, but nice people and refreshments, plus that Anette was the captain for a short while, lifted the tour! The boat trip was followed by barbeque at the Yacht Club - an enjoyable evening for the team.

Day 6 Vocational Day & BBQ

Relaxing and exchanging after an exciting and brilliantly organised vocational day with the hosts and host families at Duncan's Micro Brewery










Duncan City Hall - Anette is meeting the city planners































Vocational Day in Vancouver Katharina is meeting leading high-tech companies

Day 5 Duncan here we come!

On our way from Nanaimo, we passed through Chemainus. Chemainus, on Vancouver Island's east shore, (see the Island MAP), is a little town snuggled in between a mountain range and the ocean, isolated with a river cutting it off from the south and a major highway to the north. A town that was born of the hands of labourers, with its only industry failing, Chemainus showed the world its true spirit and determination, and was to achieve fame through the hands of artists.






Arriving in Duncan, the city is home to the worlds largest hockey stick and the host families welcomed us warmly with local delicatesse gifts from Hilary's (www.hilarycheese.com/). Duncan and the surrounding Cowichan region is the one of the most beautiful places on earth! At a lovely dinner all host families and guests gathered to get to know each other better at Barry and Terry's lovely home.