Randy...hey how's it going in Chilliwack, you ok?

Thanks for checking in with me. Chilliwack is pretty dry relatively speaking. The major flooding is in Abbotsford which we border with. But there is the Vedder Canal between Abby and CHWK so there are two good dikes between them and us. There is a small potion of CHWK, known as Yarrow, that is on the wrong side of the canal and they were under evac orders. But don't know if that is still in place.

The area of Abbotsford that is flooded is an ancient Sumas Lake which was drained in 1920 or there abouts. It is now huge dairy and chicken farm area. No dense residential areas other than the houses on the farms. But they flooded really bad and there is no count on how many animals perished. Probably in the thousands with cows and tens of thousands in chickens.

The military were brought in to help out. Chilliwack used to be a Military Engineering base but the liberal government closed it down in the early 90's. They could have been here right quick if they were still here. But they had to come in from Edmonton. They have to fix a dike breach on another river that is allowing waters from the Sumas River to pour into the reclaimed land. The Sumas River is being flooded because of a breach of the Nooksack River in Washington. All the while, the Fraser River in BC is back flowing into the reclaimed land as well. So the flooding is constant and the pumps keeping that area dry, simply can't handle to water coming in. That is what the military are doing. Fixing our dike breach, which will deal with the flooding waters from all sources and allow the pumps to drain the area. The military are also doing air lifts of feed and fresh water for what animals that are still alive in barns.

That's the floods. Also we have been cut off totally of any land travel between us on the west side of the Cascades, and anywhere east in all Canada. And Chilliwack has been cut off from Vancouver because of slides and avalanches. Even the two major railways, which move probably half the freight between the Port of Vancouver and all points east. There is panic food buying so store shelves are getting very bare here. Gasoline is not coming in either so gas is rationed.

But things are getting better. One of the highways is open but to just essential traffic and emergency vehicles. SO food is starting to come in, but gasoline is still rationed. They are working hard on alternatives involving getting gasoline from Washington, Oregon and California, and allowing commercial traffic to bypass the closed highways by taking an American route.

They are predicting the big emergency is going to settle down in 10 days or so. Depending on this next deluge of rain predicted next week. I am pretty sure we will do well in that regard. Some of the highways damage is catastrophic. Huge bridges and big sections of mountain highway are gone so replacement and repairs to those are going to take months.

But so far, including the major flooding in Princeton and Merritt in the interior, there have only been 4 deaths. All at the same slide near Lilooet. So. It could be a lot worse.

Tomorrow is supposed to be dry but quite cool. Regardless, I am meeting someone for a short bike tour around for a look see. Charging the battery on the VFR over night. I think this winter I need todo the drill. I suspect my stator is packing it in again for the third time. But I guess I can't complain too much given the ultra high mileage on the bike.

Agan. thanks for checking up on me.