The Canadian Adventures of Doogal the Sheep

(as narrated to J. DeShazer as sheep cannot type)

I'm sure many of you would never suspect that a sheep would be subject to wanderlust, but I am unique among sheep. And after hours of languishing in Galen's office, listenting to mundance conversation and trying not to breath in noxious fumes (it's called Gas-X Mayfield, look into it), I decided it was time to pack my bags and take a little trip. Overhearing Jillian talk about her upcoming trip to Vancouver Island, I knew my opportunity had arrived!

First, I hid away in Jill's carry-on luggage. As I am not liquid, I managed to get through security quite easily (though I was swabbed once to make sure I was not an incindiary device). After hiding out for the first flight, it was smooth sailing for me (it wasn't like I could be sent back at that point), but somewhat harrowing for my travelling companions. I feared I would never make it to my desitination as they ran from connection to connection, barely making each one. Finally, we made our last flight on the smallest plane ever - and this sheep is not ashamed to say he was a little scared. I mean, just look at this thing! You can walk right up and say "cheerio" to the pilots!

The first day dawned bright and beautiful, until I was imprisoned by the evil spawn of the Ross clan in a glass prison. It was apparently to keep me safe from the numerous large dogs roaming the household, but I personally think the family is speciest and this was their way of punishing from trying to gain my own freedom. However, I was soon released and began the real adventures.


First stop was Wickaninnish. Oh joy. The beach was fantastic - all a little fuzzball could hope for. While the clan of people made their way through the waves to check out life in the tidal pools, I basked on shore and enjoyed the clean ocean spray. Then it was to Long Beach and Tofino, where a wayward sheep could really cozy up to the surfer chicks.



The following day it was off to the Coombs Old Country Market - a place filled with all sorts of internationl wonders. I felt like such a cosmopolitan sheep, emersed in a variety of cultures. Jill even bought me a mocha latte - which is how I met my new friend Baaaarbaaara, one of the market tenants. She showed me her cool pad on the roof and we really made a connection. That was a swinging little goat.



We also spent some time at the Harbour Quay in downtown Port Alberni, where I met some more great friends - Suki the migrating Salmon and Capt. Willy (though personally, some of the Cpt. suggestions for getting to know each other better were a wee bit disturbing).



I decided that I needed a little more cultureification in my trip, so I took a ride on the Alberni Pacific Railway to the historic McLean Mill. A faithful recreation of a working lumber mill in the 1930s, I was privileged to watch a demonstration on how lumber used to be made - and I thanked my lucky stars that I am an unemployed (and somewhat lazy) sheep.

The finale of the Vancouver Island adventure was the Salmon Festival, where I feasted on fresh caught fish (which actually didn't sit too well with my delicate sheep tummy and so I spent a good hour in the port-o-let). The group then gathered to watch the spectacular fireworks down by the harbour.


Well, after all the excitement, I was ready to go home and luckily so were Jill and Dave. We stayed overnight at the home of Dr. Woods and Dr. Sokol in Calgary, where I had my first introduction to beer. Goodness! What a wonderful discovery...but someone should have told me about the morning after.






Well, thanks for following along with my adventures and I hope you will join me for my next. If you want to view my images as a slide show, click here.

Doogal