Day 4 - downtime

I'm - we're - really, really tired. We slept in today, but made our way over to Phil's as the plan was to head to Red. It still hasn't snowed (in fact, in 2 weeks), so, to ride on the same groomers for a day, we made the decision to sort the car, sort Josh's corrupt memory card and so forth.

Mons bailed, Phil and Alex went riding, and so Mons, Packy and I went for brekky. Packy wanted food and I wanted coffee along with Mons - this causes difficulty. No one serves a full breakfast with free range eggs AND good coffee. So we have to get brekky then get coffee, or vice versa. My breakfast suffered but we found Sidewinder where someone, FINALLY, gave me a coffee with a good rosetta, that wasn't too hot (this means YOU Grind House, despite your good coffee, your milk is too hot). Red Grill breakfast was pov - Full Circle gets the nod for best brelly by far, so far, but again, sub-standard coffee. I am longing, LONGING, for Limoncello in Station St Sandringham where they manage to combine (imagine this!) free range eggs, awesome mushies and rad coffee. Blend 73 is not far behind but their eggs are not free range.

Pack and I sorted his camera then went to get the car. After walking for an hour then finally finding it, we were greeted by the news that they don't have a record of our booking. She didn't seem too apologetic about it either. So. Here it is. If you book through Budget BC, make sure you double confirm the booking. I am NOT happy. Rent a Wreck luckily has a 2005 minivan cheaper than Budget so it works out well.

I think this turn of events freaked Packy out, but Michael B's and my collective adage of "there are no problems, only solutions" calmed me. Along with Jager.

My custom 153 2008 Heresy is LATE and experiences its third exception, luckily Ryan sorts it and it looks like it will hopefully be here by tomorrow.

My money is being depleted FAST (somehow) so I need to ease up.

Today I am shocked at the unbelievable juxtaposition between the top half of town and bottom half - the top half is where we have been hanging out - organic food, obvious coexistence with nature. The bottom half is loud trucks, dirt, commerce, noise, a mall. The town has a split personality and it actually depresses me. The stark reality of man's uncompromising intrusion on this place is made completely obvious. Wal-mart, Quiznos, KFC - they're all here. The sparkling energy apparent in the upper half of town, apparent in people's eyes, their nature, is replaced by bland American hegemoney and overt consumerism. Blank subservience to the shopping culture. Warm malls designed to capture and keep you there. Spending for no other reason than to keep the wheels in motion. Fuel inefficient Dodges, Fords, GMCs etc line the kerbs. Nowhere is there a turbo diesel Renault, VW or Peugot. It seems we have a little way to go in pushing back the tide of American "Eff-you ism" that is wholly obvious in a place such as Los Angeles.

The line is crossed at one particular set of lights. I am glad to return to the top half of town.

Red tomorrow, more photos.
Also, we find out we're cat-skiing Retallack on the 18th to help celebrate Nick's (a local) birthday - we got an invite right away. Mons, after riding with us for a day, says we'll be fine in the extreme terrain. Mum, prepared to be shocked.