Albert Riopel VE7JW 🇨🇦🇺🇲

Burnaby Amateur Radio Club (BARC) Swap Meet, March 22nd, Salvation Army Cariboo Temple, 7195 Cariboo Rd, Burnaby, BC, V3N 4A6, Canada. Doors Open: Sellers(8AM), Buyers(9AM) until noon. Table: $25; Entry: $5 ve7bar.org/swap-meet #ICOMcanada #HamRadio #AmateurRadio ^@EarlaRiopel

Checking in to the amateur 📻 radio's BC Public Service Net and Alberta Public Service Net from our Nanaimo-Lantzville 🇨🇦 place in Vancouver Island 🏝. Remotely operating in our travel trailer, just next to the radio transmitter building, where the radio 📻 station is. We Have been in Nanaimo-Lantzville 🇨🇦 since early 🌄 morning of Saturday. Likely, we'll be back to the mainland tomorrow evening. We took a few photos for you. ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)

We just checked in to the British Columbia (BC) Public Service Net & Alberta Public Service Net! Operating remote from our New Westminster, BC 🇨🇦 place to Lantzville, BC 🇨🇦 (in Vancouver Island 🏝 ) as the 'transmitter site'. By the way, we took a few photos 📸 of our New Westminster 🇨🇦 remote operating site, and its surroundings; a couple of photos taken earlier today and a couple photos 📸 just now. ^ ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)

We just got back from Point Roberts, WA USA 🇺🇸, today. We spent the weekend there to do more yard work, including improving antenna 📡 conditions. Unfortunately, we couldn't do much there since it's just too much rain and 'cold 🥶 to the bone'! However, while in Point Roberts 🇺🇸, (Albert only) made contacts with BC & Alberta Service Nets, and fellow amateur radio operators. We cameback to our New Westminster 🇨🇦 place earlier than usual, since we couldn't do much while we're at Point Roberts 🏞 🇺🇸 due to the weather. But I took a few photos before we left our Point Robert 🇺🇸 property. ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)

Soon, the Burnaby Amateur Radio Club (BARC) will have its Annual #SwapMeet, Saturday, November 24, 2026. For details see BARC website: ve7bar.org/swap-meet/ As usual, we'll be there, representing @CAN_ICOM #ICOMcanada #ICOM's #Marketing #Advertising #Promotional #Sales Team! See you there! ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel) Image Sources: VE7BAR.org, Google, Et. al

Good 🌄 morning, Lantzville (Nanoose Bay), BC Canada 🇨🇦! Today is our last day of visit. Likely, we won't ba back in another 2 weeks time. For now, I'll continue working in our Lantzville 🇨🇦 property yard. So far, our backyard is looking more like a 'park', as my husband, @albert_riopel mentioned. If it turns to be a 'park' that's fine. So far, the ground is one-third rocks 🪨 and two-thirds soil. For sure, it's not easy preparing the area for planting. The fun part though, not only I prepare my planting area, but I also collect rocks to improve our own driveway situation here at our Lantzville 🇨🇦 property. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish planting the seeds 🫛 I soaked, before heading to the Duke Point Terminal BC Ferries ⛴️, for the 8:15 pm sailing schedule. We might leave a little early, since we promised to visit my daughter, Catherine who lives in Nanaimo, with her husband Jake (@blsbc). They're not far from us in Lantzville. I took a few photos this 🌄 morning 📸.

Good morning, Lantzville, BC Canada 🇨🇦! Such a beautiful morning to continue doing yardwork, especially gardening! Hoping to last working, until dark today, but with an 8 degree celcius temperature, likely up to 12 degree celcius around noon. I have to keep moving, meaning clearing the land for planting. Where I'm at, the Nanoose Bay is more visible from where I'm working due some colorful leaves 🍃 are falling down! Bye the way, our backyard is in front the busy Island Highway 🛣, Nanoose Bay area. What a beautiful view! I took a few photos 📸 for you around our property here at Lantzville 🇨🇦, Nanoose Bay, at Vancouver Island 🏝. Actually, @Albert_Riopel and I are not that far from our our daughter, Catherine and son-in-law, Jake's house. Likely we'll see them tomorrow on our way to Duke Point Terminal, Nanaimo. We're coming back to the mainland tomorrow with BC Ferries ⛴️ 's 8:15 pm sailing. Anyway, here are some photos 📸 I took this morning 🌄.

Good morning, Lantzville, BC & Nanaimo, BC 🇨🇦! We arrived at our Lantzville 🇨🇦 property since early morning 🌄; @Albert_Riopel & I had a good rest. Now, we're at Rona, Nanaimo (South). @albert_riopel is picking up more building materials and continue our cabin/workshop in our Lantzville 🇨🇦 property!👷‍♂️ As for me, I'm doing more yardwork (mostly gardening) until it gets dark! I took a few photos 📸 for you.

