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 Nor...

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 b...

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...

Coast Art Crawl Tue Oct 25th Moody sunset over Vancouver Island Note from Ed: Production difficulties this last weekend have delayed publication of this blog. Our six month old grandson has been in town (with his mum and dad) and he is sooooo much fun, the blog went down the running order! Newly acquired 4' x 4' artwork This last weekend has been the annual Sunshine Coast Art Crawl .  Stretching the 80km from Langdale to Earls Cove, 169 artists have their work on display.  Painters, potters, sculptors, wood and metal artists, and more.  With a population of a little over 32,000 the Coast is quite a creative hub.  Musicians and performance groups are also in abundance.   There is some amazing talent here! We have been on the search for a large painting to go on the main wall at the top of our stairs. A local Gibsons artist, Teryl Mullock caught our eye and we visited his studio on Friday.  A former architect who designed his own house , (and greenhouse...

Thanksgiving in Tofino Tue Oct 11th Heading to Horseshoe Bay for the second ferry to Nanaimo You may have seen the videos of dogs on skateboards. Jack, being a fan of the water, decided to try surfing, albeit in the shallow surf.  Undeterred when knocked off into the water, he was straight back on. We spent the long Thanksgiving weekend in Tofino, the surfing capital of BC.  Two ferries and 200km made it a day’s travel to get there, and back.  Canada is big.   The route from Gibsons via the two ferries to Nanaimo, then across by road to Tofino There is no direct ferry from the Coast to Van Island. Van Island and the Coast are supplied and serviced from mainland BC, which acts as a hub, mainly because there is no commercial freight demand between the Coast and Van Island.   Personal travel is not sufficient to economically sustain a direct service, according to a BC Ferries crew member I spoke to.   So the 'hub and spoke' arrangement is an hour’s wait ...