Survived the Lake Superior Costal Trail (just)

Today is the first day home after hiking the LSCT and maybe the first day of feeling relatively normal: blisters are healing, not hobbling like an old woman etc.

This was not an easy trail.  65 km of the most unbelievably varied terrain, from every type of rock formation imaginable to inland conditions that seemed almost rainforest-like. The bridge was out at Gargantua so we hiked 14 km. to the start.  That was the easy part. Actually,  I have a severe bunion on my right foot so none of it was easy for me.  I spent much of my time wrapping my foot, cooling the pain in Lake Superior or changing from my hiking boots to sandals for a break.

We all fell on the rocks at some time or another and have the bruises to show for it. We were warned by the park staff not to start or continue the trail if it rained and we respected that advise fully.  One misstep and you could be stranded with a sprained or broken ankle.   I stepped on a hornets nest and got bit about 6 times.  My husband was yelling for me to go to the water but if you knew the formidable rock pile that was between me and the water you would understand why I preferred to jump and scream around in the trees.

We thought we were doing a warm up for the West Coast Trail but met 3 hikers going the other way and one fellow said "Oh no- that is a walk in the park compared to this"
I know better than to believe anything now.  They also said we were past the hard part after our 14km/10hr. second day.  But each subsequent day was tough.  Nothing was easy.
I will approach the West Coast Trail with respect and expect those ladders and tides to be a challenge.

It is not that this hike wasn't fun.  We had a blast. The scenery was spectacular and we are so proud of ourselves for completing it.  At least we were until we met our friend's son who had just finished running the Gobi Desert (250 km). Everything is relative....Coastal Trail Photos (including warmup hike photos_

Yurting on Silent Lake

Last weekend we visited Silent Lake yurts to see what that was all about.  It turned out to be a great experience.  Very social ....and warm!  of all things.  The conditions for skiing were not great due to the recent warm weather but we did ski a bit, walked the trail and snowshoed.  The scenery was spectacular, the sun shining and the food delicious.  Life is good.

@% My Family Says....

My youngest daughter has lately been following me around with a sly smile on her face while texting madly as I go about my business.  It seems she finds it amusing to post everything I say to her twitter account called #@% my mom says.  Which is followed by my other kids phoning me minutes later to either bug me about it or ask for details.  So I am retaliating by posting my own #@% my family says:

Here is what my daughter texted during her first week in a far away city where she is going to University:

"It is really hard to deal with not having any of my stuff- no furniture, books or internet. 
Now I know how difficult it was for the pilgrims when they came to America to set up their apartments...."

Here is the email I just sent my husband tonight (he is away):

Babe -

Thank you so much for calling to remind me to do poop patrol.

It was almost dark so I used a flashlight, giving a beautiful glow to 

each little piece of shit (although also causing me to miss and get my hands dirty.

So nice of you to think of the little things, even when you are away!

And his response:

"Next time you should use one of the headlamps thus keeping both hands free to patrol more effectively"

The Ultimate Canada Day Moment

Taken by Delaire

Being at the cottage on Canada Day weekend is very Canadian.  And this past weekend was spectacular. During the weekend in addition to just having a great time, I have to say I had one hour of pure Canadian bliss.  After a hot day of lazing in the sun, dinner done and the bonfire lit on the beach, I looked out on the water which was like glass with a perfectly full moon rising on one side and a red sky on the other.  I jumped on the board (a windsurfer board which I use as a stand up paddle) and headed out along the bay.  All along the shore were bonfires and laughter of the neighbors we had just met at a get together the night before. The sun went down and the moon got brighter, lighting a path on the water. You feel faster when you paddle in the dark, just as you do when you ski in the dark. There is a type of fish called Cisco that tends to feed on this weekend and it seems they just started while I was out there.  Fish were jumping everywhere. Then the fireworks started, along the shore and further away at a nearby city. I did not want to go in.  It was like I was in another universe.  Cool, very cool.

Robbie Burns (again!)

This is a bit late but I thought I'd tell you about this years' Robbie Burns Run in Burlington.
Last year I hit a bit of a wall and accosted people in the last kilometer..."Where is the finish!!!??
Where is the @#//& finish!!!!!?? (Turned out it was just around the corner-I just couldn't see it).
This year I vowed not to do that and tried to pace myself.  I did fine aerobically but my soleus muscle pulled in the last block.  My time was about 10 seconds slower than last year.  I suppose that is ok seeing as I have been training for longer distances and last year I was focusing on the 8 km. Anyhow it is really
all about the costume isn't it?  I almost won best costume by telling everyone I was Robbie Burns number one whore, but lost to the lady in the black cape and crown.  (The crown always gets them)  Anyhow here are the photos:

 

We found Snow in Gatineau!

It was dicey for a while.  We were checking the weather forecasts daily, but we found winter for New Years' in Gatineau, Quebec.  If you are a x country skier like me and my family, then when you see the pictures you know we also found heaven.  The trails are unbelievable.  Miles and miles and miles of tracked trails.  If you prefer back country, there is back country.  If it is tracked trails you like, and specifically skate skiing, there are trails that are like super highways.  In fact, in the summer, those trails are roads.  We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in Wakefield, a quirky little town on the edge of the park.
The B & B (La Grange) was perfect for a family of five.  We had a large room with a small kitchenette and access to the full kitchen and common area.  They offered Yoga but we were too tired from skiing to get our bodies up the stairs.

Jingle Bells Run 2011

Natalie-Why is her moustache perfect and ours looks like crap?
............Could she be the real Santa???? 

Yesterday was Burlington's Jingle Bell Run, apparently  the largest in Canada and that is the way it looked to me because there were red Santa suits as far as you could see on a chilly Saturday morning.  The run was a blast.  Just long enough that you felt you did something with your day and short enough that you could still get some Christmas shopping done afterwards without too much pain.  Great breakfast after at Emma's Backporch too.

                   

                            Burloak santas with a couple of extras

Kim/Arlene