Island db festival was this past weekend. My crews had a great time and did really well and it reminds me why I continue to coach. Still, getting up at 5am to be on the 6:30 ferry will always be a challenge. I love catching up with all the former-paddlers-who-coach. Ian, Blake, Conor, Kevin, Del to name a few. And of course Chrissy, Eve and Jess who I see fairly regularly.

One team asked me and the cox to wear a head-cam during races.

Their corporate head office said they'd buy the crew paddles for next year if they put something together to show the teambuilding aspects of the sport so here's the end result. Seriously, turn down the volume for the race segments. It's just me or Brian yelling and it's sooo annoying.

Gone Baby Gone

I've been loving all the paddling time I'm getting! Last week there was tons of lake action - wind, waves - fun all round.

On Monday, I got to the parking lot around 5:30am and found it packed with Ministry and City pick-ups, a transport truck, a couple motor boats and a ton of workers. Looks like it's Canada Goose round-up time again!

They had snow fence and a blue tarp set up like a cattle shute to the back of the transport (one of the livestock type of trailers). I just got my boat together and went for a paddle. It was exceptional out there. Lots of waves and wind from the SE. I was able to put in a solid hour before work.

They were well into the goose-drive by the time I got back and there were lots of local spectators. I didn't want to get caught up in a discussion about the process with anyone so cleared my gear up fairly fast. I'm a fence sitter when it comes to the Canada Goose harvest. I agree with the opinion raised in this debate many times, give the goose carcasses to  local food banks, homeless shelters, animal shelters or whoever wants them. No natural predators means we either have to introduce one to their environment or become one ourselves. I see a couple of coyotes in the area but they can't even keep the rabbit population under control. And does anyone really want more wild dogs roaming around the neighbourhood?

Now, there are NO geese in the area. None. I haven't been up the river or in the greenspace but as far as the lake, it's just swans, cormorants and seagulls. But of course in a year they'll be back and  pooping everywhere again.



continuing...
My next checkpoint was in the York Region Forest. Even though I lived right beside it in Musselman's and then in Markham for a decade, I've never been in the there before. I had a great run - all trail with lots of loose sand, weedy parts, horses, stuff I've never encountered on a run before. There's a complex trail system in there so having to watch for trail markers is a new experience too. My run time wasn't stellar but it wasn't terrible either. In fact it was slightly faster than I predicted. I felt awesome when I finished and may have knocked whatever remained of that virus out of my lungs.

There were just 2 legs left, a bike and a run, which were covered by Larry and Lee, so all I had to do was get changed and head to the finish line at Seneca's King City campus. The hardcore teams were there to meet their final runners so I knew we must be top 10. When we heard what time Lee left the last checkpoint, and saw how hard he was going as he rounded the last corner, I was pretty sure we were top 5.

We didn't stay long after that. Lee invited everyone back to his place in Aurora for a swim but it was already 8pm and I still had some things to do around PC. Overall a fun, fun day!

Results have finally been posted and we were 5th - so awesome - now the guys are all hype to actually TRAIN for next year! I love it!

So about 3 weeks ago a guy at work asked if I'd like to do an adventure race with a couple other board employees. It was a timely request since I'd just decided (again) to start training properly and get back in shape. They thought I could do the paddling and some running legs. Even though I don't run regularly, I figured a dedicated program for 3 weeks would put me in a comfortable place. Too bad I caught that terrible virus that knocked me flat for about 10 days! The week before the event, I was back on my feet so I did one 5km run that hurt in a way that made me decide to forget about 'training'. Better to just go out and do it on the day. I could go hard and deal with the residual pain at my leisure.

The paddling leg was 8km on Rice Lake so I got up at 5AM on race day and was there by 7:30. I'd only met my paddling partner once when he dropped by the office to deliver maps and waivers but we had the whole 8km to get acquainted. There were more than a few marathoners doing the event, and it was no surprise to run into Don S. who told me he's getting married in 2 weeks. He's always given off a bit of a gay vibe so I was never sure of his orientation - and honestly, I'm still not. I told him I'd been saving mysefl for him but obviously it was time for me to get on with my life.

It was a staggered start - 3 groups, 5 minutes apart. We were in the last group to go. The paddle was fun but fairly uncomfortable since we had to wear lifejackets, it was a rec canoe and my partner was strictly a cottage paddler & j-stroked the whole route. He thought we were smashing course records when it felt to me like maybe he was facing the back of the boat, paddling in the opposite direction. At one point I mentioned that maybe we could try to find a comfortable way to stroke together but it didn't seem to make sense to him. I didn't mind though. I was having a great time on new water and it was a beautiful day.

We chatted while we paddled and through the usual twists and turns we found out that we had both cottaged on the same lake in the Kawarthas! In fact, our cottages were side-by-side. We really only went up in the winter and they only went up in the summer so we never crossed paths.

