Submitted by reaganwhite on 3 April, 2010 - 20:44.
As the Vancouver gang sat in the ferry linup earlier, we asked ouselves, "So, after the awesomeness of today, do we know what a spaghetti tree is?" we are drawing a blank (yeah yeah we are blissed out and tired and just can't wait to crash, but that's besides the point) please enlighten us, o awesome hosts Katie and Lysanne... :-)
Hi folks! So, as you've heard / experienced, Vancouver Island got WHACKED with some massive windstorms yesterday.
Interestingly, back when I was mapping out the course, I thought to myself, "Wow, if there's a big storm on the day of the race, we'll have to reroute the coastal sections, they'll be way too dangerous during a storm!". However I didn't think it might actually HAPPEN! Ha ha ha. And man oh man, that storm yesterday was a DOOZY. It was a really awesome reminder of the power of wind...*
Anyway, here's the plan for now: we're still planning to do the race, the weather is looking OK right now. If, around 1.30p, it's looking like a storm, we'll evaluate: either we'll reroute to avoid the Coast Trail sections of the route (keeping the whole route inland, which should be fine even in rainy / light wind weather) OR we'll say GOOD GRIEF it's a huge gale again and we'll retire to the pub instead...!
I really hope it's NOT as crazy as it was yesterday because I'm really looking forward to getting out there and seeing what that wind did to the trails!!! The "race" will likely be a bit more of a "group bushwacking" experience in some areas, because I'm sure trees have come down, but the route was already covered in fallen trees (that's the nature of running on a true coastal trail!) so we'll just figure it out.
Hmm, is this Nature's April Fools joke on us!?
See you @ East Sooke later today!
teagirl
*my husband and I were both off work yesterday so we had planned to get a bunch of tasks done including a few random ones, like, "Get some rocks for the garden". To do this we had planned to go down to the beach near our house... of course we hadn't planned on the storm of the century! We were down on the beach, being blown sideways, FREEZING, and when you picked up the rocks if you dropped them they also would blow sideways!!! Good grief. We got about 20 and then said "this is crazy!" and went home :) It was very cool to see the beach though, rocks had been tossed up over the waist-high cement barrier and the waves were crazy. Lots of people were out taking pictures. Of course we didn't have our camera, 'cause we were just out collecting rocks!!!! Oops :)
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 2 April, 2010 - 19:04.
I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the Easter Bunny. I belived in love... but I've never actually seen a spaghetti tree, so my left brain requests photographic evidence.
Had an email (to which I've responded, but just in case the requester checks here before email!) wondering if CFA runs, and this one particularly, are good to have fun at (eg. not necessarily "RACE"), and I am responding a resounding YES! CFA runs are the most fun "races" I've ever attended and I've done a lot of races. Now that I've done CFA events, I can't fathom doing other events... too expensive, too many superinsanelycompetitive people who get all mad about stuff and run too fast and get lost and fall and x y z. And there are hardly ever fun "everybody's invited!" beer / food events post-run! What's with that?! :)
So, absolutely, this and in my opinion every CFA run is a great opportunity to get outside, have fun, keep moving, learn about some new trails with a fun group o' folks, probably enjoy some good refreshments with that same group o' folks after the run, and not necessarily "race" - unless you want to! In which case you'll find yourself up against some fast people, but they won't make you feel like a dork if you're not as fast as they are... in fact, they'll probably slow down so you won't get lost (but they'll do it all subtle-like so you won't even notice and possibly feel bad!).
Just a brief note to let potential fence sitters on the mainland know that there is one more spot available for car pooling with Reagan, Kat and myself. The happy bus will be leaving North Van at 5:30am (yawn) for the 7am ferry.
Looking forward to our excursion. One gets so comfortable with the trails in our neck of the woods that this will be a change and getting us out of our comfort zones...I will actually have to read the course descriptions and maps and read the agenda ;-)
So, for all you's coming over to run Spaghetti Trees, here's a map of all the best places to get beer in Victoria!!! Victoria is THE best place to drink beer in Canada (and I've been all over Canada, drinking beer, so I can say that for SURE... there are other places with more of a beer culture, and there might be "better" individual beers in other parts of Canada, but in terms of overall quality AND quantity of craft breweries, Victoria wins HANDS DOWN!).
Of course if you're coming over & back in one day it will be difficult to visit everything on the map... but many of the locations are places you can purchase beer to take with you, so you don't have to be sticking around.
