Christmas

Grandma made every grandkid a scarf to match their school colours!

Happy New Year!

The Royal...where Country meets City

Went to the Royal Winter fair last weekend. Pigs and chickens, Cows and goats and a whole lot of things I don't understand.

For example....butter sculptures!

This guys job is to clean the cows ass...nice work!

The Raithby Plate for best Jersey herd.

The Cowgirls

Sketeton Season

It’s Skeleton Season. Not so much because of Halloween. It’s all those bare trees.
November is that dull month. Darker, wetter and with little colour. The snow that does show only hints at what is to come and doesn’t last but a few hours.

This is a good time of year to start planning for next summer adventures. I am usually a way ahead of that game but in some cases, you need to be in order to get the spots you want. We have already booked into Silent Lake Provincial Park for a weekend of Yurt camping in March. If you are not prepared to plan ahead for this kind of booking, all the sites will be gone.

I am going to get my Mariposa Folk Festival tickets too. The early bird weekend pass cost the same as only the Saturday pass on the weekend of the show. At this point, no one is even booked to play but I have never been disappointed.

The Loppet weekends are all booked too. The Muskoka Loppet, Parry Sound Sounder and the Blue Sky Loppet in North Bay are all on the calendar. Not going to Quebec for the Marathon this year….next year I guess.

Well…cheers to snow that stays and the promise of a deep white winter.

Thanksgiving

Fall in Muskoka and the leaves are pretty well done. A little rain and wind will knock the last of them to the ground. It has been a beautiful fall for sure.
We now head into the grey season. Little colour, damp and dark...waiting patiently for the snow but that is still a couple of months away.


Had a little pre-Thanksgiving trip to the Naiscout. Thank goodness Carol and Steve put a woodstove in the cabin....we sure needed it.

Had the whole family home for Thanksgiving. Fourteen for dinner...lots of fun.


Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without the "turkey trot" to Hogarths cabin for Sunday turkey sandwiches on Don's scones.

The final event on our busy fall is the annual Boy's golf weekend at Dave Harris's cottage at Southamptom. I am not much of a golfer but managed to beat Dave in the spring and the fall. It is a father/son thing but I have yet to manage to bring my boys along...maybe in the spring.Always the planner... looking at a few winter events. Of course, got to hand out the Raithby award at the Royal Winter Fair. Skiing at Blue and yurt camping at Silent Lake are already on the calendar. More weekends to fill up.

Summer Scenes

Summer is swinging into Fall and the annual trip to Killbear is coming. Thought I would share some photos of the summer excitement.

A couple of canoe trips to a couple of secret locations

Jack rodeo swan riding

A year later....

Went for a bike ride yesterday. First time on my bike in well over six week. Back pain is finally going away. I have discovered that it takes a bit longer to heal as you get older.

Well it is have to believe that it was a year ago I was doing my final packing and starting to ship bike stuff up to the Yukon. It is well overdue for a few thank you too. While I must admit my disappointment still rings in not achieving my goal…to spend all that time in planning, training, anticipating and being so public about it….is somewhat depressing.
Would I do it again? For consideration at this point.

There are some good folks who need some recognition for their efforts in helping get there. Firstly, I would like to thank Cadeyrn Craig for Axiom Gear. As well as providing me with some great bike gear, they allowed me to write a blog entry on their website. I rode a Norco Quest (Norco and Axiom are of the same family) and it was a wonderful bike for touring. In order to cover my travel cost, I ended up selling the Quest in Whitehorse but am sure the new owner is happy with it.

BOB trailer were also helpful on 2 counts. Firstly, providing me with a trailer that I was able to auction to raise fund for the Ride to Conquer Cancer and for also providing me with a trailer for the trip.

Jeff Clarkson of Schwalbe Tires offered good advice and a set of Marathon tires. Absolutely the best tires available for this type of venture.

Cliff Bars provide energy bars and drinks and they were all used up.

Genuine Innovations provided some tire pumps as well as a generous donation to the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Mountain equip coop provided a tent...a nice lightweight biking tent.

Nielsen Bike, in Bracebridge, provided ongoing support prior to the trip, helping pack my bike and offering sage advise along the way.

Icycle Bike in Whitehorse was a great help….had a bit of a pre-trip accident and they were there to help me get he bike ready and on the plane.

An last but not least, Lynne McKinney at 3W Solutions for creating a beautiful website and providing updates for me along the way.

