Canada's Beautiful West Coast - New Perspectives
I had been preparing for a presentation to the MSF Kenya Supply Unit Steering committee in Amsterdam and while I had known that I was going to Victoria and Vancouver immediately after, I really had given little thought to what it would be like after over a year on the Dark Continent. The presentation required a lot of focus so the details of my 2 and a half week homecoming were left more to chance and the wind than my traditional planning and spreadsheet fanaticism.
Presentation successfully completed and a day of meetings in Brussels behind me, I was winging my way to Canada. A quick stop in Vancouver was certainly a foreshadowing with the sun still shining brightly and everything glittering and sparkling in this clean and beautiful city.I was greeted in Victoria by my close friend Marli, my son Jake and his best friend Braydon (affectionately know as Braydo). That was a terrific moment for me. I was back on home soil and reveling in the feelings that I had indeed been missed.
So - The West coast of Canada in spring - is there really anything more beautiful? Maybe Beyonce with a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction but I can think of few other things that are such a sight for sore eyes. Everywhere you turn there is beauty springing new and fresh in the warm spring sun.
The days that followed were a whirlwind of friends and coffee dates catching up and sharing the adventures of the last year. I saw my friend Barry on the day after I arrived and spent a whole afternoon catching up. Despite working for the government, Barry is one of the finest gentlemen I have encountered. Engaging, honest, generous and thoughtful he has been a wonderful friend of mine and hope will always be so. He was kind enough to let me store my Ducati in his garage and so asked if I would be using it over the next couple weeks. "no" I replied.... what would be the point? "Ahhh" he said...it's no trouble....why not?
That night he sent me an email with the steps involved. Hmmmmm I thought, maybe it would be worth doing. It was not particularly easy given my archaic looking Kenyan driving license. So surprised was the insurance officer her first words after seeing it were to say "Hey everyone!! get over here and get a load of this!!"A bit of messing around but the smile on my face in the picture below tells the story. For the record the Ducati 748 on the side is for show, the bike is actually (more or less) a 916 heavily modified to do just one thing... go into corners like a bullet and make sure you exit the curve rubber side down and rider intact. Super fun bike and while not great for some of the Vancouver Island touring I did, there was plenty of power when the opportunity came to pull out and pass. See below what is affectionately know as the "Dominatrix". It hurts like hell to ride but you keep coming back for more for some reason.
The purple Camus below beautifully accessorizes the view of the Olympic Peninsula in the distance. This photo is looking South East from the beach near my home. It's a view I enjoyed almost daily for many years and like time spent with an old friend is both comfortable and familiar.
The cove near the the house was as peaceful and serene as ever. This picture was taken around 6 am as I enjoyed the moment with Poncho, my goofy Chocolate Labrador Retriever and a good hot cup of coffee. No garbage - no loud noises - no looking over my shoulder for bad guys coming to hurt me - no smell of burning tires or diesel smoke. Just the gentle sounds of the waves lapping at the beach and a family of Canada Geese overly concerned about Poncho chewing a piece of driftwood into toothpicks near the water's edge. If ever there was a moment for reflection it was here and in this moment. And i did as it was an opportunity to thoughtfully compare my experience in a developing country with the world I have know for over 50 years. I do see that comparison quite differently at least for now. It's not that I view western lifestyles with disdain or cynicism. It's not that I think of those I share this beautiful country with as naive or uncaring in their thinking; but I do wish that we would all better appreciate the life we have been given.... or more accurately inherited. Our birthplace comes with inherent rights 7/8 the of the world's population can only dream and drool over. Not having to endure sexual assault to keep your job - not having to walk 6 hours a day to work at a job where you are unpaid with the faint hope that you can gain sufficient experience to find a job well below the masters degree you worked so hard to attain. Or living in poverty and knowing that if you get sick - you'll be unable to buy the basic medicines needed to survive and will likely die. And in fact - to take this just a bit farther - be willing to do anything to just survive. Yes - the longer I sat and pondered the more I appreciated the lottery that rewarded me with beautiful life I am very grateful for.
Pictured above and beside are a couple pictures taken while spending time with the kids. Stevie and I took a walk with her dog Oakland (The Rat Dog) and Poncho around the lake on a beautiful warm day, while Jake and I got his graduation suit fitted for his big upcoming day. They both look so happy and healthy.
I am so proud of both of them for their independent spirit and maturity. They are amazing young adults well aware of the world around them and their place within it.
I've never been in first class on an airplane before but when the woman behind me on the flight from Edmonton to Amsterdam took great exception to me leaning my seat back the opportunity came up. On two occasions when I asked if she was ok when I felt a bang on the back of the seat, her response was only that I should go fuck myself. "Hmmmm", I thought after the second FU - it was likely best that I let the attendants know about the somewhat anti-social and agitated woman behind me. They quickly whisked me into first class and stuck a single malt scotch in my hand. Hmmm - not so bad I thought. Did you know you can lie flat in there? I slept like a baby through to Schiphol. Life is good!!!!
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| Poncho greets me with a stick...wanna play Layne??? |
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| One last shot of the Dominatrix..... Graceful , elegant and completely belligerent all at once........ like me!!! |
