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.

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!