Expedition Canada

And We Can Water Gardens!*!?#! Sun Dec 18th  Water seems to have percolated underneath the ice and snow covering Chapman Lake. As a result, water restrictions have been eased back to 'Stage 1' - more here.   Pools can be filled, cars washed and lawns Interesting!  Not sure of the Christmas credentials of some of these characters! watered.  The cars do need a clean and are looking particularly grimey after four months of restrictions. I suspect not too many people will be filling pools, hot-tubs maybe, but with snow forecast, temperatures around 0c and nothing growing, watering gardens is only for the foolhardy. To the frustration of residents, the Sunshine Coast Regional District are considering putting up water rates by 25%.  There is considerable opposition given that users have not been getting the service they have been paying for. But new investment is needed. Lack of past investment and long term planning is the root of the problem, coupled with new develo...

Oh, and more snow! Mon Jan 3rd 2022 Happy New Year all.  We find it hard to believe it was nine months ago today that we arrived in a locked-down Canada, having departed a locked-down UK. We have vivid memories of arriving at a deserted Heathrow airport and going straight to the front of a check-in desk, nobody in security (so much so the security manager was keen to joke and chat and show off his new technology) and then on to an empty Air-Canada aircraft to Toronto.  The only brief delay was the Canadian embassy official  checking we were legitimately allowed to travel under their pandemic constrained reuniting family policy. [Note to friends wanting to move to Canada, export one of your youngsters, get them to apply for Permanent Residency and then they can sponsor you to apply under their reuniting family schemes].  On arrival in Toronto, getting through immigration, Covid testing and transport queues to our designated quarantine hotel was ama...

Water Restrictions Tightened Hopkins Landing Beach Fri Aug 20 Sat Aug 21 Saturday kicked off with the overcast skies of the day before, rain was forecast.   It did not disappoint.  By lunchtime it was falling out of the sky.  Reports suggest it did provide some help to the firefighters in the interior as the day went on, but wildfires still rage. I've been curious to see the rain around the house with the chain 'downpipes' on the deck instead of conventional pipes. It was quite mesmerizing to watch the water tumble down the chain links.   The week it rained was the same week water restrictions were tightened across most of the Sunshine Coast, which has moved to level four, the highest level.  This means there is a ban on " the use of tap water for things like garden hoses, sprinklers, and irrigation. It also cannot be used for pools, hot tubs, and garden fountains".   It has also hit hobby farmers, though after lobbying they have been given ...

Morning 5k Sat May 15th The morning beach walk provided no new photographic opportunities and though I was out early (0630) I was disappointed to find several walkers beat me to it! A quiet agenda for today.  A visit to the Public Market in Gibsons for some fish.  Fred did the shopping and I had a coffee with Jack in the sun outside.  He was offered water but declined!  While Fred completed a few shopping needs, I watched the activities of Gibsons Marina.  Gibsons from the Marina Set  between the local mountains and islands, it has a stunning backdrop.  I was particularly interested in the boat launch ramp, getting to understand the subtleties of a clean boat launch, without getting the car or your feet wet.  Getting the stern of the boat in the water, removing all the straps, making sure someone dock side had a line and then a quick reverse and brake and the boat was in the water.  Quite impressive!  Food for thought, will need so...