Benson/Tess Dalmatian Blues: Monday, January 13th

Several excuses are always less convincing than one. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963) 

Hello to our Favourite Cape Breton Islanders!

Trust you finally made it home, out of the blizzard. It was great to talk to you, especially under the more than trying circumstances, at least for you two! Have been meaning to send along the snaps Flamin' brought back from Dartmouth, shortly after we chatted. No excuses but plenty of reasons! (Several excuses are always less convincing than one. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963) As I think I mentioned, I was getting ready to head to Vancouver Island to house/cat sit there. Not up until just before 9:00 am on Sunday morn and consulted AccuWeather to determine that I had a window of riding opportunity between 9:00 am-11:00am so quickly changed into my cycling gear and headed out to make for Red gap. Thought that I'd be able to log at least 40 km before showers started but as morning unfolded, sun broke through the cloud cover and it remained dry for the rest of the day. Quite lovely in fact, although there was a very brisk wind, ("Breezy" according to forecast. Breezy indeed!), maddeningly blowing directly into my face no matter which way I rode! Explain that if you can, Dear Reader.
 

At any rate I decided to complete three Red Gap/Fairwinds Loops, (Ist and 3rd counter-clockwise), before heading for Cottam Point to kick up my mileage. Dlighted that I'd been able to extract such a grand ride when I had but high hopes for half the distance. Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/429151854#.UtMc--3-RCE.email

Home by just after 2:00 pm to rinse off my bike and then have a quick shower. Was planning to reward myself with a session in the massage chair but Jean and John arrived around 3:30 pm with Benson and Tess. Once we'd greeted hounds and their owners we sat down to enjoy some fabulous appetizers of Polish sausage and Le Brie D'Alexis, a double-créme, our guests had brought from Victoria. We started with the 2012 Paul Mas Viognier, Jeannie Sue a 2012 Fetzer Shaly Loam Gewürtztraminer, 12.0% as she finds this is the only white which does not cause her to have an allergic reaction. We chatted, sipped and nibbled in front of the fire I'd laid while John unloaded their car and The Sisterhood arranged the pre-dinner delectables.
 

Followed, in short order by a 2010 Luigi Bosca, Malbec, 14%, (JS migrated to Peligrino as she simply cannot take much alcohol), to help cooks prepare dinner and man servant lay more wood on the fire. Dinner of unbelievably tender, melt in your mouth sirloin steaks, seared to perfection by John, baked potatoes and roasted vegetables, (red peppers, carrots), with a 2010 Glen Carlou, Klapmuts, South Africa, Grand Classique, (a blend of Cabbage, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc), 14%, all courtesy of our generous guests, and then the 2006 Les Pallières Gigondas Groggage had kindly left. Dinner in front of the gas fireplace with nothing but the flames, candlelight and the glow of our cheeks to light the sumptuosity.

Dessert was even more decadent with Jeannie Sue's literal work of sculpted culinary art, chocolate rose petal cake, (gluten-free to boot!), which went very, very nicely with The Macallan Whisky Maker's Edition, 42.8%, in front of the fireplace, watching Downton Abbey. Not a bad way to end a more than lovely time with close friends and sleeping dogs, dozing in the warmth of the flickering fire.  

The Victorians will decamp around 11:00 am and I'm hoping to go for another ride, dodging showers, if forecast is to be believed. Fondestos from Coriandre to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: coals ready for an Arbutus log; John, The Cook/Butler, presenting cake for inspection to Duchess Jean and Lady Coramandel; pièce de résistance; a young Ronaldo!
 
Hello Lady Patrizzia and Sir James!

Trust you are both well and things are fine in early 2014. Meant to send news sooner. Fondestos from Coriandre to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Big Al!

Trust you are both well and things are fine after Wrap Party, Clooney encounter and skiing at Grouse. Loved the pics of the stunning Babes and the Photo Booth goofs! Don't worry about bridge lessons as we'll only be playing for $1 a point! too bad about The Young Brothers but I understand. Just let us know numbers when you know for sure so we plan accordingly. Fondestos from Coriandre to you both. Chat soon. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Patrick, Many thanks for the clip on Vancouver. Was very clever! Yes I agree that moving from Vancouver to Winnipeg wouldn't be an option for most people. You would spend half the year escaping from the cold! Had an email from one of Gayle's cousins, who lives near Red Deer Alberta, just before Christmas who said it was minus 40. I just couldn't live in those temperatures.
 

