The Olympic Torch Relay in Whitehorse, Yukon

Yesterday was one of the days that make me think that winter isn’t so bad after all. It was flat out gorgeous. I started the day out in the hot tub, mesmerized by the beauty of the snowy forest bathed in the light of a full moon. The first...
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The RCMP on TV – “Courage in Red”

A new TV series about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, “Courage in Red” began on OLN last night. I hadn’t heard about it, but luckily checked my Facebook account and saw a message about it. I encourage everyone with an interest in policing in any form to tune in...
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Disappearing under a blanket

That’s what’s happening to the green part of my world – it’s rapidly disappearing under a blanket of white. And that makes me want to disappear under a blanket of wool for a few months…...
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Winter dreaming – Brazil

With the days getting shorter and the snow getting deeper by the minute, Cathy and I are both doing some serious shopping for a trip. Our budget is very unlikely to permit a winter getaway this year, but if not, a major one to celebrate my 60th birthday next...
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Firewood: getting warm now to stay warm all Winter

The rest of the firewood logs have now been delivered, and due to a breakdown of the trailer dump, the timing worked out very well. It was only possible to get 3 loads dropped out of the way – load #4 was going to block entry to the portable...
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Now Winter can come

Since getting home from the Okanogan I’ve been so busy I hardly know which way is up! Lots of Yukoners are thinking “warm” so I’ve been working almost full time at the cruise office as well as all my other jobs. Something had to give, and it was cutting...
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Lakes, bugs & logging in the Merritt high country

Yesterday my brother-in-law and I drove 3 hours to their cabin in the high country above Merritt, BC, and did some exploring. It’s a beautiful area but the devastation being caused by the mountain pine beetle (dendroctonus ponderosae) and the efforts to deal with it are heart-wrenching. This is...
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A railway history day at Myra Canyon, BC

One of the highlights of the Okanagan Valley for anyone with an interest in history has to be the Myra Canyon section of the former Kettle Valley Railway. Now a hiking and biking trail, this 12-kilometer section of the rail line has 18 trestles and 2 tunnels, and the...
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Agri-tourism and Thanksgiving in BC’s Okanagan

The Okanagan Valley is a superb location to celebrate Thanksgiving (except that Cathy isn’t with me). Just up the hill from my sister’s place is an orchard that really knows how to blend tourism into the business, and yesterday my daughter and grand-daughters and I spent a couple of...
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The day begins in Kelowna

The day has begun – I spent the night at my sister’s and am now back at my parents’ place having coffee while the rest of the world wakes up. I stopped in to see the Kelowna CruiseShipCenters office yesterday afternoon and had an enjoyable visit with the owner...
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