The Squamidian Report – June 7 / 08
Issue #315
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
It has been way too long since I’ve had the little dirt bike out for a proper toot. My brother Gary flew back out from Ontario to spend a week and then he and his son would drive back to Ontario. His son has been out here for the last month or so fishing, camping and mountain bicycling to his hearts content. Incidentally, the timing of Gary’s return to drive back with his son couldn’t have been better as just after Gary got here his son went over the bars of his bike while taking a jump on a bicycle trail in Whistler and ended up breaking his collar bone. That put and end to all the out-door activities he was here to do.
Gary has never dirt biked up in the mountains so we loaded the two machines into the back of my truck and drove up to ‘end of pavement’ on the Upper Squamish. We off-loaded and then rode the bikes on up along the river. The water is high and fast right now because of the snow melt, and there are spectacular waterfalls all along the cliffs and slopes of the Tantalus Range. We followed along the river, watching standing waves, and water mounds where the under current would we weld up forming a flat topped dome of water several feet above the surrounding water. Other areas would have a bowl shape with the sides of the river being much higher than the middle. Very interesting.
We turned up off the Main at the Mt Kayley side spur. The climb is relatively easy, but also moderately steep as you work you way up. There are lots of cross ditches to keep it interesting and several areas where the trail is covered with rocks. All good reasons to keep you eyes on the trail and not on the scenery. We stopped frequently to look out over the valley or up toward Kayley. I took a few pics, they can be seen at:
http://www.thedougsite.net/Kayley/gary1.htm
Because Gary and Max are so into fishing they spent most of their time doing just that. And they managed to catch their limit just about every time they tried. They managed to eat their limit as well, with enough left over to have a fish fry here last Monday evening. We apparently had 5 different kinds of fresh trout. Gary and Max did the cooking and we simply enjoyed. And those fish were very, very good.
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In the middle of this past week the city of Vancouver recorded its coldest temperature for that date, ever. On the same day, they were holding an annual international triathlon. Because the west coast has just had its coldest February, March, April and now June ever, the waters of English Bay are way colder than normal and that is where the first leg of the sport contest put the athletes. These are top shape international competitors and yet many needed help getting out of the water. The next leg was on bicycle and many of the ones that did make it through the swimming part were too hypothermic to finish the bike part. The few who finished the event were still cold after running the last leg. And now we have fresh snow up in the mountains again. Go figure.
doug
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Hello
everyone!
This week
has been funny weatherwise and it looks like we’ll have the same on again off
again sun and rain for the next 4-5 days. We are expecting the steel for our
roof over the patio sometime tomorrow or Saturday. If it comes in, we’ll try to
complete the installation this weekend. If not I’ll be a few more days before
it gets done. Like I said last week, I’ll be sure to send a picture or two of
the finished roof once it is done.
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This
Saturday is the date for this years motorcycle “Ride For Dad”. It’s the annual
event to raise money to fight prostate cancer. I’ve never participated in this
worthwhile ride but am considering doing it this year with Adam. The only thing
causing me to hesitate is the weather forecast. This event is Emceed by Dave
MacDonald, the weather man for CTV here in Kitchener so if he can stand to ride
in what might turn out to be a wet day I guess maybe we can too. The other part
of the forecast that isn’t appealing is the temperature. It’s supposed to be in
the low 30’s c with a humidex that will make it feel like +40c. Sounds like it
could well be a very uncomfortable ride. I’ve got to make up my mind soon
because the “on line” registration is closed as of tomorrow morning. If we
don’t register before then, we’ll have to line up at 7am Saturday to pay our
$25.00. If you don’t register, you don’t qualify for any of the prizes or the
food along the way and that’s half the fun. Ride or not, I’ll make a donation
to the cause for sure. If I manage to talk myself into taking the ride, I’ll
write a report about it for next weeks Ontarion.
Until
then, 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:
Something To Think About>
A Crocodile cannot stick out it’s tongue.
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Have a good one..
the doug
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