Jack Knox, eat your heart out!

I read Jack’s Victoria Times Colonist column this morning and, knowing Jack is an avid cyclist, I'm not making this up, I couldn’t help feeling a bit smug sitting here in the warm, sunny desert. Snow in Victoria this late is February is nearly a “pandemic”. I have been receiving emails from my cycling friends in Victoria telling me to “Stay where you are!” Friends are sending us pictures from Victoria, not of winter blossoms on trees or daffodils blooming in front yards but of backyards and decks covered in many inches of snow. Tales of heroic treks on snow covered roads to get to stores and Starbucks for essential supplies are being recorded to be re-told to younger generations who will no doubt shake their heads recalling other stories told to them by grandparents walking miles to 1 room schools in driving snow storms with only light moccasins on their frost bitten feet. Yes, Victorians are suffering today, not from the weather but not being able to call their friends in Ontario and New Brunswick to brag about having to mow the lawn in late February. And here we sit in Arizona. Today I rode my bike trainer for 90 minutes and then spent some quality time in the hot-tub and lying poolside to dry off in the warm afternoon sun working on my tan. My thoughts and prayers are with my friends in Victoria. Cowboy-up! Soon it will be warm temperatures and you can get back to whatever normal life is on Vancouver Island.