Unfortunately the pub where we'll be hanging out after the run isn't one of the "best" (but it's still pretty awesome - which just goes to show how great the BEST really are!!), but this way you'll have a map to find your own way to the others. And you can use it for future reference too :)
Drink LESS beer, but BETTER beer. You don't have to be a super-crazy-wacko hash house harrier to enjoy both running and beer :)
In case you're thinking of coming over for Spaghetti Trees and you don't want to head here & back in one day (yes, it's a lot of travelling, but see my blog posting about "BC Ferries travel tips"!), I'm offering our floor for anyone who wants it. You just need to know (a) you have to be gone by 10am on Easter Sunday 'cause we have family stuff to do and (b) there may be a 2-year-old here who might wake you up early in the morning by poking you (out of curiousity!).
We have a selection of thermarests / foam-type things but for best results bring all your own gear :)
Tea in the AM will be provided and we can point the way to EXCELLENT coffee & breakfasting opportunities in the neighbourhood.
Hope this helps convince some of you to take the plunge!
Submitted by reaganwhite on 23 March, 2010 - 21:39.
Would love to run this event but need a ride from Vancouver to the event start and back, and specifically prefer to return Saturday night (not Sunday).
Wendy and I are planning to drive to and park at the ferry, then board as a foot passenger and take the bus to the end of the line, from where Katie said she is organizing car pooling to the start. I also want to be back the same day,
Hey all, there's a good (as in, cheaper than BC Ferries) parking lot just before you get to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal with free shuttle service to the ferry. To get to it you turn R at the last light just before the long stretch of road out to the ferry (Tsawwassen Road). http://www.tsawwassenferryparking.com/
Just make sure you let us know you're taking public transit to the run so we have enough cars / time to shuttle people from 17 Mile House to the trailhead.
I bet the friendly people @ 17 Mile House would even let you leave a post-run bag there (although just remember you won't have it again until we actually get back to the pub after the run.... but if you're for instance staying overnight you could leave your overnight stuff there and we'll pick it up later).
Excited to hear there are Vancouverites planning to come!!! Yay!
Comments
Great time today!!! But a question remains...
As the Vancouver gang sat in the ferry linup earlier, we asked ouselves, "So, after the awesomeness of today, do we know what a spaghetti tree is?" we are drawing a blank (yeah yeah we are blissed out and tired and just can't wait to crash, but that's besides the point) please enlighten us, o awesome hosts Katie and Lysanne... :-)
The Windy Wind!! The plan, as of now:
Hi folks! So, as you've heard / experienced, Vancouver Island got WHACKED with some massive windstorms yesterday.
Interestingly, back when I was mapping out the course, I thought to myself, "Wow, if there's a big storm on the day of the race, we'll have to reroute the coastal sections, they'll be way too dangerous during a storm!". However I didn't think it might actually HAPPEN! Ha ha ha. And man oh man, that storm yesterday was a DOOZY. It was a really awesome reminder of the power of wind...*
Anyway, here's the plan for now: we're still planning to do the race, the weather is looking OK right now. If, around 1.30p, it's looking like a storm, we'll evaluate: either we'll reroute to avoid the Coast Trail sections of the route (keeping the whole route inland, which should be fine even in rainy / light wind weather) OR we'll say GOOD GRIEF it's a huge gale again and we'll retire to the pub instead...!
I really hope it's NOT as crazy as it was yesterday because I'm really looking forward to getting out there and seeing what that wind did to the trails!!! The "race" will likely be a bit more of a "group bushwacking" experience in some areas, because I'm sure trees have come down, but the route was already covered in fallen trees (that's the nature of running on a true coastal trail!) so we'll just figure it out.
Hmm, is this Nature's April Fools joke on us!?
See you @ East Sooke later today!
teagirl
*my husband and I were both off work yesterday so we had planned to get a bunch of tasks done including a few random ones, like, "Get some rocks for the garden". To do this we had planned to go down to the beach near our house... of course we hadn't planned on the storm of the century! We were down on the beach, being blown sideways, FREEZING, and when you picked up the rocks if you dropped them they also would blow sideways!!! Good grief. We got about 20 and then said "this is crazy!" and went home :) It was very cool to see the beach though, rocks had been tossed up over the waist-high cement barrier and the waves were crazy. Lots of people were out taking pictures. Of course we didn't have our camera, 'cause we were just out collecting rocks!!!! Oops :)
Be sure to take your camera
I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the Easter Bunny. I belived in love... but I've never actually seen a spaghetti tree, so my left brain requests photographic evidence.
Have an *awesome* run!
To the one wondering if this is a good "fun" trail run... YES!
