Wild Waldron Weekend Blues: Friday, January 17th

I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (1706-1790)

Padrone,

I don't want to seem too solicitous but I thought I heard faint howling coming across the Salish Sea laster eve. Did your bouncer, Dustup, have to remove the offending party -- the one with smoke coming out his ears?

Did the cards come out? Did Rosie the Riveter and Dustup put that smokephist in his place at the table -- or under?

Did your steed get back onto the road? Much concern as you can tell. W

Hi Patrice,

We made a reservation for the 5:00 so barring any unforeseen circumstances
hope to be there by 7:30 ish. We will come bearing wine at least and I'll
pass along to Colleen re the appies so she can hopefully round some stuff up
today. She doesn't have school but I have to work but will leave here by
1:30 in preparation for departure.

Can you please give me the address of Madrona manor again and I can plug It
into my GPS. Thanks and we'll see you soon. Cheers, Al

Hi Big Al!

Here are the co-ordinates: You turn right off the Island Highway onto Northwest Bay Road at the Petro Can station and then stay on it until you turn right onto Beaver Creek Wharf Road. (Earlier, you will pass a sign for The Rocking Horse Pub, on your left, and you have about 2 km to go.) Once on BCWR you follow it until it meets Madroña Drive and then you make a left turn. Only a few houses and then you will see a yellow fire hydrant. You can park your vehicle on the crushed rock next to the hedge and then walk down the driveway. You will probably remember most of this once you leave the highway. I'm sure you won't have any trouble but call if confused/lost/disoriented/drunk or all of the above!
 

With your reservation, you should be here by 7:30 pm so we should be able to have dinner together. If not, we'll leave overlefts on steps and we'll see you Saturday morning!

PS: Colleen, don't worry about appetizers, if you are pressed for time. We plan to go to the the Farmer's Market in Qualicum Beach, (Big Al and Patrizzio will be riding there and back! Perhaps even to Englishman River Falls after QB!), on Saturday, after we wake you up, sleeping/shivering in your truck as you will have been, so I'm sure we can pick up tasty local "stuff" there. PPS: Don't forget your bathing suits!

Hello Meddlesome Maddison!

Thanks for you Jewish Mother's obsessive concern about Smoked Rathtrevor. (Enough smoke coming out of your ears, already! Oy Vey! Smoked salmon, lox with cream cheese and bagels, maybe a sip of Mogen David, I can understand, but smoke pouring out of every orifice? Oy Vey!) In fact, we had a wonderful evening. They arrived close to 4:00 pm and we had barely finished putting away all the luggage/food/hootch Cora Lee and her parents had muled form the Islay Inn. They themselves pulled into the driveway at just after 3:00 pm and I was barely back from the bike store!

As I mentioned, it wasn't ready at 12:30 pm so I returned about an hour later, still hoping to go for the short spin to the the Englishman River Estuary/Rathtrevor Beach Park before hordes arrived. Bike was ready to go when I arrived and I was quite pleased that it was only $15 for repair and cable adjustments. Thanked Jordan, pleasant young man who had worked on bike, and said I hoped I wouldn't see him again! Walked my steed out to Grogg's car and was just about to open trunk when I heard a loud hissing! At first I thought it was a truck's air brakes and then I realized it was the rear tire! Flat as a pancake!!

Returned to store and said: "I'm back!" Jordan was a bit dismayed, of course, but he pulled wheel off and examined tube. Found another hole but in a slightly different spot. No burrs or spoke end problems so he replaced tube and when he was in the process of putting the tire in place he noticed a bulge in bead as he was working tire onto rim. Apparently there was some wear/crack/fissure in the tire bead and when the tube was fully inflated it "pinched" tube, causing puncture. Initially, bike had been hanging on a stand but when I walked it to car, weight of bike itself caused the pinch/puncture.

Ironically, I had asked him, when he was putting second tube in, how the tires themselves were holding up. As far as he could tell, on the outside, they were fine. Pleased to hear that as I'd ridden quite a bit, as you know. Anyway, closer inspection then made it obvious that I needed a new tire! I am now the proud owner of a Maxxis Re-Fuse, ("training tire- providing excellent traction, durability and plenty of road miles in any condition.  Maxx Shield helps provide a tire that Re-Fuses to puncture.") Hope the hype lives up to itself!

Glad that I didn't have to put on the Maxx as even Jordan had a difficult time. He freely admitted that these tough tires are tough to put on the rim. Anyway, he only inflated it to 100 psi to let the tube "settle" for a few rides. He then suggested I pump it up to 120 psi. Plan to stay reasonably close to home in case further problems develop. At least I have my cellulare and Support Vehicle, (Not a solicitous driver, however!), in case of Burning Ground Emergency!

At any rate, once Rathtrevor and Natasha had had the grand tour, (After seeing inside, Smokehouse Man said he wanted to take a look outside. Nothing but an obvious, pathetic excuse to shoot up, the monkey on his back craving its next nicotine fix!), we enjoyed some tasty appetizers and wine, chatting, sitting in living room, watching the river otters and seals glide by, a small fishing boat with a net trailing behind it, lights at intervals on the surface floats, working Craig Bay. Two whites later we repaired to the round kitchen table where Smokey the Bear and I took on Dustup and Rosie the Riveter. We had a grand time while Cora Lee and Natasha, visited, getting to know one another, plotting nefariously!
 

