Friday 11 August 2017

Early Morning Liisa's Little Tunnel Blues: Friday, August 11th!

The hands that help are better far / Than lips that pray. / Love is the ever gleaming star / That leads the way, / That shines, not on vague worlds of bliss, / But on a paradise in this. -Robert Green Ingersoll, lawyer and orator (11 Aug 1833-1899) 



Liisa returns to The Little Tunnel: Liisa was up and ready to ride by just after 7:00 am, perhaps earlier, although I didn't get up until 7:15 am. Late night with more than enough hootch, on Thursday evening, so I really needed a good push to clear my head. As soon as I ground some beans and put on a pot of java for Joan and Paolo, I suited/lubed up and we were probably cycling up Burns, towards the start of the KVR by 7:50 am, perhaps a tad later. At any rate, Liisa was riding my first Brodie as its size was a better fit for her than my second. Actually, was more than delighted that her choice "forced" me to ride this bike as I'd not ridden if for at least three or four years. Had forgotten just how comfortable the high handlebars are. This being the case, I have now decided that I will take it into Freedom to see what are the widest tires that I can mount on it as I want to be able to cycle to Chute Lake and beyond, to Kelowna, I trust, at least at some point. I know, from personal experience, that the KVR surface, beyond the Little Tunnel is not as well-graded as the stretch between it and Penticton, even rougher between Chute Lake and Myra Canyon Trestles, so wide tires are probably necessary.

At any rate, for someone on an unfamiliar bike, Liisa was just like Jack Rabbit Slims and I had the devil of a time keeping up to her! Morning, although still quite hazy with smoke, was quite cool. Not all the many bikers out, at least below Naramata Road, although quite a few dog walkers. Once past Hillside, Liisa we started to have some lovely vistas of the lake and vine covered benches although Summerland was quite shrouded by the smoke. At arawana we took a slight dipsy-doodle to take a look at the Kettle Ridge housing development under on-going construction there. Couple of surveyors  as we whizzed past on the gorgeous, smooth tarmac, now pushed about a km past where I had explored this past spring. At the end of the paved surface, a large piece of equipment was working high above us on the next level of terracing. Some simply spectacular views for anyone choosing to buy or build here.

Back on the KVR, we had about 6 km to go to reach the LT and it was a lovely last stretch, Liisa certainly enjoying the stunning vistas one has from this section, although I warned her to stay well clear of the sheer drop-off, nothing to laugh about or at least the last laugh ever for the unfortunate who should skid or somehow else topple over the edge! Once there we circled at the end of the tarmac there and started our return. Liisa had thought she might take off her outer top once we were at LT tunnel but I urged her to keep it on as with the fairly swift descent, (25-30 kph), there is quite a cooling breeze. She followed my advice and we started back, loving every moment of the wonderful downhill grade, having earned the effortless descent on the steady pull all the way to LT.

Once we reached Naramata Road I suggested we take it back to  as I wanted to show Liisa where Kanazawa was, as well as Roche, on Upper Bench Road. Pointed out a number of others that we passed, Little Engine, La Frenz, Township 7, Misconduct and Upper Bench and when we reached Haven Hill we had about 40 km on the clock and I asked her if she wanted to return to Burns or continue on, with me, as I fully inteneded to log my basic 51 km distance. She was more than happy to keep riding so I took her on a mini-tour of PTC, Lakeshore and Riverside, (Pointing out where we might start tomorrow's ride, if it transpires, just past the SS Sicamous, to take the bike path along the Channel to get to the start of the KVR on the west side of Skaha, to cycle to OK Falls.), and then a quick tour of the Trade & Convention Centre, Community Pool &Gym and then the new casino. After this we looped back on Westminster to make our way to the bottom of Government and then on the side-streets off it, home. Fabulous ride of just over three hours so extremely pleased that Liisa was able to ride my Brodie and revisit some of the terrain that she had ridden quite a few years ago. Hip Hip Hooray! Map and Stats for ride: 
 

Liam - show mum! Love S See below about Sinéad, Sheila's daughter. 

