spring on the island?

Pick the sport - CAREFULLY - and if you picked the right one for the weather it's going to be awesome. Last week I started with skate skiing Monday - poor choice as the trails were very icy and the going pretty awful. Tuesday I thought a road bike ride would be best - and low and behold - I get the little sticker that says "you got it right!"

I took my camera and spent a fair bit of time trying to figure out where on my bike to attach it since I'm not wearing a backpack. If anyone knows the right location....   I was also feeling very green, mostly due to my bright green bike and my new green sugoi jacket. The sun was really warm when I stopped, and as soon as I was moving the super cold wind was trying to cut through me - but I was perfectly dressed for once! That never happens, so it was quite memorable.

Kye bay stop - I always have to stop here and just pause...

Comox Glacier

Happy Donkeys and Horses, thinking of my mom! (it's not an insult - she has donkeys and horses...!)

Swans in the meadow

it IS spring!

Then I picked work as the ideal way to spend my day - and despite some goings on didn't get any pictures or good stories.

This weekend - we picked tele skiing today! I guess we could have picked worse - I didn't do the skate ski race because I really haven't been able to train - and in a blizzard that would have been a poor choice. Mountain biking was probably wet but okay. Tele.... wellll..... not quite sure what to think of the day. But we really wanted to learn to tele a bit before telefest, and there was no lack of snow.

A bit snowy... Mattie trying to stand on Marc's skis as often as possible. Pippa stayed in the car snuggled on a warm oatbag. 

My pretty skis!

more lovely snow

trail breaking on the island

The way up actually wasn't bad, unfortunately the fluffy snow actually weighed a ton and coming down just wasn't steep enough and I could see my ski tips when I'd hauled them out of the snow, then I'd glide a bit but despite everything they would slowly start to sink - and sink - and then I was past my knees sliding and stopping - and the slog to the next steeper section took forever, so we had to flail back to the up- trail and follow it out.

Next week is telefest at Mt Cain - maybe I'll learn to tele then? I sure could use some tips.....

Winter on the island...

It feels like spring - and I haven't added any pictures from the winter yet! And what I really REALLY should be doing is organizing Big Dog Biking accounting....  oh what fun.

So I thought I'd post some pictures from the winter instead :o)

Way WAY back in January Marc, Joan and I took our tele gear to explore Mount Becher in winter. This is the easiest summer hike, and we've all done it multiple times, but I've never gone there in winter. Thankfully the pouring rain stopped on the drive out, and the weather was foggy but nice. 

The snow was not so nice, as you can see from the icy sheen.... but it was pretty!

 

 Matilda led the way, which unfortunately meant dropping through the snowcrust and she was really tired by the end of the day. Pippa was luckier, and she could run along the top of the snow surface without ever breaking a sweat. 

A well dressed dog is a happy dog..... Pippa showing off her winter coat

Marc on the summit

Joan, Matilda, Pippa, Marc - with me stalking behind. 

A good day was had by all. Pippa and Mattie slept for the next day but looked very happy..... Our next tele destination is Arrowsmith - but since the white stuff has turned to an icy blue we've been putting it off and going skate skiing and biking instead.

Till next time, I have to stop procrastinating now!

Happy New Year Pemberton!!!

I believe this is my first blog that involves an adventure in quite a few months! Christmas was spent eating, working and moving home, and then Dec 30 we headed over to Pemberton to play in the snow with the Vancouver International Club - Irish, English, Canadians from east to west - it was bound to be a good party!
Friday Marc, Matilda, Pippa and I went to ski Callahan's skate ski trails - which are AWESOME!!!  We had SO much fun and we skied with and without dogs, and although we didn't make it onto the longer or harder trails to not wear out my knee on the first day we still had a blast.

This is Marc and Matilda, Pippa is in pursuit.  Nice form Marc!

Marc being chased again

Me, looking ?? cool

Matilda and I, Pippa is the little dot behind Mattie. It was sooo pretty! 

Working on  "forward motion" - I'm very happy - it actually looks like I'm forwards!!!! 

Happiness

That night was New Years - and we did the best we could to eat, drink and be merry. It was wonderful to see so many of our out of town friends and meet some new ones! We had a great time! 

I got "sloshed" - which actually happened when Dave's hand and my hand holding red wine collided. We had a wine explosion, covering my hand, sweater and face, his hand and face, the wall in front, the wall behind......  and then we did some quick cleaning. MANY thanks to the sober cleaners the next day that finished what we couldn't get out the night of....  