We were both vulnerable by the time we broke for dinner, a wonderful meal of chicken breasts, (pounded to poifect tendernes, by me, on front steps with a rolling pin), Yukon gold spuds, roasted zucchini/carrots and a tomatoe/boccaoncini/basil, (Scissored with great precision by obsessive/compulsive Kurtenheimer. He became incredibly fussed whenever he came across a piece of furniture that was a nanomillimetre out of alignment with what he felt should be its placement!), salad. Very pleasant meal and we continued to visit over the course of it.

Kurt helped me clear table and then we returned to bridge, back in the kitchen. We had most of the cards and, funnily enough, I made all the contracts I won while Mr Know It All went down with his bids. In fact, to give him credit, he took this in good stride, even when I reminded him of his surprising lack of skill! After we won the rubber we repaired to the seating area and enjoyed the roaring fire and dessert of shortbread/snowballs and cherry cake, (gluten-free), from Rosita's bakery! Couple of snorts of Glen Garioch, 48%, to make everything blend in. Must say, he was quite careful about imbibing as he was driving.
 

Around 10:22 pm it was time for them to head home so we said goodnight and waved them on their way, leaving behind the manuscript for Felix's Brother for me to savage! Everyone enjoyed visit so perhaps we can entice them back when you are here. Too, too bad you are not coming over today as Big Al/Colleen and The Squamoids, Ruthless and Ricardo, will be next. Former have reservations on 5:00 pm ferry, latter hope to make 3:00 pm sailing. Overly Solicitous Solicitor is in court until around 1:30 pm, I think. Not sure how they are handling cars as Ruth will be driving down from Squamish later. Anyway, we'll have enough for two tables of bridge so should be fun.

Must away as I want to have a bite to eat and then suit up for my ride while Gang of Three do some shopping. Cheers, Padre Padrone! Pic: You are not alone with your injury! 

Thanks for the info and yes, I did remember the hot tub, but it's always
good to have reminders. Rick would hate to miss it. See you soon!

Hi Ruthless:

Thanks for calling. Wonderful you'll be here for entire weekend! Before I forget, could you bring along four packs of bridge cards. Can't find any cards here and we forgot to bring any. [Not quite true. There are two decks but they are "wine cards" and very difficult to play with, given design!] Thanks. I'm sure we can pick up tasty local "stuff" at the Farmer's Market in Qualicum Beach on Saturday for bridge prizes! Looking forward to seeing you soon. Cheers, Patrizzio!

The Ziemanski boys at the lake Christmas day at the rink. Pam

what a great photo!! Can't believe how grown up tiny cousin Dustin is !!! xx

Stats for today's ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/431469325#.UtnU0nZ_pzE.email 

P, promised to let ya know -- just got word from Mark. This gathering is at 1:00 tomorrow in Whiterock at his father's condo complex. I do understand if you were here we would probably attend together. W

Hi Giorgio!

Thanks for letting me know about this. Yes, as you say, we could have gone together. Please reiterate our condolences to Mark and family.

On a brighter note, I had a grand ride this afternoon while Clan Durston drove to the outskirts of Nanaimo, shopping and luncheoning! Clarisse insisted Coriandre go to walk-in clinic, (She has a horrible cough.), and it transpires she has infected sinuses! On a course of antibiotics so I guess I'll have to drink her share of wine until she has finished her prescription!

Anyway, I didn't want to head north in case I had to call for help so made for Red Gap, (At least they would be coming back that way if I needed to be collected!), intending to do The Fairwinds Loop twice. (Saw my second pair of deer on the last round in much the same place that I have seen them on earlier rides/visits so wonder if they keep to much the same territory. Anyway, the two Bambis paid me little heed so I plan to bring a pellet gun next time and give them a little sting on the flank for being so unfriendly!) Did just that, first counter-clockwise and then clockwise, going to Petro Can station at the end of each round. Once that was under my belt I made for Cottam Point as I wanted to log 70+km. Compared to the RGFL, this loop is hardly any work at all so quite a nice break, except for the Senior's Walking Group, Nordic Poles and all, spread out right across the road, almost two thick. Too thick is right! Might need the pellet gun for them as well.
 

Once I was close to home, near Wall beach Road, I knew I'd need almost another 10 km to hit the 70+ mark so I made for Parksville, intending to turn around just before hitting the Island Hwy E but then decided I'd do some loopage around Craig Bay Estates, a high-end cookie cutter complex. Kind of interesting to see the development and the roadways are great for cycling so befoer I knew it I had logged about 5 km more. Then, by the time I'd turned around near the highway intersection I knew I could manage 77 km so made for Wall Beach Rd and was soon on auto pilot. Then, when I was passing Madroña Manor with 77 km on the clock, I thought I might as well try for 80+ in case Big Al isn't up for any meaningful distance domain. Did some creative dipsy-doodling on Arbutus and BCWR and sailed into MM at just before 4:00 pm with 81.15 km on the trusty odometre.
 

Quick shower and change and a hit of java and we are now waiting for The Squamoids to arrive and then the bridge will begin! Had a text from Big Al and 5:00 pm ferry is late, running on one engine so who knows when they might walk in the door. Keep your ears open as you might well hear quite a bit of howling this evening as well! Fondestos to your Solicitous Sisterhood! Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Pics: Laster evening; Wine cellar guard cat waiting to pounce on any intruders this morning!

Met the parents of the owner (the chef) it looks great, sissy you should go!!

http://www.deliusrestaurant.com/about.html

 Hi Goils! Where did you meet them? Cheers, Dad?

At the tree lot volunteer appreciation dinner. One our long time volunteers brought his brother/sister in law who are the parents!! xx

 

Great to have restaurant connections in LA!