Dear friends of ours from Ottawa pull their trailer down to Florida each winter to escape the Ottawa winters. Because of the horrendous weather it took them over 7 days. They got stuck around Maryland because of the weather and had to stay there over a couple of days after almost wiping out the trailer! 

The New Year have come in with a bang weather wise. We have been hit with some amazing storms off the Atlantic. We have had waves upwards of 50 feet hitting our shores which have caused havoc in some places. Quite a spectacular sight though. Things have calmed down again now but they are forecasting more of the same over the next couple of weeks. It's truly amazing to watch the power of the sea. Some parts of the massive granite cliffs have been broken up and tossed around like pebbles.

We are off to Branscombe for a couple of days break. This is a little place on the Devon coast. Have booked into a lovely old pub called Masons Arms. Marnie and Ant had their wedding reception there. We want a desk for the hallway so are spending a day in Honiton which is full of antique shops. Hopefully we will find something suitable.

Had our monthly lunch with the sisters today to catch up on their news and gossip! Had our usual jolly time with them then went for a nice walk along the river Fal.

All good wishes to you both. Derek

Gigantic wave hitting the harbour at Portreath. The force of the previous wave demolished most of the 19th century tower at the end of the pier. This wave finished it off!                           Hi Storm Tossed People!

Very, very sorry to hear about the destruction of the 19th Century tower at the end of the pier at Portreath! What awesome, in the true sense of the word, power those gigantic waves wield. Closest I made it to there was Porthtowan. We've experienced some pretty strong winds, of late, over the week just past,100 km/hr at times, along both the mainland coast and the east coast of VI. I was worried that Cora Lee might have had trouble with delayed ferry crossings but fortunately wind that might have interrupted service didn't develop as forecast.

We only got as close to Branscombe as Kingsbridge. Lovely coast, etc., what we did see however. Am sure you will have a lovely time, especially since it is an old pub! Like Coriandre's 3rd cousin's place, in Devon, the former Malt Scoop! Hello and best wishes for 2014 to your sisters and their husbands.

Busy weekend coming up as we have three sets of couples coming in overlapping waves, starting on Friday night. Should be fun as some play bridge so we'll have enough people for two tables. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you and Gayle. Feline regards from Cimcky to Spudnik! Cheers, Patrizzio!

P, hope all is well in the kingdom of Grogg. I expect you got out today if the weather was the same as ours. I rode 45 kms today -- my first ride since the crash. My wrist was the only nagging issue on the ride -- I cannot put any weight on it on the handle bars. Since the ride the bruise on my leg has swollen up rather spectacularly so I am heading off now to a walk in clinic on Broadway just to be sure it is not something serious. 

I just spoke to Mark a few minutes ago and his father has been in hospital for the past week. He went in with pneumonia and he has an ulcer but he may have had a stroke today. Mark has been out in Whiterock all week and was heading back out when I spoke to him. Mark seemed distraught as one might expect.

Have you connected with the smoker? More shortly. Fond regards to you and C, W Several excuses are always less convincing than one. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

Hi Crash Test Dummy! Very, very sorry to hear about Marcus' Dad. Most distressing, of course. I guess that means he will probably not be coming to Groggland. Also, disturbed to hear about your own medical problems. I do hope bruise and attendant swelling are nothing serious and but a reaction to anaemic porch cleaner! Clots are nothing to fool around with so I'm pleased you are seeking medical advice/attention in spite of your Robo Man penchant for imagining everything will go away as long as you put more stress on the injured parts! Please let me know results of consultation.

For my part, yes I did have another grand ride today but I needs must back up a tad. The Victorians decamped around 11:30 am this morning and I suited up right away to go for another ride, dodging showers, if forecast was to be believed. Had decided I'd make for Qualicum Beach but did some extended dipsy-doodling, en route, through a few of the neighbouring resorts as well as through campgrounds at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park and then the neighbourhoods near the estuary of the Englishman River before heading into Parksville. Quite enjoyed the ride between Parksville and Qualicum Beach, particularly since the grades didn't seem as challenging as I'd found them in the past, even though there was a pretty steady head wind from outset of ride. Rode past the beach at Qualicum and on towards the Qualicum Indain Reserve but turens around when I had a bit more than 42 km on the clock.

