Guppies, Guppies Everywhere...

Isabelle swam guppies again this year. Guppies is a swim league for the little swimmers who are not old enough, experienced enough, or confident enough for the SAIL (Swim Association Invitational League). This year was more of a success than last year. She had some good starts and improved her times for the most part.

Her backstroke keeps improving and she's added the breast stroke to her repertoire. We need to keep working on the freestyle.

Here is what it looks like:

Decked out in the fast swimsuit with the goggles and of course a cool swim cap. It has fins you know!

They always have a kick board event on top of the freestyle, backstroke, and relay. It helps to jump in with the board over your head, and the bigger the splash the better. It adds to the fun factor.

Spotters make sure everyone is safe. Isabelle usually doesn't need one, except for the encouragement they provide.

The video above is the freestyle (if it works). She still needs some work on it but I sure wasn't swimming like that at her age.

Now the backstroke is smoking. It's always been her strongest event but it still amazes me (again, if the video works).

Of course there are snacks. That's always fun. Plus ribbons. You have to compare times you know!

Here's to another great season with lots of fun. It couldn't have been possible without all the volunteers: deck moms, coaches, timers, recorders, starters, and spotters. Thanks a whole bunch and we'll see you next year.

US National Whitewater Center - en famille

This weekend we hit the USNWC (US National Whitewater Center) just outside of Charlotte. I had a new boat to try and the girls had never been there. Here are some of the highlights.

The first run with the new Dagger Axiom 8.5.

It handled like a Porsche compared to my old whitewater boat (an Oldsmobile really). It will take some getting used to but you should always buy a boat you can grow into.

Isabelle did a little rock climbing too.

Below is a shot of Isabelle, by herself, getting ready to jump off a perfectly good tower. The free fall system provides a nice soft landing. She is the bravest 5 year old, some days.

This was her second jump! (If the vidoe works-I was having a few technical difficulties.)

We also did some geocashing and Jane and Isabelle did a little flat water paddling on the Catawba River.

I need to give credit to Jane for all but the free fall shots. She does a good job of documenting our adventures.

A Little Taste of Northern Ireland

OK, so one of the benefits of my job is that I get to travel. (One of the hassles of my job is that I have to travel!) My last trip was Northern Ireland again. It was nice to be there in June rather than March or November. The sun rose each morning at about 4:30 and didn't set until well after 10:00. It made for long days.

As usual the work was good. People there remind me of Newfoundlanders in more ways than one; they are both always friendly and helpful. I met some new friends, caught up with some old ones, and saw some lovely countryside.

Here are some pictures.

Northern Ireland has some lovely beaches interspersed between the rocky points. It smelled just like home in Nova Scotia.

Then there are the castles, just sort of plopped down everywhere. This one is Carrickfergus Castle.

Later in the week we drove up to the Giant's Causeway again (I've been there a few times, it's sort of like Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia, everyone should go at least once.) Along the way we drove by some cool surf spots. One of the guys along for the ride was a surfer/photographer so he pointed out all the good spots for me once he found out I liked to surf kayak.

Of course the countryside was lush and beautiful. There were lots of sheep who had just had their haircuts.

At the Giant's Causeway I found a Penfold post box.

Another picture at the Giant's Causeway.

On our last night a friend took a bunch of us out to the Crosskeys Inn. Unfortunately there was no music that night (maybe next time) but it was a good time none the less.

Here are a few panoramas at sunset behind the Giant's Causeway Hotel. We had a great meal there.

SCCT - South Carolina Children's Theater

Isabelle and the rest of us recently went to the SCCT. Sleeping Beauty was nothing like I remembered it. It was pretty intense. Isabelle spent most of the last act on Jane's knees with here face buried and her ears covered. Anyway, she made a few friends and got a few autographs in the end.

Here is Briar Rose's mother, the lovely Queen Guinevere...

...then the good fairy Branwein...

...and then there was Gryff, the good fairy's sidekick...

...and finally our little princess.

A Big Week

Last week was spent driving around Nova Scotia. Now before anyone gets all bent out of shape because I didn't visit remember I was there for work and only spent two nights in a row in the same place. Things were busy but enjoyable.

I had a quick visit with the Hennigars in Kentville to start. A night in the Valley, and then two nights out by the airport. The hotel was central to the tour I undertook with 22 other participants on a whirlwind visit of the three Nova Scotian Michelin plants. Friday was back in the Valley and a day in the plant in Waterville after picking up a rental car. Ohhhh but not just any car.

Usually muscle cars aren't my thing. I'm more of a practical wagon or SUV/crossover with a good roof rack kind of guy. However I couldn't turn down the car they offered me. The 2010 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 was pretty fun to drive and turned some heads. if only it had been red! I ended up with it all weekend and got to take my Dad and a few others out in it. It certainly wasn't the most practical car for my activities on Sunday but I'll get to that later.

Friday night was back to the city for the Reel Paddling Film Festival. As Paul Pilon put it: "it never ceases to amaze me the lengths that whitewater 'yakkers will go to toward ending their lives in some spectacular way." I have to agree, although some would say the same thing about me sometimes.

Saturday I caught up with my parents and attended a lovely celebration. Most people would call it a wake but this one was special. I came away from it thinking everyone should go to a funeral, particularly a young person's funeral, at least once in a while. It's an inevitable tragedy that people have to die but when they do we should celebrate their lives and take it as a reminder to make the best of our own lives.

Sunday was a good day despite the pouring rain, although there are no bad days on the water. Paul Pilon and I headed out from MacCormacks Beach Provincial Park and made our way north to Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park. This, the latest 20 km, is part of my quest to slowly circumnavigate the province counterclockwise. I just want to be able yo say I've paddled the whole thing, and since I can't take two months off to do it all in one go I am going to pick away at it one piece at a time. (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time of course!)

By the time we got to our destination the sun was out and the temperature had risen by 10 degrees. Alas, in the end Lawrencetown Beach did not live up to it's reputation for surf, at least not on that day. I did play around a little but by far the beach just before Lawrencetown, called Stoney Beach, was way more fun. The long regular waves made for some good surfing and playing. Even Paul got "into" the action.

My last night in Nova Scotia was spent at Sodero House in Halifax. Everyone was in bed early having all had big days and good feed of Peter's Pizza. the next morning it was off to the airport, home by 2:00 (the corporate jet is the only way to fly) and back to the girls. What a week.