Vancouver

This is a marvelous city. At first glance not as pretty as Seattle, but the more time one spends here, the more it grows on you. In general Canada and the Canadians are gentler in their approach to life than the counter parts south of the border.

You can hear it in their accents, which have a slight lilt, see it in the pace of life and the way they go about dealing with everything. Salt Spring Island is not a good example as I think a large portion of the population is floating, not walking and the balance are affected by the fumes. Vancouver is, however, the second largest city in Canada after Toronto and the major city in BC. It was host to the Winter Olympics two years ago and is the gateway for Canada to the Pacific.

There is very large Asian community and virtually every second person is of Chinese or Indian decent. Some great food is on the horizon.

So this is not just a stop on way to Alaska. BC is a growing market for our wines and in particular Miss Molly. All wines and alcohol in Canada has to be imported and distributed by or through the Government Liquor Boards. So our distributor, the live wire Vicky has to order from us through the BCLB, which stands for the British Columbia Liquor Board. The BCLB then places the official order and we ship to an approved freight agent and logistics company. Everything then is placed in bond in an approved warehouse and then supplied, on Vicky’s instructions, by them to the retailers or to distributors if it is going to restaurants.

Bonnie in the front of the queue for ferry – Fulford Harbour

To get here from Salt Spring Island I did not take the direct ferry as planned. This only left at 15h30 and would have arrived at the Tsaswassen terminal, Vancouver’s main ferry hub to and from the Gulf Islands  and Vancouver Island at 18h45 and then it is a further 35 kms to my hotel. So I caught the return ferry on which I had originally arrived, from Fulford harbour back to Sidney on Victoria Island and from there, one of the huge, three car deck ferry to the mainland. This service runs on the hour, every hour and has all the facilities. Three restaurants, Starbucks for the addicts, a business center, shop, casino and wi-fi.

On the ferry from Fulford I meet Bill who idles over to talk bikes. He tells me he owned a BMW R60, one of the classics. He is 79 and was riding it until four years ago when he found himself unhappy with the increase in traffic around him. His wife, who is the same age, rode with him on most weekends and was upset when he sold his bike. I think one should keep old bikes. Like horses and other things near and dear to you, they should only be put out to pasture, not to the dog food company and then only when they are truly well past their prime. Start them up once in a while. Take them for a short ride for old times sake and to keep the oil flowing and then put them back to bed for a good rest. He and his wife now undertake road trips by car, but he tells me he misses riding his old girl.

Bill who just wants to talk bikes. BMW’s. A real biker!

The trip takes 01h30 and is smooth sailing, for most of the time as the route takes one through the gulf islands which shelters the waters. At one point we passed a ferry coming in the opposite direction whilst we were sailing through the narrowest of straits with less than a 100 meters between us and the side and the same for the second ferry. An impressive sight. The turn around on and off the ferry is also impressive. They have it absolutely waxed. Over 500 vehicles on and off in under 10 minutes. From off it is a mad rush by everyone to get out of the terminal. So no slouching, motor ready as the ferry drops the bow and off or you will get flattened.

The Ferry is full. Sidney to Tsaswassen Vancouver

The ride into town is uneventful, but a huge amount of traffic. The last bit is slow and through the suburbs. I remember this road from my last visit in 2002. Not much has changed in the look. I could be in Molesey or Pinelands. This definitely has a British heritage.

I arrive at the Wedgewood Hotel which is in the center of downtown, right behind the Supreme Court. A great position. Bonnie is loaded to the gills. The doorman struggles to come to terms with what has arrived. He asks whether I am at the right place. When I confirm this he asks for my name and rushes inside to check that I actually have a booking. He  returns and welcomes me. We offload everything including the metal side and top panniers ,as Bonnie is checked in for a detox and health farm treatment at the local BMW dealer. This all fills the baggage trolley to the hilt. I am horrified as to how much I have loaded on to her. Two more staff members who are bikers, are summonsed to see what comes off my girl. They too are flabbergasted. We all talk.

I am taken to my room and have been upgraded to a small suite. Than you Philip Meyer and your staff at the Wedgewood. All the staff at the Hastings House and now at the Wedgewood have gone out of their way to look after me and make me feel at home. I make a note to remind Susan of how important these upgrades are for visiting members of Relais properties and other regulars. They really make one feel wanted and needed. I am not feeling either particularly wanted or needed at present.

