The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.
-Arnold J. Toynbee, historian (14 Apr 1889-1975)
Healthy New Year to all our wonderful friends and dear family. Take care of yourselves and each other. Fondestos and Warm Love from Lady Dar and Patrizzio!
Happy New Year! A beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne by Sissel
Enjoy the video - not new but it's beautiful...
and the voice of an angel. Happy New Year from the Seymours!
Pat, I cycled yesterday and it was OK Not sure what weather we have for the day but maybe we can ride or you and Corinne can drop over this afternoon for a piece of Christmas cake if you aren't fully booked for the day. I also need to pick up beer at a craft brewery and I might have some teaching this morning.
Give me a call or I will try and phone you at Michelle and Wayne's. Ray
Wayne Sutherland
Happy New Years from all of us in Vancouver Avery made it for Newfoundland and Halifax but did not last for Toronto. With
Corey William Rebecca Ann Chloe Alexis Dunn Patrick James Dunn Michele
Darrow-Sutherland Marvin Angelo Mercado Nicole Marie Corinne Durston
Joanne Trueman and Darrin Forsyth Joanne Trueman Thanks for the fabulous food and a good time. All the best for 2017.
Silvana Harwood Happy New Year ... Buon capo d'anno. From Toronto.
Strolled over to the False Creek Community Centre, around 10:00 am to use the elliptical again. Had done so yesterday so I was hoping to work a little harder today. Managed a decent session, 70 minutes, which included a 10 minute cool-down, [Maximum time is 10 minutes, while 60 minutes is tops for initial workout, per session.], to burn 836 calories while climbing 9,537' while riding 3.37 miles! Yesterday I set resistance for 15 for most of session while today I used 20. Stats for Friday were about 650 calories while climbing 12,000' over a distance of 4.03 miles. I gather the lower resistance allowed me to go further and higher! Anyway, pleased to get two sessions of pleasurable exercise in over the course of our stay here.
Back home to clean-up while Lady Dar visits her friend, Robyn. She will collect me around 1:30 pm and we'll run a few errands before popping in to say hello to a number of friends before returning to Harbour Terrace to help ready things for this evening's Soirée!
Hello Sunshine Valley Slum Landlords! Trust everyone is well. Are you celebrating in Sunshine Valley? Sorry timing is such that we won't be able to connect this time. Nonetheless, fondestos from Lady Dar and a Healthy New Year to you, Marilyn, Stanchion Man and The Strapping Lads, and family, to Caneman in particular! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pat, I cycled yesterday and it was OK Not sure what weather we have for the day but maybe we can ride or you and Corinne can drop over this afternoon for a piece of Christmas cake if you aren't fully booked for the day. I also need to pick up beer at a craft brewery and I might have some teaching this morning.
Give me a call or I will try and phone you at Michelle and Wayne's. Ray
Hello Ski and The Great Ronaldo! Wonderful to hear from you! Distressed to learn that so many of your family members seems to have had more than their fair share of bouts with cancer. Please send good wishes to Gordon as well as to Al. Otherwise, trust everyone in your immediate family is fine, roots in the sewer pipe, aside!
We drove down to LA on December 15th. Chloë flew there on the 22nd. Had my left hip replaced on September 14th so the three month prohibition on riding a free-standing bike was over day after we left Penticton. I started riding day after we hit Los Angeles. Even met a charming man, Wole, originally from Nigeria, and he came for dinner on Christmas Eve!
Here are a couple of my rides. The first is the day I met Wole, the second is ride to Simi Valley on Christmas Day and the least is my ride with Wole on Monday. Have also included the description I make for my daily diary, although I haven't had time, [Too busy riding and socializing!], to compose the record of the last two rides!
Ride 1, Saturday, December 24th!:
Up at 6:30 am, having slept straight through the night. We left the curtains to our cell-like alcove open so that the minuscule space Ms Tinsel has us wedged into, forced to inhabit by imperious decree, remained a perfect temperature for sleep! I digitated away until The Sisterhood was up and about and after Ayn treated us to another of her simply divine scrambled egg/fried sausage and pepper topped taco breakfasts, Chloë and I took off for Big Lots for the final bit of stocking stuffer shopping. Found exactly what we were looking for so after the very successful outing we headed back home. Once there, I immediately suited up and was on the road by 12:30 pm.
