20-52-2013: Long Weekend

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May 19. 2013 – Welcome to the May long weekend. The sun is out today, and my calla lilies are in fine form in the pond. Actually most everything is. The yellow flag irises are blooming, the wisteria is draping itself around the fence, the azaleas are looking fabulous. It’s so nice to have sun on the May weekend, often it’s a tad gloomy, although the past two years we have started out wonderfully and then June descends into monsoons. Here’s hoping this year breaks the trend and we get more of this wonderful light.

I am also glad that it waited until today to show itself. I spent the past day and a half working on Bowen Island.

Sort of.

Months ago I was asked if I would consider teaching a session on fish biology at the 35th Salmon Enhancement Community Involvement Workshop. Once I had some assurance that I would still be on staff I said yes. Things have been hectic lately – travel for work, travel for personal reasons, looking at new homes – and not surprisingly my preparations were left to the last minute. But I work well under pressure, and I know my material well, so an hour and a half teaching people how fabulous fish are isn’t a hardship.

Getting up at 6am on both the Saturday and the Sunday of a long weekend kind of were though.

When the alarm went off Kirk opened one eye, gave me that “seriously” look, and then rolled over and went back to sleep. I bombed over on the ferry on my little scoot and have a fabulous day yesterday. I was invited out for drinks after the sessions were over but declined because our volunteer boating group were holding our annual Commander’s Cruise down in the marina, so I took the opportunity to hang out on the docks a bit and visit with friends. While there I found out other friends were down at the other end of the docks at our Club slips so wandered down that way for a visit.

There is little better to do on a lazy long weekend Saturday than lounge about on boats with friends.

Eventually the ferry returned and I had to run up and hop back on the scoot to head home, but not before meeting up with Kirk on his way home from a motorcycle ride. I always think it’s fun to ride the scoot and the motorcycle together, we look like the proverbial cute and yet slightly dorky couple.

This morning I had to rise early and take an early ferry back to Bowen Island. I had been asked to be the wrap up speaker, just ten minutes to reflect on the previous day’s sessions. Some people thought I was crazy to make the trip for a ten minute talk, I thought I was crazy to do it. But then again, all those boating friends were there too. So why not?

I’m happy I did. The Community Involvement groups are populated with people who volunteer their efforts and hours to rear and release fish to small community streams, clean up streams so the existing populations of fish have access to better habitat and cleaner waters, and they educate and promote the programs tirelessly.

I had one or two people tell me that I was an inspiring teacher (personally I just think that they were so boggled at how much information I can throw at them so quickly, and make them laugh in the process). But in reality I think I draw far more inspiration from them than they likely do from me. It’s easy to do your job and take home your pay-check and call that the end of the day. It takes a great deal more effort to give back on a continuing basis. The world really wouldn’t function without volunteers.

I had a few friends asked me if I was working, my answer, I wasn’t sure if I had volunteered or was on the clock for overtime. personally, I don’t really care one way or the other, it was worth the effort.

On the ferry ride home I was a sporty little scoot in the middle of a gorgeous VFR, a V-strom heading back to PG, and a lovely gentleman on a Star who started riding at 60. To them my little SR50 was the highlight and generated much discussion. As usual, no one could believe it is only 50ccs, that it is a two-stroke, and that it has front and rear disc brakes. Or that I have put an aftermarket Leo Vance pipe on it 🙂 There were a number of people from the workshop heading home too, and they all migrated to the front of the ferry to chat. One of the CAs asked if he could sit on my scoot, and when he did, thought he could see himself zipping around Langley on it, particularly after I waxed on about the economy of the thing.

So, a great weekend so far. Some fun teaching, visits with friends, sitting on boats, I got to take the scoot for a couple of good rips, and had some great conversations with people – riders and not – about what a great little machine it is. And one more day to go, with some sun in the forecast.

A ride on the big bikes is probably in order for tomorrow.