The Big Island

No, not Hawaii, although Hawaii was on my mind this week as the first episode of the Magnum PI re-boot debuted. I was half tempted to watch it too as I'd been a big fan during all the seasons that the original ran. But then again, I think I was in my early teens then. Funny how things we liked in our youth tend not to be so enticing as we age. Of course I'm not going to pre-judge the show having not tuned in, but...I don't know; maybe I'll catch it this weekend online so I can perhaps watch it without commercials. Sometimes that's a possibility on some websites for a week before the next episode airs.

The Big Island of which I refer is of course Vancouver Island. I was given 3 assignments last week spread out between Nanaimo and Duncan which called for an overnighter. I like doing those once in a while. An occasional road trip does the soul some good, in my humble opinion.

It wasn't a full sailing. Look at all these empty front row seats from to view
early morning Howe Sound.

Sunrise looking east toward Vancouver. This was actually worth the 4:30 a.m.
alarm.

Perhaps a bit too dark to see, but the faint skyline silhouette of Vancouver is visible.

The hovering cloud mass to the south was intriguing as well.

Deck chairs on the car deck seemed an odd placing at first glance until I realized they were set up adjacent to the dog room. Then I noticed the hydrant artfully placed on a patch of artificial turf. On a warm summer crossing this would be a nice place to sit with your canine best friend.

East Side 10K 2018

September's been a very busy month. Lots of overtime work, plus a running event I'd forgotten I hadn't blogged about yet. The East Side 10K was another wet one, but not nearly as much a super-soaker as our first one in 2016.

That one still remains our benchmark as a Pacific NW monsoon. As in, "Wow, it sure is raining hard this early Saturday morning for our weekly run. I wonder if anyone will cancel? Probably not; this isn't half as bad as that epic 2016 East Van 10K we ran!"

That first shot even looks like I'm half-enjoying myself!

The Persistent Pacers posing in the Woodwards plaza.

Galloping Goose 2018

Just got back late yesterday afternoon from our almost annual Galloping Goose bicycle trip on Vancouver Island. Jeff and I didn't go quite as far this year, only about 170 km, due to lack of bicycle riding leading up to this event. Somehow my motorcycle got more riding time this Spring than my bicycle. Nonetheless, after a new pair of tires and new brake pads front and rear, and of course a new  cheapo GoPro knock-off mounted to my handlebars, we were ready for action.

Sunrise was pretty impressive. Kinda made up for getting up at 4:45 a.m.

A rainbow send-off seemed a good omen for the weekend.

They say the prairies are "Sky Country", but on
Friday morning the Tsawwassen ferry offered up
some steep competition.

The new Johnston Street Bridge is open now and it made a good experimental
backdrop to try out the panoramic feature of my iPhone to create an accordion bus.

Here we are probably half way to Sooke on Day 2.

Jeff identified this as a bear print on the shore of
Matheson Lake on the way to Sooke.

Apparently there was lots of wildlife to be seen, but we saw
very little.

I'll call this my artistic representation of a weasel; the only wildlife
I saw on this trip. He was too fast for my shutter.

I wasn't expecting to see a paddle board on Matheson
Lake.

No shortage of warning that bears were about.

We'd never done a side trip to Matheson Lake before. Quite
a tranquil place.

Many sections of the trail can give one tunnel vision. Although admittedly, I
did enhance the effect just a bit.

Arbutus trees are not uncommon on Vancouver Island;
they've always been a favourite of mine.

Road construction is continued from last year in an attempt to alleviate
the dreaded "Colwood Crawl".

Same bridge, different camera.

Km 33; back at Swartz Bay ferry terminal.

Fixer-uppers

This has got to be the peak of the vintage Volkswagen bubble.

Saying that this '54 Panel "needs work" is somewhat of an under-statement.

I mean, I know it's rarer than rare, but seriously I think I'd be
embarrassed to advertise this '46 Beetle for sale in exchange
for actual money.

And finally, not to be out-done, I present to you (although "present" that may be too
strong of a word) a 1971 911 Targa, freshly dragged out of a lake (OK, I made
that bit up). 

Can't let the VWs out-shine the Porsches (again, "out-shine" might be a fantasy at this level).

These three examples are firmly in the "master craftsman" realm. A mere backyard garage handyman would be in well over their head. But, if you're feeling adventurous, The Beetle is listed for about $15,000 Cdn (not including transport from Sweden) and the panel van is posted at about $10,000 Cdn. Bargoons at twice the price, obviously (groan). This 911 from Ohio (the rust belt) at least hasn't insulted us by listing a price ("Best Offer"). I know what my best offer would be in a sensible world, but those days are long past.

Vacancy

Sometimes this job is quite interesting. I like gaining access to places most people don't get to see, like vacant buildings.

There's a building in Surrey I've known about for years whose construction just never seems to end; every time I drive down that road, which isn't often anymore sine I moved to Vancouver, it's always seems to be in a state of non-occupancy. I remember years and years ago driving past reasonably often and a making mental note that the place still wasn't finished.

Fast forward to now (i.e., early this week) and there I was conducting a property condition assessment on the place. One thing I learned, which is something that never came to mind driving past in a car is how huge the place really is. Although I suppose any place will feel big when you've got to walk every floor, every parking garage level and the outside perimeter shell. Six hours later I now know every corner in the place.

I've been privileged the last 4 years to cover some large vacant spaces; everything from the former Zellers store in Richmond to a vacant Sears in Kamloops (do I see a department store pattern forming?). I think this is my first vacant office space. Certainly it's my first aged building in which there has never been a tenant.

Dual escalators in the ground floor vaulted ceiling entrance lobby.

The ground floor looks like a suitable candidate for an IKEA photo shoot.

This was a good exercise for my iPhone's panoramic feature.

By the time I reached P2 I was really making a case in my mind for a Segue (you know, those self-centering two-wheeled scooters). Either that or at least roller blades.

Sunflower Festival

An unexpected day off on Friday turned out to be the perfect day to take in the Sunflower Festival in Chilliwack. Upon studying the map I thought the location would be quite a bit closer to Abbotsford, but as it turns out it was located at the same exit we always took when I was a kid when we'd be going to visit my cousin, Jeff.

Leading up the weekend the weather had been hot and smoky, so a dramatic cool-down and decrease in forest fire smoke was a welcome relief. And plus, the admission was almost half price of going on the weekend.

GCVWS 2018

Due to our weekend away in Seattle to see Pearl Jam, I missed the Great Canadian Volkswagen Show this year held for the final time at its present location, the north shore of False Creek, next to BC Place. But I now know who didn't miss it; Jack White of all people. Oh well, we saw his show at Deer Lake park a couple or three years ago, so I guess I can't complain.

I saw this photo of the event in the Vancouver Sun following the show and I immediately wanted to know what the non-VW vehicle was at the end of the line. A bit of internet searching told me it's a Datsun pickup truck with hydraulic suspension.

I don't know why the caption says "2019". 

Again, this was the 2018 show, not 2019.

I hafta say it would have been cool to see Jack in person perusing the cars.

These kids did a bit better than a concert t-shirt.