Running through Vancouver yesterday morning I reflected on how proud Canadians are of the country. This is not the “in your face” patriotism of the USA where you are expected to visibly demonstrate your love for your country. This is a quiet pride in who they are and what their country stands for.

Starting with the national anthem which lets you know immediately who they are: “ O Canada …” through the displays of support for the Olympic team and the massive level of competition to be the one who carries the flag and leads the team into the Olympic Stadium in London. The person concerned was announced yesterday in front of the parliament and congratulated by the Prime Minister.

So down Robson Street I rumbled. No longer the sleek running machine of 2o years ago, when I ran in every city that I visited in the world. I thought nothing of running 15 miles in London on a Sunday morning when staying at the Grosvenor House. This way I saw and learnt my way around many of the great cities of the world. London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Boston, Frankfurt and Munich were my beats.

Then, I used to pass all these old joggers and think to myself how slow they were. Now I am the one being passed. At least I am out and the fresh coastal air smells great. The noise of the seagulls reminds me that this is a coastal city. This is the first time I have been on the road running since I left Michigan three weeks ago. I left with great intentions of running every morning before setting off. I was clearly smoking something, because there is no ways I could have managed a run, shower, breakfast, pack and leave before 09h30 and still then have ridden for eight hours in a day. As it has been, I am whacked when I get in.

Back home I have been fortunate to have a determined running partner without whom I would probably never have kept going. This is in addition to my many four legged running mates who never let me down. So Jean, you have been missed on this trip as no running partner means no motivation to get up. You would also have really enjoyed Vancouver  and some of the other places in which I really should have got to be running.

So this morning, no stretching, no dogs howling out “hurry up! We have been waiting for you for hours! Come on! Come on. Why are you stretching? We don’t need to you. You stupid humans waste so much time! If you won’t hurry up we will keep on barking and wake everyone up! Come on! Come on! Fortunately I can speak dog speak so I am able to  relay this all to you.

So no external energy to rely on, only my own dilapidated body. No stretching this morning, just a slow stroll to start and then off I go. Along the road I pass one Starbucks, then a second, then a third. In about 2 kms of road there are more than 5 Starbucks. Starbucks have launched a new drink here today, called a Refresher. It is a cold fruit flavoured Green Coffee. Between 12h00 and 15h00 today and tomorrow they are handing out free samples throughout North America. I had one towards lunchtime. They are delicious. Not sweet and utterly refreshing plus caffeine! This is going to be a winner for sure.

But back to yesterday. I get to the water close to the Vancouver Rowing Club, where I was the evening before and then turn right along the waters edge.  Boats everywhere. Many for sale. Of course these owners have now realised that the best day of their boat owning lives are at hand – that being the day you sell your boat! I have had too many boats and took too long to realise that this day, was the best one.

I see one called Jenny Bean. Which love was this named after? Has the owner decided to sell her because he is moving to a bigger mistake or because he and “Jenny” have parted company. I think of my ex brother in law John. My sister has told me that he has left wife/partner no 3 and moved in with young and nubile partner no 4. Nothing changes. Tired of the one and off to the next as long as they will have you. Who cares about the damage left in your wake.

Then I see Nova Spirit. This yacht was in Salt Spring over the weekend. It is about 180’ long and magnificent. I have been told it belongs to Jimmy Pattison, the Richest man in BC. Which ex Miss BC was he wining and dining on it over the weekend? I think this must be the biggest and the best here.

I am wrong because moored next to the restaurant where I had lunch today is Paul Allen of Microsoft’s smaller boat, the original Meduse. This is 200’ long. He had it built in 2003. Subsequently he has also taken delivery of two bigger boats and he still own all three. The next in line is called Tatoosh and is 300’ feet long and in 2010 he took delivery of the worlds biggest private boat that is 414’ long, the Octopus, at a cost of $160M.

Meduse. Now no 3 in Paul Allen’s stable of mega yachts. Note the helicopter.

The Meduse is magnificent enough with all the toys on it including a helicopter on the top rear deck. Google these boats and your mind will wobble. Reputedly they cost him $380k per week to run.

