The Squamidian Report – April 29 / 06
Issue #204
Also in this issue:
Brubacher's Move West - Part 3
The Ontarion
Hi All,
We got back out on our bikes again. One of those spectacular days where it is so nice out that words just can’t describe it. Just Warren and I this time, Ryan had to work. We trucked the dirt bikes up to the end of pavement on the Upper Squamish and then headed on up the valley. We first did a short side tour up the Hut Lake Rd to the microwave tower. There is a good view out over the small lake. Kind of reminds me of something out of The Sound Of Music film as there are cottages along the far side.
Back on the Squamish Main, which follows along the river, we headed up the Mt Kayley spur. This climbs the north side of the valley so we were in strong, warm sunshine all the way. As you climb, the valley begins to spread out below, backed by the high snowfields and ridges along the other side. We rode up as far as the snowline where we had our lunch while watching numerous avalanches slide down the face of Kayley, as they give off a continuous thundering rumble. What an incredible way to eat lunch. At the same time, there were avalanches happening high above the south side as well but they were too far away to hear.
Once back out on the Main, we tooted on up to the Elaho bridge where we scanned the ridges for wild goats, didn’t see any, and then headed back down to the truck. Just an incredible ride on an incredible day. When I got home, I took the Virago out for a ride so it wouldn’t feel left out. Pictures at: http://www.thedougsite.ca/Pictures/Kayley/kayley2.htm
Something kind of interesting. It was almost exactly a year earlier that we had also been up to Kayley. When I compared these pictures to those pictures I noticed a startling difference in the amount of snow in the high country. This past winter saw a huge amount of snow accumulate as compared to the winter before. On this ride the snowline stopped us a thousand feet below where we had ridden to a year earlier and the slopes of the mountain were bare a year earlier. You can also make the comparison by checking out those pictures that I had posted a year ago at:
http://www.thedougsite.ca/Pictures/Kayley/kayley1.htm
*
TD’s Pacific audit division is going through some hard times right now. Things just seem to be falling apart. They are loosing their senior auditor and the audit manager just isn’t up to the task of filling her shoes. For you see, Sue will no longer be with TD Audit after the second week of May. She will no longer be an auditor, traveling the country and scaring the crap out of all those branch employees. In fact, as of the 15th, she will be in a branch, as the manager. She will be covering a leave of absence for the current manager of a branch way up in Prince George, BC.
She will be covering that manager position for about 3 months. The bank will fly her home every second weekend or so and put her up in a motel while she is there. When the Prince George stint is over, she will most likely step into the manager position in a branch in either North or West Vancouver. So where Pacific Audit had been a ship sailing smoothly along ever since she joined it just before we moved here, it is fastly becoming a ship floundering, doomed to drift onto the rocks. Kinda looks good on them.
doug
****
Now for B.C.'s, Coquahalla Super Highway. This toll route will save us 3hrs. and we'll avoid the old #1 TCH of its windy, narrow stretch with its tunnels along the Fraser Canyon.
"One more mountain pass and then its easy street", I say to the kids. About half way thru and we arrive at the tollbooth, pay our $10.00 and are warned of half hour delays up ahead because of avalanches. Again, Jason rides up on the hood of our yellow bird to keep the wipers clear. No delays but experience some white-out conditions. The mountains are absolutely breath-taking thru these parts, as I know from last summer, but can't see much this trip.
Coming down off the pass into the tunnel, as they call it, we see signs of wind and flood damage everywhere. The town of Hope is situated just inside the Fraser Canyon and beyond in the direction we are going is the huge Fraser River delta, which takes into Chilliwack, Abotsford and Greater Vancouver.
Remembering back in November the terrible floods out here, many people lost their homes out here along the Coquahalla River and one of the new bridges on the super highway they dam near lost from a log jam. We saw machinery busy building new dykes all the way down from the pass to the lower delta.
As we approached Chilliwack, the land changed from snowy white to green and I told the kids and wife about the mild winters we can expect on the coast. What was I thinking! Suddenly the green turned back to white and we were driving in a fair snowstorm. The traffic got heavier by the moment and by the time we reached Vancouver, it came to a complete halt. Here, we were surrounded by some of the worst drivers we had seen in this vast country of ours. These people are never prepared for winter conditions nor seem to care. One thing I have noticed about driving a school bus is that you seem to get the respect and courtesy from most drivers.
