Post by Gord on Aug 28, 2008 21:02:43 GMT -8
Well, not really a birding report but I thought it would be somewhat entertaining for you all. ;D
I had needed to go up Cheam today for a little while now, and decided last night Ill give it a shot unless it's really coming down. I figured if it got ugly on the trail, I would be at worst no more than two hours from the truck. This said while in a warm bed.
Anyway on my way up, about 6km up, I stopped on the flat right before the bridge over Airplane Creek for a little stretch. I could see that a desperate thrill seeker with a rifle had added to the holes in the signs mounted on the bridge. Dimwits.
Anyway, as I was getting back in, the instrument panel on my truck informed me I had a low tire. Yes, AGAIN. In fact, the spare tire was still tossed in the bed of the truck as I had not got around to securing it underneath. I went to see which was the offending tire who was this time losing the battle to stay round. I could hear air whistling out of a rear tire and soon enough, with the steady gaze of someone who now knows his way around flat tires, discovered the culprit; a small rock embedded between the tread (just like last time).
So I got on with the steps to change a tire. All went well to the point of removing the flat tire. I went around to retrieve the spare from the bed of the truck. I leaned in, grabbed it and hoisted it over the rail. About half way over, a sharp pain shot through my knuckle suggesting some sort of sharp object cutting deep. In surprise, I let the tire go. Even through the puzzlement at what was hurting my finger, I had the presence of mind to try to drop it on its side to prevent it from bouncing up into my nose, truck or elsewhere. Even though it landed like I wanted it to, it still hopped up with surprising liveliness and started off towards Airplane Creek. Oy vey. My aching finger forgotten, I took off after it and about two steps behind. Twice, I thought, with held breath, that it would stop against larger obstacles but both times it nimbly avoided them. With eyes wide with alarm and realizing the significance of this event's outcome to my driving anywhere, I watched it take one last hop and landed in the creek to where it bobbed peacefully. The current took hold and started to take the tire on a long journey down to the Chilliwack River. I dismayed glance downstream showed nothing to stop its journey and I had no choice but to hop in just over my knees after it and haul it out after a brief and uneventful chase.
Luckily it was not a deeper creek, or one of the dozens of steep drop-offs along the road up to Cheam or Id still be walking and probably not feeling as chipper as I am now.
So with wet pants, socks, boots and a rueful smile, I attached a very clean (I always look for positives...) spare tire to my truck, stuck a bandaid on my finger (never figured out what caused this whole mess) and headed home. It would have been foolish to try and hike with sopping wet boots and driving more without a spare tire is not wise either.
For birds, I had the company of one grumpy Winter Wren who scolded me relentlessly. Or was it just laughing. Either way, he was in the right and I dont hold it against him one little bit. ;D
I had needed to go up Cheam today for a little while now, and decided last night Ill give it a shot unless it's really coming down. I figured if it got ugly on the trail, I would be at worst no more than two hours from the truck. This said while in a warm bed.
Anyway on my way up, about 6km up, I stopped on the flat right before the bridge over Airplane Creek for a little stretch. I could see that a desperate thrill seeker with a rifle had added to the holes in the signs mounted on the bridge. Dimwits.
Anyway, as I was getting back in, the instrument panel on my truck informed me I had a low tire. Yes, AGAIN. In fact, the spare tire was still tossed in the bed of the truck as I had not got around to securing it underneath. I went to see which was the offending tire who was this time losing the battle to stay round. I could hear air whistling out of a rear tire and soon enough, with the steady gaze of someone who now knows his way around flat tires, discovered the culprit; a small rock embedded between the tread (just like last time).
So I got on with the steps to change a tire. All went well to the point of removing the flat tire. I went around to retrieve the spare from the bed of the truck. I leaned in, grabbed it and hoisted it over the rail. About half way over, a sharp pain shot through my knuckle suggesting some sort of sharp object cutting deep. In surprise, I let the tire go. Even through the puzzlement at what was hurting my finger, I had the presence of mind to try to drop it on its side to prevent it from bouncing up into my nose, truck or elsewhere. Even though it landed like I wanted it to, it still hopped up with surprising liveliness and started off towards Airplane Creek. Oy vey. My aching finger forgotten, I took off after it and about two steps behind. Twice, I thought, with held breath, that it would stop against larger obstacles but both times it nimbly avoided them. With eyes wide with alarm and realizing the significance of this event's outcome to my driving anywhere, I watched it take one last hop and landed in the creek to where it bobbed peacefully. The current took hold and started to take the tire on a long journey down to the Chilliwack River. I dismayed glance downstream showed nothing to stop its journey and I had no choice but to hop in just over my knees after it and haul it out after a brief and uneventful chase.
Luckily it was not a deeper creek, or one of the dozens of steep drop-offs along the road up to Cheam or Id still be walking and probably not feeling as chipper as I am now.
So with wet pants, socks, boots and a rueful smile, I attached a very clean (I always look for positives...) spare tire to my truck, stuck a bandaid on my finger (never figured out what caused this whole mess) and headed home. It would have been foolish to try and hike with sopping wet boots and driving more without a spare tire is not wise either.
For birds, I had the company of one grumpy Winter Wren who scolded me relentlessly. Or was it just laughing. Either way, he was in the right and I dont hold it against him one little bit. ;D
