Canberra for Xmas, tell him he is crazy!!!
Everyone said I was crazy for spending Xmas in Canberra….now that I’ve experienced it, I think everyone else is CRAZY for not being in Canberra for Xmas. Who here has had a photo with a unicorn and a rhino (they are related so it is the same exhibit)? I have, in Canberra for Xmas. For starters, one of my best mates Fi lives there. Fi … Continue reading Canberra for Xmas, tell him he is crazy!!!
Winters Weekend
Last weekend was a holiday weekend here in Queensland. Historically it was when I’d go skiing in Australia, because it is the middle of winter. No skiing this year because of the COVID. The state borders here are closed and because of the border closures my mates, The Smith Family, couldn’t go camping. So we thought it would be fun to swap houses. Not this … Continue reading Winters Weekend
Only 85 Days
The darn ‘Rona is breaking all sorts of records. My least days skiing in a single winter out of 27. Least days skiing in probably two calendar years back to back. But, my second winter in Fernie, has been my best so far. Some early season turns pushing to see what is open, push a knee injury and loving being back in the mountains!!! Being … Continue reading Only 85 Days
West Coast Whitebaiting
For the last 12 years or so a bunch of Queenstown Kunts have gone over to the West Coast on a fishing trip. I was part of the original trip, I have missed a couple recently, but as I’m back in this neck of the woods, I was lucky enough to get an invitation to join the lads. They love it…. because now they had … Continue reading West Coast Whitebaiting
Fi’s 50th
Fi and I have been ski buddies for more than twenty years. On a few occasions we have celebrated my birthday (end of Jan) but I’ve never been around for Fi’s birthday (September). Since this was the big five-owwww it was a good excuse to shoot down to Canberra and hang out in Fi’s home town. Another ski buddy of ours, Shaz, came down for … Continue reading Fi’s 50th
Frank’s Slide
My last day in Fernie (until next November) was hanging out with the Wednesday hiking crew. Today’s hike was up to the top of Frank’s Slide – this is the site of Canada’s most lethal natural disaster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Slide Frank’s Slide happened in 1903 and my hiking buddy Frank looks about the right age and he seemed a little ‘guilty’ up there. I wonder if Frank … Continue reading Frank’s Slide
Grumpy Old Men
Last Monday, I arrived in Maple Ridge (a suburb of Vancouver) and surprised my old skiing buddy Joe. We first skied together 16 years ago!!! Joe is 81yo, he went to elementary school with Joseph and Mary. I was warned to be precious with Joe because he had a stroke recently. They tell me he came in after his stroke and was speaking in tongues … Continue reading Grumpy Old Men
100 Days in Fernie
After 13 years, I’m wintering in Canada again….. I’ve grabbed this winter, and my new home town of Fernie, by the gangoolies….. My old skiing mate Bob wanted me to winter in Fernie. Bob and I have hung out a fair bit the last couple of years. The planets aligned and Fernie worked out. But Bob lives in Montana. So 100 days ago I moved … Continue reading 100 Days in Fernie
Charlie
It has been two days since one of the biggest scares of my life….. Let me set the scene, it is a Monday afternoon, hasn’t snowed for a few days and I take young Charlie out of bounds. We walk around the gate that doesn’t open unless you have an avalanche beacon. I’d like to say we ignored the signs saying it is extreme terrain, … Continue reading Charlie
Prince Edward Island
The last night I was on PEI, I was in the hottub with my old skiing buddy Paul having a little debrief (no we kept out shorts on…. the other kind of debrief). We both came to the conclusion that it was the people I got to hang out with, that make my summer on PEI so marvelous. Lets start with Blind Tim, an old … Continue reading Prince Edward Island
Old London Town
It has been nine years since I was last in London and the place still feels the same. It feels more like home (Aussie and Kiwiland) than North America (US and Canada) for sure which I suppose makes sense. This trip sets me up for the coming winter VISA wise and I considered going to Cuba or mainland Europe but catching up with a bunch … Continue reading Old London Town
Road Trip East
Things are a little bit out of order but here is a post I’m working on…… I’ll get it all straightened out in a little bit when I’m finished catching up on some business – which could be 5 years time. Just before I arrived in Tennesse I received a message from Mush and Humi (Queenstown mates) saying they were in the states and were … Continue reading Road Trip East