Whistler Mountain

Whistler Mountain was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and now sets the gold standard for stunning nature getaways. Many wooded biking and hiking trails wind along side Winter ski lifts offering the active character cheap thrills throughout the year in picture perfect surroundings. All the modern conveniences of life are within close reach of this carefully planned alpine village. A unique variety of delicious dining options makes fueling-up a tasty treat. Nearby family condos and student hostels allow tourists of all ages and pocketbooks a way to live memorable mountain moments. For the perfect scrapbook, snap a selfie photo with a symbol of Canada, this area is patrolled on horseback by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Just 90 minutes from Vancouver we found this quaint village setting had a rare nostalgia all its own. Did I mention Canadians are the nicest people? Yes, really!!

Plan Your Visit to Whistler Blackcomb

I Love My Prius!

H Y B R I D 

H A I K U 

Zoom past gas pumps smile
More money in my pocket
I drive a Prius
 - Andra

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Spooner's Cove

A pebble, a shell, a polished piece of blue beach glass. I walk silently my eyes searching for more treasures from the sea. Each brings with it a new message from Mother Earth. Framing a moment in time, I assign remembrance to these found objects to indicate their sacred nature. Seeking balance and renewal hiking has become a form of spiritual practice. My one day pilgrimage to a power spot to receive wisdom and perform rituals. The pacific ocean's negative ions invigorate my body and mind, bringing a deep feeling of empowerment. At some point I stop walking and silently offer a prayer of thanks to the Spirits of this place, once a bustling Chumash village site. Chosen by many people as the perfect location to stage a family portrait, exchange marriage vows or scatter a loved ones ashes, Spooners Cove in Montaña de Oro State Park is an area of strong energetic earth forces. Rugged Monterey Shale cliffs and rocky outcroppings offer resistance from crashing aqua blue waves. Only expert surfers successfully ride these coastal waters. Reflecting how good it feels to be here I decide to sit awhile and watch the sun as it begins to set.

Hike Montana de Oro State Park

Change Color

Does the branding for paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams come to mind? This exhibit has all the paint perks and is dripping with Generation X wisdom. A brightly colored spiritual summary of the digitized 21st century condition. Pantone #199 has never looked so good! The Words Into Objects exhibit offers profound word nuggets that wake one from their perceived target market, a tweet of McWisdom packaged for an accelerated utopian culture. An enormous Lego built suburbia exhibit looks somehow comforting to my inner world nostalgia. My techno culture now a weapon and I, a statistical response sinking in an apathetical abyss oblivious to the delete button. I really like this artists first major museum solo exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. So!... Where has Canadian born author and artist Douglas Coupland been hiding himself? Inside, busily writing 14 novels, 2 short story collections, 7 non-fiction books and a number of screenplays for film and television, his books have been translated into 22 languages and published in 30 countries. Guess I should ask...Where have I been?

Douglas Coupland Exhibition

Everywhere is Anywhere is Anything is Everything

Gumby at Shark's Cove

Tide was low today so I jumped at the chance to view retro aerosol art at Shark’s Cove, a small bay nestled between Montecito and Summerland coastlines. I've walked here a few times before and now the creeping changes of erosion have become even more evident. Colors once vibrant are now chipping to reveal the gray concrete seawall, soon these graffiti relics will be ancient history forever. Rapidly disappearing images include a 1968 California black and gold license plate and a once dapper Pink Panther. Who painted these? Where's Pokey? And why did they choose to immortalize these particular images? We may never know the real story.

http://www.gumbyworld.com/gumby-characters/pokey/