Sleet and Snow Flurry Blues: Saturday. February 22nd!

I have never been contained except I made the prison. -Mary Evans, actress (1888-1976) 

Photo by cyclist, Dany Ward, from Québec, I met in Stanley Park, last summer!

Hi Pat, Sorry for being so late in replying, but in fact the last couple of weeks have been rather hectic, with lots of social events. Nothing like being proud of a child, is there? gald to hear Chloë is doing good deeds for humanity. I'm happy Anna seems to be settling in fine. As I probably told you she's going to live in my house while I'm gone. Only a couple of days now. I have a feeling this upcoming visit is going to ber a pretty decisive one. See you soon, and I look forward to that. Fondestos to Corinne. Kjell

Hi Kjell!

Suppose we will be cheering for opposite teams tomorrow in Men's Hockey! Pleased that the Finns trounced the US. Yanks looked like they had had the stuffing knocked out of them after losing 1/0 to Canucks!

Glad I met the lads at McDonald and Point Grey this past Wednesday as wasn't able to ride on Thursday and Friday. We headed out to UBC. Then to Crown and back via Musqueam to Wesbrook Village. Robo Man took off for home via 16th and Whirlygig and I made our way back via Spanish Banks. Stats for ride, 75.09 km over 3:47'51, AVG 19.7 km/h, as I did an extended dipsy-doodle around Stanley Park/Prospect Point Loop. Took my Brodie as I thought I might get caught in a downpour so don't have GPS stats!
 

I was to up and away by 6:30 am Thursday morning as I was volunteering for Sarge, (He is in charge of Security for the SkateCanada's Synchronized Skating Championships in Burnaby this weekend.), as well as on Friday. Loads of fun, especially as I was not at all familiar with this aspect of the sport.


Friday was away even earlier, 6:15 am as we had to do a shift at a different rink. Was able to watch a few ends of the Men's curling but very little of the Canada/US game. Didn't even know the Canadians were ahead 1/0 until it was almost all over.

This morning it was Cora Lee's turn to volunteer, although she and Sarge didn't need to leave until 7:00 am. I was supposed to go for a ride with friend, Sara, I used to work with at UBC. She has become quite a cyclist since then and has two Whistler Gran Fondo's under her belt. She is currently fund raising for the
June 2014 240 km ride from Vancouver to Seattle in the Ride To Conquer Cancer. I plan to sponsor her and would like to make the same ride at some point if I can.


Ironically, the two best days we've had for some time and I was stuck inside!
Yesterday's forecast for Saturday predicted mixed snow and rain so we decided to reschedule our rides. Chloë just walked in the door, en route to her shift at GIB, and she said snow is starting to stick, so forecast was correct for once! I'm still hoping to go riding later in day if conditions allow. Looks like there may be a window between noon and 2:00 pm on Sunday so that is another possibility.

Anyway, hope last few days at home go well. Fond regards to Anna. Give us a shout when you are settled back into the rhythm of life in North Van and we'll make plans to get together. Dinner with Paul and Joan is on for March 15th as you probably know. Fondestos from Coriandre in Absentia! Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Pics: Taken on Thursday/Friday of Synchronized Skating Championships

Hi Sara! Suppose you are pleased that we are not out in this mix of rain and snow! I'm still hoping it will let up enough for even a short scoot around Stanley Park later this aft.
 

At any rate, wondering if you might be able to come for dinner next weekend. So far we are free every night but not sure which evening you would prefer. Extended forecast shows Saturday as a possible riding day with mostly cloudy skies. Let me know and we'll start on planning for both diner and cycling. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Pat, The snow seems to be getting heavier so good luck with riding!  We would love to come for dinmer.  Thank you so much.  Can we come on Saturday?  Bearing some kind of vino - anything else?  I could make desert, if you like.  Cheers to you both, Sara.

Hi Sara! Saturday, March 1st looks like a grand time. Consider this the date for our getting together. Thank you for offer of dessert but Cora Lee is gluten-intolerant so unless you can manage to concoct such a sweet thing, perhaps we should confabulate beforehand. Let us know.

For my part, even though warned by you, I thought I'd venture out today. Cheers, Patrizzio! PS: I'd like to ride to Seattle. How to do I sign up?

