So, we've been hit by a few big snow storms in the last few days, the most recent knocked out power to something like 200,000 homes!! We are ok for power but the internet has now been down for 4 days. It's hard to remember how you used to do things before technology!! So, I'm on a dial up line now. Businesses in Whistler must be having a very hard time. The only place that still has access is Whistler Blackcomb as they have a private line or something to the server. It may be a week before they can get the wireless up and running again. The snow is insanely good so being cut off from the rest of the world isn't entirely a bad thing! Here are some photos of the scenes outside our front door this morning as the snow started to dump - again! :o) Plus one of the crazy axe man..
Wow, I can't believe 2006 is coming to a close. It's all been too fast!! I'm sure they're going to feel like this as I get older but I really hope they don't get too much quicker!!! So much has happened, this has definitely been a monstrous year for moves & adjustments, trying new things, changing our environment completely & getting fit again! We started the year in Melbourne, city living in a wicked warehouse apartment sleeping with eye masks and ear plugs to escape the city noise for a few hours. What a cool town that was.. Now it's all about bears, snow, chopping firewood, snowboarding, untracked tree runs, aching muscles & Canada! And somewhere in the middle the rest of year kicked ass too - wiffle golf, diving in Koh tao, London party town, 2 weddings - plus our own! - seeing almost all our buddies together for a few days can't be beat, not to forget the high school reunion in Vegas baby, Vegas!!! Ahhh, the memories, what a totally awesome time... (end of flash back to '2006: year in review')
We're hoping to get hit by another snow storm tomorrow so fingers crossed it dumps a ton of powder on us!! Both mountains are getting a little bit slushy & I managed to really stylishly catch an edge coming down the steep on Saturday and landed on my face so have a nice old graze on my chin now.
It's raining right now & it's warmed up a lot lately - to about 2 degrees today! Should be out in my bikini tanning hahaha. But the snow is coming down up the mountain already just need the freezing level to drop down to the village and we'll be sweeeeeeeeeeet!
Oh and next up there will be a photo of our new car! woohoo!! We were given a car in exchange for a case of beer, it sounds dodgy but really it's not.. :o) Big ol' bench seats, the old girl purrs her way down the street.. Photos to be taken tonight!
Happy Birthday gorgeous!!You really know when it's cold here in Canada!! The last 3 days have been between -10 and -20 here at the base, that's ssomewhere close to where Fahrenheit & celcius become one and the same..
There have been a few moments where I've had to ask myself whilst trudging to work through a few feet of snow, if I can really handle this kind of cold.. Every day putting my shoes on the heater at work before I can put them on.
Respect to the Canadians out there for learning to have so much fun in this kind of climate and anyone north of us here where it's anywhere between -30 and -40 - Zoinks!
The powder snow is AWESOME though so no complaints there!
nicx
A real bear paw print - so perfect!! & me proudly stokin my fire
Well we woke up to half a foot of snow this morning! That was almost 10 hours ago - and it's still coming down like nothing else!! After a quick romp through the snow down to the shops, a couple of unsuccessful attempts at sledding on pieces of cardboard, and a few snowball fights, we got home and made a snow'person'! Snow person only because it has boobs but looks like a trucker.. hmmm.. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Opening day is looking to be next Saturday 20th - fingers, toes & legs crossed!
Various snow pics from around our 'hood this morning. The last one's of the freaky house with antlers above the door!
We've launched a site here, check it out - looks good for the stats anyways! haha - www.whistlerbubble.com
Check it out.. Our buddy Clay created this masterpeice... definitely a crazy halloween night out and no other pumpkin came close!
Well the snow came down over the weekend once again. We missed the actual snowfall as we were tucked up in our bed but when we woke up we could see snow on the slopes and all over the cars parked outside our house. VERY EXCITING once again heehee.
The snow is still all over the mountain today but not outside our house anymore.. Ski season usually opens around the 20th November but it opened a few weeks early last year because they had enough snow.. could it happen again?? Fingers & toes crossed!
We hear our shipment is in the country now so we're just hoping it gets here soon.. our summer clothes have lasted well but today it's between -3 and 4 degrees, you can only wear so many summer layers before you realise you're still freezing!!
Oh and HaPpY HaLLoWeeN for tomorrow! It's a big party night here so we're gearing up our costumes and putting plans together, should be fun! Even carved our own pumpkin as you can see below
And the lovely Mama Fougere has her birthday today. Best wishes for an awesome rockin' year & hope you're having a fun day ripping around on a harley!!!
Love you tonnes!
nic & rich
Well here we are on our first Thanksgiving public holiday. Thanksgiving was actually yesterday & we were invited to a meal at Christina's cousin's house for an orphans Thankgiving of sorts. It was really cool, we got to experience proper canadian style festivities. Met loads of fun people and had a great time, we even did it all whilst keeping off the alcohol?! Go figure! No real reason, just felt like being a little healthy I guess.
