September 20, 2008

September 20, 2008

Today was Similkameen Sizzle, the annual pepper harvest festival in Keremeos. We didn't attend, because I worked at OK Falls Day in Okanagan Falls. This morning I drove to Okanagan Falls, to the home of my "employer", Lisa. She was putting the finishing touches on the face make-up of two clowns she was sending to Similkameen Sizzle. When she finished with them we headed for the baseball field on the edge of Okanagan Falls which was the OK Falls Day Parade marshalling grounds. Lisa worked on preparing face make-up for about a dozen children that were part of the Tickleberry entry in the parade. Her husband Dean worked on the pirate ship float that their company Clownin' Around was providing for the parade. I worked on getting into the Tickleberry Bear costume.

Tickleberry's is an Okanagan Falls ice cream / chocolate / souvenir / tourism business. Their mascot is a bear. Today I was the Tickleberry Bear ! Brutally hot, exhausting work ! First I put on a contraption that was like a giant diaper with suspender straps, and 3 large hoops around my body to make it big. Then came the overalls. Then the wool shirt. Did I mention that it was sunny and warm today ? ! ? Then the big fuzzy feet. Then the big fuzzy hands. Then ... the giant, fuzzy bear head. I was supposed to walk in the parade handing out Tickleberry coupons.

But ... the eye holes in the giant, fuzzy bear head were about the size of loonies ( Canadian dollar coins ). And they were about 18 inches in front of my eyes. Severe tunnel vision ! ! ! The closest I could see the ground was about 50 feet in front of me. And the big, fuzzy, four fingered hands made it impossible to handle coupons. I had to recruit the assistance of two of Lisa's clowns that were walking in the parade. One to hand out coupons. The other one to walk beside me and be my "seeing eye clown". HA HA HA !

WHEW ! ! ! HOT, HOT, HOT ! ! ! The parade wound its way around and through Okanagan Falls, about 45 minutes of walking. At the end of the parade I was relieved to be able to pull off the giant, fuzzy bear head and get some fresh air. The inside of the bear head was soaked. My hair and face were soaked. My body, my clothes, and the entire bear costume were soaked. And then ... Lisa advised me that I was to wander around the main park of Okanagan Falls, where all the activities were taking place, for another 45 minutes < sigh >. My seeing eye clown escorted me to the park, then left me to wander around. I moved very slowly, shuffling my feet to avoid tripping over anything. And frequently, when I would feel something impact against my legs, I would carefully drop to my knees. It would be another four to six year old wanting a "bear hug". And parents wanting a photo of their child being hugged by the big bear. I must have hugged every kid from Kelowna to Keremeos ! ! !

Finally ... my time as Tickleberry Bear was over ! Lisa's daughter, about twelve years old, escorted me back to their home where I could finally pull off my bear head. She thought the bear head was "cool" and asked if she could put it on. Sure ! She wasn't even quite finished putting it on when she yanked it off, screaming "YUCK ... it's soaking wet in there". Well ... YEAH !

I got out of my dripping wet bear costume, and rested on the tailgate of my truck for a few minutes, cooling off, drying off, and munching on part of a picnic lunch Joanne had prepared for me. And then it was time for part two of my day. I put on my magician's cape and top hat, stuffed my pockets full of magic, and spent the next 2½ hours wandering around the park performing magic. It went well. But ... HA HA HA ... I was amazed at how often I would perform a magic trick, and a ten to twelve year old boy would say "oh, I know how that's done". I would hand them the disappearing / reappearing silk scarf, or the three ropes that change lengths, or the rope with the disappearing knot. Inevitably, they would fumble around with it for awhile, then sheepishly hand it back to me. HA HA HA ... that's why I'm a magician, kid, and you're not !

My biggest chuckle of the day ( to myself ) was when I made a silk scarf disappear for a couple of children, then reached over behind their mother's left ear to "pull it out of her ear". She yanked away, shrieking "don't touch me". You skank ! Your tits are hanging out for all of Okanagan Falls to see, but you don't want a magician to reach over to the side of your head to "pull a scarf out of your ear" for the amusement of your children !

DSK

September 14, 2008

September 14, 2008

Today was sunny and warm. A perfect day for an outdoor birthday party for a 6 year old. Right after lunch I left for Okanagan Falls where I performed as a magician for Carter's 6th birthday. I arrived at 2:00 P.M., after the birthday party had already been underway for an hour in the small park across the street from Carter's home in Okanagan Falls. I donned my new magician's cape and top hat. The crowd of twenty-one children gathered at my feet. I juggled silently, awaiting their attention, and when I heard that all the children had become silent, I stopped juggling to introduce myself and begin my magic show. And to perform the greatest magic trick I had ever done, or ever will do again !