Hi Lads! Looks like there may be a window between noon and 2:00 pm on Sunday so that is another possibility, depending on memorial match/service/celebration for Casper. Hope weather doesn't affect your travel back from Seattle, Georgio. Thanks for bike maintenance/riding tips, Raymond. Please to say that I'm now doing more of the "right" things as far as cleaning/oiling are concerned and my riding style is, more or less, as advised/suggested, as far as uphill climbing is concerned. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Taken Friday at Synchronized Skating Championships, Bill Copeland Sports Centre, not far from the pedestrian/bike bridge we go over on Central Valley Greenway.


Hi Pat, Safely home but absolutely knackered after such a long flight – age must be catching up with me! The good news is - Tina was at the airport to pick me up so my absence during the well announced domestic disasters was forgiven! The bad news is that the damage to the house due to the flood was much worse than Tina let on – the ceiling over the bar has collapsed due to the weight of the sodden insulation so we now have a beautiful feature hole in the ceiling of the lounge! Never mind – thank goodness for house insurance.

Sorry my visit was so short but it was good to catch up with all at the Islay Inn; please pass on to Dusty that Tina was tickled pink with her painting! Can’t seem to access your blog – have you changed the title/address? Regards to all – will write again later when I’ve recovered. Ooroo for now Trevor

Hi Pat, The snow seems to be getting heavier so good luck with riding!  We would love to come for dinmer.  Thank you so much.  Can we come on Saturday?  Bearing some kind of vino - anything else?  I could make desert, if you like.  Cheers to you both, Sara.


Have never ridden in a snowstorm before. Couldn't believe how cold my hands became. Thought that I'd be fine as I had my new, fancy, smancy gloves from Cora Lee and believed I'd be impervious to cold and wet. Quite a significantly wrong assumption as I made for my first Prospect Point Hill Loop. Situation deteriorated rather rapidly from there on and I spent the rest of the ride trying, unsuccessfully, to reanimate the circulation in my hands. Rest of my body was fine but my hands were absolutely and unequivocally turning into unfeeling blocks of increasingly painful ice, as you can well imagine. 

Still, stubborn beast that am, I had decided upon 51 km or bust so did just that to my own detriment. Pulled into Ice Station Zebra with no feeling in my hands and only gained ingress to The Hearbreak Hotel because another tenant took pity on my frozen self. I must admit, Dear Reader, that my hands were so cold that I was unable to remove the keys from my coat pocket in order to let myself in. Chap in question opened the door and I managed to fumble/stumble my way into the complex. I couldn't, literally couldn't, lock my bike up and so left it to go and try to warm up. 

Cora Lee was on the phone when I staggered inside and was able to undo my helmet clasp, a manouevre I was incapable of performing, so unresponsive and clumsy were my digits. Once inside, I started to thaw out but it took a good length of time before I could manage to undress myself and run a shower. Quite an experience and I have much more sympathy for those climbers on Everest or Antarctic explorers, incapacitated by the cold.

Nevertheless, Stupido Extraordianario that I am, I forced myself to ride  51.36 km over 2:45'21, AVG 18.6 km/h in spite of the fact that it was, without exception, the most uncomfortable ride of my entire life! My finger tips are still tingling this morning!!! Cheers, Ice-Blockhead Patrizzio!

Erich's children would love to have you both attend the service and dinner...are you available?  Mom, I know you dislike Peter's company so it is up to you xoxo

I'm fine with going to dinner. Peter upset me because he kept asking if I knew where John was. I would really like to see Susan as well as the rest. Love Mom PS Chloe has booked the weekend off to spend time with you. That's wonderful of Chloe. Then we'll go as a family!

Dear Fancy Car Person!

Sorry, we can hardly go as a family when you drive such an upscale vehicle. We "poor relatives" here in Vancouver can only afford North American models. We'll eat in the kitchen with the servants so as not to embarrass you with yer 'umble origins. Don't worry about us, Ms Tinsel Town, we can always dream of the Lives of the Rich and Famous! Fondestos and Love from the wrong side of the tracks!

P, Thanks for skating pics. Ray and I were hoping for some images of you in the infamous right turn triple sow cow.
 

Kerry & I had a great trip to Seattle. Too far to go in 24 hours but we had a great visit with good friends -- and all went well.

Would like to do that ride. Shall we commit to finding sponsors for ourselves?

On our return, snow was falling south of Bellingham and blowing like a wet winter storm on this side of the border. No problems except for visibility and the border guard ...
 

Let me know how you want to schedule the Casper stuff tomorrow. We will be coming down from VRC after our match -- about 2 - 2:15 and then returning to VRC after the service. W

That's wonderful of Chloe. Then we'll go as a family!

Hi Seattle People et al! Trust you have many Duty Free malts! Cheers, Patrizzio!