What a glorious day! Sun was shining brightly so I really needed my shades! Wind was fairly strong, (21 kph out of the north), but I was in no real hurry as I simply wanted a "stretch" ride for tomorrow's assault on Santa Susannah Pass Road. This being the case I wheeled along, enjoying the day and the quiet bikeway. Few pedestrians, more cyclists, in fact. At any rate, just after crossing Mason Ave I was passed by a chap and noticed, in the same instant, some flashing lights, about a block ahead, on Victory, the blvd which the bikepath parallels, at this point. Became quite clear, as I rode closer, that there had been an accident and a number of people, police officers and civilians were gathered around a car that jumped the curb and wide bikepath, crashing into the green metal fence which runs along the dedicated busyway, flattening three or four of the linked panels.
The side of the car was a mess, crunched completely, so I wondered what might have happened to the driver and any passenger on that side. I did notice a woman with a bandage over the bridge of her nose as I inched by. I wasn't sure if I would be allowed to proceed past the damaged vehicle but nobody stopped me so I proceeded. However, chap who had passed me earlier had elected to ride on Victory to avoid scene and then stopped after he was past to lift his bike over the shrubbery on the blvd to regain the bikepath. This allowed me to catch up with him and as we rode, side by each, I mentioned that I had always thought one was safe on the bikeway. He laughed and said he was always a tad nervous on this particular stretch as he had seen a number of accidents here, mainly as a result of excessive speed. I noted that I had witnessed many such examples of drivers, weaving in and out of traffic, at breakneck speeds, on the few errand runs I'd made since arriving.
Anyway, we continued to chat, and exchanged names. Wole, (I thought he said "Wally" when we introduced ourselves!), Williams is from Nigeria and a behavioural therapist. Lovely, lovely man. When I told him I'd be leaving this coming Tuesday he said he'd be interested in riding together on Monday, if that might work, so using a dental toothpick he found in his wallet he "wrote" his telephone number on an old business card from an auto dealership. We had stopped on the corner of Canoga, by the major bus interchange there, and none of the people waiting there that we asked had a pen! We had a good laugh at our efforts to exchange numbers!
After I said I'd phone him, once home. (I had simply forgotten that I was carrying Lady Dar's cell! Obviously, I could have punched his number into it and we wouldn't have had to worry about our otherwise laughable efforts.), we said goodbye, he making for Costco for a hot dog, and I to ride to Devonshire. Bit of a slight slog there as it is a slight uphill grade and head wind was breezy. Nevertheless, most enjoyable as the day was so glorious and chance meeting with Wole absolutely delightful.
Soon found myself on the last section, Brown's Creek, and no long after, where it intersects with Devonshire. Turned around quickly and started back, more than enjoying whistling along now, the grade and the wind on my side. Even received a few early Christmas presents as I made many of the lights, either invoked by other riders or pedestrians, or in a couple of cases by the buses on the busway. Had to do a kilometre or two once back on Erwin, not for distance but rather to try to push my AVG to 15 kph. Managed to do so on the straightaway there and when I pulled up at the front door Ayn was just back from walking Winston so she let me in. Map and Stats for ride:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1494732042#.WF_tIeiU3k8.email
Ride 2, Sunday, December 25th!
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1495910691#.WGEzvHcQFYg.email
Ride 3, Map and Stats for ride:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1497074653#.WGGUqg3eNpE.email
We left Tinsel Town, day after Boxing Day, after enjoying a terrific holiday with Ayn and Los Horridos, to spend the first night in Redding. Left LA at just before 9:00 am and arrived in Redding at 5:30 pm so pretty pleased with time. We'd have been there over an hour, or more earlier, but I-5 was a parking lot, literally, until we were almost 200 miles north of LA. Have never seen it like that before.
Around 6:00 pm we settled into The Thunderbird Lodge and polished off a 2014 Coffaro Lagrein, 15.8%, before we strolled over to Jack's Bar & Grill, our favourite steak joint. Enjoyed another fab meal there. We shared a salad with Blue cheese dressing then had 10 oz sirloins, Lady Dar opting for a baked spud while I choose the fries. Not too too busy so we only had to wait for ten minutes or so. Cool and crisp out but walk back to motel was most pleasant.
Next morning on to Portland to stay with close friends, Marilyn and Mike. Spent a wonderful evening with them in spite of the fact that they'd both been miserably ill since we last saw them. Poor things had been suffering from very, very nasty prolonged colds/coughs, almost since we left them two weeks ago. [Marilyn felt so under the weather that she missed Christmas dinner!] They are both on the mend but are still not quite back to normal.
