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.

East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival 2010

A few weeks ago a longtime friend of mine drove down from Ontario to spend some quality time with me at the beach. Now your idea and my idea of the beach are likely different. This involved lots of time on the water in kayaks, camping out in tents, and lots of seafood. We did get to the sandy part of the beach but certainly not for any lounging around.

Mike and I go way back to Acadia University. After that we've had our ups and downs but have kept in touch for the most part as our lives have changed through weddings, kids, jobs, moves, and all sorts of things. We both stood at each other's weddings (I wouldn't call it being the bestman) but then life and geography got in the way.

I actually tried to get Mike into kayaking way back in 1998, I think. It didn't go very well but I'm glad I didn't ruin it for him.

This was the first real time we've had together in a few years. It started with Mike driving 14 hours all the way from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I had some work to catch up on so the first day he poked around with Jane until I got home for the four hour drive to Charleston. The goal was James Island County Park, home of the East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival. The link goes to a page that talks a little about the festival. If you watch the picture slide show you can see a good picture of me waiting patiently as a lesson is going on (it's the last picture). There is also a shot of Mike just before mine (he's the one in the middle with the red PFD on his belly climbing back into his boat.) Here they are.

This year despite the plan to go together we actually didn't end up on any courses together. The courses I did were good but the range of people and skill levels ranged from intermediate to advanced (in this case me.) I did enjoy taking a session with kayaking legend Nigel Foster and other master coaches like Ben Lawry. My only issue was the coaches having to tone down some of the content for some less experienced paddlers (even though the title said "Master's Class.") Next year I will likely go again but will be a little more choosy about my courses. It's hard to pass up a festival when it's practically in your back yard. Maybe Isabelle and Jane could come?

In the end Mike and I had a pretty good time. Lots of catching up and talking about things we've done since we graduated from school. We ate some good food and certainly ate entirely too much of it. I always try to justify it with the fact we were very active all weekend, but I'm not sure that really counts. Folly Beach is nearby so we went every night to have a look and enjoy the salt air, something we both miss.

For me best course of the festival was likely the Advance Open Water Workshop offered by H2Outfitters. It involved getting out into the ocean on a windy day with a nice little tidal rip. I didn't learn a whole lot, I know tides and wind from growing up on the Bay of Fundy, but it was nice to paddle and surf with some other competent paddlers. Once again I was amazed at how warm the water was, even in April.

So now the planning has started for our next adventure. We aren't going to wait years this time, rather just a few months, hopefully. I'm looking at some festivals and symposia in Canada for the fall. I may reciprocate and drive up to the Georgian Bay Storm Gathering in October. Who knows? Anyone else want to come?