Our typical drive to Kelowna from North Vancouver takes us to Abbotsford's Esso Station at BlueRidge Drive and Mr. Lehman Road AND our year round favourite supply of fresh
Blueberries, just down the road.
We gas up here, to avoid Metro Vancouver's excessive gas tax collected by Translink.
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Have you ever noticed the huge sign of "On the Run" over top of the Esso Stations? You'd think that the word "Run" would be avoided at all cost, like in "Run Aground" on
Bligh Reef = Exon Valdez
Never really thought about the phrase:
On the Run
Constantly traveling or moving from place to place.
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In the Esso's MEN washroom, as one stands, studying the blank wall, not painted grey or blue, there is an image, a knock off painting of a relaxing country Lane.
The Esso Decorator's painting was not of an anchored fishing vessel at rest, early evening, low tide with kelp showing on the rocky shore, nor an Orca breaching in the wild coastal waters of British Columbia.
What then? ........
A quiet country lane with Fall colours:
 |
| Relax |
Steam rising...... Ahhhhh
and then this thought came into my mind: What if a car came along 'that' road....... or someone on horse..... motorcyclist ..... Cyclist ..... a pedestrian!
No. It's a painting, just a painting. Okay!? No one is ... there ..... watching .....
Nice painting though, but why would an Esso Station decorator consider placing such an image in the Men's washroom thereby creating an ... awkward situation dating way back to one's childhood of being coached by mom or dad to go pee beside the parked car on a busy highway.
ESSO
On the Run
"goes" one better
STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD!!!
What about the splash back effect from the asphalt paving? Why not have a pee line of sight looking straight off into woods, standing at the side of the road, even a few paces into the bush......?
A query to the gas station attendant about the "decoration" in the Men's WC was answered with "Not enough toilet paper?????" No problem there, but it must be a reoccurring question from customers.
Are Women's washroom similarly decorated? The answer, reportedly, is NO!
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Ever notice when camping, any season, even Summer, the need to go pee in the early hours is commanded, by Mother Nature?
It's always been the same request, as a youth until now. Small vehicle Camping, two person tent variety, dining fly, ten days of bliss, no blisters, no trailer, maybe a roof or bumper rack for storage. No distractions to keep one up late, strenuous hikes day in day out requires Good night sleeps. No late night snacks. Cold morning just around the corner, especially if it's Kicking Horse Campground in
Yoho National Park. MEC Sleeping bag, warm and toasty in ten minutes. Sleep. Ahhhhhhh!
4:30am legs and arms freezing cold. Must be below ZERO! Must have kicked off the sleeping bag. More covers, a down jacket. Still, freezing cold, legs and arms.
The answer, of course is Piss Off!!!
Twenty-three years ago, on a school outing to Vancouver Island, for four days, at an Adventure camp on Shawnigan Lake, there was an overnight hike, up, up, up, UP... way up from the lake.... and a long way from the Camp by a school bus. No reprieves.
The children were all asleep in their sleeping bags, nice and warm and toasty under one huge Dining Tarp. We, three: One Leader, One Medic, One Parent, talked, about our camping trips as youths. The topic came around to how cold it is in the morning.. to which the Medic laughed at my suggestion that is was colder in the morning than in the evening.
You see, the Medic said, the body takes care of you while sleeping, at home or camping; hiking, walking, sitting, the body keeps you healthy by pulling the warm blood from your extremities, legs and arms and HEAD, to keep your core, your organs P and S HOT!!!
.... Piss Off!!!!! Hmmmmmm, that does explain Steam Rising and the moment of Ahhhhhhh!
The Medic was right! Get up and Go and then it's back to Bed.
