More Good News and Bad News

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, according to local news reports.  If there is any advantage in waiting 2 years for the vehicle, it is that customers who ordered before Feb 2022 when the price went up by 20%, will have the car for the original price.  I am booking a test drive which I hope will take place over the next month.  I'll let you know how it goes.

While we are on the subject of good news and bad news, the State of Local Emergency has been cancelled, but we remain in Stage 4 water restrictions as we continue to have drought conditions.  It's all about the  watershed freezing over and Chapman Lake not filling.  This is the latest picture.  We all hope that the rain falling at lower levels, below Chapman Lake, will be sufficient to raise water levels in Chapman Creek to enable the water restriction to be eased.

A frozen Chapman Lake

A week last Wednesday I had another boys day out when the owner of the yacht we race on Sundays (another Mike) and I took Mandala over to Thunderbird Marina in West Vancouver for a pre-sale survey.  The buyer lives in the Yukon and wants to sail the boat down to Mexico in Spring and keep it there for sailing. That is some sail!

The day started off with thick fog and we weren't sure we were going to make it.  In the end we managed to set off at about 11.00 as the fog gave way to clear blue skies.  It was a lovely sail until we hit a cold, strong headwind between Bowen Island and Horseshoe Bay.  We both felt underdressed. 

Rounding Keats Island

The marina dock and boat lift is at the back of a very long, windy and narrow, boat filled channel which at times looked as though there was no passage through.  I gave up trying to work out the value of the floating real estate, which given its location in West Vancouver, was probably into squillions!  

It was a pretty slick operation hoisting the boat out and jet-washing the hull, which was in pretty good condition.  With the boat up on stands and our gear recovered, we headed back to Horseshoe Bay for lunch and for me to catch the ferry back.  The other Mike was staying on to paint the bottom.

The yacht was a great boat to race in, except in light winds.  Out in the Salish Sea in heavy conditions, she felt safe and handled the swell with ease.  

The new boat Mike is eyeing up is a racing yacht and is 5' shorter and 6.5' narrower!  If it all goes through we could have an interesting race season next year.  Until then we are crewing on another boat throughout the winter, so more cold days ahead.

Mandala on the dock

The Humpback Whales which have been much in evidence in recent weeks, did not appear during our crossing but they returned to Bonniebrook Beach over the weekend while Nick, Lizzie and Seb were over.

Locals don't remember a year when we so many have been seen along the Sunshine Coast. 

A plentiful supply of food is one of the main reasons according to a local expert, though at this time of year many Humpbacks are heading down to Hawaii, where the majority of BC's population spend the winter and where the mothers calve. 

I have managed to get some good photos in recent days from one of the many pods that have been around, often at the same time.  

Tasli Shaw of the Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea Photo ID project managed to identify one of Humpbacks whose distinct tail pattern I managed to photograph. The Humpback goes by the name of Jackson (BCY1025), who has been in the Upper Strait of Georgia (Salish Sea) throughout the Summer and into Fall.

Jackson (BCY1025)

In 2020 there were estimated to be around 3300 Humpback Whales off the BC coast though a new survey is needed according to another local expert.  

If it is the food that is attracting them to the Sunshine Coast, Janie Wray, CEO of North Coast Cetacean Society says that "it has been fascinating to see the growth of Bubble Net Feeding.  Twenty years ago just a few groups would feed this way, but it has been 'learnt' by other Humpbacks in certain social groups and it can now be seen much more widely.  Bubble Net Feeding is where a group of whales dive deep below a shoal of prey and swim upwards in a circle blowing bubbles, corralling their prey for whales closer to the surface to enjoy".  

They have been quite a way offshore so it was only with my large lens and some heavy cropping that I managed to get these shots.  

Humpback tail going down

At times they have come close in to shore and you can hear their raspy breath as they shoot waterspouts upwards as they come up for air.

Since the weekend, sightings have tailed off suggesting that the migration south is well underway, even if some whales remain in the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia) throughout the Winter.

It was a bit of a wildlife weekend while the Kitsilano branch were over.  Humpback Whales, Bald Eagles, River Otters on the beach.  Young Seb was particularly enthralled by three Black Tailed deer, a doe and two of this year's fawns, grazing in next door's garden when I took him out for a walk in the stroller (buggy to us Brits).  They were just a few feet away.

A pair of Humpbacks on Bonniebrook Beach

Seb continues to develop his enthusiasm for all things Jack and tends to wave his arms and legs about and roars whenever he is in sight.

Jack, is eyeing up the potential playmate and ball thrower, though that's not going to be happening any time soon - he's seven months old on Friday.  That said, they seem to get on well and Jack lies patiently while Seb grooms him by pulling out clumps of hair from his ears and back!

Thursday night was Bison night and we went to the local Persephone brewery for a six course tasting menu - a Bison Banquet. It is the closest we have come to a Woodspeen or a Harrow takeaway experience since we have been on the Coast.  It was excellent, full of taste and well presented.  The owners of the farm, the Bison Guy and his wife gave a talk and took questions during the meal.   They are passionate about environmental stewardship and grass fed Bison and beef.  You can read more in the link above.

Corned Bison (tongue) with pickled beets,
parsley sauce, apple and aioli

I was trying to establish if it is possible to buy a rib of Bison for Christmas, but they appear to sell freezer packs, which is great unless like us you only have a small freezer.

The chef, who we have got to know and is part of the team behind these events is from Sussex!

Now the high pressure weather has moved off and the foggy mornings are no longer, we have had some lovely sunrises and morning light.

Some more pics below.

Capt Cronk on the way over to Thunderbird Marina

Last wisps of fog lifting off Keats Island

Sunrise on Bonniebrook Beach

Seb checking out solid food in his Gramps-made high chair

Morning light on Bonniebrook Beach

Beautiful cloud formation

Log boom remnants