Heading downhill to Squamish

This can't always be about the weather, the sky and the fires. But it is such a "thing" here at the moment. Today, the air was a thick brown soup of smoke - burns your nose, throat and eyes. @Mac was in his fishing "I caught a barramundi" teary state all day and I have perfected the cough and sneeze routine.

Heavy smoke low down today

Weather conditions changed overnight and a cool change has blown in from the north. I thought this was good news, but apparently it makes things worse: fans the fires, is associated with storms that bring lightning strikes AND sweeps all the smoke out of the inland to the coastal corridor. Prediction is "clearing rain" on Wednesday.

Jumped in the car today and headed 60 km back down the mountain to visit Squamish. Accessed via the Sea to Sky Highway, this is a combination of single lane and divided road but it is a "mountain" drive and you do the curving, rolling corners and get close to the lakes, rivers, escarpments AND cyclists. Your ears even pop on both the descent and ascent. Still in our learning phase in relation to road markings and signage - but can pretty well say that "anything goes" and @Mindy and @Ian kept reinforcing that you are definitely advised to be prepared for the unexpected. 

We did the tourist thing while @Mindy and @Ian had some social calls to make.

Interesting to note that we are in quite small communities - not big bustling cities. So far we have visited Squamish which is the largest with a population of 20 000, then Whistler with 12 000 and Pemberton with 2 800.  Only really just getting our head around the fact that we are in "resorts" that have swelling and shrinking populations with the seasons and even weekday vs the weekend days.

The areas are all about skiing in the winter (obviously) but now in summer they are about hikes, trails, camping, bouldering and bikes - and down here at Howe Sound you could even add kites.

On previous visits we have taken the Sea to Sky Gondola adjacent to the Squamish Chief which is a 700 metre giant mountain dome that towers over the town and overlooks Howe Sound. Predicting that there were not "classic" views from the gondola today.

We stumbled across the finish line of the Squamish50 - a mountain trail run which is a national event for serious and recreational runners. A real party atmosphere here, with the race finish chute lined with spectators all armed with cow bells to ring in the competitors. Must have been extra gruelling in these smoke-filled conditions and the time clock was showing 7+ hours. 

@Mac commented that it was a shame he didn't know it was on - he is in "peak" condition for mountain running - he would have entered. He is so funny.

I would like one of those bells that the lady had today! There were so many.

Crossing the line after 7 hrs 34 mins - I was definitely applauding that effort (in lieu of a 🐄 🔔)

And here we go with the "lost track of time thing again" - it was 2 pm by the time we fronted up for BREAKFAST! We had a few false starts in downtown Squamish as we trekked up and down the main street competing for food with all the trail runners. Were excited at the possibility of a bit of pho at an Asian restaurant, but they were lined up out on the footpath waiting for a table - no room at that one. Settled on an "all day breakfast" spot and not sure we would rate it up there with #Daisy Hill Fish and Chips (😉 ... see reference below.) But it was a seat and table inside and it did have a loo. Continue to question the absolute MASACRE associated with the prep of bacon over here. You could almost put it in an alfoil packet and sell it as bacon chips! Oh so very hard and dry and really just some remnants of bacon after all the fat has been (over) cooked from the rasher.

 

Definitely not rating it - but I did have bubbly drink called "Grape and Raisin" and it was to die for! 

No prizes for guessing what @Mac was doing while I was scouting the grocery bargains

Safely back up the mountain, after taking advantage of the bargain grocery shopping process at #Walmart and #Nestors in Squamish (OMG, Whistler prices for groceries are crazy - much better down here), @Ian raced in, kitted up and jumped on the Ebike to head off to baseball. We definitely wanted to be his cheer squad, but he did say it was "beer baseball" and he had the first and the last game on the roster tonight and wouldn't finish till 10.30. Gladly took the leave pass he extended - and will wait till we can get a 🐻 🔔  or a 🐄 🔔 before we join his supporter crew. 😉 

@Mac taking up the WHOLE lounge in the baseballer's absence - making himself at home

Late dinner for us is now becoming the "norm." We usually front up to the feed trough on the dot 6 at home - but the whole twilight thing here is a little discombobulating (ha, I have wanted to use that word for YEARS - it's perfect for this feeling.) Anyway, the day sort of gets away and before you know it - it's after 8 and you haven't even thought of food. We do alright though.

Got a little walking trip planned for tomorrow with the #Whistler Museum staff. And if we miss the rendezvous, there's always the next day, or the next one, or .....

Loving the pace of our "local life."

Flowers wherever we go - Squamish had planter boxes everywhere as well

PS: Speaking of food reminds me of the car trip home and @Mindy is chatting with friend, Canadian @Mel who is currently in Australia as a tourist. (Bizarre - @Mindy and @Ian seem to collect some of their friends in sets - two Mels, two Emilys, three Kevins ... hard to keep up.) @Mindy is sharing with us some of the recommendations she has made for @Mel for food. Go figure, top of the charts, for when she passes through Daisy Hill on the way to the Sunshine Coast, a potato scallop with chicken salt from the Chatswood Hills Fish and Chips. 

PPS: where are you @Aunty Gail - @Mindy needs a press dud sewn onto one of her outfits - she is not confident I can manage it! Might need to call you. I've only got 48 hours for this one task.

PPPS: very excited, #Walmart sells yarn - I have stash for new project. Think of all that time on hand on upcoming train trip.

PPPPS: Did our first load of washing today - I am literally standing in my LAST pair of clean undies - @Mac has been in the dirty clothes basket - he didn't say what he was looking for. Might have miscalculated - everything is hung up on the drying rack in our room - don't want to put it outside because of the SMOKE - estimate is TWO DAYS to dry. #commando_potential_pending