Had an email (to which I've responded, but just in case the requester checks here before email!) wondering if CFA runs, and this one particularly, are good to have fun at (eg. not necessarily "RACE"), and I am responding a resounding YES! CFA runs are the most fun "races" I've ever attended and I've done a lot of races. Now that I've done CFA events, I can't fathom doing other events... too expensive, too many superinsanelycompetitive people who get all mad about stuff and run too fast and get lost and fall and x y z. And there are hardly ever fun "everybody's invited!" beer / food events post-run! What's with that?! :)
So, absolutely, this and in my opinion every CFA run is a great opportunity to get outside, have fun, keep moving, learn about some new trails with a fun group o' folks, probably enjoy some good refreshments with that same group o' folks after the run, and not necessarily "race" - unless you want to! In which case you'll find yourself up against some fast people, but they won't make you feel like a dork if you're not as fast as they are... in fact, they'll probably slow down so you won't get lost (but they'll do it all subtle-like so you won't even notice and possibly feel bad!).
I heart CFA!
teagirl
Just a brief note to let
Just a brief note to let potential fence sitters on the mainland know that there is one more spot available for car pooling with Reagan, Kat and myself. The happy bus will be leaving North Van at 5:30am (yawn) for the 7am ferry.
Looking forward to our excursion. One gets so comfortable with the trails in our neck of the woods that this will be a change and getting us out of our comfort zones...I will actually have to read the course descriptions and maps and read the agenda ;-)
Great beer map ;-) Just
Great beer map ;-)
Just thought I let you know that I will not be taking the bus after all, but taking Kat up on her kind offer to car pool.
Sibylle
The Victoria Beer Map
So, for all you's coming over to run Spaghetti Trees, here's a map of all the best places to get beer in Victoria!!! Victoria is THE best place to drink beer in Canada (and I've been all over Canada, drinking beer, so I can say that for SURE... there are other places with more of a beer culture, and there might be "better" individual beers in other parts of Canada, but in terms of overall quality AND quantity of craft breweries, Victoria wins HANDS DOWN!).
Of course if you're coming over & back in one day it will be difficult to visit everything on the map... but many of the locations are places you can purchase beer to take with you, so you don't have to be sticking around.
Unfortunately the pub where we'll be hanging out after the run isn't one of the "best" (but it's still pretty awesome - which just goes to show how great the BEST really are!!), but this way you'll have a map to find your own way to the others. And you can use it for future reference too :)
Drink LESS beer, but BETTER beer. You don't have to be a super-crazy-wacko hash house harrier to enjoy both running and beer :)
The Victoria Beer Map
Sleeping on my floor
Hi all,
In case you're thinking of coming over for Spaghetti Trees and you don't want to head here & back in one day (yes, it's a lot of travelling, but see my blog posting about "BC Ferries travel tips"!), I'm offering our floor for anyone who wants it. You just need to know (a) you have to be gone by 10am on Easter Sunday 'cause we have family stuff to do and (b) there may be a 2-year-old here who might wake you up early in the morning by poking you (out of curiousity!).
We have a selection of thermarests / foam-type things but for best results bring all your own gear :)
Tea in the AM will be provided and we can point the way to EXCELLENT coffee & breakfasting opportunities in the neighbourhood.
Hope this helps convince some of you to take the plunge!
:)
Looking for ride from Vancouver, want to return same eve.
Would love to run this event but need a ride from Vancouver to the event start and back, and specifically prefer to return Saturday night (not Sunday).
Willing to pay for gas, split ferry fees, etc.
Cheers,
Reagan
c. 604-771-5657
Hi Reagan, Wendy and I are
Hi Reagan,
Wendy and I are planning to drive to and park at the ferry, then board as a foot passenger and take the bus to the end of the line, from where Katie said she is organizing car pooling to the start. I also want to be back the same day,
Parking @ Tsawwassen Ferry terminal
Hey all, there's a good (as in, cheaper than BC Ferries) parking lot just before you get to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal with free shuttle service to the ferry. To get to it you turn R at the last light just before the long stretch of road out to the ferry (Tsawwassen Road). http://www.tsawwassenferryparking.com/
Just make sure you let us know you're taking public transit to the run so we have enough cars / time to shuttle people from 17 Mile House to the trailhead.
I bet the friendly people @ 17 Mile House would even let you leave a post-run bag there (although just remember you won't have it again until we actually get back to the pub after the run.... but if you're for instance staying overnight you could leave your overnight stuff there and we'll pick it up later).
Excited to hear there are Vancouverites planning to come!!! Yay!