The most expensive PowerBar I never ate.

I’ve just arrived home from grocery shopping, only to be welcomed into a mini Activ – a random Ministry of Sound album playing and the soothing whirrs of the wind-trainer. Surprisingly, it’s a lovely day outside – great road riding conditions - but due to sickness and mild injuries we’re playing it safe for another day or two.

Oh, and while I’m thinking of the lovely weather, I am also irrationally excited about today being the first day of our local West End farmer’s markets for the year (and yes, I’ve already walked up the road to sample the local produce!). Summer (the season, not the niece) is fast approaching and I’m just a little bit excited (although, I’m quite sure I’m not as excited as my moon tan is)!

So. Back to sickness. We’ve been a household of sickness and general misery for a total of four weeks now. I must confess I’ve contributed about three of those four weeks (and all the misery) – first with a recurring cold and then with a sinus infection – boo hiss.  In fact, it’s still hanging around and all this prolonged incarceration is driving me slightly stir crazy.  In fact, I feel a bit sorry for poor Steven having to put up with my mopey-ness, but then I go over to give him a kiss on the wind-trainer and he’s radiating homeless man smell after multiple hours on the bike so we’re even. As much hate as I have for it at the moment, sickness did give me a great opportunity to wrap myself up like a burrito in my trusty sleeping bag and watch a Giuliana & Bill marathon on E! for an entire day without feeling even slightly guilty.   

We are drug lords. Downtown Eastside eat your heart out!

A good 'ol daily dose of ... every pill imaginable.

While afflicted with our killer Canadian colds, we also took the opportunity to spend one Saturday morning actually doing what ‘normal people’* do - we grabbed some coffees (okay… so I grabbed a cookie crumble mocha frappuccino) and went for a leisurely morning stroll around Stanley Park and the seawall.  We also took some pleasure in watching all the suckers who were running (and then felt guilty because that’s what we should’ve been doing). I really think these ‘normal people’ are on to something though.   Anyway, I’ve become a total germaphobe now and I’ve started giving strangers the stink-eye if they cough within 50 metres of me. I’ve also caught myself exaggerating my reactions to stranger’s coughs and general sounds of unwellness by using a stink-eye slash jumper over the mouth and nose combo, which seems to get my point across rather well. 

Local squirrel chowing down on something I'm sure he thought was tasty.

A view from our wander through Stanley Park.

Ducklings chilling in the Lost Lagoon.

Our pretty city.

Last weekend we headed off to Vancouver Island for what was supposed to be our first training race at Shawnigan Lake - Steven; the half ironman, Dave; the Olympic distance and me; the sprint. On Friday morning before we left Steve had already decided he was going to pull out of the race (due to sickness) so we never even took his bike with us. I was still feeling confident I would be fine and Dave (who, incidentally, had also been afflicted with the killer Canadian cold) was still keen too. So, we packed up our gear and headed over to Nanaimo on the ferry. 

What up Backstreet Boys! ... hmm there's one missing...

A view from the ferry ride to Nanaimo.

Ferry sunset.

Shawnigan Lake is a tiny community so accommodation options were scarce and as a result we ended up finding a great place to stay in Cowichan Bay – about a 20 minute drive away. Both communities were gorgeous and the people were incredibly friendly. Within 10 minutes of wandering around on Saturday morning Dave B, Steve and I were already looking at real estate. We browsed the town for a little longer and stalked a seal in the bay, like the nerdy tourists we are. 

The view of the bay from our hotel room.

Going in to check out the local bakery - it smelled so good - even with a cold!

Steve and Dave B. discuss local real estate ... or perhaps which cheeses to buy.

Some local scenery.

The boys have a completely platonic cuddle.

The seal we stalked - totally posing for us under the water.

Later in the day we made our way to register for the race and, of course, having already paid the non-refundable registration fees, we all signed up and received our goody bags which contained 4 or 5 pamphlets, a race t-shirt that was WAY too small (yep, I was seriously regretting that cookie crumble mocha frappuccino), and a PowerBar. Amusingly, the lady who was helping Steven with his registration made a comment about his accent sounding Australian … and when he confirmed this was, indeed, true, she responded with “thank you!” and became all flustered and giggly. Steven Wehlow: ladies’ man. When he’d finished gloating, we all headed off to transition so Dave and I could rack our bikes. 

Dave - why are you squatting? The boys discuss Sunday's race.

Goggle testing.

Dave racks his bike.

Saturday afternoon we made our way to a local cidery and spent our time sipping samplers and eating delicious lunches. In fact, the whole area reminded me a lot of Margaret River in WA, which is still one of the best places I’ve ever visited. After lunch we headed back for a nap (I was starting to really struggle by this stage), only to be woken up about 30 minutes later by who I thought was Suze screaming as she was pushed into the lake just outside our hotel. I later found out this rather feminine scream was actually Dave B. Awesome. The group then spent the rest of the afternoon kayaking in Cowichan Bay, which was gorgeous. It would’ve been ever better if I was actually feeling well, but we had a great time nonetheless. Saturday evening was a shocker for me and I knew I wouldn’t be well enough to race on the Sunday. After a last minute email to the coach for confirmation (and my own peace of mind), I decided it was better to pull out and save myself more sickness. In hindsight it was the best decision because I ended up having to get antibiotics when we got back home. 

Although it looks like I should be reading something, I'm actually just trying to keep my head as still as possible. Stupid sinus infection.

Cider sampler.

The team kayaks in Cowichan Bay.

Kayaking champions (once we worked out the reason we weren't moving anywhere was because Dave had put our rudder up!)

Steven Wehlow: ladies' man AND king of kayaking.

Local wildlife hanging out.

Sunday morning we made our way back to Shawnigan Lake to watch Dave (now the lone soldier) take part in the Olympic distance tri. We had fun cheering him on, but I think Steve and Dave B had more fun eating from the local community food truck that was stationed at the expo. In fact, while trying to justify his choice of breakfast, Steven coined what I like to call 'quote of the weekend', stating: “pancakes are healthy because they’re so light and fluffy”. I struggled with the urge to double over in laughter and give him the Marge Simpson grumble. In the end, I decided on the ‘scoff in disbelief’ with a giggle on the side, because his comment was akin to that which he coined back in 2010 – “I feel like eating something light … like Chinese”.  This is a quote I use frequently. 

Sunday morning - race time!

Finishing chute.

Sicko having a sook about being sick and not racing.

Dave B, are you wearing chick's sunnies? (!!)

Hi Dave! We see you!

Smashed the swim!

Finishing chute & a high five from Suze!

After the race we packed up and went to enjoy another delicious lunch at a local winery (and made a few purchases for toasting success AFTER our races!) before traveling back to Nanaimo to catch the return ferry.  Despite the sickness, and having to spend the entire weekend in a car with two wiggas, white-boy rapping to Kanye West et cetera (Rapstar eat your heart out!), I thoroughly enjoyed our little local getaway and its safe to say Vancouver Island delivered, yet again. 

Local home made fresh baked pies - rhubarb, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry & apple - delicious

Local wildlife (how cute are the goslings!) at Cherry Point Estate Winery.

Suze & Brendan - wining & dining!

So clearly, after skimming the above essay-length blog entry (and I applaud you) to no avail, the question you’re dying to ask is “Why didn’t you eat the Powerbar?” (No?). Well, if you’re interested, it was peanut butter flavour. EEW!

Until next time …

xx

* ‘Normal people’: people who are not training for a sporting event.