Monday, February 13, 2023

Once Lost But Now Found.


NeitherWhiskeyNorRye
FoundWeekendVille



Over the last thirty years I've spent many weekends that, while they were not entirely lost, were often lost opportunities.

Not lost opportunities to get data analyzed, lectures prepared, or work done.

But instead lost opportunities to do things with friends and, especially, family.

This weekend, just passed, I did my best to make sure that didn't happen.


****

Early Friday afternoon I closed the box, stuck it in my pack, and took off on my bike for Bridgeport to catch the 620 bus to Tsawwassen.

One hour and thirty-five minutes later I rode off the lower car deck of the no fun/no autobahn krautrock ferry at Swartz Bay and started my ride into Victoria on the Lochside trail before swinging right at Reynolds School to head west on the Galloping Goose trail almost, but not quite to Horganland (i.e. Colwood).

Which meant that forty kilometres and a little over two hours later I was in my Dad's kitchen briefly making like Ray Milland in Billy Wilder's classic noir, downing two beers in quick succession with a back porch grilled steak sandwiched in-between.

Saturday, littler e., who is going to school at UVIC, spent the day with us on a project that didn't quite work out in the end.

But that didn't really matter because the fun was all in the doing and for dinner that night it was the traditional fish 'n chips from Salty's on Goldstream followed by the watching one from the PVR'ed Jeopardy bank, this despite the fact that the true slayer of the answers offered up by Ken Jennings is actually Bigger E. who was not with us this time.

Sunday morning I reversed the journey, apparently being spotted by my brother where the Goose crosses Saanich Rd just feet from where we used to play at our own Grandmother's house fifty years ago. 

In the end, I was back home tucked away in the subterranean homesick blues room just in time to watch the second half of the big bowl of commercials, the end of which was one big fizzle courtesy a phantom call that messed up what was otherwise a pretty interesting game.

Regardless, ten years from now I'm pretty sure I'll remember the bike ride, the waiting steak, and the fun with my youngest kid and her Grandpops a whole lot more than those Phila Eagles' fourth down wedge runs or the buckets of local anaesthetic that were used to free(ze) up the KC Chiefs' quarterback's high ankle sprain.

OK?


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And speaking of whiskey and rye, why, exactly, did Don Maclean have the good old boy's drinking both rather than the one and the same anyway?


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15 comments:

Danneau said...

Whiskey and rye, a rhyming way to die.
I sat through most of the "contest", quite content that no one can read my thought bubbles...I didn't even recommend that we dial Dave Zirins recommended "Behind The Shield", a real hatchet-job on all things NFL (https://offers.mediaed.org/behind-the-shield).
Erica and I are regulars on the Ken Jennings trivia thingy and I do really well at a lot of it, but I never studied up on American presidents, and almost any entertainment category will leave me in the dust, except in cases where a careful reading of the clue will give a good shot at the appropriate question.
Last eve, we also broke out my mother's recorders (she played in a small ensemble on Saltspring Island prior to shifting planes in 2010) and turned grandson Josh loose on them. Just thought of the idea that I was 48 when Dad passed and 60 when Maggie upped stakes and what a joy it is to have that comforting presence in a life for that long. I hope the Ee axis gets the same.

Graham said...

Whiskey and rye. My guess is whiskey, being Don is American, is Bourbon or, seeing on how he mentions “them good ole boys…” maybe it’s some home made version of such. The rye would of course be Canadian whiskey which is what we make it out of up here. Of course Danneau may have hit upon it and it’s just a rhyming, timing convenience.
I gotta say too, being a bit of a bike rider myself, that’s a good two days ride you put in, back and forth. Good on ya.

RossK said...

I hear you guys on rhymin' Simon thing...And I guess if it was one in the same it should probably be whisky, not whiskey...

Danneau--

I am no longer good at Jeopardy, except for categories I really know...Pretty sure my instant recall is already gone on a whole lot of things...at least compared to the younger me.

