Route Regulare and No Rest for the Wicked Blues: Friday, March 20th!

 Wanting to meet an author because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like paté. -Margaret Atwood, novelist and poet (b. 1939)

Sehr geehrter Korrespondent der Schneeschuhzone!! Thank you for your cutting edge, live action reportage, on The Fall of Master Patrizius, as well as your more than helpful assistance in contributing to the Rise of Hauptmeister Patrizius! Certainly much appreciated and your Pulitzer Prize-worthy photos will soon appear in an album, coming to all better email addresses near you! Must away to develop negatives and then a ride is in the offing! Fondestos to Josinta and you, from Lady Darjeeling, working at spring clean-up in front garden! Cheers, Patrizzio!

William Ellis

By the time I had edited the snapolas I'd taken for the remarkable snowshoe outing, from Snowflake, out of Apex, on Thursday, and completed a few of the household chores assigned by the Harsh Taskmistress of The Burns Street Bistro it was just before 1:00 pm when I headed out for another ride. Towards the end of the above-mentioned snowshoeing trek my legs felt weary enough that I thought the next day would be an opportune time to give them a rest. However, with the sun shining brightly I couldn't resist hitting the road. The wind was out of the N at 17 km/h, gusting to 21 km/h and the temperature was almost shirt-sleeve balmy at 11º C. While my legs felt pretty good I didn't relish fighting the head wind all the way to Trout Creek so I decided to fall back on my route regualre, yet again, as a slight, [just slight, mind you], nod towards not being invincible, Dear Reader!

However, since I'd done just this, over last two rides, I simply couldn't face following the exact same loop patterns so I started out with Churchill, the shortest loop, then moved to Burnaby, the next shortest, finally riding across Westminster to the SOEC parking lot. One or two more cars here than earlier in the week but otherwise almost completely empty so I whizzed around without having to worry about dodging any vehicles. 

By the time I'd finished this circuit I headed for the Dynes loop to provide the rest of the distance I required and when I'd completed this segment I headed back along Lakeshore to make for Ellis and home. Was back in time to find Rowan James being read to by Nana. He and Chloë had been for along walk with a friend, and her newborn, from pre-natal yoga. I had time for a quick shower while The Winnipeggers went home and Lady Dar finished preparing Jackpot Casserole, the dinner we would take to Chloë's that evening. Was quite pleased that my AVG was 18.2 km/h, slightly higher than that for Wednesday's, 17.9 km/h, in spite of demand of snowshoe trek. Hip Hip Hooray! Garmin Map and Stats for ride: 

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4677873116#.XnY6HbQl-8A.email

AllTrails Map and Stats: 

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/recording-mar-20-4-37-pm-bf9ce4f?p=-1

Hi Pat and Corrine: How are you feeling? I got your St Patrick’s card, very sweet, thank you. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind the past week since we were in India and we decided to come home earlier than planned. That was a nightmare trying re-book flights to Sydney. Below is what I posted on Facebook:

Ron and Maggie in the garden of our hotel in Jaipur

Presently (Monday,March 16th) at the Alt hotel in Toronto heading home on the 11:45 am flight to Sydney. It was a surreal time getting home from Jaipur India. We were sitting in the garden of the hotel finishing dinner with Maggie and I was on the verge of spending $3400 per ticket on a one way economy flight to Toronto. At 9pm we got the text a flight came up in an oversold flight, but pack our bags and get ready to get on a 3:45 am flight. We hired a car, packed and were out the door at 9:30pm to drive the 4-5 hour drive to Delhi in absolutely crazy traffic! We luckily got a confirmation of our flight: Delhi to Vancouver , Vancouver to Toronto, and Toronto to Sydney. Ron downloaded all our flight information while driving to Delhi. Donalda took pictures of our boarding passes so we had that too. 

[Belfry Beach near Gabarus- note the snow!] Just to note, we started last Wednesday (March 12th) and resigned ourselves to staying until Friday March 20th, but luckily after a lot of futile attempts trying to contact AC, Donalda, Beryl and an Air Canada agent at Sydney airport were successful at getting us a flight out of Delhi.

We are being very careful constantly washing hands, using hand sanitizers, wiping down surfaces, wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance from people wherever possible. I assume we will have to self quarantined for 14 days when we article so thank goodness we have a lovely home to spend time in, friends to call, Netflix, and the great outdoors!

