Sunday, October 28, 2012

Post Tsunami Warning

FROM CBC NEWS WEBSITE:

As a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Haida Gwaii on Saturday evening, residents along the B.C. coast shared their accounts of the moment the quake struck.

Most reported a shaking, swaying or rumbling that lasted anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute.

"It wasn't a big shake — it just was a continuing rolling feeling that went on for ... perhaps a minute." — Robin Rowland, Kitimat, B.C.
"It almost felt like a massive wind was making the whole home shake." — Leisha Grebinski, Prince Rupert, B.C.
"It started off with just a small rumble ... and then things started to shake a little, and then things started shaking a lot." — Peter Mark, Masset, B.C.
"[I] was sitting on my couch, with the laptop, when I started to feel motion that made me feel queasy. Noticed that our heavy swag lamp was swaying back and forth. Stood up and could feel the motion through the carpeting. We live in a basement suite and I think that the motion lasted about 15 to 20 seconds, perhaps." — Leslie Allen, Prince George, B.C.
"Felt a 'swoon' — at the same time everything hanging started to sway so strongly that it took 30 minutes plus for them to settle back into equilibrium." — Sharon MacKenzie, Quadra Island, B.C.
"The whole house was flexing and oscillating. The lights went out and the shaking continued and I could hear all kinds of crashing." — Nick Finley, Tlell, Haida Gwaii, B.C.
"The house seemed to be moving — plants, light fixtures, sun catchers in the window swayed and clattered ... About 10 minutes before they stopped swaying." — Marion Lawson, Kamloops, B.C.
"The whole house swayed for over a minute. My wife said it felt like she had sea legs. Phones were out for a short time but we never lost power." — Ken Newman.
Residents as far away as Alberta and Yukon reported feeling the earthquake.

"It felt similar to light earthquakes we have experienced here with hanging plants and lamps swaying significantly." — Philip Merchant, Whitehorse, Yukon.
"I noticed my hanging plants and wind chimes in my living room swaying, and then found out a while later that an earthquake had hit the coast of B.C., near Haida Gwaii." — Evelyn Rook, St. Alberta, Alta.
"I felt the quake ... doors swinging and lights swinging from the 11th floor of an office tower." — Bryan Petz

From Terratima:  Didn't feel a thing

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Catching Up

I've been really busy traveling back and forth to Edmonton working on the redevelopment of the Dentistry Pharmacy Building Redevelopment.  We haven't had the chance to go sailing and I'd love to be doing this right now:


This is good for the soul

When I arrive back in Vancouver and grab a cab to get home, I tell the driver: "Shelter Island Marina near Graybar Road and New Westminster Highway".  Very few know where it is, so I have to explain the route.  Then the questions start:

"Are you going to your boat?"
"Yes" I say. "I live on board"
"You live on your boat?"
"Yes"  I say again.
"Isn't it cold on board in the winter?"
"No, it's very comfortable.  It's heated."
"Isn't it wet?"
"No"  I say.  "If your feet feel wet you have a really serious problem", I say.  Laughter
"How do you cook?"
"The same way you do: in a kitchen, only we call it a galley."
"Doesn't the rocking annoy you?"
"No, first of all, it doesn't rock unless there is a very strong wind and the waves develop.  Even when it does, it's usually quite pleasant."
The there is the question everyone seems to want to ask:  "What about  waste, sewage?"
"Well", I say, "we store it in a tank called a holding tank and then pump it out.  It's no big deal."
Then comes the next burning question: "Isn't it too small and cramped?".  
"It's a lot smaller than the house we used to have...", I say, "..and all of our stuff is in storage, but we miss nothing, are very comfortable and would not move back to land."

By then, we have arrived at the marina and I pay the cabbie and get my bags.  The parting question seems inevitable: "Which boat is your?", he asks.  I point to the outer finger of the dock and tell him that we are the middle boat of the three.  "It's beautiful", he says.  "We think so", I say walking down the dock gangway.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Saturday at Home (aboard Terratima)

Now that's more like it:


Environment Canada's Official Weather Warnings

Warnings

Metro Vancouver
10:56 AM PDT Saturday 13 October 2012
Rainfall warning for
Metro Vancouver continued

Rainfall amounts of up to 150 mm expected tonight through Sunday. This is a warning that significant rainfall is expected or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.

A strong Pacific frontal system will reach the British Columbia coast later today spreading rain heavy at times over most South Coast regions tonight through Sunday. Total amounts of up to 150 mm are expected to fall over West Vancouver Island and over 100 mm for Squamish and the north shore of Metro Vancouver. Near 80 mm are expected over the other affected regions. The rain will ease late Sunday as the system moves away to the east.

The system will also bring strong southeasterly winds of 80 km/h to West Vancouver Island overnight tonight. The strong winds will ease midday Sunday with the passage of the front.

   

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Deep Cove Breakfast

We set off by car to a nice spot in North Vancouver called Deep Cove to have  a late breakfast.



View from Deep Cove waterfront.



Deep Cove Yacht Club Marina




Looking back toward the main street





Beautiful Sunday morning

Friday, October 5, 2012

Unbelievable Weather

Now this is Vancouver and at this time of year it starts to rain and doesn't quit until June.  But look at this:


Weather forecast for the weekend and into next week



Today

Sunny
  • 18°C
  •  
  •  

Sat

Sunny
  • 19°C
  • 4°C
  •  

Sun

Sunny
  • 18°C
  • 5°C
  •  

Mon

Sunny
  • 18°C
  • 9°C
  •  

Tue

Sunny
  • 17°C
  • 7°C
  •  

Wed

Sunny
  • 17°C
  • 7°C
  •  

Thu

Sunny
  • 17°C
  • 6°C
  •  

COMPLETE THE STORY

 Hello all.  I must admit to being a bit reticente in completing the story of our trip to Mexico.  It is marred by an incident of mental hea...