now, wonder why THAT is:

stolen from mindrobber:

Livejournal Mood Ring

raithen is nervous.

Shakey, shakey. Parkinson's patients keep inviting you to join their community and you don't know why. I'll tell you why: you're too damn high strung for your own good. Chill out, yo.

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Yup, there is a surprise. Forest fires at the door, and I am supposed to chill out. I don't think so!

Ah well, I am trying to laugh. As much as possible. i am assuming my friends are good because I have heard from them, and the fire did settle a bit overnight. Unfortunately, they are predicting more winds for later today. . . . PLEASE let them be right about the showers forecast for Sunday. . . .

Fire news (what else)

While no homes were lost last night, and no one was injured (which is GOOD news) I am VERY sad to report that 2 historic trestles on the Kettle Valley Railway were lost, and 2 more were damaged. These trestles were wooden trestles, magnificent historical remnants of a railway that ran from the interior of BC to Vancouver. Through Myra canyon near Kelowna there are (were, I guess) a series of 18 trestles (16 wood, 2 steel), with AMAZING views of Kelowna.





The rails were pulled on the railway about 25-30 years ago, and the area became popular with hikers and mountain bikers. So in the last 12 yers, local groups have worked very hard to plank the trestles and put up safety railings. And the area has become a hugely popular recreation area. And a big tourist draw. Now all that history is in serious jeopardy.

I have hiked and bike those trestles a number of times - no mean feat for someone as scared of heights as I am. The first time I hiked up there was BEFORE the restoration work was done. ie: I had to walk on railway ties -- you could see the several hundred feet below you. And there were no railings. It was terrifying. And after a meltdown, I DID it. Which was a MAJOR accomplishment,for me. My friend C and I cycled from McCulloch Lake (Andrew McCulloch built the KVR, which is also called McCulloch's Wonder for his engineering feat) through the Canyon and all the way into Kelowna, and miss fitness nearly killed her desk-driving friend on the return ride to town (plus her bike had shocks, and mine doesn't!). And though I still get spooked even with the planking and rails that are now in place, the area is so amazing -- beautiful, and imbued with history -- that I have been often. In fact, I'd kinda hoped electricland could hike up there while she was here. Oh well, guess that won't happen now.

Please keep your fingers crossed that no more trestles fall victim to this fire. If most trestles remain standing, perhaps they will replace the ones that fall, or at least build bypass trails so the rest remain accessible.

Here is a link for Pictures of a Myra Canyon trestle historically and then, as a recreation area but before the planking and railings were put up.