I didn't have another leg for a bit so I headed back to the city. Not knowing the people on the team, I was a little worried that I might be the least fit but they had stressed many times that we are strictly a FUN team.

Everything changes so suddenly! It's great. This past winter, lots of evenings were spent lounging in front of the tv. Now I'm so busy, I'm never home. Besides my fabulous social life, I've entered a bunch of paddling events, an adventure race (my first) and planning another trip, possibly late fall, possibly Hawaii. I'm not just aimlessly paddling or running around the neighbourhood anymore, my training has a focus.

I've got a new fin for my sup board (thanks Mike!) and am still crazy about stand up! I'll be buying a new, lighter board before the fall although I'm also looking for a new OC-1. Gah, too many toys.

Last Sunday I was on the beach at 8:30am. I was only planning a short paddle but after doing 5k, I sat on the beach with my coffee, looking out at the lake. The wind was coming up and it wasn't long before I wanted to go back out again. I did 4km more, sat in the sun and wind for a bit, then decided it still wasn't enough fun. It had picked up even more by this time. By the time I was done, I'd clocked 12km total so I felt pretty happy.
When I got back to the beach, the crepe cart was there. I asked her to do me up a banana-nutella crepe while I put my gear away. The water is so high right now that the beach where I park has narrowed to a 2 foot strip. I could walk down to the larger beach but didn't see any reason. Besides, walking along the beach with a plate of crepes just attracts seagulls. I learned my lesson in Florida - seagulls will snatch food right out of your hand! And even though I don't think JD gulls  are as smart as the ones on the Gulf coast, I settled on a kikoi with my breakfast. You don't always need a long stretch of beach. As long as my butt and toes are in the sand, I'm content. Although I'd be lying if I said I don't miss this Costa Rican beach...

I just found out why the plants by my desk get wilty every few weeks. One of the guys in the office is dumping the dregs of his coke cans in the planters whenever he doesn't feel like walking to the staffroom sink! He is a sugar junky and drinks 5 or 6 cans of coke a day - 3 of them, along with half a bag of Chips Ahoy, before 8:30 in the morning. Surprisingly, he only weighs about 145lbs. Not so surprising, he has a multitude of health issues. If anyone in the office has a headache, they dig into the Costco-sized baggie of pills in his top drawer.

Anyway, the plants are not mine. I just inherited them because my desk has the only window but I do take care of them. I was horrified when he came over with pop can in hand one day and said "Your plants look thirsty". He tried to convince me that coke is good for them, provides needed nutrients or whatever. At first, his argument was that he'd been doing it for years and the plants were still alive. I pointed to the one plant - it's leaves brown and twisted and shrivelled. I asked him, "didn't you ever do that experiment in high school where you leave a tooth in a jar of coke?" (it rots away within 3 weeks). And then I noticed his teeth which are brownish yellow and kind of furry-looking. Discussion over. I made a joke about it, asked him to please not "refresh" the plants anymore and turned back to my desk. Man, I thought I was bad with plants. I'm a botonist compared to this guy.

May 28th - Johnny-O's wedding day!
We're staying at Fern Resort so I had considered driving up to Couchiching on Friday night and taking my boat or board. However, Dad developed aspirational pneumonia so I stayed in town.
Saturday around noon, after running a bunch of errands, I headed up the 400. Traffic was amazingly good which probably has a lot to do with our crummy weather. Nobody's making the trip to the cottage.
It's been quite a while since I've gone north and it's funny how quickly the retail turns from city to cottage. Of course there's the Cookstown outlet mall but pretty soon you're into the Bass Pro Shop, Confederation Log Homes and the one that made me laugh out loud, Dock in a Box.
I'd forgotten how close Orillia is to Toronto. It's almost the 'burbs - or will be soon. The smell of car exhaust is in the air until you're right up at the lake. Then you finally get the smell of pine and fresh-water lake breeze.
I had just checked in and was unloading my car when I see John & Emily going by in a golf cart, doing the royal (unscrewing a lightbulb) wave! They were on their way to do group photos. Smart to get it done before the ceremony!

