Summer 2009

We have been blessed with a wonderful sunny summer out here on this strip of land known as The Sunshine Coast. Many of the tourists think we are an island as they had to take a large ferry or a small float plane to get here. There has been talk of building a road out to Squamish (between North Vancouver & Whistler) but I don’t believe we want it badly enough. It would turn us into another Cape Cod.

Partying with Staff and Friends

Partying with Staff and Friends

Late May and early June brought my sister Dorothy then brother Sandy and his wife Irene out to B.C., Dorothy to visit her grandson and Sandy to visit, via a cruise, Alaska then up to explore my part of the world. Irene is the most patient of animal/bird watchers imaginable. She helped us spot whales, otters (right outside my boat) and eagles so I was pleased to do my part and came up with three bear sightings, one particularly close up, but thankfully on the road in front of the car. Nobody volunteered to get out, nip around to the trunk and retrieve the cameras. Another was up in Whistler where a rather large black bear decided to wander across the fairway, oblivious of the foursome attempting to tee off. Ho hum, seems to be the attitude for bears and local golfers alike.

Meanwhile, back at the resort, the dry weather caused a brush fire that could have created a real threat to the world famous tenthouses. However like good boy scouts, we were prepared as there are many fire hoses strategically placed along the way to counter this possibility. By the time the fire department arrived we had the fire out, leaving only a stretch of burnt moss/lichen and a most remorseful guest whose cigarette end had caused it all.

We offer our guests the opportunity to sail in our 47 ft Jeanneau sail boat, Caledonia 11 and provide crew and picnic boxes. I was seconded to the position of deck hand to assist the skipper and have been out a total of twelve hours, ranging from two to six hours at a time. This sailing gig is hard work at times, pulling on the rigging and using muscles that I hadn’t used in some time. Exhilarating and fun but obviously seen as a rookie to our brave guests who could tell that my sailing experiences were severally limited. I excelled when it came time to handing out the gourmet sandwiches and cold beers! Ah, work.

Sailing on Caledonia 11

Sailing on Caledonia 11

The sailing may not last much longer for me as we are allowing a couple other employees who have youth and experience in boating on their side, the opportunity to be crew. It is fascinating to study the young students who are employed for the summer. We have a great bunch this year, coming from Ontario, Quebec, Australia as well as the local ones. I feel my age at times when working alongside the 20 year olds. I’m laboriously explaining how something should be done but find that they have figured it out almost immediately.

Similarly, when luggage has to be moved my young counterpart throws the cases around effortlessly whilst I struggle on, losing faith in the concept (or was it myth) that I am exceptionally fit for my age. Today’s kids have so much knowledge and confidence, and yet entitlement is a more familiar emotion to them than sacrifice. Our fault as parents I guess as we worked hard to make it so.

“There is no better frigate like a book to take us lands away”

Emily Dickinson.

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