Burnaby Amateur Radio Club (BARC) Swap Meet, March 22nd, Salvation Army Cariboo Temple, 7195 Cariboo Rd, Burnaby, BC, V3N 4A6, Canada. Doors Open: Sellers(8AM), Buyers(9AM) until noon. Table: $25; Entry: $5 ve7bar.org/swap-meet #ICOMcanada #HamRadio #AmateurRadio ^@EarlaRiopel

The rest of the Fun Prizes recipients of the #ICOMcanada #Icom here at #DARS #ComFest Delta Amateur Radio Society 📻 #SwapMeet! 73. ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)

Announcements of Door Prizes here at #DARS #ComFest #SwapMeet #AmateurRadio #HamRadio#hamr! Here are the recipients of the @CAN_ICOM #ICOMcanada #ICOM fun Prizes! ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)

Few more photos 📸 here at #DARS #ComFest #SwapMeet! #ICOMcanada #ICOM Soon the 50/50 Draw & Doors prices will be announced. For more details: deltaamateurradio.com/wp/?pa… ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)

Lots of turn out! We're at Delta the Amateur Radio 📻 Society #DARS #ComFest #SwapMeet! Make sure to check the #ICOMcanada #ICOM Table! We're part of the @CAN_ICOM #Advertising #Sales Team! 73 🧑‍💼👩‍💼^ ER ✍️ ( @EarlaRiopel) See Details 📸

The #DARS #ComFest is underway! Please stop by if you're nearby! For details: deltaamateurradio.com/wp/?pa… By the way, we're at the @CAN_ICOM #ICOMcanada #ICOM Table #Marketing #Advertising #Sales Team! #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #hamr See you here. 73 📻! 🧑‍💼👩‍💼

Off to Delta Amateur Radio Society #DARS #ComFest Today! We'll be at the #ICOM #ICOMcanada #Marketing #Advertising #Sales Team's Table! We'll see you there! 73 🙂

It's Delta's Annual #ComFest Swap Meet soon! Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Venue: South Delta Recreation Center, 1720 56th Street, Tsawwassen, Delta (just off Highway 17) As usual, we'll be there representing 🇨🇦 #ICOM @CAN_ICOM's #Marketing #Advertising #Sales Team! For details, see Delta Amateur Radio Society (DARS) website: deltaamateurradio.com/wp/?pa… #DARS #AmateurRadio #HamRadio #HamR See you there! ^ ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel) Images Sources: Google AI, Delta Amateur Radio Society (DARS), Et al.

Today, I spent at least 10 hours doing yardwork, including gardening. It's quite tiring, but I'm just thankful that I was able to spend a productive day here at our Lantzville 🇨🇦 property. I managed to take a break around noon. My husband (@@Albert_Riopel) & I (@EarlaRiopel) went to nearby town, Nanaimo 🇨🇦 and pick up a few items at the Real Canadian Superstore, especially snow 🫛 peas seeds for planting. Also, put gas⛽️ at its gas station. Right after, we stopped by at Costco pick our usual items that we need and had lunch before coming back to our Lantzville place. Finally, as mentioned this morning, I'll post a few photos after work today. I took a few photos 📸 earlier before it started getting dark.

The Delta #ComFest™ Swap Meet will be on Sunday, October 5, 2025! “...discover the world of #AmateurRadio..."(DARS). @Albert_Riopel is representing the @CAN_ICOM #ICOMcanada #ICOM #Marketing Awareness Team! See event details: deltaamateurradio.com/wp/?pa… #HamRadio #hamr ^@EarlaRiopel

Don't have much trading to do today. So far, I must have sold around $7,500 this last 4 weeks. That's the thing when you buy vacant lands, they are cheaper but there are maintenance and stat-up costs to keep them going, to be usable, even just for two weekends visits per month. So far, since we bought our Mount Vernon, WA 🇺🇸 property in September 2021, Point Roberts, WA 🇺🇸 property in January 2023 & Lantzville, BC 🇨🇦 property in July 2025, we must have spent at least over $50,000+ of maintenance costs, start-up costs, and other related utility expenses. The above itemized costs don't even include property taxes, property insurance, management fees & occasional renovation added costs in our New Westminster condominium, yet. These four (4) properties are still good investments though. Because we're doing maintenance regularly, and improve these properties, the equity of each are increasing, especially the land properties, both sides of the USA 🇺🇸 & Canada 🇨🇦 Border. Also, we at least maximized our RRSPs each year, thus we save and defer taxes during tax season. The RRSPs always come in handy as emergency funds. Anyway, I'll post most recent photos of these properties. 🏞🏕🏡🏢🏠 By the way, we'll be at Point Roberts, WA, USA 🇺🇸 this weekend 🏞🏡. 🙂

Recent visit at our Lantzville, BC 🇨🇦 property. The workshop is looking more like an 'Amateur Radio 📻 Shack'! Of course, it looks nice, my husband (@albert_riopel) is very happy with it!👷‍♂️ Now, we just need to attach another shed, so I can put my gardening tools in it.👩‍🌾 Anyway, we had two(2) four-legged friends (puppies 🐕🦮) with us this last two weeks. We had to take care our daughter's 🐶 pup for a couple weeks before dropping him off to her in-laws. We sure miss him already. Anyway, I have a few photos 📸 for you. 🙂 ^ER ✍️ (@EarlaRiopel)