Music on the Move

Pic from Outdoor Ukulele website

A guitar noodler since a teen but in recent years I have become quite smitten with the humble ukulele.  I have a because Kala tenor thin body travel uke that play almost everyday either alone or with others through music Facebook and Meetup groups.

Recently I've a desire to bring my ukulele along on some travels and outdoors activities but not really keen on exposing my $350 Kala to the possible rough and tumble.  Outdoor Ukulele has come to my rescue!  This Bend, Oregon company makes a line of all weather, composite polycarbonate ukes that are very reasonably priced and play surprisingly well.  Check them out:

www.outdoorukulele.com

I purchased a beer bottle brown soprano with low G strings and a strap button.  The tenor is probably a better fit for my size but I have a tenor uke and the smaller overall size will be better for packing.  It only weighs 15 ounces!

Cool translucent composition

I must say that I am truly impressed with the sound and action on this little uke.  I restrung it with my favourite Aquila Red strings with low G.

As arrived

On Gozo

In the bag

Killarney train station waiting room

Sunshine Coast Bicycle Ramble

This past week I cycled part of the Highway 101 'Sunshine Coast Cycling Route'  from our place in Gibsons Landing to our friend's cottage at Garden Bay.  I loaded up my trusty Bike Friday with camping gear as my initial plan was to carrying on to Powell River then cross over the strait to Comox and then south to Nanaimo and home.

The route for day one

The first leg is 72 km and after this day I realized due to a series of unanticipated factors (hilliness of route, weight of loaded bike, lack of recent cycle training, age?) I somewhat over estimated the joy of this trip.  Decided to change the plan and on day two cycled back to Sechelt where I camped at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park then cycled back to Gibsons on day three.

A total of 165 km and overall good time with some gentle reminders tossed in!

Selfie at Trout Lake

Big old hill

Chez Doug for a great overnight stop

Mixal Lake near Garden Bay

Wild fire haze over Porpoise Bay

Porpoise Bay cyclist's campground

In preparation for this ride I replaced out my well worn front Schwalbe tire.  I have used these 1.75" tires for years and have been very pleased with the durability and puncture resistance.  

Guess the worn one?

Picked up this $18 rubbery mobile phone holder for handlebars.  Low tech and worked well.  Used it to track progress on Map.me and play motivational Spotify tunes while peddling.

Quickie Cycle Tour of Saltspring Island

On June 21st I drove to the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal and, with my Bike Friday and overnight touring gear, boarded the 1010 hrs sailing for the Gulf Islands.  This particular run makes stops at Galiano, Main and Pender Islands before my embarkation at Long Harbour on Saltspring Island around 1330 hrs.

Did the short ride into Ganges where I had a tasty pub lunch then proceeded onward to Ruckle Provincial Park.  This is a bit of a hilly ride but traffic was light and I was in no rush.  Stopped at one of the roadside 'honor box' stands for a delish granola bar.  Set up camp on the grassy slopes above the rocky beach.  Read and watched the ferries go by until 2100 hrs when I crawled into my tent for sleep.

The Spark One tent continues to impress me.  It and my sleeping bag fit into a rear pannier with room to spare.  Also, cannot believe how much my tenting sleep has improved by using the MEC inflatable pillow.

Up early and on the road to catch the 0950 hrs ferry from Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay and then the main island ferry back to Tsawassen and the drive home.  45 km of cycling.

On the ferry - chilly winds!

On ferry I opened this birthday package from my brother.  Contained an ancient copy of Hornblower series (vol 1) and a typewriter written letter.  Too cool.

Roadside stand

At Ruckle Farm barn

'Arts' pic at Ruckle Farm

Break

My campsite in the morning

Buntzen Lake Hike

This lake is just minutes from our house and is always a pleasant and popular walk. 

There was a bit of a local heat wave happening so on June 19th we arrived just as the park gates opened at 8:00 am to avoid the heat of the day.   We enjoyed a quick 10 km hike with a rest at the beach on the north shore.

Day Cycle Around the Vancouver West Side

Fun day out on our bikes.

June 16th - drove to Kitsilano where we unloaded our bikes at the Arbutus bike/pedestrian corridor.  Cycled roughly south with a detour to Queen Elizabeth Park and then onto Pacific Spirit Park at UBC.  Dropped down to Jericho Beach to join the cycle way back to Kits.

35 km ride almost all on cycle paths or dedicated cycle lanes on road.

Grand Canyon - Day Four

Our original plan was to hike for six days and exit the canyon at the South Kalbab trailhead.  With a weather update of dropping temperatures, wind/rain storms plus snow warnings and that we were 'three men, two rain jackets and one tent'  we decided to exit today via the Grandview Trail.

Followed the Tonto trail to the steep Page Spring trail that lead to a junction with the Grandview trail which we then followed up to the rim.   The upper reaches of this trail were still icy and it would have been really nasty with a layer of snow too.

I caught a ride back to the Visitor Centre, came back to fetch the lads, stopped at the first McDonalds then proceeded to Flagstaff where Ken and Dale picked up a rental car for further adventures and I drove back to Palm springs.

All in all and absolutely fantastic trip and already looking forward to returning!

Tonto/Page Spring Trails junction

Climbing to this gap

Looking back down towards Page Springs

Looking towards the rim - 2.5 hrs away

Icy steps just below the rim at Grandview trailhead

The next morning at Flagstaff Motel six

Grand Canyon - Day Three

Leaving the Ecsalante Route and joined the Tonto trail that climbs to then follows the contours of the Tonto Platform.  Our first obstacle of the day was ascending the bluff just about our campsite.  We lined the packs up tricky bit.

Ken leads the tricky bit

The second obstacle was descending the scree slope on the other side.

Next was a bush wack along the river bank to Hance Rapids where we topped up our water and watch some rafters descent the river.

After this it was a day steady climbing with spectacular views.  Our destination was Hance Creek which was the only water source after leaving the Colorado River. 

Leaving the river 

Up to the Tonto Platform

One step back to a 1000 ft drop!

Following the side canyon the head of which is Hance Creek and our stop for the night

Looking down to our campsite at Hance Creek.  The winds really howled down this side canyon.

Camp three

View into the side canyon from camp

Bedding down