HA HA HA HA HA ! As I stopped juggling, and looked down at the crowd of children in front of me ... well ! I introduced myself, acknowledged the birthday boy, and then announced that for my first magic trick, especially for Carter, I was going to make ... a deer appear. HA HA HA HA HA ! I told the children to turn around and look behind themselves, where a deer had wandered into the small park, right behind them, while I was juggling. I told the children I had made it appear as a special treat for Carter. HA HA HA HA HA ! What a great trick ! ! ! Let's see Copperfield top that !

I performed for about half an hour, until I saw that I was losing the children's attention. I guess half an hour is about the maximum attention span of six year olds. After some other birthday party activities it was my turn again. I had agreed to teach the children a magic trick. Carter's father had prepared a 3 foot piece of soft rope for each child, as per my earlier instruction. And each child received a cardboard top hat, a paper magician's cape, and a small magic wand. I attempted to teach the group a "disappearing knot" trick. I had to enlist the assistance of some of the parents and older siblings in attendance to assist with individual instruction. Gee ... six year olds' hands are awfully tiny ! And most of them don't yet have great manual dexterity. I managed to teach the trick successfully to about three of the six year olds, one older sibling, and one father. I had picked this disappearing knot trick because I thought it was the easiest trick I could teach to children that age. I had less success than I had hoped for, but ... there seemed to be no complaints. Those that could do it were happy, and those that couldn't were satisfied to move on to other activities.

Not being particularly knowledgeable about children that age, I couldn't help but notice, especially after a mother's comments, that by that point in the party the children seemed to be suffering somewhat from "sugar overdose". HA HA HA !

I had a good time. And the children seemed thrilled to have a real live magician at the party. Especially Carter, who had specifically requested a magic themed birthday party.

DSK

September 5 to 11, 2008

September 5 to 11, 2008

Friday ; This morning the Escapees B.C. Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally concluded after "hitch up breakfast". As we were planning to depart for a few days of camping and exploring around the B.C. Interior we discovered that our friends Ron and Mary were planning to do the same. We agreed to travel together today. We left Lacarya Golf Course & RV Park in Clearwater and drove a very short distance to North Thompson River Provincial Park. We drove through the campground, and while it was nice, we decided we would rather go on to Green Lake Provincial Park. We drove south on Hwy. 5 to Little Fort where we stopped for a few groceries, then turned west on Hwy. 24 heading for 100 Mile House. At Lone Butte we turned south towards Green Lake Provincial Park on Emerald Bay of Green Lake. It was a very nice campground and we got campsites side by side, right on the lakeshore. Very pretty !

We had a late lunch, then < ahem > some of us read and napped for awhile. We went for a long walk around the campground, lakeshore, and picnic grounds of the provincial park, stopping at the children's playground to allow Bo to play on the slides. HA HA HA ... what a funny little dog. I lit a campfire and we sat around the campfire chatting until it was time for a late supper. Since Ron and Mary had fed us lunch, Joanne and I prepared supper for the four of us. I barbecued sausages and Joanne made perogies and a salad. We spent the evening chatting in our trailer, then I helped Ron fix his malfunctioning fridge.

Saturday ; This morning we prepared for departure from Green Lake Provincial Park then chatted with Ron and Mary for awhile before saying goodbye to them. They were headed in a different direction than us today, because they live at the north end of the Okanagan Valley and we live at the south end. We drove along Green Lake until we reached Hwy. 97, known in this part of B.C. as Cariboo Highway. We travelled south on Cariboo Hwy. 97, stopping to refill with diesel at Cache Creek. At Cache Creek we turned south onto Trans Canada Hwy. 1 following the Thompson River through the Thompson River Canyon. Very scenic ! Just before reaching Lytton we stopped at Skihist Provincial Park. Very pretty park, quite high up on the side of the Thompson River Canyon, looking down on the Thompson River and the highway and rail lines running alongside the river. I read and napped. We walked around the park, taking photographs and giving Bo an obedience training session. I worked on a couple of minor repairs on the trailer. The need for minor repairs / adjustments becomes almost a daily occurrence as soon as we start travelling. Harvey ( the trailer ) is now ten years old. Late in the afternoon I lit a campfire, and we sat around the campfire reading. AHHHHH ... very relaxing ! Since we had such a nice campfire going we decided to cook supper over the fire, something we haven't done in a long time.

