I was just scrolling through another camera and came across some pictures from this past July...  Nothing too epic or anything, but funny nonetheless.

This is pretty clear - Trevor and his two, as well as Connie, Molly and I.  It'll probably be some time until we strike this pose again....

And I also came across this picture of my grandma Donna.  She is in her eighties - that is all I should write as I don't want to offend her, nor do I have her permission to indicate her actual age.  So to say she is in the 80s is probably fine.  Donna is a big fan of all her grand, and great grand children, as well as her 4 children too of course.  She lives on the other side of town from us and is in excellent form and health.

And as for other news - nothing.   Nothing really too much to mention.  Everyone is doing just fine around here.  Molly is motoring from one end of the house to the other crawling on her stomach - She is right-into everything that is within a reach or arm's length.  She experiments and enjoys all kinds of food - including the cat's if we don't put it away.  It is funny how the cat doesn't seem to like his kibbles, but Molly eats it eagerly.  Who would have guessed?

Somewhere I have a picture of me on the first day of school over the past 12 years or so.  They are all different, of course, somehow.  You know, they were once taken with 35mm film, lately they have been digital, some of them were taken in Atlanta, most now are back in Huron County, sometimes I had really long hair, and some of them with shorter hair.  Many different fashion styles and many different themes - but it all boils down to basically the same thing - Back To School....  Back To Work.

And here is another first - Molly posing with me on the first day.

I won't get too political, but it is completely wrong that back to school has started off on a bit of a sour note for tens of thousands of teachers throughout Ontario....  Disappointing in the fact that legislated contracts are being imposed by the Liberal gov't, in coalition with the PCs, on school boards and unions.  So much for negotiations I guess....  So much for the rights' of workers.....

Anyhow - My beloved Lancer's (Cross Country) were in Goderich this past weekend.  It has been 10 years since they first started coming to town for their pre-season training camp.  I was all set to get some great pictures and some cool video of this 37 year-old leading the pack, sailing through the workout - but that is not the case whatsoever.  My running skill and form has gone to hell, big-time, lately!  I have really seemed to make a (straight down) vertical drop in talent, rather then a gradual, bell-like curve decrease as would be expected.  So no, no pictures or video - but I had a great time as always with these fine young group of men and women...

I'll briefly describe my running problem as it relates to interval training and workouts:
I always remember being tired and gassed during the tail-end of a hard workout.  But, you know, I have always been able to grind it out and finish what was started....  So it has only been recently, like the last 6 months that the running has nose dove tremendously, and granted I don't have a super terrific base of fitness, but I have been running enough and it is adequate I feel.  As a result I have scaled back my expected pace and goal times in an interval, and the overall volume (mileage) I expect to run.  The long and short of it is I am barely able to run 3:25 km in an interval, nor am I able to grind it out or suck it up to keep going over 2 miles.....  It is a bit vexatious for me, honestly; as it is a great feeling - to be fit and fast and on-your-toes and all of that....  And now I am not.  I just hurt, you know, and am so physically taxed....

Anyway the girls are all great and all of that.  No problems with them as the pictures indicate.  Molly has been changing and switching into bigger clothes weekly it seems...  Just growing so quickly....  We've had her in this swinging pink vest that Adam and his wife Sunny gave her.

At The Beach

It unfortunately seems like the end of summer.  Labour Day weekend has come and gone, and it is back to school on Tuesday.  But the weather is still terrific in town, and the water still very warm.  So the 3 of us headed to the beach for an hour to wave goodbye to another great summer, and have a send-off to another school year.

It didn't take all summer, but Molly has really liked going in the water and splashing around.  It has been a gradual improvement from July.  The water really is warm.  We always seem to run into people we know too.  Can't complain too much when all of this is less then a kilometre from the door.

And how about Shelly's bikini!  I bought that for her on Friday.  She has been home sick with a bit of the flu it seems and unable to get out and enjoy the last few days.  Molly and I went to Grand Bend for a drive and I was supposed to buy myself some back-to-school clothes.  But I had Molly and I wasn't really in the mood to be trying stuff on and going into stores with her being a bit of a joker....  As I was walking to the car the last store on the strip had all kinds of licensed Sons Of Anarchy swag.  I have been holding out for a white Sons of Anarchy T-Shirt that Jax wears often on the show....  Didn't see one.  No matter.  They had however bikinis with the Sons Of Anarchy logos and such on them.

