Expedition Canada

Plus a Bison Banquet Thu Nov 24th  After putting my pre-order deposit down in Nov 2021 for the all electric Rivian R1S (SUV), I finally heard last week that delivery will between October and December ........ 2023.  That's the good news and bad news in one!   I have finally been able to see one in the flesh at a customer event last Saturday in Vancouver.  Nick and I had a boys day in town checking out the vehicles, which continue to get amazing reviews.  Top Gear reviewed the R1T pickup .  They are impressive vehicles and the larger battery pack has a range of circa 320m (514k), though if I test the 0-60mph in 3 seconds regularly I suspect that may be a tad optimistic .    The event was busy, suggesting there are quite a few pre-order customers in BC, the launch province for Canada, the only country outside the USA where Rivian vehicles are being sold at the outset.  It's not surprising as BC has the highest proportion of EV sales in North America, with Tesla leading the pack,

Remembrance Day in Canada Mon Nov 14th  Remembrance Day is a Federal holiday in Canada , which means schools and other public services are closed.  Some businesses shut for the day as well.  The ceremony around the two minute silence is very similar to the UK with one exception, young people appear much more involved in the day's activities.   In Vancouver , a youth choir was part of the act of Remembrance.  The winner of a school Remembrance Day poem competition read their poem as part of the service.  I can't think of a better way of engaging tomorrow's beneficiaries in the sacrifice of those who went before us and who brought about the freedom we enjoy today, than by involving them in these events.   Despite recent rainfall, our drought continues and the Emergency Order has been extended.  Businesses that use water as part of their activities had a reprieve after the deluge and were allowed to restart water use, but have now had the ban reimposed.   Chapman Lake - which

It's not all rain Sat Nov 5th Coastal rain falling as snow around Chapman Lake I was once told that if you can't see the Pennines from Manchester it's raining; if you can see them it is going to rain.  Our reference point is Vancouver Island but the parallel is apt.   The good news is that the hundred+ days of drought is over, but there is still a shortage of water.  The bad news is that in the Chapman Lake watershed it's falling as snow.  Unless there is a warm spell and we get some snow melt, water restrictions could remain in place till Spring.  'Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink' as the Ancient Mariner might say. We have gone from shorts and tee shirts to winter gear in a little over two weeks. Even low-lying Gibsons had a few inches of snow this last week.   The first, seasonal 'atmospheric river' has just passed through leaving a trail of destruction in it's wake.  Trees have been brought down across power lines and large areas o