Sunday ; Today was a lovely, sunny, warm day. We slept late this morning, then departed Skihist Provincial Park heading south on TCH 1 following the Thompson River and then the Fraser River. The highway passed through quite a few tunnels as it wound its way through the Fraser River Canyon. Our intention was to stop for the night at Hope, at a private campground that we stayed at a few years ago. When we arrived there we found that the campground had changed ownership, and their rates had increased exorbitantly. We left ! We decided to stay at a local provincial park campground instead, but somehow we missed the entrance to the provincial park. It was such a lovely day, and we were well rested, so we decided to just keep driving until we were home at Riverside RV Park Resort. From Hope we headed east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3, past the Hope Slide, through Princeton, and all the way home. AHHHHH ... nice to be home !

Thursday ; Today was sunny and warm. A great day for Dan Air Flight 404. I left home early this morning headed for Penticton. First stop was Parker's Chrysler Dodge Jeep where I dropped Lanoire off for her 96,000 km. service. Parker's drove me over to Southern Skies Aviation at the airport for my Mountain Performance Course flight no. 4. Flying Cessna 172 C-GXTN ( X-ray Tango November ), we flew from Penticton through the Nk'Wala Mountain Saddle, and followed the Marron Valley towards Apex Mountain. From Apex we followed Hwy. 3A along the Keremeos Creek Valley to Keremeos, then turned west though the Similkameen Valley to Riverside RV Park Resort. We circled the park once at low altitude, then continued through the Similkameen Valley to Stemwinder Mountain at Hedley. We flew over Stemwinder Mountain, over Nickel Plate Lake and Nickel Plate Mine to Apex Ski Village, then back to Penticton following Shingle Creek.

During today's 1.6 hour training flight, we practiced flying at low altitudes through narrow valleys and canyons, making minimum radius turns, practicing engine failures / forced approaches, and experiencing the illusions that can occur flying in the mountains. Coming out of Marron Valley, and seeing Apex Mountain straight ahead, my instructor told me to climb over the top of Apex. I flew for awhile towards Apex, climbing, until I finally realized that it was not possible to climb over Apex flying directly at it. The rapid rise in terrain / steep mountain sides rose faster than a Cessna 172's ability to climb. An important lesson to learn for flying around here ! Twelve pilots in the last twenty years have died trying to climb over Apex Mountain by flying directly at it. We flew down a narrow "dead end" box canyon behind Stemwinder Mountain, and when I had mountain a few hundred feet in front of me, and to each side of me, the instructor pulled the throttle to idle, simulating an engine failure. YIKES ! ! ! Where the hell was I supposed to make a "forced landing" ? ? ? I performed a minimum radius turn, and contour crawled right along the edge of the canyon trying to take advantage of whatever convective currents rising off the mountain sides that I could find. WOW ... I managed to glide right along the inside edge of the canyon, all the way out of the canyon back to the Similkameen Valley where there was ample opportunity to make a survivable forced landing.

Most of today's flying was low level valley flying, at a maximum altitude of 1000 ft. AGL, with my wingtips a maximum of 200 feet from the sides of the mountains rising another 4000 to 6000 feet above my flying altitude. While I have obviously acquired "mountain performance" flying skills, I still find it somewhat unnerving !

My investment advisor / stock broker picked me up at Southern Skies Aviation and we went to a Thai restaurant for a luncheon meeting. I put the finishing touches on the extensive changes I have made to our investments this summer. The extensive losses we have experienced to our investment values over the last 18 months, particularly the least 2 weeks, have us worried !

Norm dropped me off at Parker's where I waited for the truck service to be completed. WOW ... over $1000 for fluids and filters ! Expensive truck ! As the service advisor was reviewing with me the work done today on the truck he discovered a very minor leak from the pinion seal at the rear differential. < sigh > I will have to return in a couple of weeks to have the pinion seal replaced. Oh, well, this is only the second very minor repair that Lanoire has needed in over 96,000 km., and both the minor repairs were covered by warranty.

I ran some errands in Penticton, before driving home to Keremeos. Whew ... what a long day !

DSK

August 29 to September 4, 2008

August 29 to September 4, 2008

Friday ; Today I had planned to take Kevin and Sandy flightseeing, but I postponed flying until tomorrow because of today's strong wind gusts. We had a quiet day at home resting. In the afternoon I drove Kevin and Sandy to Cawston to pick up their toad at Cawston Glass. On the way home Joanne and I did some grocery shopping in Keremeos. Back at Riverside RV Park Resort we all spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the pool and hot tub.

Saturday ; For the third time this week I cancelled my sightseeing flight with Kevin and Sandy. Yesterday while swimming Sandy hurt her back, and this morning was in too much discomfort to go flying. Oh, well ! After lunch Kevin and Joanne went to Penticton for some Wal-Martin' and other shopping chores. I got to read and nap instead of having to go to Wal-Mart on the Saturday of a holiday weekend. Woo-Hoo !

