Tickets to fly.

So, what’s with the sea lion floating around for over an hour with both its flippers sticking out above water as if trying to sail? Google told us not to worry. He is just thermoregulating. “Sea lions and other pinnipeds have a system of veins and arteries (in their flippers) that transfer heat to the rest of their bodies and organs. The blood in that less insulated part of the body absorbs heat from the sun or warmer air and circulates it through the body to their internal organs.” In other words, the sea lion uses its flippers the same way elephants use their ears. Seals thermoregulate by counter current heat- exchange. We googled that one, too. 

As far as our own thermoregulating mechanism is concerned, the blood in our less insulated red noses only freezes a bit faster than the rest of our body. Last winter, the temperature dropped to a brutal minus 15 degrees Celsius in Mill Bay Marina. Which is highly exceptional, according to the locals. To be on the safe side, we have pumped some anti- freeze liquid into O2’s veins. 

In between chores, we celebrated another birthday (mine), we did some Xmas shopping, and explored the nearby countryside. The hike to the spectacular Kinsol (abbreviation of King Salomon) Trestle was an absolute highlight. The Kinsol Trestle is a timber railway bridge and hundreds of those were built throughout North America. The Kinsol is no longer in use, and the trains no longer ride on Vancouver Island, but it made for an excellent stroll in the woods. Woods that are still recuperating from the onslaught of the “early economic development” of Vancouver Island, when tonnes of first growth cedar poles were carried by train to the mills along the coast. Actually, in the very beginning, the poles were mainly used for masts on ships.(Barkskins by Annie Proulx telling the story of the deforestation of “New France” is a great read and also quite depressing.) So, we too, would have been guilty as hell.

We also celebrated- in an extremely subdued way- the victory of Belgium over Canada in the highly controversial Qatar World Cup. Canada was a revelation. At least one goal should have been theirs. And hadn’t it been for Courtois, they even might have won. Four years ago, we were the only Belgians among a very festive Brazilian crowd in a pub on Avenida Paulista, ready for the Belgian Red Devils to be sent home by the Seleçaõ. Instead, the Devils were in super form. So was Courtois. He catapulted the Brazilian balls out and in doing so, he helped to push the Belgian Red Devils into the semi-finals.(where they lost against World Champion France)  As a deadly silence descended over the tables full of empty cerveja bottles, we stealthily crept out.  The next day, I tried to offer my Brazilian colleagues some consolation by admitting that if it hadn’t been for our amazing goalie, Brazil might have won the match. But they were too devastated to hear my lame apology. Now, the Canadians don’t need our comforting words. They rightfully hold their heads high, ready to play some more.

And now, as snow geese and trumpeter swans are flying in, we are about ready to fly out. Happy Holidays you all! See you again in spring.