Cycling Old Logging Roads

Yesterday we went for a bike ride that took us along the scenic Courtenay River Estuary, across the Island Highway and along some old Comox logging roads which have been paved and are now closed to motor traffic. Good thing too. You wouldn't want to take a car down there (unless you're Evil Knievel) as there are a couple of wash-outs, where the pavement is gone and there's a nice big hole in it's place. Made for an interesting ride and a nice afternoon. Man am I out of shape though. No excuse out here. Lots to do. Just get out and do it.

Wacky West Coast

Well, as I said before, it is definitely spring here. Spring defined by the following: flowers in bloom, people out doing yard work, cutting grass, playing golf, wearing shorts, sandals and T-shirts, driving convertibles etc - you get the idea. So yesterday the temperature drops, the sky opens up and down comes this white stuff. I remember seeing it in Ontario, but it was not advertised in the BC brochure except that it was kept neatly on the mountains mostly to keep the skiers happy. It fell steadily all morning, piled up pretty good and then by 5:00PM it was all gone. Maybe if it has to happen, this is the way to do it - brief and to the point and you don't have to shovel it!

Moving Day II

Today the AMJ Campbell moving truck, Highway Howie at the wheel arrived at our storage unit in Coombs. In less than two hours all of our worldly possessions were unloaded into a storage unit 10x10x10'. It has been quite cold here the last couple of days and there was new snow on the mountains this morning, so of course it was cold and the rain pored down as our things were put in storage. I was given the task of checking off the box numbers as they came off the truck and it was so cold my hands were shaking and my feet were numb. Everything was in good order and accounted for. It all went very quickly and I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures. Ian was with me and we pulled a few personal things out to go home with us - our bikes, some boxes of files, some clothes and a few fragile pieces of furniture. The driver and crew were terrific, so all in all the experience was pretty painless. I'm glad it's over with non the less.
I also heard today from our Surveyor and our application for Development Permit is complete!
Woohoo! I will follow-up on Monday and see what our status is. If we can finally get that permit we can at least begin to clear the lot. Fingers crossed.

Am I Smart enough to live in BC?

My cousin Gord (born and raised here) has posed 10 questions that all good British Columbians should know the answers to. Kind of like the test given to people wishing to become Canadians. The questions are listed below and if anyone should happen to have any of the answers - I'd love to hear them. No, it's not cheating (just don't tell Gord).

1. What is the "Ogopogo creature" and where does it live?

2. What is a Sasqatch?

3. What is a marmot and where do they live?

4. What poisonous snake lives in the interior?

5. Where would you find cactus in B.C.?

6. What is a "chilcotin turkey"?

7. Where is Spuzum?

8. Where is the bigest Rodeo held in BC?

9. What is the longest river which starts in BC?

10. What is the largest natural lake in BC?

It's official

We're homeless. Bye-bye Pickering.

So Long YYZ... Hello YQQ

Up at 4:30 AM this morning, to get to Terminal 3 for a 7:15 flight back to Comox. It's cold and dry in Toronto as we leave. We stop briefly in Calgary to change aircraft and have to be de-iced before take-off. Touch down in Comox and it's like I never left - still raining. On the plus side it is definitely spring here. As we taxied down the runway toward the Comox Terminal I looked beyond the fence and there were golfers out on the course that's adjacent to the airport...yes, golfing even in the rain. Too bad Roy isn't here. Golfing in the rain can't be as bad as golfing in the snow in January.

Moving Day

A 75' truck pulled up early this morning and in less than 4 hours they had loaded our belongings into a space less than 10' x 10'. No wonder it felt like we'd been packing forever...we had exactly 200 pieces and it weighed in at almost 6000 lbs. The truck also had the belongings of several other families destined for the island, so it heads out now, arriving sometime around March 9th and making 4 stops to unload. Our stuff goes to a storage facility in Coombs and most of it will stay there until our house is built.

Phase 2 of our move will be the remaining furniture and housewares going into two separate basement apartments - one for Roy and I and one for Jordan. I won't have the opportunity to settle into our new abode as I fly back to BC on March 2nd and will be there to meet the truck when it arrives.
The last few weeks have been very emotional. We've had 24 happy years in this house. It's hard not to feel sad about the "end" of our family as we have known it. Better to focus on "beginnings".