As a general truth, communities prosper and flourish, or droop and
decline, in just the degree that they practise or neglect to practise
the primary duties of justice and humanity. -William Henry Seward,
Secretary of State, Governor, and Senator (16 May 1801-1872)
Was up to feed the starving felines at 6:30 am as I'd enjoyed a wonderful sleep so responded to Duke's murmls then. Spent the first part of the morning answering messages and working on our monthly household accounts. Around 10:45 am I started to ready myself for my walk as I wanted to be away and back before the rain started in earnest. [Only a few drops from time to time, over entire outing.] Forecast suggested a
few hours later in the afternoon, and then all night. Hope our rain
barrels fill up! Really, really need precipitation as wildfires have
already started, as everyone probably knows. Closest to us is out of Osoyoos,
along and to the south, in steep terrain, off Richter Pass. Two years ago
I rode back home from Spirit Ridge and could see significant evidence
of the fire, [It had blanketed the resort to the extent that we could
not see the swimming pool just outside our balcony earlier that Saturday morning!], now past, along
the highway as I made my way up the the pass into the Similkameen.
Was walking down our back-lane, making for the start of KVR and was just on Eckhardt when Guillermo rove by in his truck, waving to me. Day was deliciously cool so I knew walk would be less taxing than in the baking heat of the last few days. Just before the trail crosses Cambie I was passed by a dog walker and quickly recognized the pooch, Oka, as I'd met her and her owner, Marilyn last week, further along the KVR. Anyway, was terrific to have walking companions and we chatted as we headed north. Just before the start of the hard-pack we bumped into Gary Enns, walking his bike. He is a high-school friend of Lady Dar's, from Steinbach, and Chloë reconnected them when she made his acquaintance at Lakeview Terrace, a building in her portfolio. At one of the Strata meetings they talked and discovered their Manitoba roots and one thing led to another.
Waving goodbye to Gary, we continued along, Oka making friends as we passed other dog walkers. Marilyn was going to turn around at the trestle but I persuaded her to continue as far as Lochore Road as wanted to show her both the hops farm and the Trail Store, across the trail. When we approached the hops farm we noticed a chap working around one of the remaining uprights so I asked him what was intended for the land, most of the field almost completely graded now. He was quite informative saying that the owner had decided to end the hops growing project. Last summer there was a terrific win and it toppled most of the high growing plants, snapping the large uprights like matchsticks. He continued to say that the owner felt the hope enterprise was too, too much work for too little return so was casting about for another crop. Vineyards, perhaps, but when I mentioned cannabis, he laughed, but didn't deny possibility!
Thanking him, we walked across the trail, towards the store, and I noticed some activity there. Two young women were walking towards the store itself, from behind the lot where sculpted Christmas trees were growing. [We bought ours there, two years ago!] As well, an older woman was working on the planter beds along one side of the shop. I asked them if they were open and Nicole, [the new owner, as it turned out], that they were having the grand opening on Saturday. The other young woman, Brittany, was a good friend, and the older woman, Gloria, her mother, both out from Toronto. Nicole and her fiancée, [Never found out his name, Dear Reader!], had purchased the property last October, [They were selling Christmas trees but we didn't realize this was the case so found ours at a grower's lot in Summerland.], and hope, at some point in the future, to start a craft brewery!
They have already talked to chap who owns hop farm, [He is an agricultural consultant from Alberta.], and he will advise them on growing their own barley. For the moment, they are renovating the house which came with the property and will rent part of it as an AirBNB. Ruger, their gorgeous Rottweiler, wanted to play with Oka, but tall fence kept them apart. Wishing them luck with Opening on Saturday, I said goodbye to Marilyn and Oka as they turned back here. I continued on for another fifteen minutes or so, reaching the parking lot, just below Naramata Road, where Chloë and I had set off from, this past Sunday. Chatted with a couple, from North Van, using the fairly new paved bike park, a series of small, undulating berms. When I first came across it, during construction, I though tit was intended for skateboarders! They headed off towards Penticton and I turned around to follow.