Angie suggested I do a "red wine " stain to the whole sweater, which actually sounds pretty fun. I will have to try later! 

On Jan 1st we had the good fortune of tagging along on an adventure - up Joffre shoulder with Andrew, Paul, Lina and Angie. We've never done this before, so it was definitely an adventure....

We were told the trip would be "easy" . But then I said my knee was "fine".

"Easy" meant 3 hours up steep switchbacks trying not to slide backwards or sideways into deep holes, some with a creek at the bottom. Followed by a big snowy bowl, and "dog's breakfast gully" before heading back into trees. 

"Fine" meant "I don't want to talk about it. 

I think we're even! 

There is the lovely bowl at the top, and here we stopped to remove skins on skis and close zippers tight to keep out the snow in the expected tumble-down-the-mountain.  

I "stole" some of Paul's pics, I hope he's okay with that....! Thanks Paul :o) !!! 

Me in my lovely new jacket, (happy 40th to me....) Shows up nice for search and rescue.

Don't I look confident standing at the top of the bowl? I'm actually feeling ill looking down. 

This is Andrew, showing what it should look like!

This is me - no tele-turning for me today! But since I can't bend my knee yet, I'm pretty happy with this! I'll take what I can get for now...  had to leave the dignity in the car and try to survive, even if that means I look like a 5 year old. Yes, I am being defensive, why do you ask????? 

Marc, snowy but lookin' cool...

After the super-cool bowl it was into the gully - which was surprising mostly in that it was actually possible. Sliding over huge boulders covered in powder, I kept expecting a dead end where it would be a choice of "fall into creek" or "run into tree at uncontrolled speed" - but somehow it all worked out! 

Then back to the original track through the trees, and out to eat and drink and party some more. 

Our dogs were extremely lucky that day - as they got a lovely walk with friends. Thanks again!!!

The following day my knee was toast, so off to Callahan. Luckily for us, Dave and Geraldine wanted to try skate skiing, so we jumped at the opportunity to play along. They wanted to try the biathon range, and since I've always wanted to do this I got to play too. Marc took pictures galore! 

Geraldine, with a demonic smile. What she said was "I just want to shoot something".... Check out the #11 target!

Us red skiers three, lined up concentrating very very hard...

Standing up is much harder, but I did manage to hit a couple. 

That's all!!! Thanks for watching!

practicing "not- walking"

What did I used to do? Before mountain bike racing, I used to do something, didn't I? It can't all have been housecleaning and cooking and working. The dogs are telling me I used to scratch them, pet them on their fuzzy bellies, walk them, feed them, for hours and hours ... but I think they're exaggerating. Especially about the hours and hours part.  I can walk a bit, but it really doesn't help anything heal faster.

I did used to make cool glass things, and since the shed's not too cold yet to sit there to work with glass and my schedule is pretty open these days, I had to go play again. In order to do this I had to wait until I could bend my knee enough to sit and work, so it's only been possible for the past couple of weeks. But I love colour, fire, burning myself with jumpy bits of hot glass and listening to my ipod while I watch glowing glass melt and flow.

After a few days of just making round beads to remind myself how, I started to get fancier.

Jack Russell Bill of Rights

I am a Jack Russell Terrier. You, my owner, are required to provide me with food, water and shelter.

It’s really not too much to ask, is it? And legally you have agreed to this contract by getting me in the first place. 

The fine print

1. where “food” entails top-of-the-line balanced dog food as well as table food to be shared while you are making or devouring food yourself, a steady diet of organics on the beach as well as in the woods, and the opportunity to try to ‘take down’ my own dinner. Occasional supply of garbage beside the road and cat poo from the yard. Deer poo is acceptable when seasonally available. A walk through the MacDonald’s parking lot and the park bleachers should be provided at least weekly with snacking opportunities. 
2. where “water” means a steady supply of crystal clear water in a clean bowl in the house.  Daily opportunity to drink from at least 6 different puddles or swamps but lakes may be acceptable.  Also, “water” implies access to warmer water (>15 degrees C) for swimming weekly in the summer, with easy in- and out- access from a beach and provided during or after at least 2 hours of rigourous free roaming exercise. Does not refer to rain, we don’t like it and you don’t need to make it rain for us. Please stop it. Sufficient “water” also requires you to provide a nice warm tubby after a long run in the mud, then a dry-off with a soft but firm towel prior to “food” and “shelter”. 
3. where “shelter” means a house with a couch that affords a clear view of the nearby road or other area with significantly interesting activity. The couch should have at least one soft blanket that can be dug into the appropriate shape and the house should be warm, preferably with a fireplace near said couch. Appropriate nighttime shelter implies access to your bed where I may sleep under the covers if it is colder and in the middle of the bed, not at the edge.  

