Whistler Retreat

Dodgy Drivers

Sub-zero and he's in shorts!
Sun Dec 12th 

Friday morning brought low cloud and snow showers so we abandoned skiing for the day.  We have a season pass which reduces the pressure to go up the mountain, rather than waste an expensive day on a day/weekly ticket.  There will be more opportunities.  In any event we discover that now we are no longer 35/34 year olds, it hurts more the next day!

We had a wander around Whistler Village and then headed up to Lost Lake for a walk around the loop trail.

At the moment it's still open to walkers, but once the snow builds up it will be closed to everybody but cross-country skiers.  This is the walk we did in summer, past the slumbering young Black Bear a couple of metres off the side of the trail.

There were few people out as the snow started falling more heavily as we got further round the loop.  It was very picturesque and Christmassy! 




As we started around the actual Lake it looked as though several people had decided to test the strength of the ice by the beach. Either very brave or stupid, given that not all of the Lake was frozen.  They managed to stay on top of the ice and no chilly unintended dips.  

Despite the temperature, Jack was still interested in checking out the Lake and would have gone swimming if he could have found an area without ice.  








As we walked my eye was taken by a small tracked vehicle.  A Whistler warden was just unlocking the office and he said the 'Can-Am' could be changed to a wheeled vehicle in summer.  It had been so successful they were planning to buy more for the rest of Whistler, but leave them tracked.  I want one!  [Charlie - you need one of these at Bowden!]

After our excursion around Lost Lake we headed back to the apartment and for lunch when the phone beeped to say our 1730 ferry back to Gibsons had to be cancelled due to bad weather.  The 1830 was still running, where our booking would be honoured.  The 2030 had also been cancelled.  Although we had more time to kill in Whistler we decided to head off a bit earlier as the snowfall had increased.  We were glad we did.  

The first 60k was slow going, well slow for the sensible drivers; there were still a few that thought it fun to drive down the fast lane at top speed.

We then had the experience of watching a novice driver ('N' plate on the car) in a Jeep Wrangler, who had been tailgating the car in front, brake then drift sideways in slow-motion after jamming on his brakes only to miss the car in front by millimetres.  

We increased our distance from him as he continued to drive too close to the car in front.  Fortunately he turned off after Function Junction.

Aside from fast drivers it seems that some Canadians won't or can't dip their main beams when driving.  It made the drive down to Squamish, quite hard work with the poor vis, crap headlights on my Discovery and driving snow.

The ferry was slightly late leaving and it was a smooth crossing as usual.  I suspect bookings were down, so weather was a good excuse to cancel some crossings!

On Saturday I took Jack down to Hopkins Landing for a beach walk.  Some intrepid young ladies in bikinis had decided to take the plunge.  They were in the water for no more than a few minutes.  Very brave I voiced, or very stupid we all said in unison.  I know which way my vote would go!  We did a house viewing in the morning.  Big property, lots of potential, but no view without some aggressive chain-saw work on an adjoining owner's trees.  We didn't make an offer.

Saturday night was party night, at the Suncoast Woodcrafters Guild Christmas bash.  Sounds riveting doesn't it?  It was an agreeable evening.  It was for Woodcrafters and 'apprentices' and Fred and I had good natter with the couple we shared a table with.  They had gone through the buy/build process, so it was good to get their insight.  Given the mature stage in life of many of the 'crafters', it was not a late night!

The party was a bit of a challenge for some with differing interpretations of the current Covid rules. It produced an under-current between the pro-mask and non-mask wearers.   I guess a similar problem to those under the microscope of 'party-gate' in the UK press.  Why do so many politicians lack basic integrity and believe that an electorate will 'do as I say, not as I do'. They appear not to lead by example.  Rant over. 

Back home, the weather remains cool and the mainland and immediate island mountains are snow-capped.  The snow threatened for last night did not arrive but is forecast to snow tonight.  Some local friends are coming in for Christmas drinks later today which we're looking forward to.

Wasn't the final F1 race interesting!    















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