Had been out for just about ninety minutes by then so was pleased a the pace. Attributed this to the relative, continuing coolness of the day. In any event, I strode along and before I knew it I was well on my way, past the cemetery, and a few moments later who should come sailing along the trial but Jack Rabbit SLims and Motorized Mary, good friends, initially, from the hiking group. However, due to medical reasons, hip, eyes and shoulder, for all of us, none of us have been hiking, of late. Funnily enough, I had planned to stop by Mary's house, on Cambie, on my way home to see if she wanted to join me on one of my walks, [She invited me to do the same, a month or so ago, but our schedules clashed.], and here she was! I'd seen Gilliana more recently as she and Phillipo play in our bridge club and they hosted a few weeks after they were back from Arizona.
Great catch-up chat, if a brief one, and, waving goodbye, they continued on. A short distance later, I paused to take a snap of the historical cow catcher and then was soon crossing Vancouver Avenue. I decided, when I reached Cambie, that I would return via Haven Hill as I'd never walked down this slope before, always whizzing along on my bike. Passed a number of gorgeous plantings of Iris along the way so it was well worth the slight extra distance. Back home at just after 2:00 pm so was pleased with the three hour junket although AllTrails reported 2:44:13 as actual moving time, 3:07:21 as total elapsed time! Have to blame it on friends who wanted to jaw. Of course, if I'd been riding, I'd never have stopped, Dear Reader! Once in the back patio I took off my hiking shoes and left them outside to air out. Found Miss Etta on her favourite chair cushion, under the cover of the gazebo, sheltered from the on again-off again, slight drizzle. Map and Stats for walk:
Back inside I just had time for a delish sandwich and then Lady Dar started haranguing me to have a shower and change as we were off to PAG's Kitchen Stove, [I call it the Kitchen Sink!], see Wild Rose: Fresh out of prison, a Scottish woman juggles her job and two
children while pursuing her dream of becoming a country music star. She
soon gets her chance when she travels to Nashville, Tenn., on a
life-changing journey to discover her true voice.
We were in plenty of time to find decent seats and I was able to visit with Mary Lee, [twice in the same day!], and Carol Hoenisch, [She and her husband, Tom, were on bike tour in Poland.], as well another couple Lady Dar knows from The Flatlanders. She wasn't able to move around with her sore leg so I referred to her as Mr Chester! The film itself is simply wonderful, an absolute Must See! A real handful of Kleenex tear-jerker, so filled it is with honest emotion, between mothers and children, between dreams and reality, between the release of music and the soul-destroying constrictions of a stable, yet repressed life. In some ways, mainly musical, a Scottish version of The Committments! What a great double bill!!!
Back home to phone Chloë and she arrived about 6:45 pm. We headed out to Rona right away. I had already picked up the chit for the lumber I required when I bought the bricks the day before so all I had to do was pay for lumber. Spent a few minutes finding the planks I wanted as I knew any splits would allow lumber to deteriorate more quickly. Soon had five loaded and back home. Duke wanted to help unload as he ended up on car roof as we were carrying planks to front of the house. Didn't take long to fit side planks into groves in bricks and then all I needed to do was cut remaining board in half for end unit. This done, the extension was complete!
Boards are a few inches higher than in other two beds so I will dig out a small trench below the bottom plank to lower the sides, making them line-up with existing ones. Not really a big job as I imagine I do most of the trenching with planks in place, simply shoveling small amount of earth to be removed into the enclosure itself. Might need a few scrapes with a crowbar to finish the job. Then I plan to empty our two compost bins into bed, the bottom layer which I'll then cover with topsoil. Will have a beter idea of how much earth we'll need once this is done.
Time for dinner then and we enjoyed a scrumptious baked spaghetti squash, topped with turkey meatloaf and mixed salad. After dinner, Chloë left, snagging most of the overlefts, The Rotter, and Lady Dar read in front of the fire. Cool evening so heat was welcome. I did the dishes and when finished we repaired to the Rumpus Room to watch more Hinterland. I did two sets of my shoulder exercises, [Had completed first before Chloë came to collect me earlier.], while watching and when the episode was over, I finished off with the ones I am to do while lying on my back, on the bed in the guest bedroom. Full, full day so I was asleep pretty quickly, once I'd had a quick shower, Lady Dar still reading.
Hello Bibliolaters! Just a gentle, pre-long-weekend reminder that we will meet to discuss The Great Alone,
at 7:00 pm. Dessert is the theme, liquid or otherwise, but appetizers
qualify as well! Read On! Cheers, Lady Darjeeling and Patrizzio! Pic: Bambi requests profiteroles!
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