Had a very pleasant drive back to Vancouver after we waved goodbye next morning. Started to spit when we were in Seattle but traffic moved well. Around Mt Vernon, began to rain reasonably heavily and by the time we were near Bellingham it was pouring cats and dogs. Hardly five minutes at the border and waved through without even asking how much alcohol we had on board!
Arrived at Harbour Terrace around 4:00 pm to have dinner there, with Chloë and Flamin' and Sarge. Will celebrate New Year's Eve with them, as well as Chloë and some neighbours from building. Plan to drive back to Penticton on the 1st! Hope-Princeton looked pretty good, at least when we pulled up the highway cameras so trust conditions will not deteriorate. Nonetheless, fondestos from Lady Dar and a Healthy New Year to you, Ski, and Ronaldo, [Flamin' sends a big hug and smooch!], and family! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Christmas Eve, The Lost Burritos; Alex and Samantha; Christmas morning with Ida, Pierre's lovely girlfriend; Jack's in Redding with 10 oz filet! Portland hosts; Dinner last night with Jo-Anne, Ragin' Bull, Flamin' and Sarge. Wole!
Hello Loved your descriptions - I don't think I would like all the traffic especially the I-5 We had a quiet, traffic free Christmas and New Years. Our weather is all over the place: warm, freezing, pouring rain, high winds. It's snowing now so we will attempt a cross country ski but it is icy. I went for a ride in the gym the other day. Ron and I walked beach for 2 hours yesterday -it is a 50 minute drive outside Sydney called Gabarus - huge waves, sunny/cloudy , grey winter colours, but very serene and beautiful.
We went to an outdoor concert downtown Sydney last night featuring 3 sessions: first a group call Ports City, then Gordie Sampson and finally Pretty Archie. We know most of the performers so it was very special, We then went for dinner with Port City since we know a band member , Carlton Stone and his parents, really well. It was a very pleasant way to spend New Years. Before going out we had friends drop by with their 2 little kids and we watched Canada World Jrs. lose to USA- very Canadian EH?
We are now having a low key breakfast and heading to the cottage to continue our low key life- LOL. Give your lovely tolerant wife a hug! Say hi to all the Vancouverites! Love Ski
So nice to get your Holiday Season cards and good wishes Patrick And A Happy Holiday Season to you and your family and All the Best in the New Year 2017!...I look forward to a good year ..not sure why the optimism as every year is a good year but maybe this will be an even better year and why not??
Let's see if there is such a saying ..."Life can't get much better than this!!"
I am looking forward to continued good health..outings with good friends...Peace and Love and moments cherished with family and friends!!...as for fortune who knows...I am grateful for what fortune I have even if it isn't much in numbers..it is providing me with independence and freedom to travel and have a roof over my head and a car in good running condition..and enough to share for Christmas anniversaries , birthdays and other special occasions!,...
I haven't had the opportunity for any hikes due to much absenteeism in the Okanagan and then of course I had injured my shin back in the spring!!...
Hopefully I do better this New Year!,...I did have the opportunity to go Downunder in the fall, a 43 day South Pacific Cruise with Holland America...was a fantastic experience!!..I got to spend 3 nights in Summerland and was on The road again to California as of Nov. 12th and expected to be here til Spring..I am helping my daughter with her children and enjoying that special time of their life!!...
My son and his girlfriend are visiting from San Francisco...nice to see them as well ...they are out ringing in the New Year!!...Mima is quite content to ring in the New Year with Netflix...we all went bowing today including the kiddies then went walking on the Wharf then came home for appes and drinks so I'm good!!
So Patrick..I do look forward to reading about some of your neat adventures of last year!..Always a pleasure to read!!:-) Wishing you and Lady Dar.and family ....a Wonderful New Year!!. Hugs,...Ell
Hi Patrick, We had a very quiet NYE with about 14 guests to see in 2017. As usual too much food and cool refreshing ales and wine. Hope you and yours have a great 2017 and we are still working our way through a possible visit to coincide with the grand Fondo. Love to all Greg and Claire
Happy New Year, Favourite Brisbanites! How quiet could a gathering be with 14 guests and plenty of hooch? I think we heard the police sirens as the SWAT Team roared up in front of your house! For our part, we had a wonderful time with Famiglia Sutherland. I gather you will be off to Viet Nam, in April, for a river cruise, among other things, with Flamin' and Sarge. Think it will be a magical trip indeed. [We were invited and would dearly have loved to be part of junket but too, too much going on with Lady Dar's parents as well as our grandson's wedding in LA.] Trust you are both well. Have you seen Jenne or been working with her, Claire? I had a brief note from her, responding to the New Year's card I sent.
