Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:06:21 -0700
Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: brief trip was excellent this weekend
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Greetings -
friday morning saw us back on the island again -
a reprise of the trip made tuesday - not really -
this one more leisurely -
tuesday was a work inspired slide over to qualicum to attend a safety
conference
we took a short side trip tuesday evening to deposit some travelers in
campbell river as it was raining and dropping them seemed less then westie -
so friday morning we caught the first ferry over to the island cause i had a
cat scan booked for the afternoon in comox
once that was over we headed down to nanimo so we could visit with some
friends of ours there -
they were not home -
went for supper at gina's mexican
http://vancouverisland.kulshan.com/British_Columbia/Vancouver_Island/Nanaimo/Restaurants/Gina's_Mexican_Cafe.htm
very well fed and a little at loose ends -
so we went over to gabriola island friday night and stayed at Pages resort
(about 20$+tax )
www.pagesresort.com<http://www.gabriolaisland.org/webpage.asp?PAGENAME=listofMembers#>at
http://www.gabriolaisland.org/GICC/home.htm
went to sleep amidst the soundscape of deer rutting and owls hooting...
woke and showered in what was hands down the most powerful coin op shower we
have had the pleasure of in some time -
met another westie owner who had an 82 diesel that had been converted into a
jetta gas powered /
also met a couple who had a car and a tent / she wants a westie (they were
in tofino tuesday - big rain)
we then went to the *Raspberry's Jazz Cafe **Roger* *Christie *8-575 North
Road, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0
where we met up with hugh fisher a local musician -
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=45179292
and can you believe it- in the hour plus we spent talking i never once asked
him how his new guitar is preforming ... grrr -
we were on galiano as a lark and the day passed so well ...
we certainly need to spend more time there -
it is the first time i have ever gone to gabriola with out an agenda
my wife loved the place and wants to return
then we went back to namimo where we had the best telus/ retail experience
ever ... wow thanks Micheal at Tom Harris
then we went to watch a move (step brothers) dont bother unless you are 16
and/or like fart jokes; balls jokes; etc etc etc ...
off to nanimo lakes road to see if any of the gates were open -
drove a long ways down the road when my sweetie says ... can we simply stop
..
so we pulled off at a logging road that was only deactivated rather than
gated
by 5 am it was raining so hard ... pounding rain which made for a wonderful
late morning sleep
when we woke my wife says ...
I sure do love our westie ...
searched for some specialized roasted coffee along the way -
http://www.creekmorescoffee.com/
filled our boots and then sped off down the island highway
had to keep checking my speed cause the 5 speed diesel keeps creeping up
over 140kph as we cruise along -
millage estimated to be down a little from the 1.6 boastings ...
averaged closer to 30 MPG rather than the terrific 35-40 MPG estimated when
running the 1.6
there was one small downer - and that was mostly in my head -
but had a bases in reality -
just outside of cumberland there was a 68 westie with lots of flowers
painted on the side parked on the shoulder of the freeway
i pulled over to see if they were in need of help -
they were simply discharging the rider cause the owner of the westie wanted
to turn back to home -
the rdriver says no they did not need help but the passenger says he needs a
ride to nanimo so he can catch the ferry back to vancouver-
some how in the happy to see a newer westie smiles we agreed that he could
ride with us -
along the way he relates that he is really a street person who makes his way
by dumpster diving
(no worries- it takes all types)
he then goes on to relate how he just spent the weekend at a local rendition
of burning man -
and it had been really excellent because he found 250$ on the ground and a-
large chunk of resinous substance not unlike that which comes from a broad
leaf plant commonly grown in middle eastern countries -
(now worries)
suddenly my mind filled with images of us being pulled over -
my wife is here on a visitors permit - i am sponsoring her -
suddenly we are in grave danger -
if this guy we are extending charity to has anything in his pack or life
that is un law full then we are all in big shit -
fortunately we made it to the ferry terminal with out incident -
but i can tell you it will be a clod day in havana before i let another
rider in to my van with out asking them if they have any reason to fear law
enforcement -
a simple act of charity could have risked my entire dream life- westy -wife
and all would have been seized and sweetie would have been deported -
for those who are pooh poohing my thoughts as paranoid delusions - well
carry on in your own my friend -
but try not to risk the happiness of others with your thoughtlessness -
by the time the dust would have settled and innocence established - months
if not years would have transpired
this is the second time in my life i have been "tricked" into giving a ride
to someone of "dubious intentions"
the first time i simply pulled over and let that guy out right on the
highway-
it is my hope that i will not be duped again -
the vanagon preformed flawlessly ;)
and another 250+ miles plus was logged with out incident
so nice-
yours
--
roger w
There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
Picking up garbage and telling people things.
Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
----------------------------------------------------------
Explore printed work at: http://www.prliving.ca/
View the growing list of video work at:
http://revver.com/find/video/?query=LastonLastof&search_on=owners
and ... older work at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364
