March 13, 2012 – I am on the road for a couple of days, up on Northern Vancouver Island. Kirk will be home fending off cats, both of ours as well as looking after our neighbours cat, while I am spending a couple of nights enjoying little tiny toiletries.
A colleague and I drove up to Campbell River this evening, and while we didn’t really drive around much (basically hotel then dinner then hotel), it’s easy to see that the windstorm that tore through here yesterday morning really threw a few heavy punches to the town. It’s pretty impressive when you drive down the road and realize there is driftwood thrown to the opposite side of the highway. We passed a building that was missing a good chunk of its siding. The roads are littered with debris, and many people are still without power. Winds at the airport were clocked at up to 138km/hr. I don’t think there was a ferry running anywhere on the South Coast for half the day yesterday.
We are supposed to be out on the water heading to a marine aquaculture netpen facility to see if we can learn some things from the harvesters. Specifically if we can adapt some of their humane methods of harvest to public facilities. It’s unfortunate that the industry gets dragged through the proverbial shit-pile at every turn when they are doing so many things proactively and based on a great deal of very credible scientific evidence. It’s always frustrating to listen to people slag an industry out of ignorance.
I’m hoping to learn a lot tomorrow. Now if Mother Nature just cooperates. Today was lovely, but tomorrow has more nastiness in the forecast, 60-80 km/hr winds in the forecast, dropping to 30-50 by noon. We are scheduled to be out on the boat by 10am, but if that wind comes through we may be looking for a Plan B.
Fingers crossed we get out on the water tomorrow. Until then, it’s just me and my mini-toiletries.
20 comments
If you’ve got some time on your way back, I’m in Comox and would love to see you. It’s been years and Starbucks is only a few mins away from me. Have a good trip and hopefully the weather gods will co-operate for you.
Hey Brendon! I don’t think it’ll happen on this trip, mainly because I’m not alone and we’ll probably be dashing for a ferry…we always seem to be when we travel together 😉 But I’ll definitely be back soon, and I will most definitely build in some time. I’d love to see you too!
It’s all good. Figured it was a long shot anyway. Try to stay dry.
I’ll do my best!
Take care up there Paige – there’s another storm a brewin’. We are doing a gill net survey on a local lake for my fish man class and i’m just hoping we can get out to them tomorrow morning!
Yeah, I’ve been watching it, but I’m hoping!
Well, it’s pretty windy here. How about up there? 🙂
Yeeeeaaaahhhh…I think we are land bound today. The wind is doing a good job and I can see some pretty good waves breaking out on the beach.
And I just heard that the Comox – Powell River ferry is shut down, so that tells me what it’s like out there. Not small boat friendly.
At least here it’s not as bad as it was on Monday (knock on wood). 🙂
No, not forecast anyway, but still a storm warning on the water, which is the same as that one. This poor city is still trying to clean up that mess and now it is getting another blast. Snow on the interior of the Island I hear, we hit a bit on the way up yesterday. Oh well, time to start looking for a Plan B for the day, maybe we can get into one of the commercial hatcheries for a visit.
Paige you in town? Wanna meet for coffee today?
I am, and I can’t commit since I’m up here with Don and with this wind I’m not sure what the day is going to hold. Can I take a rain check for another time when I come up alone?
For sure; try my email or call.
Good luck today, and I don’t think you will be getting out on the water…better hit the hatcheries.
Added to my address book 😉 I’ll let you know when I’m up next, probably won’t be that long. And yes, I’m a boater, its light enough that I can now see the channel…I wouldn’t go out there!!! Nasty!!
Ha! Welcome to the North Island! Have a great week and see you when you are up next.
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