Cross Country and Kolapore

When I first started cross country skiing in Ontario, I was living in Meaford. We had some local favourite places to ski…Owen Sound at the falls, the Lorri Trails on top of Georgian Peaks…but the best place was the Kolapore Forrest.
There are 50 km of bush trails. Hardwood forest, cedar wetlands and forgotten farm land that has returned to bush. We skied there quite a bit. I use to take the kids from Blue Hills Farm there every Saturday. We had old three pin binding, some had fish scales and others waxed. Skis were wider and shorter.

Since I moved to Muskoka, my skiing has changed. We have track set groomed trails here. Provincial Parks and other private operators have changed the skiing terrain. Track set trails mean that the snowplow technique is rarely used. If you want to slow down a bit in track set, you just need to step out with one ski. On track set corners, you just lean into them. Stay in the tracks and don’t loose speed. Skied are narrow and longer now too.

A trip back to Kolapore was a trip to old school skiing too. Shorter, wider skies would have worked much better. Because there is no groom track set, you need shorter skies to snow plow and get your back tips out wide enough. Consequently, I had a few big falls. Back country skiing is not for speed. That isn’t the point of back country at all. I do love Kolapore but will have to get a hold of some slower, wider and shorter skies next time.

On top of Red Death!

After a day of cross country, we went to Osler. Major snow strom in Ontario so there was a foot for fresh powder and only 100 people on the hill.

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.