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The Squamidian Report – Dec. 2 / 17
Issue #810
Including: From Lorne From Russ Hi All, The gondola re-opened last Friday after their 3-week maintenance closer. During that 3 weeks they had received about 70 cm of snow but most of it was then washed away by the waves of pineapple express storms that have been pumping in off the ocean. When they did finally open there was just a few traces of snow around the lodge and surrounding areas with lots more higher up. Over the weekend the rain at lower elevations was snow up there and to that end we hiked the Panorama Trail on Monday morning wearing our crampons. The snow wasn't deep enough for snow shoes but it was slippery and those crampons sure make walking in slippery stuff nice and safe. (Old guys like me don't like to slip and fall). Monday night was rainy and that meant more snow higher up. So, we headed up Tuesday morning and did a nice hike again, wearing our crampons for good footing. There seemed to be about half a foot of new snow covering everything including the trees. Basically, a nice winter wonderland. After our walk we went in to enjoy a coffee while sitting around the wood burning stove, with the view all around us out through the windows. Down in the valley it was dark and gloomy and wet with the transition to snow at about tower 7. There was not many other 'customers' up there so we had a very relaxed time. Just as we were about to head back down, the staff received word that there was a problem with the tram system and that we would have to wait a while before we could leave, but, coffee etc was 'on the house'. They had just done the full annual maintenance on the system but the computer was indicating some sort of problem that they had to sort out before letting anyone ride down or up. So we continued to have the place almost to ourselves and after a while it was lunch time so we had lunch on them. By early afternoon the glitch was sorted out and we could depart. There are certainly worse places to be stranded for an hour or so and we were glad it was not a busy day up there as having to endure a hoard of tourists would have been the pits but that didn't happen so all was good. We don't usually think to take pictures anymore because its just the way it is for us but we did this time and here they are, just to display what our normal morning walk can look like.     And now our count down is at 4, counting down to 0, meaning just a few more issues of the Squamidian if I don't change my mind about ending this newsletter. Can't be blamed if I do because after over 800 issues and 15 ½ years it is getting pretty hard to come up with anything new to say. However, the jury is still out. I'd sure like to take a break but I know there are a few out there that would miss their Saturday morning read. Lorne sent in a small article that includes and idea that is valid – reader contributions would definitely show interest which would help to keep this going a while longer. To that end I'm going to challenge those who still bother to read this letter, should we continue into the new year, I'd like for each person on the mailing list to let me know that they do indeed want to continue to receive this letter, AND, for each person to agree to contributing on an occasional basis. A short story once in a while, that kind of thing. In other word, a commitment from the readers that indicates an on-going interest. Should we manage a way to keep this thing going for a while longer I need an agreement from everyone who wants to be, and stay, involved, and anyone I don't hear from will be dropped from the list. Sound pretty simple to me. Let me know who would like to continue to receive this, and a good contributing start would be a Christmas related type of story. Oh, stories and articles must always be real, the creation of the person sending it, an experience or memory etc, just as all of mine and Greg's have been all these years. A bit of a side-note, I've had readers say that they can't contribute by doing a 'reply to all' sort of thing because I send the letter out as a 'blind CC'. Well, a reply can always be done as an article for the next Squamidian. The reason I send as 'blind CC' is that it became necessary to protect some readers from others (believe it or not) and because not everyone wants to receive numerous emails, some of which become argumentative, and face it, there are a lot of thin skinned people these days, meaning that people tend to get their knickers in a knot for no reason at all. It just became easier this way so that's how it is and how its going to have to stay. doug
**** From Lorne Sounds like the demise of the Squad. I will certainly miss it as I look forward to hearing about the happenings out BC way. So will those I show it to and read it to. As you told about watching the log event, probably from the spit, brings us back, in our minds, watching as well. The Squad has kept us up to date on all the Gondola events, the bike trips to places some of us have been, and dentist appointments. Perhaps more contributions from readers could extend the life of this institution. Would do you say, readers? Lorne
**** From Russ Hey Doug, is it too late for an announcement in the Squamidian about my Sister? She had planned to have a knee replacement operation prior to her husband, Eddy passing, and has gone ahead with the operation in spite of her great sadness/loss. The Titanium knee job will leave her unable to look after herself in her apartment, and is now residing at Lannark Place for her rehab. She’ll be there from November 27th to December 11th, in case anyone is interested. The phone number she gave me was: 519-743-0121. Russ.
**** 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. |