Summer of 2008

We haven't been updating our Blog. On this rainy - post summer Sunday afternoon we are finally doing it.

This year has been busy. After Brazil, we tore apart two rooms of our house to update and refresh them. That project wore on and cost too much money, like every household project. In April, we spent a few days in Florida with Brad's parents who now winter in New Smyrna Beach. Training on the bike started when we got back. We rode our bikes, visited my mom, visited cottages, went to Lake Placid, entertained a bit, watched the Tour de France, had a visit from Lesley's mom and a friend, put up some tomato sauce and roasted red peppers and now it is fall. Brad still has one big race left - the Crank the Shield. It is a 3 day, 300 km off road race from Muskoka to Haliburton. It will be held on the Sept 21st weekend. He is doing it with Barry and Joanne so it should be pretty interesting.

In trying to update the Blog we found that the technology has changed again. You can look a the photos in tiny form in the blog or click on the album and open it and then select slideshow.

Lake Placid
You will notice that we were in Lake Placid last fall with Lisa and Todd. On that trip, the gang tried to tackle the Gothics. We were denied due to a number of factors including bad weather. That only strengthened Lisa's resolve to go back. Brad, Lisa and Todd made plans for major peak bagging and Lesley made plans for outlet shopping in Lake George. The weather wasn't promising so we paid the cancellation penalty on the camp site and rented a little cabin in Ray Brook. That was a brillant idea. As you can see they were successful this year bagging the Gothics, Upper and Lower Wolf Jaw and some others in their 9 hour death march up and down the mountains. Lesley shopped in Lake George when they did Phelps on Day One and watched the Olympics and the new Batman movie the day of the grim death march.


Perkovic Cottage
For those that don't know Rob and Stephanie Cox, Stephanie's parents have a cottage on Jack Lake near Apsley. For the past few years we have gone up there for a weekend of eating and a bit of drinking. There is Speck over the fire, Stan's own tomatoes, and a turkey dinner and sometimes sweet corn. Nathan is starting to fish with grandpa and is showing possibilies of becoming a train engineer.


Three Legged Lake
Despite Lesley's fears of going north of Highway 7, we managed to get up to see Ann, Abby and Zack. Their cottage is just south of Parry Sound. Rich was trapped in Ottawa doing work so that is why is is absent from the photos.




Ride to Conquer Cancer
A friend of mine at the gym (Michelle) somehow convinced me I wanted to participate in the inaugral Ride to Conquer Cancer to raise money for Princess Margaret Hospital. If you want to do it next year go to ConquerCancer.ca.

To participate you had to ride 200km from Toronto to Niagara Falls and raise a minimum of $2, 500. Thanks to Michelle I joined her team - the Easy Riders. My friends, family and co-workers donated $3,500. The event had 3 000 riders and raised $14 million.

The weather was beautiful. They closed Lakeshore in Toronto. We rode from the CNE to Mississauga to Milton and north Burlington to Waterdown, Dundas, Ancaster and to Mohawk College in Hamilton on Day 1. There were rest stops every 20 - 30 kms. The food, drinks and Motrin were great. At Mohawk, they had our little blue tents set up. There was hot showers, free shower kits, beer, wine, entertainment and a fabulous dinner. Day two was an easy 100 km ride into Niagara Falls.