Language is the only homeland. -Czeslaw Milosz, writer, Nobel laureate (1911-2004)
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Had a lovely afternoon/early evening playing bridge with Jos and Pam at Pam's place yesterday. Jos's avocado laced salad was divine, Pam's chili nearly volcanic, Mme Coriandre's macaroons, made with local cherries, crunchy as the snow at Apex! Started about two months ago, rotating hosts, and it has been most enjoyable.
Hope to see you soon, one way or another. Fondestos from Lady Darjeeling, [still abed!], to you and Vittoria! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: The Bridge Sisterhood!
Hi Patrick, I don't know if Tim has replied to you but I think it sounds like fun! Of course the two of you are probably discussing this topic on Cartwright Mountain as I type. Either I have somehow managed to catch a second cold within a month or my allergies are really kicking in. Hence, I am again missing out on a lovely hike.
My only reservations regarding cycling are when it comes to biking near motor vehicle traffic, I'm a bit of a scaredy cat. However, off the beaten track is always great! While I have your attention, are you and Corrine going to Jazz Night on April 3rd. If so, would you care to sit with Al Tinka, his lovely wife Mary, Tim and me? Cheers, Marian
Thank you for the lovely invitation to join you at your table. We'd be delighted to do so. Tim mentioned how accomplished the musicians were, at one point, on the hike. Do we need to do anything about tickets, etc? I think we plan to go for dinner beforehand but Lady Dar just headed out to Upper Bench to collect the latest release, wine and cheese! I'll send along another message once she's back to confirm dinner plans, if that is fine.
I understand completely about cycling near motor vehicle traffic. Slightly different but I feel much the same way about hiking and snow-shoeing with respect to having a fall or twisting something when faced with very rugged steep, terrain or "obstacles" such as the Paul Bunyan log of the last snow-shoe outing! Of course, I prefer to ride where cars and trucks aren't roaring by but I realize that to cycle to some of the spots I enjoy, I have to do so. That being said, I want to explore much of the KVR over the coming months and perhaps that might better suit your riding proclivities. Anyway, we can chat about this over the next little while. Talk later, Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Marian! Lady Dar is back and we'd like to go to dinner. Will you be doing the same? If so, will you make reservations or should we? Just let us know and we'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Great! I will make reservations for 5:30 for the six of us. There is a chance another couple may join us as well. Then, of course, I'd make reservations for eight! You already have tickets for the Jazz Band, don't you? Cheers, Marian
Hi Patrick, Thank you for your kind words. It's always good to be missed! As for the cycling, I agree that we can discuss that over the next while. We have a busy week ahead of us with Easter and family coming. If we don't see you in the next week or two with hiking (as we will miss Easter Monday), we can do some planning over dinner at the Barking Parrot, or failing that, by email. Cheers,
Marian P.S. I thought maybe Corinne took two tickets from the last Grandmothers' meeting, but maybe they were meant for someone else. If that was the case, let me know and I'll hold a couple for you.
Hi Pat, This is just a quick note enroute to Galiano. A huge thanks again for a wonderful visit! Yes, these are my boots. I did miss them but luckily Susan wears the same shoe size. The other thing I left is my jewellery bag full of jewels. It must have fallen out of my suitcase that I had in the cupboard on your wooden trunk/chest. It is yellowish mesh bag stuffed with my prize possesions- necklaces etc. Could you please have a look for me? I have searched everything here. It could also possibly have fallen off the far bed side table. Thanks very much! More to come. hugs for you both. Love Jane and George xxoo
Hello Favourite Freeloaders! Sorry to learn that you won't be imposing once more at Burns Street! Guess we'll have to strip the bed now! Sorry not to have had you along on today's wonderful hike. Morita was missed terribly, although Big Al was more than happy that Calamity wasn't along!
Thank you both for the lovely visit! We've been extremely lonely ever since you departed. Unfortunately, no sign of yellow mesh bag. Looked behind cedar chest and elsewhere in closet. Checked under bed. Nothing! Please let us know if it turns up in your baggage or in van. We'll keep an eye out, nevertheless. We'll bring boots in with us when we are in Vancouver for Sarge's retirement. Let us know how we can effect transfer: one boot, two bottles of porch-cleaner!
