An English couple who spent part of their $30 million lottery winnings on a wilderness trip to the Coast for a party of 88 Scouts, leaders and parents are wrapping up their two-week visit on Monday.
"Everyone has done something this week they've never done before in their life," said Thea Bristow.
She and her husband Paul spent $1 million to take the kids on a "trip of a lifetime."
The group hiked to Skook-umchuck Rapids shortly after they arrived. They had to break up into smaller groups for most activities, such as camping overnight at Klein Lake and taking a flight in a float plane. As well, they went swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, rock climbing and boating to Princess Louisa Inlet. They have also gone on day trips to Vancouver and checked out the vintage car show and craft fair in Sechelt last weekend.
Paul said the reward for him is seeing the look on the kids' faces, as when one boy caught a shark while out fishing.
The couple chose B.C. because a Scouting friend of theirs visited the Queen Charlotte Islands years ago and his descriptions captured their imaginations, Paul said. Ever since, it has been the couple's dream to bring the Scout group to Canada.
They found the West Coast Wilderness Lodge in Egmont on the Internet while searching websites deciding where to stay. "It was the site that really stood out. It was so glorious looking," Thea said.
So the couple booked the whole resort. And they were impressed when they saw it in person.
"Just look at the view," Thea said, as she looked out over Jervis Inlet.
A group of local Scouts was planning to visit the lodge on Aug. 13. Thea said they couldn't come to another country without meeting other Scouts.
Paul started out as a Scout leader 19 years ago with his eldest son's Scout group.
"And I haven't stopped since," Paul said.
Their youngest son, now 23, and two of their grandchildren were on the trip with them.
The 56 kids on the trip, both boys and girls, ranged in age from seven to 25, and included Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Networkers. The group gets together to go camping fairly often, so everyone knows each other, Thea said.
The couple planned to spend a day alone, away from the kids, to take a break before they leave the Coast. They are still tossing ideas around on what to do with the rest of their millions, which they won last July. Paul is thinking of opening an indoor activity centre with a rock climbing wall back in their home town of Torquay.
