Where did all the snow go?
I'm back, like any of you noticed I was gone...
Canada was fun; Canadians are so much nicer than Americans (without wishing to do Americans down - you guys can be nice, but just a little too intense for us reserved brits), polite and helpful and really apologetic about their crap weather.
I went to Alberta and British Columbia to Ski. Most people would agree that skiing is best done on snow (except those odd people who like to ski on water, pulled along behind a fast-moving boat - salt water enema anyone?) You could normally rely on there being plenty of snow in the Canadian Rockies in late January and early February. Not this year, apparently.
Two weeks before we went there was plenty, but by the time we arrived at Fernie the warm Chinook wind (snow-eater in the local Native American language) had stolen it all away from the lower slopes, leaving a smattering of what I would call ice and rock further up. Disaster.
We gave up on Fernie altogether - I hear it's closed for the season now and they've had to lay off 200 staff, poor buggers. Fortunately we were able to move our itinerary around and chase what little snow there was. In the end we managed to ski most days, but it wasn't the powder and sunshine nirvana I was expecting. Ah well, that's life I suppose. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford a foreign holiday every now and then. It would be churlish in the extreme to complain when it's not exactly what I was expecting.
So now I need to get back into the swing of real life. No more pancakes and syrup (except tomorrow of course - there's no point living in a christian country and not making the most of its feast days). No more enormous burgers and Caesar salads big enough to feed a small republic. No more drinking beer in a hotel at 7000 feet above sea level (something everyone should try at least once - a little alcohol goes a long way). No, it's work, work, work, build house, work.
And perhaps somewhere along the line I might get a little bit of writing done as well ;}#
Canada was fun; Canadians are so much nicer than Americans (without wishing to do Americans down - you guys can be nice, but just a little too intense for us reserved brits), polite and helpful and really apologetic about their crap weather.
I went to Alberta and British Columbia to Ski. Most people would agree that skiing is best done on snow (except those odd people who like to ski on water, pulled along behind a fast-moving boat - salt water enema anyone?) You could normally rely on there being plenty of snow in the Canadian Rockies in late January and early February. Not this year, apparently.
Two weeks before we went there was plenty, but by the time we arrived at Fernie the warm Chinook wind (snow-eater in the local Native American language) had stolen it all away from the lower slopes, leaving a smattering of what I would call ice and rock further up. Disaster.
We gave up on Fernie altogether - I hear it's closed for the season now and they've had to lay off 200 staff, poor buggers. Fortunately we were able to move our itinerary around and chase what little snow there was. In the end we managed to ski most days, but it wasn't the powder and sunshine nirvana I was expecting. Ah well, that's life I suppose. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford a foreign holiday every now and then. It would be churlish in the extreme to complain when it's not exactly what I was expecting.
So now I need to get back into the swing of real life. No more pancakes and syrup (except tomorrow of course - there's no point living in a christian country and not making the most of its feast days). No more enormous burgers and Caesar salads big enough to feed a small republic. No more drinking beer in a hotel at 7000 feet above sea level (something everyone should try at least once - a little alcohol goes a long way). No, it's work, work, work, build house, work.
And perhaps somewhere along the line I might get a little bit of writing done as well ;}#
Comments
Hurry up and write your science fiction epic. I'll be the first to buy it, even if I'm from the U.S.
Really, the Canadians I know I wouldn't really call calm. They can be unbalanced, in a good way. I guess it depends where you are meeting them. For the money, with the exception of the southern redneck, nothing is more entertaining than a drunk Canadian.
David V.
;}#
David V - I've already written two SF epics and if you really want to read them, go to my website and send me an email. I'll set you up with a free download of the pdfs for both of them (some salesman, me).
The first one is my favourite, but it was written a long, long time ago in a galaxy far too close to this one for comfort. The second is currently residing with Agent Phil, of Mr Stuart fame. He may look at it someday, he may not. I have long ago learned to expect nothing (thus maximising chances of delighted surprise).
I never met any drunk Canadians whilst I was out there. If they're anything like drunk Welshmen then they are probably a lot of fun, as long as you're out of reach.
Thank you for your gracious offer to allow me to read your novel for free. Since I'm certain you spent a tremendous amount of time writing it, I'll go ahead and purchase one. Of course, I'm mightily stupid about all things computer, so it might be a while before I figure it out.
David V.