These pics were snapped as the torch “run” went by my marina, quite literally my backyard. The torch arrived by dragon boat and left by canoe. Apologies for the slight fuzziness, I appear to have a focus issue with the camera. Kudos also to the guy up the mast of the sailboat in the background.

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I suppose if all the snow melts, we can always have the beach Olympics.

Which is why last night’s impulse buy should come as no surprise: Mukmuk – the littlest mascot of that immense juggernaut rolling into town in two weeks.

He’s an endangered Vancouver Island marmot. He’s a foodie. And he’s the ultimate underdog: initially designed as only a virtual mascot to guide kids around the website. He was supposed to only ever be a cyber-sidekick to the marquee mascots, and not have a physical presence.

Now, the cynic in me might say, “what a masterful marketing & merchandising campaign to get Mukmuk voted into physicality”.

But you know what? I don’t care. He’s cute. Getting unexpectedly yanked from one plane of existence to another also resonates incredibly well with my current WIP. I like his story. And I’m a sucker for an underdog.

So meet Mukmuk. Maybe we’ll be seeing you around town over the next few weeks.