standing feature
only in the north
Where wishes come true
I remember one time when I was kayaking with a friend in the Douglas Channel near Kitimat.
It was a beautiful summer weekend but my friend was having difficulty adjusting to the lack of corner stores nearby. He noted that it would be perfect if only he could have a cold pop, a cigarette and a beer.
After an evening camping, we set off the next day, heading back towards Kitimat.
As we went along part of the coast, a speedboat made a beeline for us. The driver slowed up beside us and asked if we had seen their friends in kayaks. We noted that no, we hadn’t.
The driver said that they were supposed to bring the other kayakers some drinks but as they could not find them, perhaps we would enjoy a cold can of pop. We readily accepted and could not believe our luck. They sped off and we continued our paddle.
We noticed a few sports fishermen trawling back and forth past us as we made our way towards Coste Island. Eventually their boat came closer to ours and they said hello. After a few more pleasantries, these fishermen from Prince George invited us aboard their boat.
They were on their way home from a fishing trip that had taken them to the outer coast and they offered us some homemade clam chowder made with fresh clams. They also offered my friend a beer, which he accepted with alacrity.
I spent the rest of the time waiting for them to pull out some cigarettes, but fortunately they didn’t and, hey, two out of three ain’t bad.
I have since moved to Vancouver and notice that there are so many boats in the area that no one waves to each other and I certainly have not been offered any food or drink. But I do keep on wishing!
Thanks again to those nameless boaters.
Sue Maxwell, Vancouver
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Wrong house but right treatment
Three young women from the performance group Mortal Coil were to be billeted during Smithers Midsummer 20th Annual Music Festival.
They were picked up at the airport and then dropped off by our volunteer driver at the house where they were supposed to stay.
Their hosts had previously informed us they would not be home till the afternoon, so they insisted that the girls just walk in and make themselves comfortable, and enjoy some tea and treats.
However, our driver dropped them off at the wrong house!
Shortly after, the owner came home and was a bit confused to find three strange, lovely young women having tea in his kitchen, but they explained to him they were staying there during the festival.
He assumed his wife had neglected to tell him of this plan so he sat down and joined them for tea.
When his wife came home, there was more confusion and then much laughter, as they realized that these women were supposed to be staying at a neighbour’s house across the lake.
The house owners kindly drove the girls over to their real billets and Mortal Coil are still amazed at the fact that nobody locks their door in Smithers and that having strangers help themselves to tea in your kitchen is no big deal!
Susanne Watson, Telkwa
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Why northerners never wear pyjamas to bed
That first winter in a boreal climate can be an eye-opener.
I’m not talking about the way your eyelashes freeze open (or shut) at minus 36 degrees, or the expression on your face when you get your first January heating bill.
It’s just that it takes a certain amount of practice to work out the idiosyncrasies of getting your car, your plumbing, your house pets, etc. through that first real winter cold snap.
My husband Dave and I had both grown up with single pane windows, which frost up even in a coastal-temperate climate, so we knew enough to prepare for our first Smithers winter in a poorly-insulated rental house by covering all of the windows in plastic.
There was a back door we hardly ever used that we sealed off as well with a heavy blanket, more plastic and lots of duct tape.
But nothing had prepared us for what could happen when a major Arctic outbreak hit in early December after several weeks of heavy rainfall. There was frost everywhere!
We woke up to find our bed sheets and most of the clothes in the closet frozen solid to the outside wall.
It could have been much worse. One of our friends, famously known as the guy most likely to slime you on the basketball court, found himself that same week stuck to the bedroom wall by his frozen pyjamas.
Our biggest surprise came after breakfast when it was time to leave for work. The front door would simply not open. And with all of our diligent preparations there was no other way to exit the house.
In the end, we had to telephone a neighbour who freed us by removing the built-up ice around the door jam with a propane torch and an axe.
Sybille Haeussler, Smithers
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