Having a “cool” time in Whistler, meaning the temperatures are lower than usual, like 18 to 20 degrees and overcast.

Yesterday we did the tourist thing and wandered around the Village. 

The Crankworx festival is on, showcasing the best of the free ride mountain biking athletes. 

At one of the displays we learned about GoalZero, a new solar panel technology for backpackers. Apparently some backpackers like taking cell phones into the wilds . . . and laptops and who knows what else. (I think it defeats the purpose of escaping to the wilderness.) Yesterday, even with the overcast, the panels were running at 70% efficiency, easily powering the demo televisions. This makes an excellent case for Wearing Sunscreen on a cloudy day.

I have my laptop on this trip, of course, and Have Laptop Will Write. I plug into conventional power early each morning and manage at least a page before the vacation resumes. I could write for an entire vacation, but Rolf would object. You know how non-writers are.

Today we hike the Cheakamus Lake Trail in Garibaldi Provincial Park, just south of Whistler. It’s an easy trail following the Cheakamus River and then Cheakamus Lake. We’ll have lunch by the turquoise coloured lake and enjoy the view of the snow capped mountains surrounding the lake.

Life is good :o)