June 13, 2007

D-DAY DAISIES

The deadline, she is done! And look what the man brought me for the effort …. sunshine in a vase

A sign the book had to leave? I am thinking in third person. Oh, and dreaming in third person, too (she said). Please tell me this is normal!

A good sign? As I was printing off the final copy of THE HEART OF A RENEGADE, I looked up to see a lone coyote trot past my window — in broad middle-of-the-afternoon daylight. I take this as a good omen.

June 10, 2007

HERE COMES THE MELTDOWN

Uh, that would be snow melting down, not me — but that could be argued

Rivers are churning opaque with glacial silt at the moment, and the province is still on flood watch.

June 9, 2007

SISYPHUS

Wouldya believe it’s June and they are STILL trying to move that pile of snow? Maybe they are doomed to bulldoze forever — a bit like Sisyphus.  A bit like me … and my deadline

STOP AND SMELL THE DANDELIONS

They were here in a golden burst of glory. A few moments of fame. And then they were gone — justs tufts to the wind. Another season over. Another year gone.

And I barely noticed them.

It made me realize there are a finite number of dandelion bloomings in each of our lives, a finite number of springs – don’t forget to stop and appreciate the small and simple things … before they are done

June 6, 2007

ARMED AND READY TO RUN … er, WRITE

Among my personal backcountry running arsenal — bear bangers, cell phone, and pepper spray — to deal with problems such as the one in post below. Or whatever else may arise.

I tested one of these puppies yesterday, and oy  ….it makes a gal feel good to be in control of so much rocket-power Amazing what you can shoot out of a pen-size flare launcher.

But fear not friends — I’m not out to terrorize the local wildlife. My test-firing yesterday was two-fold. My hero uses these cartridges in my WIP, and I needed to know what it felt …. and sounded …  like.

June 5, 2007

COUGARS AND FOREPLAY

Seems I have more than bears (and deadlines) to fret about these days — a wildcat chased a local bloke on the trails I run, often with headphones blocking crashing-in-the-bush-sounds, I might add.

So if I go AWOL …… check the papers

The biker was chased on an area of trail called Lower Foreplay (don’t ask), and now other offroaders are being warned. From the WORCA (Whistler Offroad Cycling Association) website is his tale (below):

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This is just a quick announcement for riders to take extra caution when riding in the area of lower Foreplay.  On Saturday June 2nd Steve Patterson not only spotted the big cat on the trail but experienced the ride of his life as he was chased down to the disc golf course.  Luckily he was able to out ride the cougar who gave up.  Steve’s version of the story is told below!
If you see a cougar in the area or anywhere else in Whistler please let us know so that our riders can take proper care when out on the trails.  “So there I was, five and a half hours into a solo Kill me Thrill me – Comfortably Numb loop. I had negotiated snow patches, windfall, exhaustion, and I was a little concerned with sunlight. I finally reached some familiar trail at the top of Foreplay, since I had ridden that trail years earlier. I crested the rock gardens just above the Disc Golf course, the village was in sight and I couldn’t be happier – All I could think about was tailgate beers and a big greasy burger.But then, I heard a crashing throught the woods. I had startled something, I figured a bear at first. No big deal, bears usually run away when you yell at them. The crashing continued, and got louder. It was then I realized something was actually running towards me. To my astonishment, a 2-3 yr old 125 lb-ish cougar jumps out of the woods behind me. I whirl around, since I was practically at a standstill I moved the bike between myself and the cat. It proceeds to run over to me.. within about ten feet. I slowly back away, talking, looking straight at it. The trail switches back so I bushwack down to the next swithback below, cat advancing with me the whole time! This went on for a couple hundred meters, and after shouting, standing up to appear taller, it was becoming apparent this thing wasn’t going anywhere. As soon as it looked like I could start descending, I whirl around, get on the saddle, and start given’er. The cat keeps following, sauntering at first, then galloping. It was a hummocky rolling section for a bit, so it was super intense, it was right on me and I was half expecting something to jump on my back – then, finally, it starts to drop a little steeper! I pin it.. two wheel drifting corners, sailing over everything in my path – I started to lose it, or more realistically, it was just getting tired of following me. The rest of the trail I couldn’t make myself slow down, at one point nailing a tree with my head and shoulder but managed to wobble out of it and keep going. At some point I got off Foreplay and fast tracked out through the disc golf course. I encountered a couple hikers on the lost lake main trails and yelled out that there was a large cat not far behind me, and to get out of the area. it wasn’t until I was alll the way down to the campsite that I actually felt safe. Anyways, I made it out unscathed, and the beer and splitz burger has never tasted so good!”

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