A few months ago in Toronto I bought Shelly a Sons Of Anarchy T-Shirt that is pretty cool.  It is black and has the text, "What Would Gemma Do?" on it.....  This bikini would compliment her wardrobe quite well I thought....

It was sort of funny, me being in this store with Molly buying Shelly a bikini....  The salesperson wasn't all that helpful, but I sort of described Shelly's disposition (physically) and was getting to what size should I get for her....  I thought it would be beneficial to ask the person working what size of bikini she would wear, and size up Shelly's accordingly from her measurements.  To make a long story short - I settled on a bikini, and the size, fit, colour, and everything else about it was perfect.  Unreal.  I bet that doesn't happen too often; fellers buying bikinis for their missuses and they like them and such.  I am a lucky guy I suppose.

Long Weekend

The Labour Day parade up on the square in Goderich was a big success I thought.  There were about 10 minutes worth of speeches by David Yates, Jeff Denys, and Jim Vance.  Then there were about 50 people who pulled a lap of the square representing about 10 different unions.  We collected about 3 bags of food for the food bank in town....  So all in all it was good.  Unfortunately I did not get any pictures.

Shelly had Molly dressed up in an outfit that had been Alden's - Marsha's daughter.  We got a few pictures, but there is a problem.  We have a combination of not having much skill setting up a picture, and a camera that had been around the block and isn't that great.  However - we/I shouldn't blame the equipment as much as the operator of it.  No matter.

And two years ago exactly I crossed paths with an old friend of my parents from Goderich via London via Lucknow - Her name is Janet Bargh.  It was Janet's son Gord who hosted me in Happy Valley Goose Bay on my big trip.  Anyway, the Johnston's hosted an all years Lucknow District High School Reunion at their place.  I helped bbq up some hamburgers for everyone, and Janet, who went to LDHS, was at the reunion again.  I thought Janet and I had posed together back in 2010, but I can't find the picture.  Nevertheless Molly joined us and I know I will see Janet in another two years, but maybe our paths will cross before then. 

And from two years ago - Janet's son Gord & I up in Labrador.

Go Down Swing'n

Sorry teachers, but Bill C-115 is going to pass and it doesn't look too terribly great for the labour movement and workers in all public fields...  However, thousands of teachers, children support workers, and members of various labour unions met Tuesday at Queen's Park to voice our displeasure with what the Liberal gov't and Conservatives are up to - So if you are going to go down, you might as well go with a fight.  We did.  We are.  I hope it makes a difference in the long run.

So anyway - on the same subject, kind of - labour, the Huron District Labour Council is hosting its 12th annual Labour Day Parade this Saturday at 1:30.  It starts at South Street on the Square and we are just going to parade twice around the square.  It is simply a parade to recognize all workers, from all sectors, and the hard work and collective strength they represent.  No politics at this event.  No protesting or debating.  I mean we all work.  We all contribute.  So it is a day to celebrate that.  I have a poster for the event, but it is just in .pdf file and I don't know how to get it in here...  No big deal.  1:30 on Saturday.  Hope to see many of you....

These next few pictures were taken by Sally Wright a month ago.  I can't remember where Shelly was, perhaps at a softball tournament, but Molly and I were bouncing around and in our travels we made our way out to Dungannon, which isn't too uncommon anyway.

And in other good news, Shelly indicated that she got the hints in the last post about those X-Mas gifts which would be really nice.  Shelly would want something from this store I was in in Mackinaw City:

Trip Recap

My overall stats for the trip are:

Kilometrage - 2095km (Seems like too many klicks, but no, that is correct)
Fuel - 100L  (This makes sense because I usually average 5L per 100km)
Gas - $145 (This makes sense as gas is generally $1.45 for premium)
Tolls/Ferries - $17.50
Lodging - $23 (3 free nights @ friends....)


On the final day, Friday, I drove home from Liberty Village (CNE basically in Toronto to Goderich).  I gassed up in Stratford - so I still have 10 plus litres in the tank....  I didn't have to fight traffic which was nice.  The morning started with an hour run - I ran with Kites to work right near Queen's Park, then back to his place....  I stopped at my buddies Drew's in Kitchener because I bought a gift for him on the trip, but he wasn't home.  I wasn't about to leave it in the mailbox because it is mostly illegal!  You'll have to wait Drewski to find out what it is - Know that I think it is pretty rad.