All the above have links from my website.

I would be remised if I did not mention all the support I received from my pals as well. Certainly my family was supportive. Numerous adjustments in my real life had to occur for me to fund this trip and take six weeks off of work.

Mike and Donna MacMillian in Whitehorse were kind enough to be my northern base. They received all the gear I sent up, offered me a place to stay pre and post trip and shuttled me back and forth from the airport.

Doug Hunter, in Dawson, took me in when I rode back to Dawson and was a great host.

Cath Constable and Lib Barlow offered support and friendship upon my return to Whitehorse as well. All appreciated.

Of course, my family from the Carcross Community….lots of support at the Reunion Crowd.

It was a great venture. Good to spend that much time by myself. I enjoyed the planning as much as the ride. I talked to Mike this past week. They are having a cooler summer this year and there is currently only one fire burning in the Yukon….what a difference a year make.

Father Son Weekend in Algonquin

Algonquin Father/Son Weekend

Last weekend we all headed to Algonquin Park for the annual Father/Son weekend. This event has been going on for at least 10 years starting when Sam and Ellis were wee tots. All but one of these weekend adventures has taken place at Algonquin. We did go to Killbear Provincial Park one year but discovered a “drinking band” until after the May 24 weekend.
There is a little bit of drinking going on so Algonquin fits the bill.

With the kids getting older, it is harder for some sons to commit. I only brought one of my boys this year. Johnny even came solo. I do think that even when the kids can’t make it at all, I still will make the trip.

We went a couple of weeks later than usual….which worked out pretty good. The last two weekends have been a bust with rain and snow. We had a cloudy day on Saturday but Sunday was like a day in the middle of August. We were there just before the blackfies too.

This past weekend was stellar. Ten kids and five dads.
This year we took at hike up the Lookout trail. Poor Rob, because he has a fear of heights, couldn’t bring himself to get to close to the cliff’s edge. (How can a guy who is 6’4” be afraid of heights…how does he get out of bed in the morning!)

A long bike ride on Sunday topped off the weekend. And, of course, a number of moose sightings. There are a whole lot of moose in Algonquin. In the spring they are attracted to the road sides to get away from the bugs and to drink out of the salt leaden puddles along the highway.

Next year we are taking canoes and hoping for sunny weather and a day trip down the Madawaska River.

"Throw me a Keystone Light, you Nancy!

Easter Weekend Run

Easter weekend

Easter weekend means a trip to Toronto to celebrate with family. This year trip also included the family participating in the Harry’s Spring Run off. This is a Harry Rosen sponsored 5km run in High Park in support of Prostrate Cancer Research.

Let’s be clear here…I am not a runner. I fail to see the appeal. However, I may be a sucker when charity participation come into effect. Unlike most of the Harry runs, it was beautiful, sunny and high in the low 20s on run day. No snow this year! There were 4700 runners….some doing the 8 km option and some doing the 5 km option. This event raised $360,000!

This run takes place every Easter weekend. There was talk in the family about making this an annual event. Uncle John was clear that this was a one time thing for him!

Yurt Camping

Yurt Camping

After a few years of discussion and missing the opportunity, we finally went Yurt Camping last weekend. I have Yurt camped before. We have a boy’s weekend in Algonquin every spring. When the kids were younger, we put them all in the Yurt. The Algonquin Yurts have electric heat so we could be ensured that at least the kids would stay warm.

We spent last weekend at Silent Lake Provincial Park. This is a beautiful park, just south of Bancroft, with only 167 summer sites. The park surrounds the lake so boat traffic is limited to canoes and kayaks. There are over 30 km of mountain bike trails too.

They offer 6 yurts for winter camping but it was quite a different experience than Algonquin. The first difference is that there is no road access. All your gear gets loaded on a Gator and you ride in old skidoo sleds behind and get pulled to your site. The park provides fire wood and drinking water and actually delivers that to your yurt. Each yurt has a small wood stove and two double bunk beds…very comfy to say the least.

We lucked out with the weather too. It was beautiful plus 5 during the day and the sun shone bright. We hiked and skied and went for long walks on the lake. There are over 30 km of ski trailer at Silent Lake but the warm weather had softened them up pretty good.