Enjoy the rest of the school hols, Calamity. Enjoy being back on construction crew, Whirlygig! Must away as Lady Dar is going to go over my nekkid body with a fine-toothed comb, looking for ticks and anything else engorged! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick Have a great hike! Photos demonstrate such concentration during your bridge sessions. Cheers for now Jo-Anne
Hi Ragin'! We'd like to invite you for dinner on Wednesday night, March 30th, at Chloë's place. Time is flexible but sometime between 5:30 pm-6:00 pm as a start. Should that not work for you then perhaps we can meet for a java sometime that day or reasonably early on Thursday before we head back to Penticton. Let me know and we'll plan accordingly. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Swedish Twins! We'd like to invite you both, (Ticket is in the mail, as I scribe, Patrizzio the Younger!), for dinner. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Fellow Masochists! Once again, let me thank much-maligned Big Bad Al, (as opposed to rightly impugned Bad, Bad Bad Boy!), at last playing second-fiddle to the wonderful Tumbach sisters, Amelia and Rosemary, for the marvellous hike up the eastern side of Cartwright. I still shudder, with guilty pleasure, remembering some of the precipitous drops! Furthermore, let me offer my sincere thanks to those, (Mama Theresa and Janos the Taciturn, in particular), for helping me overcome my paralyzing fear and coaxing me into the void! Enjoy the Easter weekend and safe travels to those en route to other lands and climes. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Excerpt from The Diary of an Acrophobic, if interested:
Short time later we reached our destination and Ambassador Al went to check with his friends, Famiglia Tumbach, (Later in the hike he told me that the husband had been a student of his at PenHi.), to see where we should park. A few minutes later he returned and waved us a short distance further along Garnet where everyone could park, quite comfortably, on a large, grassy verge. Sun was shining gloriously and everyone was eager to start the hike so we walked onto the farm itself, much of it nestled into the bottom of the mountain we were about to climb. Serena Tumback, a young child clinging to her neck, met us near the start of the trail and after we thanked her for allowing us to cross their property, usually Intractable Tinka, announced, much to everyone's complete surprise that Serena's two lovely daughters, Rosemary and Amelia, would, in fact, be leading the hike! Since they knew the area well, virtually their backyard, it only made sense.
Bewitched by the lithesome two and rather bemused by Amiable Al's jovial acceptance of the shift in power, we started up the grade, a well-worn track that was unforgiving in its continuous, certain steepness although it provided easy enough footing. By the time we reached the crest of the first hill many of the troop were perspiring ferociously and the small, open field we gathered in, to catch our collective breath, looked rather like it had been invaded by members of the Peachland Nudist Society, filled as it was, by many there busy flinging off garments left and right!
After the first obligatory group photo, (Mr T had not relinquished these reins of power, it must be noted!), we continued along the track, pleasingly level for quite some distance, and one was able to chat, most amicably, with first one, then another trekker, changing companions or joining a different, small group, in the easy ebb and flow of relationship which the pace and nature of the hike dictate, in terms, usually unspoken, often unsaid, but more often than not somehow seeming just right. But such bliss could not be allowed to last for long and after a short re-grouping/re-gathering break, we were ordered, summarily, off the track and up into "them thar hills!" Still, the terrain, at this point was not overly steep, relatively open and always picturesque. At the top of a delightful, rocky outcrop, with a series of lovely views, we took a short tea break, (Some even defied orders and ate a snack!), after which Ansel Al insisted on another photographic record so we meekly shuffled into place, enduring harangues and ultimatums, to be snapped like CSIS's Most Wanted having their mug shots taken!
This ordeal over, little did we suspect that an even greater ordeal awaited. However, all seemed fine as we first clambered up a hill of medium difficulty, over some reasonably rough, rocky terrain, tussocks abounding, littered with magnificent, fallen trees, their trunks in various stages of decay and decomposition, often adorned with the stunning emerald of mosses or lichens. Reaching the top of this intermediate ridge, we enjoyed our "official" lunch break, all of us, but one, relishing this respite, resting weary legs, slaking thirsts and enjoying whatever food we'd packed. All but one, Bad Boy by name, rebel by nature, who had gone on ahead, gamboling to the top of Cartwright, waving to we Lilliputians below. All too, too soon, the order to break camp was bellowed and grumbling and sighing we began the Ascent of K6!
While I've never been to the Himalayas, I certainly have read about, and seen pictures of, the Khumbu Icefall. Believe me, Dear Reader, I thought I was climbing over a stone version of same! Not nearly as treacherous or as dangerous, of course, but for a boy from the Prairies, rather exciting, and nerve-wracking, all the same. Quite exhilarating, in fact, and once we'd reached the top, the vista were simply stunning. One particular reward was to catch a glimpse, or rather two, of Garnet Lake to the north, its length interrupted by an intervening mountain slope. The euphoric bubble was soon popped as we began our descent, down the opposite side to encounter a very steep slope which terminated in about a five foot drop! I was one of the last to approach this "obstacle" and I immediately remembered having to negotiate the huge trunk on our Apex adventure. Here, however, there was no forgiving snow, instead, unforgiving, sharp, nasty rock!
To my great relief, those of us, faint of heart, and feeble of hiking limb, were not deserted but guided, calmly and carefully, down the difficult drop, albeit, unceremoniously, on our bottoms, by Mother Theresa and Trustworthy Tinka, both lending their strong shoulders and competent hands to ease our dreadful passage. Thanking them profusely, once back on my own two feet, clutching my poles to my chest, I thought that the worst was over, at least as far as I was concerned. But the worst was yet to come, in the return to the Khumbu Stonefall, an "easy" route chosen by Bad Boy, I later discovered!