The highlight of the trip is of course getting home safe and alive!  That is first priority with any such adventure. (A tire on a transport truck blew out about 100 feet in front of me by Milton and I dodged a good deal of rubber - It was thunderously loud too - Scared the hell out of me.)  It was terrific to get home and see my two beautiful girls.  Aside from that, just being on the road and having the opportunity was the second highlight - you know, just being out there.  Whiskey Lake was awesome!  The gravel road was such a fun ride.  A lastly just seeing my friends on the road and meeting new people was also a highlight.....

My regrets are not taking more pictures or video of the Whiskey Lake road...  Not taking pictures of Kites and Kaya -  not having more pictures....   I also sort of regret the week writing of the last few postings and not being as creative on the content and write up - Oh well.  I also regret and will try not to push or rush driving on the bike.  I need to relax more and just go with the flow, instead of leading the charge of  the flow. Not a regret, but I packed too much of course - but how do you know.  I also thought about who I didn't see and wished to visit as I had this time - but it was just impossible to do everything I wanted.  So I do regret not visiting with more of my fine friends out there....

The bike was amazing!!!  It has been having this habit of spitting out the coolant from its overflow tube - which means it is working properly because that is its function, but it is sort of annoying.  I am going to buy a few things though.  A proper GPS set-up for it.  I used one that was laid flat in a tank bag - That does not work at all because of the glares and such.  I am also going to get some flip up and down highway pegs.  Oh, and a set of additional halogen fog lights that the BMW has....  But the bike is awesome - I really endorse the KTM 990.  I get so many looks and questions about it.  Gloves = I need new gloves too for riding.

Anyhow - great to be back home, like I wrote, and being with the terrific family that I have.

And hopefully Shelly reads this so she has some ideas about what to get me for Christmas.

Big Smoke

Whiskey Lake - Toronto

Kilometrage - 560km
Gas - $34
Litres - 24L
Tolls/Ferry $7.00 

I started the 50 km out of camp excited.  But I will tell you - I was not warmed up whatsoever on the bike and as a result I felt as if I wasn't driving with my "A" game - You just can't push yourself cold whether it is in sport, driving, writing, drinking, cleaning, laundry, (all of those things I regularly do) and expect to start off with any gusto.  So, I was shaky and quite nervous to tell you the truth - It was the exact opposite of driving in.  Any - I made it out without dumping, and was happy for it.

I ripped to Sudbury no problem, and started off down the highway to Parry Sound.  I had only driven about 200km or so with the gas I had, and figured I would just get some petrol outside of Canada's nickel capital when I saw a good spot.  50km went by, nothing - then another 40 or so - nothing.  Parry Sound was another 60km and I thought there would be no way I would make it there on what gas I had left.  (I don't have a fuel gauge/indicator on the bike - I just reset my tack and figure I can drive about 330 km or so on the less then 20L it holds....)  Anyway - I stopped at Grundy's Landing I think it is called....  Not a great story....  It has no significance to the trip.

I was driving pretty fast actually - I was going to be a bit tight for time to get to Front and Bay Streets in Toronto to meet up with Kites and Kaya and jump on the ferry.  And I kept looking at the time, and looking at the gas, and I thought I would get to Toronto perfectly at 300km of driving - but I thought I should get once more gas stop in so that I don't have to find it in Toronto on |Friday morning.....  I ended up stopping again past Innisfill, to refuel, and would have lots of juice in the tank.

It was hot, and of course the traffic was nasty.  From York University basically the traffic was backed up all the way to the 401, and of course it was then backed up on the the 401 - I went west, then south down the 427 to get me downtown - That was an hour - The bike was smoking hot, I was hot, I was a bit nervous too I suppose....  All of those things.  Anyway, I parked my bike where a group of 6 or 7 other motorcycles parked their rides off a walkway path.  There was a feller there getting off of work and onto his motorbike and was really interested as to where I have been and where I was going....  We made chit-chat and said he parks his bike here all of the time and has never been hassled.  That was good enough for me.

So I was waiting for Kites and within 2 minutes I spot Dennis and Janet Fairall.  We said hello and how's it going - They were off to a play, but I will see Dennis in September when he brings the Lancer Men & Women's XC teams to Goderich for their trainning camp.  I was really surprised to see them....

Anyhow - the 3 of us; Kites, Kaya, and I went over to Toronto Island because their was a 4 mile fun run...  Kites and Kaya raced, I watched and cheered.  We scooted back to the mainland and went out for some beer and wings in Liberty Village where they live.  And by then it was 10:30 or so and we were all ready for bed. 

I just think my friends Mark and Kaya are superb and they also hosted me in wonderful form - I will see them next in November at their wedding - Congrats guys.

Not one picture taken - Shame.  I know.  It happens some times.