http://www.straight.com/music/946201/fresh-and-local-sinead-sanders-ghost-simpler-time
Good afternoon, We are excited that you will be joining us for our first ever pick-up party on Friday, August 25th. Feel free to pop by anytime between 5:30pm and 7:30pm at our wine shop located at 400 Smythe Drive. DJ Shakes will be onsite entertaining with Brodo Kitchen serving canapes. I would like to ask at this time if you could confirm if you are bringing a guest so that I may finalize numbers with our caterer. We look forward to welcoming you to Painted Rock next week! Best Regards, Jennifer Hi Jennifer! Yes, my wife, Corinne Durston, and I will be attending your "first ever pick-up party" on Friday, August 25th. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! Hi Patrick, Thanks for confirming. See you then! Jennifer

Hi Dame Judith, Malt Man, et al! Thanks for the wonderful salad, (I enjoyed the overlefts of same, for my lunch!), and hootch. The Mainland Freeloaders certainly enjoyed meeting you and would like to stay at your place next time they are in town! Liisa and I went for a wonderful ride on the KVR this morning and then the three were off to the Vanilla Pod for lunch, followed by an afternoon of tasting on The Naramata Bench. We are just waiting for Jugos Dom Pedro and Lurkin' Lynne to arrive, with crustaceans, and then the feasting will continue. Fondestos to you both from the all of the soaks here! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Patio life and Arrivederci! Through a glass darkly! Guard cat Etta! 

Scary photos. Hey Corinne, are you still my date for the Oyster and Bubble event. Patrick are you planning on attending. I will get you a ticket if so. Corinne, your my date/ Judi Hi Judi, yes I'm still interested. Please remind me of the date and time? Thanks Corinne Hi Dame Judith! Trust you are well. I do apologize for not replying sooner, [No excuses but plenty of reasons!], but I will not be joining you and Lady Dar as you indulge yourselves, yet again! I'm sure it will be a wonderful affair. Cheers, Patrizzio! Girls just wanna have fun! Oysters and Bubbles, Baubles, Bangles and Beads!!! Tell me about it!!!     

Hello Liisa The Terrible, Paulo/Joan, Jugos and Lurkin', et al!  Thanks, as well, for the wonderful, wonderful dinner this evening, Chef Liisa, Sous Chefs Paolo and Joan, as well, it goes without saying, to FedEx Dom Jugos for muling the lobsters from Halifax and to Lurkin' for the ingredients for the remarkable cocktails! [Your shaker is still here, Naramatians, so we can arrange a "handover" in the next little while.] Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Friday's Fig & Lobster Feast! 

Patrick, Thanks to you and Corinne for hosting dinner on Friday, and thanks to Liisa for the great meal she built around the lobster. The duck confit appetizers were amazing. It was a very enjoyable and quite boozy evening. Best wishes to all, Peter Hi Cocktail Shaker Man! Thank you for the fabulous, fabulous boozy cocktails! Let me know when you might be passing by and I'll ask Etta to hand over your shaker! Lady Dar is going to be down in Osoyoos, from Monday until Wednesday, this coming week, luxuriating at Spirit Ridge with Flamin' and Sarge,and other friends and family there before wedding this coming Saturday, in Kamloops. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: gluten-free figs; Jugos and The Babes! I'm a highly respected, (and exorbitantly paid!), consulting engineer and I can't even figure out this damn claw!!! 

Hi Patrick, I'll drop in early afternoon on Wednesday after ⛳️ if that would work for you. Peter Hi Putting Peter! Poifect and I'll even make you a duck confit sandwich! Cheers, Patrizzio! Hi Patrick, Thanks for the duck sandwich offer, but I'll be lunching at the golf club following Senior Men's Day. Probably 2 PM by the time we finish up. Cheers, Peter Hi again, Senior Man! That's fine, we can just move right into cask strength malt! See you around 2:00 pm, after 5:00 pm in Lobster Land so we are cleared on the sun past the yardarm restriction! Cheers, Patrizzio! Perfect!!!





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