So on I run, past Canada Place, which is where the big Alaskan Cruise liners dowc. There is one from Rotterdam in and I realise that Paul Allan’s biggest yacht is about two thirds of the size of this monster. Past the Sea Plane harbour which is now busy with the morning commuters to and from the islands. They approach up the river flying South and then turn and land directly towards the front for a short taxi.

Activity has built up. Bikers, not the real thing but the push pedal wankers, roller bladers and pedestrians. No one jay walks here. A cop here would have  a heart attack in Cape Town. Up the hill I go. Running more smoothly now. Sweating which is what I want. The dogs would be proud of me. Past the famous Fairmont hotel. Famous because of its typically Canadian look and architecture. This is the chateau like roof. Then I am back at the hotel. Straight to the gym. Some weights and now a gentle stretch. Not the more vigorous one I should have had before running. I reflect on my karate days of yore. Those workouts and stretch routines would result in paralysis now.

Vicky our wine agent picks me up at 10h30 and today we visit three liquor stores. Each one is magnificently laid out. We do not have one comparable store in SA. Clean, spacious, great selections and very pleasant and knowledgeable staff.

Wine Shops. All very smart

On the job. Miss Molly sold in copious quantities

With Lesley. Not the Lesley. The top Miss Molly fan in Vancouver.

Miss Molly on the shelves

All three stock Miss Molly and the wine is selling well. Soon we will introduce Môreson wines to Canada and we therefore taste Mata Mata. This goes down really well. The wines perform fantastically. Well done to Nikki, Clayton, Marozanne, James and our team, you have done us proud. I reflect back to 1993 when Eveanne, Klaas and I made the first wines in our shed. How far we have come. Nothing beats seeing your own products in all these exotic places. I remember how Rod Forrester and I used to feel when we walked in the doors at the BMW head office in Munich in the early days.

At 13h00 I have drop Bonnie off for her beauty treatment at Vancouver Motorrad. I am sad to leave her, but Vicky picks me up, so one woman swapped for another. Not quite like good old john though. I will be back for Bonnie. One in every town is what every good BP needs, or so they say. Vicky is super professional, highly organized and great to work with. I now have my life organized by these super efficient and demanding women. Nikki and Vicky! I thank the patron saint of motorcycles, Erotica, for my more pliant ones. Bonnie, Jayne and Spot. Not Lesley. Like Molly she has a mind of her own. No ride on Lesley is ever going to be predictable!

So three tastings later and the day is done. I am dropped off at the hotel and decide to stay in and do dinner in the bar. The Wedgewood Hotel has a great bar restaurant that is perfect for single travellers. I want to read and write and chill. This is what I do and enjoy the time. I have to organize my thoughts and plans for Alaska.

The Alaskan travel bible is a publication called the Mile Post. It is about two inches thick and weighs about four pounds. There is a digital version. To access the digital version you have to buy a paper edition and there is a unique one-time code in each book. I had ordered one via Amazon before I left. I downloaded the app on my iPad and the digital version with the code. Given the size and weight I decided to leave the paper edition in Michigan. The digital edition is less than useless, as you have to have access to high speed internet every time you start it up. How you do this in the middle of Alaska I do not know. So when you are lost and pull out your iPad, you are f—ed. A bit like a sawn off wet dream.

I realize this is a very cunning marketing, because you only realise this when on the road and therefore have to rush out to buy a second copy, which I have now done in Vancouver. So Mile Post paper version in room, the detailed planning will start this evening. That is after a wine event at which we are pouring Miss Molly at a roof top penthouse over looking the city, I am told and have no reason to doubt Miss Organised. After that a Japanese dinner. Vicky lived and worked in Japan for eight years, so she knows the drill. I will stay off the sake tonight. No sleeping in the park tomorrow.

More Miss Molly and Mata Mata on the way out the bottle

Bonnie is ready and has to be picked up tomorrow. I will be like a nervous new lover. She will be clean and powdered for me. Ready to go. Tomorrow I also have a big meeting at the BC Liquor Board with the buyer who handles SA wines. This is really important and I will have to reserve my best performance for her.

Good night and good luck!