Halloween Blues: Thursday, October 31st

Poetry should please by a fine excess and not by singularity. It should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost as a remembrance. -John Keats, poet (1795-1821)

Up at 5:50 am even though The Devil Cat had not been fussing, trying to raise a human to feed her breakfast! 

Hi Patrice,

Glad you're back safe and sound and obviously continuing on enjoying fabulous weather and riding. We'd love to see you guys soon too, let alone  get out for a ride sometime. I'm so over this full time work thing ..I'm really looking forward to  going back to having a life soon.
Take care, Al

Hi Big Al, Working for The Man Dawn to Dusk!

We need you back in the Peloton, Big Al, so hurry up and discharge your full time working gig! Just glad that you have plenty of work so that you won't be inclined to inflate desk costs!!!

Thanks for welcome back wishes. Wonderful to be home but we certainly had a fabulous, fabulous time. Only wish people such as you and Marilyn had been able to join us as it was a variation of Guayabitos if you catch my drift. Terrific house and magnificent situation with respect to everything from cycling to weather to food to wine to locals to incredible history/architecture which saturates the region. Next time!
 

As you mention, have really been enjoying the weather of late, even the fog, as riding has been terrific. Yesterday, Whirlygig did a test ride on a bike, aluminum frame, from shop, (Not sure but think it is Giant Vancouver, somewhere around Burrard and 3rd/4th), where Jacob is working. After he picked it up he cruised by The Islay Inn and we did a quick spin around SP, via Prospect Point, and back. By the time we were at GI his neck and shoulders were sore. He's trying to find the right handlebar configuration as with his fused back certain positions, over prolonged/extended distances become increasingly uncomfortable. (Later learned that Jake thinks he may well have to go to the handlebar configuration that I use. Makes senses as one is less "hunched" over. 

Anyway, I did some fairly extended dipsy-doodles after we parted as the thought of fighting the head wind all the way back from UBC was just too, too daunting. Started around Kits Point and then over Burrard Bridge and around Science World to give me my 50+ km. Very enjoyable as I was only interested, more or less, in distance as opposed to AVG.

That evening we attended a book launch/reading, by one of members of VPL Board, Carellin Brooks, at Heartwood, the restaurant on Main, near Broadway/Kingsway, which Cora Lee's church just bought! Very comfortable physical space with an attractive pressed tin ceiling. Menu is quite good, (Wine offerings are abominable but I enjoyed quite a tasty IPA), and we shared a spicy baked polenta/tomatoe/feta dish as an appetizer as we hadn't eaten before event. Carellin worked for New Star Books for a quite a few years and now teaches at UBC, as a sessional, technical writing, I believe. Her book details her experiences as a mother over the course of the first year of her daughter's life. She read very well but her approach to the subject is not one that I found particularly appealing. Nevertheless, she and her friends are very interesting people so it was fun to meet them.

 

Stopped at the liquor store on Cambie and 7th on way home as we needed some white wine for Dusty. Must say that it was quite a shock to see the prices after becoming so used to the remarkably, simply remarkably low prices for remarkably, simply remarkably fine wine in France. Splurging, I would spend €10/$14.21 but could buy monster wines for €6/$8.52-€8/$11.37, wines that would knock your socks off with respect to fruit, complexity and finish. Must say that I am now a Citizen for Languedoc Wines Fan! What a truly unbelievable wine region. You two would love it, I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Cora Lee's parents arrive just after 4:00 pm today so she wants to leave here around 3:45 pm. According to http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/canada-weather it will be mostly cloudy between noon and 3:00 pm, brief showers otherwise, earlier and later. Giggenheimer and I might try to squeeze another ride into this window of opportunity, although predicted showers are to be light, supposedly, so not overly fussed about timing

Let me know when I need to sell Maggie! Take care of each other. Happy Halloween Kids! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Our next door neighbour, Sarah, put out a fancy broomstick/witch's hat so Cora Lee had the idea to do a "poor man's" version. Sign is a bit hard to read in picture so I've blown it up: Broomstick EconoAir/Halloween Specials/Only 13 Black Cat Air Miles/To any Haunted House within North America!