So now we are entering our 4th day quarantine. It’s not so bad since Ron and I enjoy going out and exercising together. We spent 3 hours at the beach yesterday which was amazing . We just walked listened to the ocean , podcasts and talked to people. The 2dUs before we cross countried skied so that was also good. It’s starting to warm up so I’m holding to start riding my bike. You have been out a lot. So in light of all that is happening, I don’t think I will be visiting this year. I think travel may take on a different look in the future. Very interesting times! I hope you are all feeling well especially the grand baby!Love Ski 

Andrew's "pet"!

Hi Ski! Lovely to hear from you and know you are safely home from India. Can only imagine what it must have been like booking a flight let alone journey to Sydney! So many friends and family have had travel plans cancelled, as you can well imagine, hitting fairly close to home with our own cancelled trips. Pleased you enjoyed St Patrick's Day card and celebrated my namesake. Flamin' and Sarge drove up for the weekend, on Thursday evening, as they were starting to get cabin fever at Harbour Terrace. We spoke to them on the phone yesterday but won't see them, unfortunately. 

Earlier this afternoon, Lady Dar picked up wine releases from Poplar Grove, Upper Bench and Township 7, [Release from Bartier Brothers, out of Oliver, is also ready to be collected and we were planning to stop in, en route to Spirit Ridge where F/S invited us over Easter. Not sure, now, if that is still on.], so we have plenty of wine to see us through. Fortunately, my malt cabinet is relatively full although Lady Dar uses only the most treasured and expensive bottles for hand sanitizer!

Have plenty of books to keep us occupied for aeons and more series on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Crave than you can shake a stick at. Just finished The Valhalla Murders and just started Hunters: Al Pacino stars in the series 

inspired by the real-life Nazi hunters of the mid-20th century and Operation Paperclip, the US government’s covert recruitment after the war of around 1,600 German scientists, engineers and technicians – including many former Nazis – to try and gain the US an edge over the Soviets in the cold war and the space race.

Coming Friday, March 27th, is Ozark, [a crime drama which tracks a family on the run, except there’s nowhere for the Byrdes to go. Mart, (Jason Bateman), and Wendy, (Laura Linney), made a deal with the devil when they agree to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel, in a summer resort community in the Ozarks.], Season 3. Simply remarkable performances by everyone but what is really quite fascinating to see are the role reversals taken by Linney and Bateman as series unfolds, and Marty starts to understand what terrible, terrible criminal forces he has unleashed. 

Not to mention all the films that are available. Lady Dar just reminded me that The Cold War spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is now on Netflix but we can only watch as George Smiley slowly uncovers the Soviet mole if we have a UK or Japan IP address because Netflix geo-restricts users who don’t have a local IP address for a specific region. However, a premium VPN is like the perfect spy. A VPN can bypass all of Netflix’s geoblocks by tunneling your IP address through one of its UK or Japan servers. The Netflix catalog is unlocked and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is ready for viewing. Not really sure I want to do this or, more importantly, pay for it, as so many other films are more readily available.

Fondestos from Lady Dar, to you both Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Clark Kent Jr. and speed reading! [Lenses fell out of shades Chloë picked up for him in LA.] Rowan James showing off his socks and how he does his "shouldares" and leg kicks! Chatting, while bathing, ["Whale" tub on kitchen counter.], with Aunt Pamela, on FaceTime, from Winnipeg, city, to Winnipeg, street! Nanny Dar; Master Gardener Darjeeling!

FLASH HIKE !!! In celebration of my birthday today, Margaret and I have decided to take a 3 hour hike up the SE flank of Mt Hawthorne and back
Starting and ending at Mahoney Lake parking spot on the road at trail head.  

A walk both on and off trails; up the flank in the sunshine and back down the same way. If you would like to join us on this Birthday hike, we love to take a walk in the woods with you on this spur of the moment - moment If you would join us. Pls call David Pacey Happy Belated Birthday David! Many, many more hikes and snowshoe outings to come. Cheers, Lady Dar and Patrizzio!  I went riding as I didn't read David's message until after I returned from my ride! Probably wouldn't have joined in as cycling was easier after The Great Snowshoe Adventure!  Hi Patrick, Are you going on the hike to Hawthorn on Monday? Is it leaving Penticton at 9.00 am Is it a hike or snowshoe? Thanks, Colin