Upsetting enough that we had to cross this nearly vertical maze of jagged boulders but to gain access to them we first had to pass through quite a narrow gap between the massive, monolithic cliff face and the trunk of a large pine, the bottom of the opening about four or five feet above a narrow shelf, with little, if any purchase for foot or hand to help negotiate the drop. As if this wasn't unnerving enough, we had to wait, almost stacked one atop another, to queue to plummet to our deaths! By the time it was my turn I was none too happy but yet again, Able Al came to the rescue, wedging his poles against the rock surface to provide a temporary, intermediate step which allowed me, now quite easily, to step onto the ledge and continue downwards. A very slick manoeuvre indeed, born, I'm sure, out of years, (40 to be exact), of experience!
At any rate, from thereon it was a piece of cake, as I skipped, mountain-goat-like, from one boulder to another, twirling around, once or twice, atop a particularly unstable rock, just to show off, before leaping gracefully to the next perch. In my mind's eye, this characterized my descent, right down to the thundering applause of the astonished group waiting below. In reality, I inched my way down, carefully, very carefully, testing each rock or surrounding surface with a pole, planting one foot or the other before committing to the next move. One fatal misstep and I had wild, feverish imaginings of toppling head over heels to end up in a poem by Earl Birney. And so on and so on until the maddeningly cheerful, (given my overly imagined plight), sounds of my companions, gathered on the flat, came closer and closer and I had, at last, rejoined their welcome and welcoming company.
Still some distance to cover but nothing that was the least difficult, given terrain we'd already encountered and survived! Another treat when we came across a lovely patch or two of Spring Wonders, (I think this is the name but I'll let the botanists correct me!), tiny, delicate white flowers with gorgeous purple veins on each of their five petals. Most of waited, drinking in the utterly pleasant, pine-needled slope while the resident biologists examined, at length, the treasure trove of beauties. Soon back at the open field we'd first stopped at, we were given a choice to follow the track back to the farm, (Easy Route), or else go with the gazelles, Amelia and Rosemary, on a steeper descent, (Difficult Route), to arrive at the same destination. In for a penny, in for a pound, so I figured I might as well go for broke and set off, together with most of Adventuresome Al's converts.
Must admit that although we traversed a couple of very steep slopes, we had well defined, though quite narrow, paths to follow so the descent was really nothing but pleasurable. Quite soon we were close enough to hear the pleasant gurgling of the small stream which runs parallel to Garnet, towards the Tumbach Farm, and once down, followed it through the surrounding brush to a well constructed bridge. At one point, we wondered if we might have to wade across the stream but were delighted to find that our boots would remain dry all the way to our parked vehicles. Thanked Rosemary for her stellar service and said goodbye to those not joining us at Good Omens and then made for Summerland, brimming with the elation that usually comes at the end of each hike, inextricably mixed with the wonder of the magnificnt terrain.
Great good gathering at Good Omens where we sat and sipped and visited with each other, joined by Mountain Man Michaelo and Gallagher Dave, not able to join us on the hike, but wanting to see friends nonetheless. Weather had turned quite sunny so some of the group sat outside. Could have stayed for hours but everyone has busy lives so we finally made our farewells, which in themselves almost took forever, in part because EveryReady Rabbit, Mary Lee, and Famiglia Dronkers were soon off, traveling for a month, and this was most likely to be the last hike before the Easter Weekend. Endless embraces, hugs and kisses later, we piled into our waiting cars, shouted last goodbyes and wishes for safe travels and made for our respective homes. I keep thinking that the last hike or snow-shoe outing had to have been the most memorable but have routinely been proved wrong, always completely undone and overcome by the particular magic of the next locale. O Wondrous Okanagan! Stats for hike:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1094179275#.VvG3unn65rQ.email
Hi Patrizio! Thanks for all the updates. Good to see you are still trying to stay in shape. We used to love the x-country skiing in Wasaga Beach, ON oh so many years ago. Never liked the snowshoe concept as I kept hearing of people breaking their ankles/legs!
We’re off to Portugal with our group. Most of the time in the Algarve, with trips to Porto and Lisbon. Should be fabulous and lots of fun. Back mid-April. Will have a glass of port on you. Plan to come out this summer to visit. Been way too long and I am fearful you are losing some of your bridge skills by not playing with and against me. Hi to Corinne. Charlie
Hi Portugal-Bound Pitchfords! Grand that you and O Susannah will visit this summer! Can hardly wait as we have been honing our bridge skills with friends from hiking group. As well, will be at Bridge Camp for the Easter Weekend. We will be staying with close friends of the Durstons, Sandee and Arv, who, coincidentally, rented a place there for three months to escape Manitoba winter, immediately next door to Sutherland's condo! Sandee mentioned that there are 14 tables when she plays two or three times a week, or more!
Until next we meet across the bridge table, travel safely to Portugal. (Funnily enough, my former colleague, Jo-Anne, and her husband, Colin, fly to Portugal tomorrow!). Don'thave a glass of port for us, rather a bottle! Fondestos form Lady Darjeeling to you both. Enjoy the coming Easter weekend. Bon Voyage and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Bridge this past Sunday with Jos, (on bottom right in first snap), right and Pam, at Pam's place.
We are away from the office from March 23 to April 18, and will have limited access to emails. If this is a travel emergency please contact Marnie at marnie.pitchford@fcatravel.ca or 604-767-9962. We will respond to all other enquiries on our return.
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