SMALL HOPE BUT BIG THANKS

It's a holiday weekend in Canada (see below) and a most beautiful season up here in Kemble. The rainbow of autumn leaves bring out parades of human leaf peepers on the back roads. The stars at night are staggering in number and crispness. Venus and Jupiter try to catch the waning moon. Sunrises are filtered through both haze and morning coffee. Bird migrations bring once-a-year sightings like this yellow-bellied sapsucker en route to Georgia? Florida? Mexico? What a piece of paradise.

But there's chores to be done. Pat cleans up the pond, puts the raised bed to bed and wheels away the year's bounty of growth.

The Other Guy spreads wood chips, grapples with rocks, and prunes trees --- with a view!

Hope is in the air as Canada votes in a federal election. Will we finally get rid of the most divisive, spiteful, regressive, embarrassing government in our history? One can vote, and hope. On the other hand, ordinary folks extend some hope to the less fortunate with donations from the heart and the pantry.

This weekend we honour my mom's birthday (would have been 104? 105? who knows for sure...) and it's Canadian Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for, both personally and as a society. Lots of nourishment for both the tummy and the heart. And these birds are thankful they're not on the platter!

2 FINISH LINES

A couple of long-distance events this week, one on the ground and one in the air...

For 19 years we have walked daily in any country we happen to be in. So we finally walked "officially" in Richmond B.C. by walking a half-marathon: 13.1 miles or 21km. (For us, 21km sounded like less than 13 miles!) Flat recreational trail, coolish weather, ocean views. The route even passed the Olympic Oval, familiar from 2010. Though the out-and-back route got tedious, it just seemed like a long walk in the park. But the feeling at the Finish Line was pure elation and hey-we-did-it!! 3 hours 47 minutes. Very cool.

Later that same day it's out to the seawall to join thousands of others witnessing the full/eclipse supermoon. (That added 6 or 7 km to the day's walking!) The harbour was as scenic as ever but the darkening moon stole the show. Next performance: 2033.

Our last day at the condo was bittersweet with the daily walk (there's that word again!) on one of the many shore trails. This sailboat was placed that way for a movie being shot here. But mostly it was cleanup time and packing. Couldn't resist going for the last sunset of our month. Any bets we'll be back?? By far the most livable city in Canada.

Up in the 4a.m. darkness and out to the airport. We did our part by checking-in online and being early to the boarding gate. But Air Canada messed up again and 20 people got bumped due to "mechanical issues". Collect $200 but Do Not Pass Go. Thanks to Pat's persistence we got seats (not together) to Toronto only 2 hours late, but 17 hours in transit. So great to be at the finish line home, even in the cold dark. The morning sunrise as energizing as ever, just a lot further to the south! And the dawn revealed recent wind damage --- branches down and gazebo shredded.

Seemed like old times to go see old cars at PumpkinFest. Pat's Best-In-Show this two-tone 1949 Chev Thriftmaster panel van. For me, a 1964 made-up Barracuda station wagon. The rains came again this morning but we're happy to be home. Where's the next Finish Line??

DAY SAIL, NIGHT RUN

This post is a day earlier than usual because of an early morning event tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Vancouver continues to dazzle, especially along the waterfront. BC Ferries sail up and down the coast and it's hard to resist going everywhere. The shortest route is over to Bowen Island, formerly a weekend getaway but now a growing permanent community. Many scenic hikes and priceless sea views. No wonder the property prices are higher than the Rockies. Pat was enthralled by the ferns and forests. I'd live in that houseboat --- complete with greenhouse! So many boats, so little time left...

Back at the condo, a window washer swung back and forth like a tatooed robot on two thin ropes. All the better to see traffic backing up near the Lions Gate Bridge? This weekend's "supermoon" has created the lowest tides possible. In Stanley Park raccoons have found a razor but I bet they keep the whiskers. If only the iconic totem poles could speak; they've seen it all pass by.

For example, the annual Night Run in the park. Vancouver has so many of these fun, active, family outdoor events. At sundown, the kids from 3 years and up stretch before their 1 km run. Amazing to see them so eager and fast. Then the 10km runners stampede through the Start Line. Did you notice that everyone has a headlamp? (White to see forward, red for the party after.) The 5km "runners" go last --- surprising that many of them just walk: we could have joined in and got the swag bag! The park's paths swarmed with human headlights, like diamonds spilling on velvet. What a city.

FOX, FROGS, AND FRIENDS

Today marks the 35th Annual Terry Fox Run against cancer and we hope to be out there walking this afternoon if the rain lets up a bit. (Terry's saga and event is hugely popular in Cuba too --- they identify with  his struggle and Canada's health care system...) Earlier this week we walked the route in Terry's home town of Coquitlam. This odd duck and these very green frogs really enjoy the rain!

The Vancouver walks are a daily habit now, with the shore at Kitsilano on the list.  Two eye-catching sculptures on display --- a stump-chair and a '67 Monaco. No contest, right??

Vancouver continues to impress with hundreds of wheels visible from the apartment. Cycling is  hugely popular --- traffic is stopped almost daily for another race or club. But these classic cars are literally stumped! Get that Firebird down from the top: it looks driveable right now!!

One of our group of 4 friends returned to Australia this week after a farewell get-together in the kitchen. Another surprise reunion to remember. On the walk home, the night lights looked like a crown and a globe...Now, out we go for Terry!

4 HOURS LATER

The rain kept coming but Terry's Run for a cancer cure went on schedule. This was Vancouver's only run site so thousands of people (+kids+pets+?) swarmed around us. A very woodsy trail around Lost Lagoon made it scenic, and a lavish finish line brunch catered by the posh Four Seasons Hotel warmed the wetness. The most welcoming setup in our 30 years of participating. But ultimately we're glad to be able to honour loved ones affected by cancer, and help find the cures...Go Terry!