Lasqueti Island

Lasqueti

When I got to Vancouver, I realized that I had missed Jasmine, my older daughter, by only four days. I wished so much I could have pedaled faster. Jasmine left Montreal ~1wk ago to "wwoof" for the Wilsons, a young family with 2 kids, on Lasqueti Island, not too far from Vancouver. "Wwoofing", as they like to say, is about placing volunteer workers on organic farms. Lasqueti is a small, relatively isolated island which is only accessible by a tiny passenger-only ferry from Vancouver Island.

After a few discussions by phone where I tried to get Jasmine to come to Vancouver, I was invited to the island to stay with her for a short while. Offer which I accepted - it was only ~100km from Vancouver. I had to take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, cycle to French Creek, and then take the passenger-only ferry to the island. Finally, I needed to pedal 17km on gravel roads once on the island. ~1day in total.

This island is like a mini paradise full of ex-hippies. Time is way more elastic than most other places. It seems everyone here has traveled the world extensively and is eager to chat endlessly. There is no electrical grid on the island. People usually build almost everything they own. The Wilson family welcomed me so warmly. They started on that island several years ago, initially living in a tent, and gradually built a house, and later, a studio for guests like Jasmine and I.

The next day, Jasmine and I  help Reid (Mr Wilson) finish building their studio. In the afternoon, we went to the beach and visited the neighbors, some of which, are true artists.

This little detour was so worth it.

I'm going back to Vancouver tomorrow to spend a few days with Donna.

I've uploaded more pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/gbradet/BC#.

Güi

1 août 2010 - Burnaby, BC

I'm leaving tomorrow to see Jasmine on her island. I've been very busy with Arlene and Slavo.

The 1st day was devoted to intensive eating, shopping and seeing a sport physiotherapist. I had an intense, very physical, at times, almost violent, 1 1/2 hr session with him.  The diagnosis is a bursitis of the knee joint. I had the ultrasound, electrical and icing treatments, all in one session, in addition to being prescribed a cream (Voltaren) and anti-infamatory stronger than Advil. He's also taught me a few exercises I can do in the morning and at night, and also during the day. My pain at the knee likely originates from lower back problems and stiffness in the left hip. He sounded reasonably optimistic about being able to complete my trip as long as I take good care of the problem. I feel somewhat relieved.

The 2nd day was spent entirely on Surly, which I unassembled, cleaned and reassembled. I'm fairly impressed with how well it's resisted so far to mud and terrible roads in the Yukon, and from other mistreatments, such as ridding on beaches, or roughly laying it on the side when fully loaded because I needed to pee badly. A good part of that day was also allocated to eating, icing the knee and doing the stretching exercises that the physiotherapist has shown me.

I spent the 3rd day in downtown Vancouver, where there was the pride parade, in Stanley Park and in Chinatown.

About my trip so far

I've been on the road for almost a month. I've found a certain peace with my new life in the outdoors. Yet I'm not into a routine, and I feel like I'm still learning. Most days, I get on the road without thinking about kms or time, or my old problems.

I still remember the French guy I met at the end of the second day in Alaska, where I was suffering from the heat, exhaustion and severe discouragement. He was headed north to Fairbanks, to then tour Alaska (Denali Park, Homer, etc) and head back south to Mexico and Latin America for the next 2yrs. He had left Montreal on his recumbent bike, heavily loaded, 2-3mths before.  His face and many uncovered parts of his body were burnt. Yet, he looked happy - in peace with everything. I didn't give him a chance to not stop as I almost cut him on the other side of the road. Often, cyclists I meet going in the other direction simply wave and continue. When I talked to him, he encouraged me and said not to worry, that the 1st month was the hardest, that after that, things would get better, easier. Of the gazillion people I've met so far, it's his words that stayed with me the most, that gave me the most strength, the desire to carry on. I've forgotten his name, I didn't write down his email address, but today, I wish a could send him a thank you note.

Vancouver did me good. I'm very happy with my trip so far and the best is yet to come.