The more, the merrier!

We officially have a couple more travel companions for Barbados! Originally I thought just Bear would be accompanying us, but Gumby shed some tears when he heard he was being left behind... and I'm a sucker for tears... so he's joining us also.

Anyhow, in 48 hours we'll all be on a plane, and I can hardly wait! Stay tuned! I'll try and post as often as I can throughout the trip.

Enjoy the next few weeks of WINTER! Ha ha!! Better you than me!

Cheers.

Buh-bye to the snow...

Six more days... and we'll be on a plane to hot sun, white sand and turquoise waters! So I thought I'd better get my snow fix while I can... heh heh... since I won't be kiting on snow for at least the next few weeks! Some friends were out at Slack Slough the other day, and I must say they provided great entertainment. These fellows are grown men... yet strap snowboards (or skiis) to their feet and hook them to a kite, and out comes the ten-year-old in all of them! They sail around for hours, laughing and high-fiving each other and egging each other on... who can go the fastest? who can jump the highest? It is an amazing activity to partake in, but it definitely is a blast to watch and to photograph as well. Many thanks to Darryl, Loren and Todd for being good sports and humoring me while I chased them around with my camera.

Cheers.

I'm An Addict

I tell you, honestly, my 'crack habit' is planning my next vacation, it really is!! When I return home from a holiday, it doesn't take long for me to start feeling jittery and anxious. Especially over the winter months, when within a few weeks or so of being back in the grind, I begin having a hard time concentrating on tasks at hand (sorry Team 2!! I think the guys I work with are used to it by now...) It is almost indescribable, the uneasy confinement that I experience. All I can say about it is that I NEED to travel, to be on a plane, or on the road, heading toward some unknown territory to explore the culture and to photograph the scene and to enjoy a variety of activities. The world is a big place and I am addicted to seeing it! That for sure is when I'm at my happiest and am most content. So, to be true to myself and to my deepest yearnings, I just finished booking flights to Barbados... departing February 1st...! I feel like such a weight has been removed from me!! Ahhhhh, how invigorating, to have a trip to look forward to!! It is only a couple of weeks long, but I know that it will be enough of a fix to calm me down and get me through until the beautiful spring season arrives. At that point, my attention is usually diverted by rock climbing and hiking. And when that thrill starts to fade, well then it will be the perfect time to plan another holiday!
Cheers.

Ice, ice, baby!

Coming back to work after having seven weeks off was a bit of an... adjustment, for lack of a better term! Especially since most of my vacation was spent in temperatures well ABOVE zero, and until yesterday, we haven't had any days even CLOSE to zero. The thermometer readout in my car goes as low as -30C and then gives a bad PV below that ("-----"). Oh my... I've just used a total work process term to describe something NOT work related!! Eeeek! 'bad PV'... d'oh... But anyway, I'd say that at least half of the mornings over the past month started out colder than -30C. Brrrrrrr. So you can imagine my delight when yesterday was forecasted to reach a high of +4C!!!!

I'm in Canmore this week and was thrilled to get outside and enjoy the weather. My good friend and I wandered the paths along the river for a few hours and then strolled up and down the slushy downtown streets. It was a treat to not be clunking around in a huge parka and boots, wrapped up like a mummy against the nasty elements. The next few days are looking to be similar in temperature and as well there may be a bit of wind. Perhaps I'll get out on Two Jack Lake or even Spray Lakes for a rip on the kite! And hopefully this 'nicer' weather means we've turned the corner on winter?!

Cheers.