Finally over the 'Second Narrows Bridge' and the weather has cleared enough to see Grouse Mountain and our route north to Squamish. From here we noticed the farther we drove into Howe Sound the windier it had become. So windy in fact, that when we arrived in Brackendale to the log home project I had been working previous to our move; I seriously wondered if the roof would stay on and the trees around it stay up. Along with 120 km. winds ( not just gusts) it was getting quite cold too!
Twelve kilometers to go now, to our new home to be, up the Upper Cheakumus River which they call Paradise Valley. We arrived about 4 p.m. to find the power out and house cold. All we could do at this point was make ourselves a comfortable as possible and sit tight until the storm blew itself out. We closed off all the rooms to the rancher style house except kitchen and livingroom, lit our candles and fireplace and five days later we got our hydro back. Heck, we had had it better on the road as the fireplace was a smokey inefficient excuse for a wood heater.
I could not believe the damage from the storm, particularly our area and on into Squamish. The Forestry department figured one quarter of all the trees exposed to the wind blew down. There was one mile solid of trees over the power line between us and town. Five giant cedars blew down around our rental house and bus but no damage. In Squamish, there were huge trees ( by Maritime standards ) down between rows of houses but no one hurt or even much damage to buildings. A clump of 80 ft. hemlock we'd left in the corner of the log home lot went over and completely filled the neighbours backyard.
Many homes in this area were not insulated for cold winters so many people were thawing frozen water lines from 2 days of severe wind chill.
To follow for us was the snowiest, coldest winter on record since the 60's for B.C. interior and the coast. Does it sound like we'd moved to the frozen north? It would be many years before my family would take my word for anything. So there you have it, the Swiss family Brubacherson's quest for adventure and a better life.
Janice and Warren, Becky and Jason as the kids, Cody the shepard, Wimpy and Sweety, the cats. (January 1991)
****
Hello
everyone!
I just
know that Doug is jealous of the Ontario weather we’ve been having for the past
week or two. We are looking at straight sunshine for the next 5 days as well.
The last time I checked the weather out west it was rain rain rain and more
rain. Doug has told me however that the forecast is not as accurate as I might
think and they do get sunshine breaking through every now and then. In fact
he’s actually sent me pictures from a motorcycle ride he was on that proved
there was blue sky and sun that day. I really do hope that they continue to get
sunshine now and then as the summer progresses. I wouldn’t want to hog all the
good weather this year it’s nicer to share as we all know. So far we’re doing
ok with the weather and everything is turning green and starting to bloom in
the gardens. We’ve got all the outdoor furniture out of the shed and are
enjoying the back yard and the front porch as well. I had my new “Snapper” lawn
mower set up by Schlicters the other day. They sold it to Carole last November
to give to me for Christmas and I had to take it back to have the oil etc
checked and everything set properly before starting to use it this spring. It
starts like a dream and I’m looking forward to using it for the first time
today. The service man at the dealer told me to spray the underside of it with
PAM so the grass won’t stick to it. He also told me not to spray the grass off
the machine with my pressure washer because it’ll rust if I do. I guess that’s
why my last one rusted right through the body after 15 years of doing just
that. I’ll take better care of this one for sure. SNAPPER is supposed to be one
of the top mowers and I finally have a quality piece of outdoor equipment to
make my grass look like a million. Now if I can only keep those pesky
dandelions at bay I’ll be happy.
CLYDE!!!!!! Where’s that supply of KILLEX you said you have stashed?
I’ll have to talk to you about that soon! LOL!
Well, I’d better get at the mowing and see how she works!
Thanks
for tuning in and I look forward to talking to you all again next time in The
Ontarion Report!
Bye for
now… GREG.
PS: The
pond is open and working beautifully. We’ve done away with the fish and have
treated the water like you would a swimming pool. It is now clear and clean
looking and smelling and we intend to keep it that way. It’s a pleasure to see
and hear the sparkle of the clean water. Since my brother in law Norman and our
son Adam helped me to collect the limestone for the pond and waterfalls and
also to construct the entire pond I’d like to dedicate the project to them.
Norman passed away from cancer last Sunday and will be missed. We’ll think of
Norm whenever we enjoy the pond for sure! Thanks Norm!
PPS:
Something To Think About>
The only
religious way to think of death is as part and parcel of life!
Thomas
Mann 1924
****
The Family and the Squamidian sites:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
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