July 13

Four months ago they declared a Pandemic. Four months ago. Four months, seem like a lifetime and a flash. A pandemic was declared on March 13 and four days later on Wednesday, March 18 they closed Big White. The reality of the uncertainty and fear struck home hard for me that day. I had skied my last turns; when we should have had so many more.

Now the mountain is open for biking. Restaurants are open, pubs, hair salons and movie theatres are slowly returning from the abyss. An abyss that has swallowed up many victims that could not survive three or four months of limited business. Businesses that could not survive low supplies and limited man-power, died.

Social distancing doesn’t work on an assembly line. Something that killed BRP, the company that makes the outboard motor that powers Luxury Lake Tours boat. BRP was a huge company that drowned in debt and became insolvent because it couldn’t adapt to the Coronaverse. It is one of many stories of companies that have fallen victim to these tough times.

I went to Penticton today to work and I noticed the downtown was a shell of itself. I tried to find a coffee and breakfast in the morning. Café’s that used to open at 7 am now open at 9 am. My favourite restaurant, Lees is still only open for take-out. Penticton seems to have lost a step in the last few months. It will be a long time recovering.

Big White had its opening day for mountain bikes and I hope it will do well. Judging by initial reports it is a slow start to what we hope will be a stellar season for our mountain home.

Despite a rise in cases many people are optimistic. Hopeful that we can continue together separated in our Okanagan bubble. As another rainstorm inundates our valley we wait patiently, hopeful for the storms to end. I hold on to the simplicity of things; a golden sunset, a hug goodnight, and hope for more sunshine and brighter days.