My Earth Day was spent in a car. But it was a very fuel efficient car. And we were travelling between two of North America's greenest cities, Vancouver and Portland.
Over four days, we split off, regrouped, and split off again.
Highlights for me included the following ...
Catching up on the taps at the Horse Brass pub. I was glad to introduce it to Ellena and Yann, friends from Vancouver visiting the same weekend. Ellena is a fellow beer nut. Among the half pints I picked (to get more variety) I enjoyed a tribute brew for the recently deceased publican, Don Younger.
Hanging out with Tom and Lena, our friends and hosts, and watching Sarah and Nika play.
Playing tour guide to Ellena and Yann, taking them to old favourites: the Bipartisan Cafe, Rich's Cigars, Everyday Music and Belmont Station in addition to stops at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Pioneer Place Mall, Powell's and REI.
A visit to Hopworks Organic Brewing. It was the one pub Ellena wanted to see. I didn't know much about it at the time, but learned that it's operated by Christian Ettinger, former brewmaster at Laurelwood, our old favourite family dinner destination. The Trailblazers game was on a big TV. There are bike frames suspended above the bar. There are at least three bike corrals in front. The parking lot seems to have paving stones. The beer is organic. I asked myself, could this be more Portland? The answer is, none. It could be none more Portland. And to my shame, it was introduced to me by an out-of-towner.
Being introduced to the BBC series Sherlock at Tom and Lena's. I'd wanted to see it badly and is on my mail-order rental list but hadn't made its way yet. I was able to return the favour by introducing them to recent Doctor Who episodes. Both series share Stephen Moffat as head writer.
Listening to Devo (one of the used CDs from my haul at Everyday Music) in the car on the way to visit Patty, Ben and Jen. Sarah got annoyed with it, to our chagrin.
Discovering the band Sweet while browsing Ben and Jen's music collection. I'd never heard of them but remembered enjoying one of their songs on the radio as a child.
Meeting up with friends Ed and Leslie. They meant to introduce me to the Moon and Sixpence but it was closed. Gustav's was closing soon for Easter dinner. So we ended up at Columbia River Brewing at the former site of our old favourite, Laurelwood. The interior is pretty much unchanged, and it was nice to know where the washrooms are.
After our traditional leaving-Portland-in-the-morning breakfast at Elmer's:
Me (pulling the car forward out of the parking space): Go forward. Move ahead. Back to the action. Hey, Margo ... is it too late?
Margo: It's not too late.
Sarah (confused): To do what?
Margo and I, in unison: To WHIP IT! WHIP IT GOOD!
Belly laughs ensued.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Victory!
I've been enjoying the racing game Gran Turismo 5 a lot in recent months. I've even splurged on a racing wheel controller. In the process I've become a bit of a petrolhead, learning a fair amount about automotive engineering and racing.
Today Sarah and I took part in an endurance race, the Grand Valley 300km, about two hours. (Don't worry, we didn't spend all day inside; we'd already taken a walk around Deer Lake.) We took turns every 5-10 laps; there were 60 laps total. Sarah named us Team Spanking Head.
The race pitted us against high-performance Japanese production cars like the Nissan Silvia, Mazda RX-7 and the Nissan Skyline. However, we wanted to win, so I used the Tommykaira ZZII, a favourite of mine - very nimble, and with substantially more power than the competition.
I took the first ten laps in medium racing tires. Sarah made us a drink in a sports bottle. Then I pitted in and she took over, after I switched us to soft racing tires. Sarah started out pretty nervously; it was quite intense for her. But after a few turns she relaxed and her enjoyment grew.
At first, Sarah's turns were eating at our lead, but ultimately she was adding to it, bringing us two laps ahead of the second place racer. Her lap times grew shorter, down to 2:23. My shortest was 1:54.
We'd planned for me to take the last laps but Sarah was so into it that she ended up taking the last ten by herself. Here she is crossing the finish line.
Today Sarah and I took part in an endurance race, the Grand Valley 300km, about two hours. (Don't worry, we didn't spend all day inside; we'd already taken a walk around Deer Lake.) We took turns every 5-10 laps; there were 60 laps total. Sarah named us Team Spanking Head.
The race pitted us against high-performance Japanese production cars like the Nissan Silvia, Mazda RX-7 and the Nissan Skyline. However, we wanted to win, so I used the Tommykaira ZZII, a favourite of mine - very nimble, and with substantially more power than the competition.
I took the first ten laps in medium racing tires. Sarah made us a drink in a sports bottle. Then I pitted in and she took over, after I switched us to soft racing tires. Sarah started out pretty nervously; it was quite intense for her. But after a few turns she relaxed and her enjoyment grew.
At first, Sarah's turns were eating at our lead, but ultimately she was adding to it, bringing us two laps ahead of the second place racer. Her lap times grew shorter, down to 2:23. My shortest was 1:54.
We'd planned for me to take the last laps but Sarah was so into it that she ended up taking the last ten by herself. Here she is crossing the finish line.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Weekend in Nanaimo
It's been a while since I've been out of town and I was hungry for a change of scene, so this weekend I ferried over to Nanaimo.
The weather cooperated nicely. After about a full week of rain, I had sun from the moment I left the ferry terminal - once we got out a bit, we could see clouds over the mainland but clear skies over the water.
After arriving, I walked to The Copper Kettle bed and breakfast, my hosts for the weekend, located about halfway between the ferry terminal and downtown. I had a nice chat with Fiona about many things British, as she and Maurice are expats from there, and she turned me on to the Fox & Hounds pub, which I'll write more on soon.
I resumed my walk to downtown, heading along the waterfront path. I stopped to sit on a bench, looking over to the Newcastle and Galiano islands and the mountains of the mainland beyond, and just watch the wind whip up the water, the boats passing, and seaplanes taking off. How often does one sit on a bench and just watch? Not often enough. That's part of what I came to do, I realised.