My room was on the end, right by the banquet hall and the first things I saw when I opened the door were

a) a fantastic view of the lake

b) 2 bottles of wine, 1 red, 1 white with a "thank you for being part of our special day" card from John & Emily

c) a jacuzzi tub situated perfectly for looking out at the fantastic view without anyone seeing in

I grabbed my camera and wandered outside to check things out. I immediately ran into Gero and his wife, Mike Mcdermott + wife, Jessie and Chris, Bliss & Jaime, Dave Fav, Liz Price & husband, Chris plus assorted Osborne/Stewart relatives. The wedding party were over on the beach having photos done so I took some creeper shots (all on FB). They came over to where we were sitting as soon as they were done. I was so happy to see Courtney and Laura! Both living in B.C. and obviously thriving. Laura & Mark are in Kitsilano and Courtney is in Kelowna.
Court was on crutches - a temporary measure. She'd bruised her heel a couple of weeks earlier, when she was camping. She wanted to spare it until the actual ceremony when she would stand on her own 2 pins.
It wasn't long before it was time to get ready for the ceremony. It was held on the beach with stadium-style seating - rows of patio chairs set up on the pool deck and working down the side. Everyone got a great view of the couple with the lake behind them. I was sitting with Sarge & Marie. Johnny's close family friend (and boss) Julian Wise, was master of ceremonies and was spoke for most of the time. He's very engaging and entertaining. An actual "official" official took over for the legal portion.
From there we moved to the banquet hall and found our seats. Unfortunately none of us were sitting together. I'm not sure why but we decided afterwards that maybe Emily did the seating chart and didn't realize we all knew each other?
As soon as the wedding party entered (each with the de rigueur choreography), John and Emily got things going on the dance floor with Sweet Caroline. It was fantastic - everyone was singing along and dancing - a great way to involve all the guests in the event! It was followed up by a few other songs, wrapping up with Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" which had everyone up on their feet and some up on their chairs!
I knew that the best man was supposed to be Sean and wondered what had kept him from being there. We found out at dinner that he'd gotten married in January of this year and is in the middle of getting his US citizenship. He just wasn't allowed to leave the country at this time. Obviously he and John didn't realize that would happen. He sent his speech via gluetube and we watched on the big screen.

So going back to two weeks ago...

Greg had listed a house on Mona Ave and I asked for a viewing. We met there on Friday around 5pm. I loved it in spite of the fact that it's about 250m from the GO station. And even though I'm not prepared to put my house up for sale right now, it's good to start thinking about getting EXACTLY what I want if I'm going to continue living in the area. This was an older house in a great neighbourhood, large yard and finished basement. The purchase price was around what I could sell mine for but I knew it would be gone before the weekend was over - probably in a bidding war. I'm content in my current house but will now start to get it ready in case THE PERFECT property comes up.

After that we headed over to Blake's for a barbecue with the Hara, Phelon & Secko families. I haven't been around that many kids in a long time and it was really fun. The layout of Jackie and Blake's is perfect  - the kids were in the basement or bedrooms most of the time and there was very little controversy. Everyone's doing great. Have I said this before? I love that everyone's back in the same neighbourhood! Amy dropped by for an hour a little later in the evening, after Derek had picked up the boys.

After a couple of drinks Blake started asking me about my dating life and when I complained about the lack of eligible men with no baggage, he started wondering, Stringer-style, if I had considered women. Do you remember Chris' theory that 73% of women have lesbian tendencies? When we were in Poland, he kept asking women on the team if they'd "do another woman" and then telling them they were liars when they said no. Anyway, as much as I reassured Blake that I'm a confirmed heterosexual and being 52 means I know that's for sure, he was really digging in. At first it was funny (typical Blake) - Amy and Jackie were just shaking their heads and no help in redirecting him - but it went on for so long that I transitioned from entertained, to uncomfortable, then bored, to wondering if people actually thought that. Seriously, I wasn't so upset that he might think I was a lesbian (not that there's anything wrong with that) as I was that he believes I'm striking out with THE ENTIRE OVER-40 POPULATION, not just men. Driving home I decided not to read too much into it - it was an alcohol fuelled convo that had spun off in an odd direction from which it couldn't recover.

I'm coughing so much, it took three clicks just to open a new editor - the cursor kept jumping around the screen.
Anyway, yes I'm sick. The worst virus I've had in years (I say that every time) and it has to hit me when the BEST weather finally arrives. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just a run-of-the-mill cold but this thing took me down. I slept for 32 hours on the first day. I just got up from a fitful 8 hours and am going back to bed as soon as I have a hot drink in hand. The worst idea I had was not loading up on drugs because I "didn't want to be too groggy in the morning". I clearly believed I'd just carry on as normal but with a stuffy nose and husky voice. Wrong. There isn't anything in the house stronger than Advil, so last night when the cough/fever kept waking me up, all I could do was lie there and cough...and sweat. I'll make a drug store run later. After I catch a few more hours.

The past couple of weeks have been entertaining but I can't sort everything out at the moment with my brain fever. Suffice it to say I've been doing lots of summer-type things; barbecues in my friends' backyards, bike rides, Johnny-O's wedding at Fern Resort (it was fun and beautiful and I got to see so many paddling friends who've moved away), and of course paddling.

ugh, I'm a sweaty mess. going to bed.