The Squamidian Report – Sept. 26 / 15
Issue #696
Hi All,
I'm going to start now and continue to bug you guys for the next 3
weeks and here's why, the Oct. 24th issue of the Squid will be our
#700. Thats right, we will have reached 700 issues. Thats quite
incredible considering how easy it would have been at any point along
the way to throw in the towel. As you well know, some times there has
been less than nothing to write about and other times there has been
way too much. Sometimes we write eagerly and other times its a pain,
but we've always come through with something to share. And I use the
word 'we' because Greg's efforts have been no less than 100% from
almost the beginning and he deserves a big thanks from me and everyone.
So, like I just said, I'm going to bug everyone for the next few weeks
because it would be great if at least some of you could find a few
minutes to write something yourself and send it in for the big seven
zero zero. Thats not asking too much you know and it would mean a lot
to both Greg and me. Just a little something about daily life, an
adventure, an aspiration, or whatever. My mandate for this letter is to
share my experience of living on the west coast, from my perspective.
Its that easy, or hard, depending on so many factors. So, get with it.
A good Canadian topic is the weather. We all talk about it, all the
time. Well, the whole western part of North America had a devastatingly
hot dry summer. As summer wore on the forecasts for autumn were for the
heat and drought to continue right though till winter. Which I guess
they were supposed to do until they didn't. And they didn't even last
until the end of summer. By early September most of the west was
getting dumped on my heavy rains and experiencing lower than normal
temperatures. So much for a hot dry Fall. And its sure been raining.
Last Sunday morning I went in to Horseshoe Bay to my usual coffee meet
with my biker friends. It was raining hard so being a wimp and not
overly stupid, I went in the car, not on the bike. I actually
considered turning back a couple of times due to the amount of rain
hitting the windshield and blocking the view as well as the amount of
water on the road that simply couldn't run off fast enough. Every rock
face had its own temporary water fall. As we sat at our usual out-door
tables (under a nice firm roof), 4 of our riders turned up, on their
bikes. The rain squalls were whipping down the street in sheets yet the
4 came rumbling along. 2 of them were women which is not surprising
because our women riders tend to be more hard core than some of the men.
Most of us, well actually all of us prefer not to ride in the rain but
its something that we all must do once in a while and its a skill that
we all must be comfortable with. Riding home in the rain is never a
problem. You put on your rain gear and go. The thing is, once you get
home you can always dry off and warm up. Heading out in the rain is
another story and something we all like to avoid but some would prefer
to ride in the rain rather than not ride at all on a give day.
Personally, I like to stay as warm and dry as possible. I've paid my
dues, so to speak.
And when the sun made a return appearance on Friday, the top 3,000 ft
of Garibaldi was cloaked in a nice white blanket of snow. Very scenic.
doug
****
Have a good one..
the doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.
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