Feb 1, 2002

Between intense bouts of job seeking I’ve been working on hiking hiking web sites. The Nootka Trail is the first in what I hope will be a series.

Farewell to Peter Gzowski, a hero of mine with whom I spent many hours.

I managed to squeeze in a trip to Parksville with my parents who have rented a rustic log cabin for 3 months of winter. They normally go to the States or Mexico but thought to try Canada this year. Parksville has amazing tidal flats — you can walk the sea bottom forever at low tide. They are at the
Tigh Na Mara resort.

We took a drive across the Island to Long Beach and Tofino where storm watching is the big draw in winter. We were impressed with the Wickaninish Inn — big glass windows overlooking the wild surf. Actually there are 2 Wickaninish Inns; the original which is now an interpretive centre in the National Park and the new Resort near Tofino.

RS & KZ hosted me in Vancouver. We saw the amazing Lord of the Rings (part 1) and went mountain biking on the rough trails of North Van. Within an hour we were on our way to the hospital for wrist surgery for Michael, the one experienced biker with us. But the biking was fun while it lasted!

More recently I joined in our (sometimes) annual ski trip. This year ET, WL, & SGL drove to the mountains via Calgary. We stayed on the hill at Sunshine so that Keiran (age 3.5) could take downhill lessons too. Amazing powder! Over 70 cm during the 3 days we were there.

Enjoying winter!

– Rick (-30 C)