Must apologize for not writing sooner but I have been trying to figure out the dates of your proposed trip/visit, GranFondo and aforementioned wedding. Unfortunately, for me this year's Penticton GF is an impossibility. It is on Sunday, July 9th and Alejandro's/Samantha's wedding is on Friday, July 9th. Initially, I thought that the GF was a weekend later and that I would be back in time to participate. If I did fly back on Saturday I don't know how much I'd enjoy the 160 km ride. Furthermore, I don't really want to rush away, as I'm sure you can imagine. I will be driving, although Lady Dar will be flying there and back as she needs to minimize amount of time she is away, given her Marriage Officiant responsibilities. Everything always seems to happen all at once but there you have it.
That being said, I do hope you will still entertain a visit, GF or not. Should you decide to come you are more than welcome to stay at our place and could enter the event. Talk to Sarge and Flamin' as they may well wish to ride in it as well. There are two or three other distances, 50km, 92km and 129km and first two might interest Flamin' and Sarge as they have not been logging the miles, as far as I know. Should this not be the key factor, we can always ride loads, over much the same route when I am back. This won't be until July 17th as I'm attending the Vancouver Folk Festival on the 14th/15th/16th. Flamin' and Sarge have tickets for the weekend as well.
Now, what I suggest, if you are still interested in coming, is the following: Fly to LA and drive back with me. Attend Folk Fest and then continue on up to Penticton. Or, fly into Vancouver for FF and then on to Penticton. Or, fly, wherever you want, whenever you want, to stay at our place before GF for a bit of training/route familiarization etc. Lady Dar will be back home on July 10th so you can continue stay and visit with her for as long as you'd like, depending on your travel schedule. Not sure if you have imagined visiting other places in US or Canada but if so then perhaps you could work in some of what I've outlined, depending, of course, on your time, finances, interest, etc. Anyway, let me know what you think and we'll plan accordingly. Once you have a better idea of what you think you'd like to do, we can work out exact details of dates, house keys, directions, (I seem to remember you are not particularly good at providing or following them!), to our house and the many, many wineries/breweries/distilleries here! All the best to you, Grog, and Claire de Lune! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick, I wish you and your family a healthy and happy new year. I miss our interesting non-reader book gathering. Best wishes. Moe
Hi Moe! Trust you are well. I do apologize for taking so very, very long to reply! No excuses but plenty of reasons! I couldn't agree with you more about missing the NRBC! [Just an aside but Whirlygig is on a world traveling trip for next eight months or so. They were starting off in Mexico and then heading to New Zealand.] I have started a book club here in Penticton. Lisa Moore's February is the first selection and inaugural meeting is set for March 16th. Will have a pot-luck dinner here. There will be seven of us, including Lady Dar and myself. One of the women is Senka Tennant, owner, (along with her husband, Roberto), and wine-maker at Terravista, above Naramata Road. Wonderful couple, fabulous wine! Come and visit anytime, Moe. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Dear Pat and family, thank you for the memory, and may 2017 bring health, peace and happiness to all of you. We hope to see you in the new year. If we plan to travel to your side of the corner this summer, I will give you heads up.
Happy new year! Eyob and family Hi Eyob! Janet flew up this past summer and stayed for three nights. We had a grand time and I think she'll be back!
Please do come and visit, anytime. Fond regards to your wonderful family. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Dear Patrick, Corinne, and household -- Thanks for an enjoyable few minutes lightening up the holiday season. Jack and I wish you a Happy New Year and rollicking adventures, good health, and happy surroundings throughout 2017.