Graham--

It's a good chunk of mileage but almost completely flat, so really pleasant (except for when the e-bikes go whizzing by, especially after dark during commuter time Friday night)...On the way back, while waiting to get on the ferry at Swartz Bay, I was suddenly swarmed by 9 or 10 hipsters that were heading home after a bike-assisted Victoria brewery tour the day before...They were all nice kids, but fearing we would all be vying for the four spots on the racks on the front of two busses leaving Tsawwassen I chickened out and called C. to come and get me from the terminal...

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NVG said...

sure am glad you have a great sense of humour.... and counting was never my strong suit either onety,twoty, threety


'Which meant that fourty kilometres'

'Grandmother's house fifty years ago' Check

RossK said...

Fixed!

Thanks NVG.

.

NVG said...

Off topic but sort of on topic and I do appreciate your taking, on a whim, to visit family on Vancouver Island. Economically sound for a person on a bike, more so, if a Senior (special rate days??). You'll get there soon enough RossK.

What I can't figure out is why, or is it how, Victoria (the City) and the Government of British Columbia (Legislature) and especially the Royal British Columbia Museum managed to agree on the best form of advertising to encourage visitors to their location:

'Welcome to Our corner of the world'

They are absolutely correct. Their 'Corner of the World' is WELL BELOW the 49th parallel. Their corner of the world is at THE MOST South WESTERN corner of the province of British Columbia, and THEIR largest clientele are seasonal (Summer) cruise ship passengers to a nearby port.

I'd rather have the Museum over 'here' on the Mainland so it would be more accessible to the public, ... UBC??? .... on an extended Canada Line from Arbutus.

I don't believe that the current method of keeping the public aware of the activities taking place within the Museum's domain is by sending out a few display items on a bus in the summer.

Graham said...

Ah well, a graceful exit to avoid a hassle is a smart move. Besides, you and C could catch up on the drive home.

Gordie said...

Last summer I rode my bicycle from Gordon Head to my parents place in Langley and back the next day. It was free because I'm a senior now so I ride the ferries free from Monday to Thursday, and bicycles are now free on the ferries too. Pretty good deal!

My favourite part of the ride is the deck on the ferry...sooooo smooth except for the joints between the plates. Well, at least I can still enjoy small things....

RossK said...

NVG--

Re: The Museuming...Or even better, a whole bunch of regional ones that we all could visit all over the province...I have to say though, that on the LMainland, the Anthropology Museum is still a really great one to visit.

_____

Graham--

Well, that and the fact that weather turned pretty lousy on Sunday afternoon...It really was a chicken-out

_____

Gordie--

Now that is some ride, especially on back-to-back days...As for the smooth ride down the lower ferry deck...agreed...just to need to be careful when turning, however...especially when wet...One of the hipster kids I mentioned above actually went down the other day, although he was OK, luckily.

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Keith said...

Your ride brings back fun memories. When we lived on the mainland my friend and i would park at the ferry terminal, hop over and spend a day wandering the Saanich Peninsula and into Victoria, return in the evening. Every now and then the same ferry to Schwartz bay, up over the Malahat to Nanaimo and back on the afternoon ferry.

RossK said...

Keith--

Same day?....Into town and then over the Malahat up to Nanaimo...Now that would be a killer...We're talking 90 miles/150km with a truly significant climb...Not sure I would ever consider that one

However...I might think about cutting off 40 miles and the Malahat by hopping on the Mill Bay ferry at Brentwood!

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Graham said...

Yes, the Mill bay ferry would make it doable and more fun.

Keith said...

Not a problem Ross, we were/are fairly high level experienced road and velodrome racing cyclists and that trip was a training ride. The Malahat is a longish drag, then undulating into Harbour City after Duncan.

A decent road bike with comfortable gearing and training to work up to it, then it’s very doable for anyone.

e.a.f. said...

just reading about the bike riding is exhausting me. Then there is the problem of luggage......youu can't take much and what you take weighs you down so its more work. Please bring the truck around, thank you.

RossK said...

I dunno about that Keith...I think it would take a far bit of training even with the good road bike...Me, I'll stick with the sturdy hybrid I'm riding these days given that my daily commute has a little bit of riding on the trails over what was once an endowment to the institution where I work.

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e.a.f.--

I hear you but...

I really find it satisfying to get somewhere with everything I need for a few days chucked into the day pack on my back.