So in talking to people, they seem to have a very specific reason for celebrating, as opposed to the US I think, although I may be wrong. It differs a little between people but mainly comes down to giving thanks for the harvest that should've just been cut from the fields & put away for the winter months. I don't know where turkey ever came in to it & nor did they.. But hey, all good! Followed by pumpkin, rhubard & apple pies, plus apple crumble - no one was complaining! YUMMY
Well i dont post very often... mainly the schnick.. but thats becuase i cant spell and suck at engrish..
anyway was sitting eating breakfast this morning (killer scrambler eggs with sausage... ) ... just gazing out the window across our deck, over the valley and into the mountains on the other side and thought.. wow.. this is insane.. love this place...
completely surrounded by nature... bears, squirels, chipmunks and beaver! everywhere.. were fit, healthy, broke and completely happy with life..
so.... heres the view.....and thats my story..
We have a new respect for those crazy people who go tree planting as a summer job.. it's nuts!! We spent Saturday planting 430 White Bark Pine trees up the very top of Whistler Mountain with 10 other volunteers. While perching on the edge of the mountain we had to dig holes in to soil that was primarily rock (!!) and plant the little guys. They were 5 years old already and were only about 12cm tall. It was the beginning of an experiment to try to figure out if there's a a more resillient species of White Bark that could survive the Rust Fungus that is wiping them out all over BC. Yes, I am now an expert hehe.
Anyways, will post a few pics for your entertainment. The mist rolled in to the valley and looked amazing, we were treated to views that you just can't buy. The pink flags mark where each tree was planted if you're wondering. We're pretty sore today, tree planting is hard work - respect!! Of course, nothing a few beers couldn't fix afterwards..
Wowzers, it's been over 2 weeks since the last post. The weather has cleared up but the temp has dropped a little! We've had our first guests to stay which was awesome. james, Laura and Aleta (James' sis) came out from Tofino (Vancouver Island) to stay on their way back to London. They stayed with us for a few nights and we did a little sightseeing. Really cool to see some old buddies, remind us of whats going on outside our bubble here! Plus, the 2 weeks we spent with James in his cabin were super fun so we re-lived some of the silliness!!
Wow - you wouldn't believe that the last 2-3 days has taken a turn for the VERY COLD and the snow has been dumping up top!! Word on the street is it's an omen for a fantastic season, the locals are getting twitchy!
Here's some pics of the top of the mountain - The funny thing is that if you scroll down the page you can see the exact same area when we did the High Note Trail hike about 2 weeks ago. Check out the difference!!
oooooooooooooooooooh the excitement is building!!
Not much news from up north. Rich just had 5 days off & has gone back to work today so that was a nice break for him, although he was working from home most of the time.. We hit the downhill bike park again yesterday which rocked, managed to go down some harder trails & do some tricks through the intermediate skills park. Rich even got some big air off a few nice kickers. But seeing as we don't have full face helmets, full body armour or full suspension bikes like everyone else, we have to take it a little easy.. We gotta be purring when the snow season rolls around!! The weather has taken a little turn in the last few days from the slightly Groundhogs Day-esk blue skies & sunshine all the time, to overcast & a little rainy.. this may be the dark abyss of October coming that people talk of.. never ending rain and misery, but with a happy ending of SNOW SNOW SNOW!
oh and the cheeky Mr Squirrel below has become a regular house guest, going even as far as jumping & sliding his paws down the window when we have the door shut to get attention. There's definitely something weird going on with the animals in Whistler. If it isn't the squirrel jumping at the ranch slider, it's 2 blue jays (birds) stalking back & forth along the deck handrail staring in at me while I work...Very Dr Doolittle, but freaky all the same..
So last weekend was wicked..On sunday we played Wiffle golf with some friends here, you could only find the course if you were with a local!! It's golf played on an 18 hole course through the woods. You get 1 shot on each hole & scoring works that you get 2 points for a hole in one, 1 point for getting it on the green, & minus a point for going in a water hazard (which is too easy!).. hilarious.. Rich & our friend Christina tied - after 18 holes - with the grand score of 2!! Hahaha.. heres some photos to give you an idea of the obstacles we're dealing with...and a team shot.
On the Peak Chair to the top; Looking back to the village
Killer views up the chair & over the other side!!
Ropes to help you climb round the rocks in some parts
Sexy rich & the views over the back of Whistler Mountain
Rich coming down the ropes & back at the top of the gondola
a huge Inukshuk: traditionally that was an Eskimo rock pile
created to point & guide travellers in the safest direction of land
or sea travel