Should the above conditions not be met to my satisfaction the following will be substituted:

1. “food” means your couch. With remote control and the fancy underwear accidentally lodged under the cushions. You may need to contact a veterinarian regarding the non-digestible fancy underwear. 
2. “water” implies my right to urinate on your favourite new shoes. 
3. and “shelter” means I get to hide under the bed after performing acts 1. and 2. 

Today - is a good day

My left leg is now sponsored by Dr Rocky Moise and Dr Van Sittert as well as the nursing and physio staff of St Joes....

First day that I believe the infection is actually under control since no new area hurts and my leg is no longer red and huge, now to try to get the knee to bend

one cut 9 days ago, 3 emerg visits then rescued by Dr Moise who snuck me in to Dr Van Sittert's office,  13 "visits" for 23 different antibiotic infusions over 27 cumulative hours, one surgery, one night in hospital, 2 physio appointments and counting... - probably 30 Tylenol 3's, some naproxen and ibuprofen, about 6 million ice packs, crutches, an immobilization splint, 4 wound cultures (one of which went awol thanks to emerg) and one nasty swamp monster bacteria in my knee

6 shifts off work (assuming I'm not suddenly walking tomorrow :o) but can walk next week  )
one bike course taught by Marc and Genevieve while I was in surgery instead of teaching
One missed course by Marc that he was supposed to be at instead of teaching biking and visiting me in the hospital
and I doubt I can race this fall....  despite the best of physio I can't see that being a reasonable outcome

but I have two legs, and right now that makes me very happy!
Today is definitely a good day.

momar.... and more

This blog was supposed to be about the MOMAR, and the cyclocross race the next day, but sometimes life takes you in unexpected directions.

The MOMAR was a blast. Marc, Dave, Joan and I were a team of four, and we rocked the course! Of course there was pain, and mishaps, some slow sections and some faster ones. It had rained buckets, and the downhill mountain bike sections involved "surfing" techniques as your bike slid through the thick mud trying not to hit the trees around the tight and windy trail. The running went "fine" - which means I wish I could run better but I lived through it.  I wore my brand champion bike shorts with pride, and tried to do the endorsement justice! And of course I had a sugoi merino layer on, since it's become like my second skin.

We thought we'd managed second in our category, so were pretty excited to find out we snagged FIRST! Very very cool moment.

The next day we switched bikes to race cyclocross in Cumberland, and I realized I really need more time on my cyclocross bike. The course was very fun, quite technical and generally built to suit me well with minimal uphills but lots of corners. My legs were very tired, and I was definitely lagging due to Momar pain, but was settling in nicely and starting to pick up the pace in the second lap when I double bounced myself in the BMX track - a fall, and a flat - which took me forever to change with everyone watching me fumble! Back on the bike, not that there's a chance I can catch anyone now!

After the race I tried to clean my leg which I had injured in the fall, but there wasn't really anywhere to do that properly so I left it until I came home. Rinsing off the mud I realized it needed proper cleaning and some antibiotics. Off to the hospital I went, for the first of what has now been many visits.

Unfortunately the doctor had a different opinion of treating mud filled wounds than I do, and talked me into stitching it, and no antibiotics because he felt he'd cleaned it well enough. The next morning I couldn't walk or bend my knee without extreme pain, so back I went. I was told it was all fine, it hurt because I banged it. "No" I said, "there's something wrong!" "No" the doctor said, "Of course it hurts, you fell on it".

This is Friday. I still can't bend my knee. The infection has spread around my knee and to my ankle. I'm worried my patellar tendon is getting munched by the bacteria, because that's the most painful spot. I have two trips daily to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Tomorrow is decision day whether to surgically clean it or continue antibiotics. Tomorrow is also the day we have a fully booked mountain bike instruction course to teach through our fledgling company.

What a week it's been! Far from worrying about getting a cold and not being able to race cyclocross through the fall, now I just want to keep my leg.

And we have a pact. You can't tell my mom. She thinks I'm at work and all is well.