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.

Take a Seat

Two nights with week, we took our annual trip to Huntsville to see the Banff Mountain Film Festival tour.
Two night of wonderful films…adventure base docs. Skiing, climbing, kayaking and such.
The first night we saw a wonderful film entitled “Finding Farley”. This isn’t a story about the Dawson’s dog but story of one family tour of most of Canada by canoe to visit Farley Mowat.

My favorite, by far, was a biking movie. It was the story of a biker named Dominic Gill and his ride from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to the most southern tip of Argentina. … a little 29,000 km bikes ride. The difference here from most biking tours is that he rode a tandem bike…a 2 seater…and pick up volunteers along the way to help him ride. In fact, over the 18 months it took to complete this ride, he had over 260 “helpers” ride with him. (maybe I should have rode a tandem on the Dempster)

A fun flick…well worth catching. Check out the Banff Mountain Film site to see if the tour is coming close to you. Also check out the ride on Dominic’s website at http://www.takeaseat.org/ Lots of good information and photos too.
I stole this photo from the site….hope you don’t mind, Dom.

Ontario Winter Games Cross Country

When it comes to Cross Country Skiing….television wins. This sport use to be about long distance classic skiing. Pretty tough to follow with TV. The new and sexy skiing is skate sprints…800 meters races of skier directly skiing against other skiers. Fast, thrilling…roller derby on skis.

This past weekend was the Cross Country skiing events for the Ontario Winter Games. The Games do really take place until March but the first week in March is the National Championships in Whitehorse so the skiing was moved up to January.

I volunteered as a starter. There were over 100 participants from throughout the Province. Serious competition for sure. All skiers race individually against the clock to establish their place in the heats. Once done, skiers are grouped into a race of six. The faster to advance to the next round.

As a starter, I get to talk to all the kids…briefly anyway. One guy comes up to the line and I notice he is from Thunder Bay and his last name is Pendziwol. I ask him if he has an aunt in the Yukon and low and behold…he does. Small world, Donna!

Next weekend is the Muskoka Loppet. We sure could use some fresh snow!

lazy post....

I have a few ideas I need to put to blog...but am all tied up with stuff and seem to have little time to write these days....so, how about a photo of Grandma and the grandkids...

So long 2009....

So there is now a potential of a Carcross Reunion in 2014….so it gets me to thinking about the Dempster again. It was quite a trip, regardless of the disappointment. About a year and a half of energy, planning and anticipation gone with a lot of smoke….so yes, I was disappointed and feeling a bit bummed about the whole thing.


There are a whole lot of things that were right. Gear, food and bike for sure. I have mixed feelings about the BOB trailer. It is great for around town…trips to the grocery store and such but I think I would be more mobile without it and with a set of front panniers instead.


I would know what to expect this time too. I think my expectations on the distances I could achieve were a little high. I had read many blogs about guys doing the trip in 10 days or better but those guys are 25 years younger than me and most have far more touring experience than me too. In fact, for most of them, the Dempster was just a small part of an extended trip.

I would also do it before the Reunion instead of after. I was emotionally drained to begin the trip from the high of the Hippy School reunion and I think that also played a part.




If, and it is still an if, I do this in 5 years time, I will fly to Dawson and ask Doug to drive me to Tombstone and start riding from there. That would eliminate the 100 km of uphill I have already done. Maybe the goal with be the Arctic Circle instead of Inuvik…but I do have time to consider that.

I have done little since my return but gain some weight. I am so out of shape right now.



But it is New Years and time to turn the corner. Ski season is now here so I need to dig deep and start getting healthy again. A new year and some new goals. Starting with a bit of a deficit but no where to go but up.

Here's to 2010!

Year end list

It is the time of year when every music magazine shows off their top list. I am feeling a little out of touch.

I got my Rolling Stone magazine yesterday in the mail complete with multiple year and decade ending list. Top 50 songs of the year, top 50 albums of the decade, top 100 songs of the decade and so on…
When I had a look at the top 50, I realized that I could only recognise about 10% of the artist. Most of them I had never heard of. Sure I have heard of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and the Kings of Leon but if I heard them on the radio, I wouldn’t be able to tell Gaga from googoo. There are lots of artist that I have never heard of….Gorillaz, OutKast, The Flaming Lips???
I am really that out of touch? I do have teen age boys but two of the three listen to what I listen too. So it got me to thinking….

There are a few artists who have been around forever and they still show up on the year end list. I am glad they still have an impact. Springsteen…U2. When it comes to top albums of the decade, I recognise a few more…Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire…
Most of the artist I listen to, I got tuned onto very early in their careers. I was hooked on Springsteen’s when “Greetings from Ashbury Park” came out….way before anyone had heard of Bruce. I loved U2’s rawness in “Boy”. Just listen to The Hip’s “Up to Here” and you will know what I mean.
My music tastes are still deep in the folk scene. Willie P Bennet, Cockburn, Neil (of course), Mitchell…etc.
I do keep my ear to the ground to catch new emerging artist. Folk Festival line ups, club listing are a good source but the best source is the good old CBC. Patrick Watson, the Great Lake Swimmers, Kathleen Edwards and Fiest are just a few artists that introductions came through CBC.
Lately, I am hooked on the sound of Karyn Ellis.

Her new album “Even though the Sky was Falling” is just a gem. This Toronto based indie artist has created a sound that is both new and sentimental. I love her quirky twist of word. Songs of love lost and longing memories. Joy and beauty. All this and a stunning voice too. (sort of Jane Siberryish…if that’s a word!)The surprise also comes with the soft cello, subtle singing horns. From “Be my Girl” to Motorcycle Ride”, this album is full of intimate tunes that pull at your heartstrings. Ordinary life gone better.


Check out the link and have a listen.
http://www.karynellis.com/

..ok...it can stop now....

This is the third "snow day" in a row. The roads are a mess and the highway closed.

Staying home with some red wine it the right thing to do.



Form this last Sunday....
To this Sunday...