PS: I enjoyed your latest GoPro stunt:

 Just wait for the cartoon introduction to finish, then hold on to your seat.

Don't forget, once they reach the top they then have to do the maintenance or replacement work required.

Www.liveleak.com/e/07b_1284580365

Can hardly wait to massacre you at bridge. Will have lots of incredible prizes though.

We know how it feels to be in her bad books. How many years were we. Everything is good now though as she as mellowed (or maybe it was us!)

Will miss having someone to chat with on Saturday (besides Susan, Marnie and boyfriend Chad) Charlie

Hi Champagne!

You dream about a massacre at bridge but it will be you begging for mercy, me lad! Honed our skills on the bridge of the Bridge Barge, sipping wine between precise 7 No Trump declarations! Distributed many of your fabulous prizes throughout Europe, (Norwegian Sun sunglasses were a big hit!), so need to restock!

Thanks for empathy regarding Nancy. Coriandre is going to drop off a card for David today. I asked if she was going to knock, prop it up on doorstep and run away! Cheers, Patrizzio!

PS: GoPro vid, material for your next newsletter. 

So you wouldn't believe the South African wine pricing - less than half of what you pay here, and some very decent vintages. I always thought I would have REAL issues with drinking if I lived in the States or South Africa. Then again, living there as an alcoholic would be the least of my problems.

We do pay to live in the greatest part of the world (Vancouver, BC, Canada in that order)

Remember - "The Goblins'll get you if you don't watch out" - James Whitcomb Riley the Hoosier Poet! Charlie

P, my pick up, now assigned to the airport, is around 2PM, so our ride will need to end, for me anyway, at around 1PM. I guess we need to watch the weather and make a call late morning. Let me know what thinks thee, W

Hi Georgio!
 
Forgot to give you stats for yesterday's ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/397714251#.UnGQSzdrQL0.email

just so you can keep a record! If forecast holds, perhaps I could meet you on Point Grey at around 11:30 am and we could do a quick run out to UBC, returning via 16th, or some such route, depending on weather, timing, for you, etc. Let me know your thoughts. Cheers, Patrizzio! 

Stats for today's ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/398133768#.UnMxd3BF2uE.email 

Hi Patricio,

Greetings from our humble establishment.  Hope you are having a good Shuswap visit.

From Lynnie's research, you will likely find Poplar Grove, Upper Bench, La Frenz and Lang wineries open on Sunday afternoon.  We're not sure about Lake Breeze and Howling Bluff.  Happy tasting, see you for happy hour. Peter
 
Hello LL and Jugos!

Thanks very much for list of possible tasting spots. Much appreciated. Depending on closing times we hope to be knocking on the door of yer 'umble establishment somewhere between 5:00-6:00 pm, Sunday afternoon. Trust this suits. Looking forward to seeing you both, reliving travel experiences and more. Thanks and Cheers. Patrizzio!


Hi Patrick

How are you doing? Quite a long time since we have heard from each other. My life has tremendously improved since I found a girlfriend which suits me much better, I did spend earlier this year 3 weeks in Thailand with her, last year in Antalya, Turkey and this Saturday we'll go to London for almost a week for some shopping, sightseeing and some culture.

Unfortunately I do not have much time to write now but after London you'll hear from me.

Well, Nao will be in Vancouver from November 12th onwards and she wants to visit you, are you now there or travelling around? Do you have any cell she could reach you?

So take care and until later Cheers Stefan

Chloe Alexis Dunn In Candy overload!! Ahh Halloween!!!

P,

Carellin was a UBC Press author so I worked with her quite a lot on one of her books -- also knew her thru publishing circles. A real character -- brilliant too. W

Puff,

You know that the Suessesses changed their name to disguise their ethnic origins...W