With the wind now at my back, return was a piece of cake. Once I'd climbed out of Qualicum Beach rest of route is basically a series of long, downhill grades, interrupted by one or two slight hills, but nothing worth fussing about. When I was close to Beaver Creek Wharf Road I continued on Northwest Bay Road to Wall Beach Road adn then it was home to Madroña manor without so much as a real dipsy doodle, perhaps a slight hint/nod at one but nothing worth recording! Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/429747321#.UtStqfbAkfY.email
 

Once back I rinsed off my trusty steed even though there was very little clinging debris. The road surfaces had been quite dry so that was another pleasant aspect of the ride. Once changed, I threw together another mixed green saladin while Cora Lee was preparing a scrumptious salmon/jumbo shrimp sauce for a pot of gluten free spaghetti, rice and quinoa. Never had latter before and I found it hard to believe that they were not pasta regulare!

Enjoyed our dinner and chatted about coming week or so. Connected with Nicotine Man and he and Natalia are to come for dinner on Thursday. Cora Lee is leaving for the Mainland, catching the 8:30 am ferry tomorrow morning for various meetings, appointments. She will return with Clarisse and Dusty on Thursday morning. What are your plans for a visit. You are welcome anytime. Depending on your nagging injuries, you could hitcha ride with Coriandre and pput your bike on rack if you don't think you can manage ride to HB/Parksville. Al and Colleen and to come on Friday but there are three bedrooms, a bunk bed off laundry room and plenty of large couches so room enough for everyone, even the Road Junkies! Let me know and we'll plan accordingly.

Fondestos from Cora Lee to you three. Chat soon. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Sunset Friday night and moon; coals ready for an Arbutus log; John, The Cook/Butler, presenting cake for inspection to Duchess Jean and Lady Coramandel; pièce de résistance; beach front this morning, (Soon to be a "Dusty" masterpiece, featuring bird house!), before brunch of wonderful omelette, courtesy Mme. Coriandre, with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, (Scullione Patrizzio), and artisan bread slathered in local blackberry jam; Benson/Tess.

Settling in on our 1st day- the view from our room to the resort's private Island.
We'll head over there tomorrow on the boat for some swimming, and sample the restaurants. Lovely place, lot's of room, pools, restaurants, beaches...

Had a couple of dips in the ocean and pools today, good food, lot's of fresh fruit, produce, and variety of very good restaurants. Saw 2 large stingrays this AM from the room, plus a beautiful leopard ray under the pier. Reminder that green bins and recycle are tomorrow AM. Pets to Cimcky! Cheers, Gregg & Francesca 

Hello Everyone!

In message, before this one, from Toronto, Grogg reminded me to put chlorine tablet in hot tub, along with weekly cocktail of some pool chemical. (He'd walked me through this over the few days I was here before they left.) And I thought that Cimcky was responsible for taking out garbage, changing his litter box etc. Good thing Cora Lee is here otherwise nothing would get done. Guess if he doesn't say anything about the wine cellar we can help ourselves but only to those bottles which are ready to drink! On Thursday and Friday he could only find about six, out of 1,700, that were ready to drink. Lucky that there were just the three of us here at the time!
 

Cimcky, if you don't wheel those green bins out to the curb right now, I'm not going to change the water in your two special glasses! I don't care if you complain to The Millionaires, just do it now, or I'll really give you something to complain about! Cheers, Patrizzio/Il Stupido!

Hi Sting Ray People!

Resort looks terrific. Recycling and green bin all outside at the end of the driveway already! Cimcky asleep on his blanket on my side of the bed, next to my pillow! Forecast looks like cycling weather right up and through next Monday so pleased about that, of course. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you three. Enjoy the private island. Cheers, Patrizzio

Is the bin full of empty bottles. Wayne

Hi Sarge!

Trust you are well. When do you head to Edmonton? After today's ride, before I showered I loaded The Millionaires' full to the bursting recycling bins into my car and we took off for the Parksville Recycling Depot. Wouldn't have bothered but I wanted to empty my car of all the recycling in the back to make room for Clarisse and Dusty and their baggage when they come over with Cora Lee on Thursday. Once back, I showered and changed and then threw together another mixed green saladin while Cora Lee was preparing a scrumptious salmon/jumbo shrimp sauce for a pot of gluten free spaghetti, rice and quinoa. Never had latter before and I found it hard to believe that they were not pasta regulare! Fondestos from Cora Lee to you and Flamin'. Cheers, Patrizzio!