The Squamidian Report – Aug. 2 / 14
Issue #636
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Haven't talked about the gondola for a while and I need something to
write about so here goes.... We aren't the only ones who make very good
uses of our passes and go there on a regular basis. There is an old
Oriental man who rides up almost every day. He is in his early 90's and
is still as taken with the whole experience now as he was the first
time he went up. Once at the top, he walks out on the big deck and does
a slow, Chinese dance of some sort. There is meaning in his movements
but I don't have the cultural knowledge to understand what it is.
Then there also is the old guy who works his way along using a walker
with wheels on it. He goes up about 3 times a week, nice and early each
day and walks the Panorama Ridge trail. Thats the 1.6 km trail loop
that takes you to the Chief Overlook. He will walker his way along,
have a rest, then carry on for another short distance, then rest again,
and so on. And there is us. We often go up after walking our dog. Dogs
are not allowed to ride up for good reason. No one wants the place over
run by poorly controlled pooches who are with jerks that would probably
not bother to pick up after said poorly controlled pooch. So, we walk
Willow and then head up. Often we will enjoy a nice coffee on the deck
and then do the Panorama Ridge trail before heading down, or we will
forgo the coffee and head off into the back country to explore one of
the many trails available, many of which are way beyond our ability. We
stick to the ones we know we can do. We avoid the place during the busy
part of the day, it gets way too crowded for us. Let the tourists have
the tourists. The weekends are very busy. However, they are open later
on the weekends and once the tourists have moved on we often go up and
enjoy watching the sun go down and enjoy simply being there.
To give you and idea of how 'regular' we are, many of the staff know us
by name, and pretty well all of them at least recognize us. One of the
young lift attendants commented on 'The Wife's' haircut. She noticed
that Sue had had her hair cut. That kind of put me 'on the spot'. Oh
well. And here's some interesting numbers. The vertical climb in the
gondolas to the top is just under 1 km. The horizontal distance
travelled just under 2 km, 1.92 to be exact. So, the day we came down
from our 60th visit, we had travelled 230.4 km in the gondolas.
Remember, for each 1.92 km ride up, there is an equally enjoyable 1.92
km ride down. Yes, we are getting our moneys worth out of or passes.
It is interesting how many 'locals' are up there on a regular basis,
either first thing in the morning to enjoy that coffee on the deck, or
on a weekend evening just to take it all in. We start looking familiar
to them and they to us. We've talked to people who opposed the gondola
project from the beginning and fought it. They had convinced themselves
that it would destroy the area, that it would destroy the Chief, that
there would be an amusement park and fast food outlets all over the
mountains, and so on. Most of those early detractors are now proud pass
holders and are as proud of and protective of the project as we are.
The few who still oppose it refuse to go up or even go near the place.
I assume they simply don't want to see for themselves how well done it
is and how incredibly nice it is. Thats ok, like I said, it can get a
bit busy up there at times. Heck, we talked to one couple who had been
very against the project just out of principle, without even knowing
anything about it, and not only do they now have season passes, but the
wish they could win the lottery so they could purchase the whole thing
and have it to themselves. Silly, but thats what that place does to
people. It really is a sort of gift to the area and the people living
here.
Oh, one morning on our way 'up', as we were enjoying the view from the
gondola car we were riding in, we spotted a nice big black bear
munching on the vegetation along the hiking trail that winds it's way
up. It didn't seem to be bothered by the silent glass bubbles as they
glided just above it's head. A few days later the bear was spotted near
the Panorama Ridge trail. That will give the tourists something to talk
about.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello everyone!
Well, I have decided to put my motorcycle up for sale!
I’ve had problems for the past two or more years with arthritis in my
hands and the motorcycle has been in my garage and up on stands for the
past two years as well. It’s just too uncomfortable for me to try to
squeeze the clutch and sometimes the front brake as well to keep on
riding it! I did look into adding an easy pull clutch assembly to the
bike to make it easier on my hands but I have found that I’ve just lost
interest in motorcycling for my own pleasure after being out of the
game for almost two years. I’ve decided that I’ll sell the bike and
maybe put the money towards finishing the only part of our MGB that
hasn’t been rebuilt or refinished to make it like new. That will be to
have the little bit of bodywork done professionally and have the car
totally repainted to look like new! There really isn’t much that’s
wrong with the car body wise except for a couple of small rust holes in
the rocker panels and the front end fenders (called “The Front Clip)
that has been replaced with a fiberglass one since before I bought the
MG in 1989 that needs a going over to remove the ripples in the
fiberglass. The previous owner just didn’t spend the money to have a
good job done on the finishing work when he rebuilt the car many years
ago. Since we have owned the MGB I have completely rebuilt the engine
so it’s reliable and of course has more power than when original. I
have also replaced the exhaust system and added a header to make the
exhaust more free flow! This also adds to the power output for more
zip! I’ve also installed a new interior. The floor of the car is still
in perfect original condition so there is no need to refinish that part
of the body. Like I said, just the rocker panels and the sanding and
proper finishing of the body. About 12 years ago Adam and I attended
the Bronte Creek British Car show that is held every year in Oakville
Ont. I managed to purchase a new convertible roof for the MG at that
show and it’s still stored up on the mezzanine in my garage. Guess
it’ll be time to finally put the new roof on the MG once I’ve had the
bodywork done and the car repainted! It’s British racing green which
was the original colour from the factory but when it was repainted
before we got it, whoever did the paint job made the colour a tad
lighter green than the original. I’d like to have it put back to the
original shade of green. I also had a motive when I rebuilt the engine
back in 2000. I was tired of cleaning up the dripping oil that was ever
present under the MG. So, I figured rebuilding the engine and replacing
the oil seals and all the gaskets in the drive train as well would take
care of the leaks. Well, about a week after putting the “B” back on the
road, it started leaking oil once again. I figure I’ll find someone
this time that can assure me they can stop the cars leak and have that
fixed as well. By the time I get the MG on the road after this round of
work it won’t only run perfectly with no leaks, it’ll look like a new
car as well!
Now all I have to do is find a buyer for my motorcycle and I’ll be able to start on the MG once again!
I’m looking forward to getting the MG all finished! After all it’s only
been 25 years since we first started this project! LOL! At least once
we only have two vehicles in our garage we’ll have lots of room to move
around in the garage even when both vehicles are in it! Looking forward
to the extra space!
If any of you Squamidian family members know of someone that’s
interested in a pretty much “New” motorcycle, please don’t hesitate to
send them my way! It’s a Kawasaki Versys 650cc twin. It’s a 2007 bought
new in 2008. Has only 10,650km on it and is loaded with extras. I am
asking $7,000.00 for the bike and it looks and runs like new! Too many
extras to bother you guys with here so I’ll just ask that you all keep
me in mind should you hear of anyone that might be interested in buying
my bike!
I am open to offers on this motorcycle as well!
That’s about all for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!
Bye for now … Greg
PS: Something To Think About>
Summer is about to start now that August has arrived!
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Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
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