Resuming my walk again, I was soon downtown. Curiosity compelled me to visit an art gallery, and someone there told me about another show by three local teachers a few blocks away, going on just for the weekend, so I visited that as well.
Next I visited one of my favourite music shops in BC, Fascinating Rhythm. I so admire their selection, and I never know what I'll end up finding. This visit it was eight titles, including one rarity I wouldn't have expected to see in physical form.
My bag a bit heavier, I decided to visit Fox & Hounds, even though at late afternoon it was a bit early for dinner. This is my new favourite pub in Nanaimo. I can't believe I hadn't visited it earlier; I guess it just didn't hit my radar in earlier pub researching. It's a character house with a red telephone box in front (a group of people posed for photos with it during my visit) but inside it more closely resembles an English pub than perhaps any pub I've visited in BC, from the wood flooring, chairs and tables to the chalkboard menu, to the order-at-the-bar service, to the horse brass on the walls, to the fireplace, which I sat myself close to. So cozy. They even sell Walker's crisps at the bar. And not a single telly!
The taps were impressive also - several from the UK (though unfortunately none of the better, more regional beers, just major ones) and some from the Island. I started with a tasty IPA from Nanaimo's Longwood Brewery. After some reading, relaxing, and warming (from the fire and elsewhere) I decided to get dinner also. The cod and chips were very good, the fish especially, and I enjoyed it with another Longwood pint, the Heritage Mild dark that is brewed exclusively for the pub.
Fox & Hounds has recently purchased a building nearby at the rail station and is converting it to another pub, which will house the most taps of anyplace on Vancouver Island, even more than beer-famous Victoria. I eagerly look forward to visiting.
Back at the room, reviewing the liner notes of the CDs I'd purchased, I noticed one had the wrong disc inside, a close match by the same artist, so I hiked back into town and caught a storeperson just before they closed for the evening. With that sorted, I decided to stop at the Old Station pub, but the pale ale from Vancouver Island Brewing was disappointing after the Longwood taps from earlier. Another waterfront walk, and I was back in my room, reading articles and magazines on my iPad.
In the morning I was served a fine English breakfast. A highlight were the locally made sausages. I had another long enjoyable conversation with Maurice and Fiona and had to pull myself away to make the 10:30 ferry back.
The ferry ride was pleasant, but the high clouds gave to lower ones as we reached land, and as the bus left the roads were already wet. It was great to enjoy the nice weather while it lasted.
The weather cooperated nicely. After about a full week of rain, I had sun from the moment I left the ferry terminal - once we got out a bit, we could see clouds over the mainland but clear skies over the water.
After arriving, I walked to The Copper Kettle bed and breakfast, my hosts for the weekend, located about halfway between the ferry terminal and downtown. I had a nice chat with Fiona about many things British, as she and Maurice are expats from there, and she turned me on to the Fox & Hounds pub, which I'll write more on soon.
I resumed my walk to downtown, heading along the waterfront path. I stopped to sit on a bench, looking over to the Newcastle and Galiano islands and the mountains of the mainland beyond, and just watch the wind whip up the water, the boats passing, and seaplanes taking off. How often does one sit on a bench and just watch? Not often enough. That's part of what I came to do, I realised.
Resuming my walk again, I was soon downtown. Curiosity compelled me to visit an art gallery, and someone there told me about another show by three local teachers a few blocks away, going on just for the weekend, so I visited that as well.
Next I visited one of my favourite music shops in BC, Fascinating Rhythm. I so admire their selection, and I never know what I'll end up finding. This visit it was eight titles, including one rarity I wouldn't have expected to see in physical form.
My bag a bit heavier, I decided to visit Fox & Hounds, even though at late afternoon it was a bit early for dinner. This is my new favourite pub in Nanaimo. I can't believe I hadn't visited it earlier; I guess it just didn't hit my radar in earlier pub researching. It's a character house with a red telephone box in front (a group of people posed for photos with it during my visit) but inside it more closely resembles an English pub than perhaps any pub I've visited in BC, from the wood flooring, chairs and tables to the chalkboard menu, to the order-at-the-bar service, to the horse brass on the walls, to the fireplace, which I sat myself close to. So cozy. They even sell Walker's crisps at the bar. And not a single telly!
The taps were impressive also - several from the UK (though unfortunately none of the better, more regional beers, just major ones) and some from the Island. I started with a tasty IPA from Nanaimo's Longwood Brewery. After some reading, relaxing, and warming (from the fire and elsewhere) I decided to get dinner also. The cod and chips were very good, the fish especially, and I enjoyed it with another Longwood pint, the Heritage Mild dark that is brewed exclusively for the pub.
Fox & Hounds has recently purchased a building nearby at the rail station and is converting it to another pub, which will house the most taps of anyplace on Vancouver Island, even more than beer-famous Victoria. I eagerly look forward to visiting.
Back at the room, reviewing the liner notes of the CDs I'd purchased, I noticed one had the wrong disc inside, a close match by the same artist, so I hiked back into town and caught a storeperson just before they closed for the evening. With that sorted, I decided to stop at the Old Station pub, but the pale ale from Vancouver Island Brewing was disappointing after the Longwood taps from earlier. Another waterfront walk, and I was back in my room, reading articles and magazines on my iPad.
In the morning I was served a fine English breakfast. A highlight were the locally made sausages. I had another long enjoyable conversation with Maurice and Fiona and had to pull myself away to make the 10:30 ferry back.
The ferry ride was pleasant, but the high clouds gave to lower ones as we reached land, and as the bus left the roads were already wet. It was great to enjoy the nice weather while it lasted.
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