The trip in in the tough” it out stage”. Like hitting the wall in a marathon. I think about home a lot. Eveanne, the dogs, my new grandchildren and Nikki and Andrew. I would like to help the boys who are taking on an additional business load. They probably do not need me. Charley is on the way to visit a friend in Paris and from there to go yachting in Croatia for ten days and then back to England to start her new life.

I am loving the riding and the seeing and meeting new people but the nights are lonely.

I make contact with Vicky, tell her I have arrived and she arranges to pick me up at 18h00 for an event at the Vancouver Rowing Club. It is an industry fundraiser for bursaries for deserving students to further their wine related studies. The “who is who” of the BC Liquor industry will be there. This is good. The weather is fantastic and at 25C hot for BC! Everyone is outdoors as the sun is shining. Vicky collects me. She is as I expected. A very active and driven person, she is full of energy and in great shape. We hit it off immediately.

VVV Very Vivacious Vicky – Vin Allegro

She gives me a tour of the central city, which is all on an island much like Manhattan, only physically spectacularly beautiful. Stanley Park is at the north end of the island and this is teeming with people running, riding, skateboarding and just enjoying the weather and being out. This is a dog city as well. Eventually we get to the Rowing Club. This is a grand building in pole position. In the middle of the yacht club, it is surrounded by hundreds of boats and enjoys a wonderful view of downtown Vancouver. There cannot be many Rowing Clubs this spectacular anywhere. Nubile bodies exercising increase my awareness of how nice this city is. I think winter is a different story and I am constantly reminded of this, by everyone. When they remark on the unusually good weather, I tell them “yes, I brought it with me as a present to you from Africa”

Vancouver Rowing Club

Rowing Club launching pad

Sun sets over downtown Vancouver. View from the club

Everyone is super friendly. Vikki knows everyone and soon I am talking to a group of her suppliers and customers. Many of the people here are ex South Africans and some want to practice their Afrikaans. They all love Vancouver but the ties of the Bushveld are strong. The key players in the BC alcohol scene are a few ex South African Jews. All from families, which like mine, originally came to South Africa from Lithuania and the dispersed again within two generations. Once again I think about how much South Africa has lost in terms of human capital over the years. Both the Nationalist Government in 1949 and our present government have pursued similarly shortsighted policies in respect of talent acquisition and retention.

In 1949 the Nationalists, having just come to power, were afraid of loosing the next elections and they stopped the masses of people who were desperate to leave the war ravaged destruction of Europe and make new lives for themselves and their families. Tens of millions of highly educated and motivated people emigrated to the USA, Canada, Australia and South America amongst others where they added massively to the human wealth of those nations. Imagine South Africa today with an additional 10m to 15m people of European decent.

Now we have a government that is doing nothing to prevent an ongoing brain drain and the country is being denuded of the skills it needs for the future. Better not to have whites competing for jobs and no skills around! Countries such as Canada are only two happy to welcome South African’s. They are regarded as hard working and entrepreneurial. Only doctors find it difficult to get in here and elsewhere. Maybe Canada knows something the rest of us don’t. I think bankers might also not be very welcome. Wine Farm owners, potential investors and Biker Pilots are at the top of the Wanted in Canada list, I am assured.

I have a great evening. Friendly company is a tonic and the setting, food and atmosphere is great. It is salmon season and they braai fresh wild salmon here like we do boerewors in SA. They have it waxed and perfected down to a tee. This wild spring salmon is unlike any farmed salmon, which I do not like. It is bright red in colour and succulent in taste. Between it and Alaskan King Crab plus the occasional oyster, clam and scallop, I will be a happy man this trip.

The Old and the New in Vancouver

Eventually we leave around 21h30 and Monica, Vicky’s assistant gives us all a lift. Vicky is dropped off at her flat and me at the Wedgewood. I try to read but my head hits the iPad and it bounces off my chest.

I wake up very early, but refreshed. I feel like a run for the first time this trip and some serious morning exercise. I should stretch but I am in a hurry. So off I go.

Vancouver and it waterfront in the morning is worthy of its own blog, which it will get. It is better than Cape Town and Sea Point. I also have a day of wine selling and Bonnie needs to be taken to her Health and Beauty appointment.

This all in tomorrow’s blog.

Good Night and good Luck