Sunday ; Sandy continued to suffer extreme back pain today. We spent much of the day slowly preparing for departure tomorrow. After spending the entire summer in one place there is quite a bit of work to do to prepare for departure. Late in the afternoon Sandy's back pain eased a bit and she wanted to go sit in the hot tub, so we all went down to the pool complex and spent some time in the pool and / or hot tub. Afterwards we went to Hedley to have dinner at The Hitching Post, our favourite local restaurant. Tonight their featured soup was beet borscht, which is Ukrainian, as opposed to their usual cabbage borscht, which is Russian. They had run out of cabbage, and a neighbour had beets, so ... ! As always, an excellent meal !

Monday / Labour Day ; This morning we prepared for departure and left Riverside RV Park Resort, heading for the Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally tomorrow. We said our goodbyes to Kevin and Sandy. They will be staying on our lot for one more night before heading southeast to Yellowstone National Park then the Black Hills of South Dakota. We'll see them again in about ten weeks or so in the Rio Grande Valley in the southern tip of Texas.

We headed west on Hwy. 3 to Princeton, then north on Hwy. 5A and west on Hwy. 97C to Merritt, then north on Hwy. 5A again to Monck Provincial Park on Nicola Lake. An okay campground, but overpriced. B.C. provincial park campgrounds are always nice, but often overpriced. We walked around the campground, and along the lakeshore. We brought Teddy along in his sling carrier. He didn't enjoy being right beside a lake. We played with Bo on the slides in the playground. HA HA HA ... what a fun loving little dog. He's always enjoyed sliding down slides in playgrounds. Today he learned that it's possible to run back up a slide, although I had to give him a helping shove up from the bottom to allow him to reach the top of the slide where Joanne was enticing him with dog biscuits. HA HA HA !

Tuesday ; This morning we departed Monck Provincial Park and continued heading north on Hwy. 5A along the eastern shore of Nicola Lake. At Kamloops we refilled with diesel, drove a short distance east on Trans Canada Hwy. 1, then turned north on Hwy. 5 following alongside the North Thompson River heading to Clearwater. With no help from the incorrect directions provided to us < fume > we found our way to Lacarya Golf & RV Park, the site of the Escapees Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally. We had been advised that the campsites were full hook up sites, so we didn't drain our waste holding tanks before leaving Monck Provincial Park. The sites at Lacarya had water and electricity, but no sewer < fume >. And we arrived with barely enough time for Joanne to prepare her pistolettes recipe, our contribution to the late afternoon potluck dinner. So we had to get set up in our site, prepare the pistolettes ... quickly, go to the potluck dinner, then "prepare for departure" again to drive over to the trailer dump station to empty our shower waste holding tank < fume >. While preparing the pistolettes, and while cleaning up afterwards, Joanne had a couple of messy kitchen mishaps. A rear brake light bulb burned out on the truck. All in all, it wasn't a really great day !

We spent the evening sitting around a campfire, socializing with the group. Upon request, I performed a magic trick. And I have been asked to perform a magic show for the group within the next couple of days. HMPH ... maybe I should start telling people I'm a "paid entertainer", and don't give it away for free ! HA HA HA !

Wednesday ; This morning the Escapees B.C. Okanagan Chapter 33 Fall Rally travelled as a group on a day outing to explore Wells Gray Provincial Park. Joanne and I took our truck with our friends Elfi and Jim as passengers. We drove up into and all the way through Wells Gray Provincial Park, stopping to take short hikes to see and photograph Bailey's Chute, Helmcken Falls, and Spahats Falls, a series of canyons, rapids and waterfalls along the Clearwater River. Quite spectacular scenery !

Late in the afternoon while the group prepared a communal "hobo stew" dinner everybody got dressed up as hippies. HA HA HA ... some pretty great renditions of Peter Fonda in Easy Rider, Elliott Gould in MASH, and Cher ! Prizes for best hippie costume will be awarded at tomorrow's dinner. The evening was spent around a group campfire sharing personal stories.

Thursday ; Today was a beautiful, sunny, warm fall day. We've always enjoyed camping in the fall. This morning most of the SKP group went to play golf. Joanne and I don't play golf so we slept in and got a late start to the day. I spent the morning working on the computer, updating my journal and processing yesterday's photos from Wells Gray Provincial Park. We took Bo for an obedience session. Poor Bo has been spent way too much time left alone in the trailer over the last few weeks.

This afternoon the group played games like beanbag baseball. I didn't. I read and napped. We had supper as a group in the golf club dining room. It was quite good. Some members of the group performed music after dinner. Nasal whining, depressingly sad, country music < rolling eyes > ! I performed a magic show. It went reasonably well ( only one botched routine, with a quick and effective recovery ) and was well received. We finished the evening sitting around a campfire, people trying to determine how each of my magic tricks was done. To my satisfaction, none of the many guesses was correct.

DSK