Best always -- Jane Thank you, Patrick for the adorable card and Christmas wishes. All the best to you both for health and happiness in 2017! Colleen
So Patrick..I do look forward to reading about some of your neat adventures of last year!..Always a pleasure to read!!:-) Wishing you and Lady Dar.and family ....a Wonderful New Year!!. Hugs,...Ell
Hi Patrick, We had a very quiet NYE with about 14 guests to see in 2017. As usual too much food and cool refreshing ales and wine. Hope you and yours have a great 2017 and we are still working our way through a possible visit to coincide with the grand Fondo. Love to all Greg and Claire
Happy New Year, Favourite Brisbanites! How quiet could a gathering be with 14 guests and plenty of hooch? I think we heard the police sirens as the SWAT Team roared up in front of your house! For our part, we had a wonderful time with Famiglia Sutherland. I gather you will be off to Viet Nam, in April, for a river cruise, among other things, with Flamin' and Sarge. Think it will be a magical trip indeed. [We were invited and would dearly have loved to be part of junket but too, too much going on with Lady Dar's parents as well as our grandson's wedding in LA.] Trust you are both well. Have you seen Jenne or been working with her, Claire? I had a brief note from her, responding to the New Year's card I sent.
Must apologize for not writing sooner but I have been trying to figure out the dates of your proposed trip/visit, GranFondo and aforementioned wedding. Unfortunately, for me this year's Penticton GF is an impossibility. It is on Sunday, July 9th and Alejandro's/Samantha's wedding is on Friday, July 9th. Initially, I thought that the GF was a weekend later and that I would be back in time to participate. If I did fly back on Saturday I don't know how much I'd enjoy the 160 km ride. Furthermore, I don't really want to rush away, as I'm sure you can imagine. I will be driving, although Lady Dar will be flying there and back as she needs to minimize amount of time she is away, given her Marriage Officiant responsibilities. Everything always seems to happen all at once but there you have it.
That being said, I do hope you will still entertain a visit, GF or not. Should you decide to come you are more than welcome to stay at our place and could enter the event. Talk to Sarge and Flamin' as they may well wish to ride in it as well. There are two or three other distances, 50km, 92km and 129km and first two might interest Flamin' and Sarge as they have not been logging the miles, as far as I know. Should this not be the key factor, we can always ride loads, over much the same route when I am back. This won't be until July 17th as I'm attending the Vancouver Folk Festival on the 14th/15th/16th. Flamin' and Sarge have tickets for the weekend as well.
Now, what I suggest, if you are still interested in coming, is the following: Fly to LA and drive back with me. Attend Folk Fest and then continue on up to Penticton. Or, fly into Vancouver for FF and then on to Penticton. Or, fly, wherever you want, whenever you want, to stay at our place before GF for a bit of training/route familiarization etc. Lady Dar will be back home on July 10th so you can continue stay and visit with her for as long as you'd like, depending on your travel schedule. Not sure if you have imagined visiting other places in US or Canada but if so then perhaps you could work in some of what I've outlined, depending, of course, on your time, finances, interest, etc. Anyway, let me know what you think and we'll plan accordingly. Once you have a better idea of what you think you'd like to do, we can work out exact details of dates, house keys, directions, (I seem to remember you are not particularly good at providing or following them!), to our house and the many, many wineries/breweries/distilleries here! All the best to you, Grog, and Claire de Lune! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hi Patrick, I wish you and your family a healthy and happy new year. I miss our interesting non-reader book gathering. Best wishes. Moe
Hi Moe! Trust you are well. I do apologize for taking so very, very long to reply! No excuses but plenty of reasons! I couldn't agree with you more about missing the NRBC! [Just an aside but Whirlygig is on a world traveling trip for next eight months or so. They were starting off in Mexico and then heading to New Zealand.] I have started a book club here in Penticton. Lisa Moore's February is the first selection and inaugural meeting is set for March 16th. Will have a pot-luck dinner here. There will be seven of us, including Lady Dar and myself. One of the women is Senka Tennant, owner, (along with her husband, Roberto), and wine-maker at Terravista, above Naramata Road. Wonderful couple, fabulous wine! Come and visit anytime, Moe. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Dear Pat and family, thank you for the memory, and may 2017 bring health, peace and happiness to all of you. We hope to see you in the new year. If we plan to travel to your side of the corner this summer, I will give you heads up.
Happy new year! Eyob and family Hi Eyob! Janet flew up this past summer and stayed for three nights. We had a grand time and I think she'll be back!
Please do come and visit, anytime. Fond regards to your wonderful family. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Dear Patrick, Corinne, and household -- Thanks for an enjoyable few minutes lightening up the holiday season. Jack and I wish you a Happy New Year and rollicking adventures, good health, and happy surroundings throughout 2017.
Best always -- Jane Thank you, Patrick for the adorable card and Christmas wishes. All the best to you both for health and happiness in 2017! Colleen
