2009 The 2nd Half

My friend Malcolm decided to move out of his boat and head to an apartment in Sechelt, about 25 km away. He bravely spent 11 years on his sail boat, all year long, but with a definite change in weather patterns, and unusual temperatures being recorded lately, it was time to move on. Record highs in B.C. are bearable as we don’t have the humidity of the east of Canada and record lows and snow here are also bearable, unless you live in a boat! I am now the sole keeper of the marina’s boats although there is a manager on the land, seven hundred feet away. Mind you there is nothing stopping an armada of Somalian pirate from sneaking up from the ocean side and plundering us unsuspecting boaters, so I take my watch seriously. Truth of the matter, I actually enjoy the quiet and solitude that it provides.

My daughter Alexandra came out from Toronto and joined me in August. She was really taken by the lifestyle, the forests and the whole scene in general and slept on “Second Choice”, finding it most comfortable. I had never experienced the fabulous Princess Louisa Inlet (mainly due to my lack of courage and boating talents) so Alex and I took the opportunity to charter a cruise up north to see the fiords, ice fields and mountains that exist just a few hours away by fast boat. The scenery was astounding and I recommend that trip to anyone who ventures out this way.

During her trip out here we were hoping to see whales and bears, but with no luck, although we did see lots of deer and eagles. Shortly after she headed back to Toronto I saw my first whale. They are not too common in the sheltered coves along the Georgia Straight but this year we have had a number of sightings. I was at work, when not far from shore there were two large grey whales cavorting and blowing off steam. The previous day I bought a new, small camera which I could carry around in my pocket because there are always situations where we say ”I wish I had my camera”, and here was such a Kodak moment. With no idea how to properly operate this thing, I fumbled about, trying to get a shot as I ran down to the shore line. By the time I was ready, they had disappeared under water then re-appeared, much to my disappointment, a long way off. I took a couple of shots and proudly sent them to Alex. She replied “I’m glad you told me it was a whale” and, right enough, it could have been anything out there!

The resort can provide many interesting scenes. Float planes, or seaplanes, are in use extensively, and as we are a resort well known for weddings, we often have brides, grooms and guests landing in the Straight then taxiing to our small dock. Once, a plane cozied up to the dock and out stepped the bride in full wedding gown, along with the groom, They were met by the local marriage commissioner and with the assistance of two of our staff as witnesses, were legally married right there on the swaying dock! Talk about an adventurous (or rocky) start to married life. I have been a witness to several marriages and thoroughly enjoy the process. Talking of float planes, the favorite hangout in Sechelt is The Lighthouse Pub which is right on Porpoise Bay where Westcoast Air’s terminal is. These planes take off and land right outside the pub and it is fascinating watching them, unless you’re a local. They completely ignore it all as if it was a bus driving away from a stop at Yonge and Eglinton!

An aside: A staff member came up to me and said “You know, you should meet my Mum, she’s perfect for you” Then added, “Mind you, there’s Dad…. she should have dumped him years ago!!”

Another aside: I often think of Toronto.
Walking through the Rosedale ravine trails and even Rosedale itself with its handsome stone and brick homes, bring back most pleasant memories. Standing on the interlocking brick sidewalk at Chestnut Park and Thornwood and taking in the grandeur of the homes that surround you, particularly after a snowfall.
Walking through the Mt Pleasant Cemetery in the fall is something you don’t always appreciate until you are away from such a colourful display from nature.
Going to the vegetable section in Sobey’s at Yonge & St.Clair and tap dancing up the aisle as “Singing in the Rain” is played while the veggies are being watered, and doing my best Gene Kelly interpretation!

I’ve decided my boat is a home, nothing else. I never ventured out of the harbour in 2009 and it’s not that I’m uncomfortable being in a boat, or out to sea, it’s that I’m uncomfortable out at sea….in my boat. If the car breaks down you flag down the next guy, or phone CAA, or limp into a garage but with a boat it’s different. With a disabled car, you know it won’t slowly drift along the road and slip into the ocean but with a boat, you could slowly drift into a road! It depends on the tide, the wind and all these things that you cannot control. The great advantage of being on the south west coast of British Columbia is that the boat can be left in the water over the winter, unlike in the rest of Canada, and that’s what I’ve done. At the end of November I plugged in a little space heater, left it at a low setting, took out my belongings and left. Last winter was a great experience, spending all but four weeks on it, but this year I’m heading for the mainland. The living space during the winter on “Second Choice” is very small as the aft deck, a favourite place for reading and cocktails, even when covered by its blue canvas, cannot be used, leaving 155 sq ft. to live in. That, plus cloudy days, short afternoons and dark cold mornings can tax ones resolve. It is a PYPFLIP, an acronym for the Price You Pay For Living In Paradise. This is a term my good friends Gwen, Chris and I use, and, thankfully not too often. Another good example of that is the B.C. Ferries in the summer, a source of complaints by many a Sunshine Coaster, due to long waits, delays and a high premium to make reservations. A return trip is between $40 and $50 depending on the day of the week and we do need at times to head into Vancouver and area for any large ticket items, major health problems or, just simply, to visit. Rather than complain we simply shrug these things off as pypflips.

Nearly falling off the frost and moss covered dock one morning as I headed to my car last week, hastened my decision to move on to land. My dear friends, the Wilsons have golfing buddies, the Marsdens, who head off to California to their winter home, and play golf. They have a beautiful home in Port Coquitlam and were looking for someone to house sit, a practice that is popular out here in B.C. as an empty house can be a target for bad guys. The fit was perfect. Work slows down as I mentioned, at work, from December to April and that is the time frame that worked for all of us. So here am I living in a large modern home in a pleasant town less than an hour to downtown Vancouver. I can walk out the front door and in moments be on a wonderful walk along the Pitt River with the snow covered mountains of Golden Ears Provincial Park as a backdrop. The whole area is famous for its blueberries, and at this time of year the blueberry bushes turn a rusty red colour, adding to the splendor of the hikes. To the west of town is the usual commerce, but when walking it becomes the choice of BlackBerries or blueberries… no contest. Since arriving here, I have joined the local fitness club and the local library and am now trying to determine what to actually do over the next few months! The Olympics are heading to the neighbourhood in a few weeks time, and it was as difficult to become a volunteer as it was to secure a ticket, at least at a sane price. My friends have a condo in Whistler and are getting $850 a night for twenty days. There has got to be something I can make a buck on!

A bus stop in Sechelt where they leave their chairs as they comfortably await their bus. I doubt if the chairs would last ten minutes in Toronto or Vancouver.

I was house and dog sitting a stunning home on Welcome Beach in Halfmoon Bay for a week this summer, and for six evenings in a row there were these beautiful sunsets.

That’s my trusty old Acura, well trusty now, since I’ve installed a new transmission and timing belt!

I had to include the remarkable work of art, made of rock, as you enter Rockwater Resort.

Of the thirteen tenthouses at the resort, three are close to the water’s edge and the photograph was taken inside #60 (the numbering starts at #51 and I have no idea why).

Just minutes from my Port Coquitlam home, is the beginning of Golden Ears Provincial Park.