My Great Big Weekend

A few weeks ago, actually more like a month ago since it was the Fourth of July, we did something I've been meaning to do for a long time. We went to Lake Jocassee up in northern South Carolina. It's located in the mountains and part of it is actually in North Carolina.

The lake was great. Some people at work and others in town had told us how good the paddling was but I never really believed them. They also said how cold the water was. In fact the lake was very busy with boat traffic but manageable. The water was colder than other lakes and even the ocean down here but certainly was not as cold as I was led to believe. Here are some of the shots we took.

We took the big double kayak to the lake and paddled out to a part of the state park that is only accessible by boat for lunch. Hopefully we'll head out to do some camping there someday. The swimming was great. There were lots of fish in the water and the water itself was very clear compared to the other lakes I have been to here in the Upstate.

The lake is man made so there are lots of interesting features. I kept looking for a place with a big drop off and finally found one. That's what the videos show below.

Off course after such a huge day Isabelle was absolutely exhausted. She had a big nap in the kayak on the way back to the car. In fact the trip to the lake was on Sunday. The great big weekend I mention in the title has to do with the baseball game on Friday night (and staying to watch the fireworks after it), a party at one of the French families' house on Saturday night where the kids were up late to see the most amazing private fireworks in the area, and some fireworks in Greenville downtown on the way home from the lake. Put it all together and you have a huge weekend. I would have slept in the kayak if I could!

I hope you all have a great second half of the summer. Next-more reports on some of my travel over the last few weeks.

Espania

For those of you who don't know I'm in Spain for work (at least that's what I told everyone).

Here is the report so far:

Halifax airport was very busy. We headed out early in the hopes of meeting up with Jane's cousins and their families as they were getting and heading for Cape Breton. For me that worked out well since the line ups at security were pretty long. I still don't know where the woman who brought along two cans of Sprite thought she was going. I didn't think there were very many people who didn't know about 911 and all the subsequent security scares.

Once through security immigration was easy. It got a little stressful when the fire alarm went off but it was just a false alarm.

Newark airport was busy but fine and I was lucky enough to have picked a row that didn't have anyone sitting next to me. Relatively comfy flight with a little sleep. We got into Madrid a half hour early.

I met up with my colleague at the airport and we quickly headed off to get lost. Finding our hotel without a GPS was a little work but after a few wrong turns we found our way. There was no parking and the rooms were small but it was in a good location that meets our needs for one night.

Madrid itself is a beautiful city. There is lots of cool archetecture, both new and old, and all the plazas are amazing. The city also has a large number of parks located throughout the city. The weather is much like South Carolina but much drier.

We headed out at noon for our first poke around town. We walked though the old city to the royal palace and back through the large park called the Parque de Retiro and the Real Jardin Botanico. It was amazing with people everywhere having picnics, playing soccer, sunbathing, and walking about the buskers. It was so neat I am back there starting this entry sitting by an artificial creek.

The neatest plaza we came upon was Plaza Mayor. There was a neat market with books, coins, a few antiques, and lots of stamp and philatelic dealers (yes Jane, stamps!). It looks like even without Jane I've managed to stumble upon the philatelists.

We ended eating at a neat little restaurant near the hotel. First let me explain the eating here trully is very differen. I don't just mean the food which is different in its own way. I mean the meal times. Remember siesta? Well here it is still alive and well. Lunch is anytime from 1:00 to 3:00 while supper is usually well after 8:00. I think they make exception for tourists, but it is not uncommon to eat at 10:00 or even 11:00.

Anyway, my lunch was a starter of Paella del casa that was big enough to be a meal in itself. It had chicken, shrimp, mussels and clams in the shell, and calamari. I followed that with a little grilled salmon. I haven't tried any on the local wine yet but instead have opted for large amonts of bottled water and a few Cokes. I think it would be very easy to dehydrate here given that the temperature today was about 35C or 97F.

Now for a good night's sleep. I thankfully have another day to get over the jetlag before the long days in the plant start.

Here are a few pictures of the trip so far with a description of where they were taken.

Lunch: Paella del casa...yum!

The Palcio de Cristal palace in the Parque de Retiro.

More from the Parque de Retiro, the Parterre.

Stamp shops in the Plaza Mayor

Shopping streets in Madrid.

Anyway I hope this went through, I only had 30 minutes for the internet connection.

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.