The Ride to Conquer Cancer

The Ride to Conquer Cancer

The last two years, I have participated in the Princess Margaret’s fundraising bike ride. It is called the Ride to Conquer Cancer. This is a 2 day event that starts at the CNE in Toronto and ends at Niagara Falls. The overnight stop is in Hamilton. The total distance is 200 kms.

The ride is well organized and both years have seen perfect weather. Over three thousand riders in all participate. Overt the past two years, 28 million dollars has been raised. During that time, I was able to raise over $6000. The first year I rode with Vicki Dechert and my sister-in-law, Nancy Palmer. The second year Vicki brought along her 13 year old son. Young Kai is a cancer survivor.

When the registration opened this year, I thought I would give it a pass. I was just back from the Yukon and had my fill of riding for a while. The word is out about what a great experience this is so the registration was full and closed well before Christmas. I am regretting not registering now.





Cancer has likely touched you. I know that in my own life, it has had an impact. My wife is a survivor. My dad and my uncle both lost battles and my aunt Zoie is struggling hard right now.
This ride is an oppertunity to give back. Some people can give back by riding and others by providing financial support. Each rider must raise a minimum of $2500 to participate.

Instead of riding, I am throwing my support behind a couple of riders.



My good friend Vicki is riding again this year but with a difference. There is a 200 mile option (160 kms a day) and she has signed up for that. That is one long ride.






Local councel representative Scott Young is riding again this year too. He is riding for his mother who has fought and won several battles.




If you feel compelled to donate to either of these riders, please follow the link below and click on "Ontario" and then "donate". Just enter their name in the spaces and their homepage will come up. A tax reciept is issued right away too.

http://www.conquercancer.ca/

Canadian Ski Marathon

Canadian Ski Marathon ‘10

We headed out Friday to Montebello Quebec for our third visit to the Canadian Ski Marathon. There was a last minute change in the usual 160 km linear course because of lack of snow. The compromise was an 80 km loop….actually a figure 8.

With -6 temps and generally good conditions, we got on the bus to head out to our starting checkpoint.

We didn’t start at section one in Montebello. Talking to a few skiers afterwards, that was a good idea. It was rock skiing close to Montebello and very tough going. There was very little snow in the Ottawa Valley but the further we got up the valley, the better the conditions got.

Steph, Pam, Sheryl and Dave at a check point. Linda and Steph at start

The new course was wonderful. We skied 44 km the first day and never crossed a road.
When you get to a check point, you kick off your skies and hand them to the ski waxers!
Lots of food and drink to top yourself up and then on your way again before the cold catches you.

Usually the set up is 15 -18 kms better check in station so going 23 km followed by another 21 kms was tough….sure out of gas by the end.

Coureur des Bois skiing 160 km and sleeping out too!

Sunday was beautiful too. Our first section was a long 23 kms and it was perfect. Good snow and a fast track. The last section was only 5 kms long and the conditions were less than desirable....a little stubble and dirt.

Lots of fun and a good challenge too.

Hats of to Paul, Dave and Glen who completed 160 Km in the two days and also to Annabelle Nicholson who did the same!

Jack, Bray and Linda at the check station

Angus and the Cowgirls

Valdy and I

Last night was the kick off concert for the 53rd annual Port Sydney Winter Carnival.
Concert night at the Community Centre. This intimate venue sat about 100 people and pizza and beer were for sale.
The show started with a set by Tina Turley. She was follow by Linda Mclean. I had seen both performers before at the Empire Hotel benefit. They were pumped and put on a great show for the hometown crowd.
The headliner was Valdy. I had an opportunity to talk to him before the set….we had a chat about the Carcross Community School. I do recall hearing a story about Valdy being at the school in ’75. There is a photo of him playing on the front steps. We talked about the Yukon and he reminisced about Geroge Stokes and, of course, “dear Rosemary”. His voice is still great and he entertained the crowd with some wonderful stories.

Valdy, John Switzer, Linda Mclean and Tina Turley.

He now lives on Salt Spring island…as well as Rose. I asked him if he know Libby Barlow. He didn’t know she was also at the Community School but Libby is his wife’s chiropractor! He is on his way to the Yukon next week to play a fundraiser for the Yukon Quest dog sled race.

When Linda Maclean introduced her band, I recognize the name of the bass player…. John Switzer. I spoke with him at intermission. His dad and mine went to University together. I recall he started his career playing with Jane Sibery. (now known as Issa)

And it is a small world…you see Jane Sibery real name is Jane Stewart and she grew up in my neighbourhood.