The last day of 2009

Wow ... I can't believe it is New Years eve already.

Where did the time go from my last post about my trip to Cuba.

Life has been pretty busy. I did manage to get out boating in November. We had our annual Chillfest paddle with the N.O.P.E Crew on the Lower Madawaska River followed by a great dinner and drinks at the Wilno Tavern. The pics from that day are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622838392018/

I spent alot of time over the last few weeks trying to get my house cleaned up for Xmas dinner with my family. I missed a few spring cleanings and did not want to get yelled at by my step-mom :P

I even managed to get my Chris-Ma-boat setup for the tree.



The rest of the pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/4203957661/in/set-72157623046239868/

Dinner went off without a hitch. It was me, dad and step-mom, sis and bro-inlaw, plus my kids. Not sure who it was but someone in the motely crew gave me a cold.

I am currently celebrating New Years Eve at a friends place in West Virginia. New Years Day should be interesting as they are all football freaks and I don't watch sports. It will be especially interesting as West Virginia University is playing Florida State in the Gator Bowl. Just kill me now and get it over with.

Happy drinking and be safe out there.

See you all in 2010 :D

C.U.B.A. with the Rents

I was supposed to go paddling in the USA during Gauley Season for about nine days but I ended up cutting that way back in order to go to C.U.B.A with my dad, step-mom, and a whole pile of her family.

This would be my first ever real fun in the sun vacation outside of North America. The plan was set, trip booked and paid for. This would also be the first time I have been on vacation with my dad and step-mom.

We stayed at the Melia Las Dunas. It was a very nice resort.

I won't get into too much detail about the trip but it consisted of ALOT of alcohol, beach and pool time, good food, catermaran sailboat trip, and then a day off resort to visit a local family that my aunt and uncle knew.

I kind of knew wat to expect off resort. Yes there is alot of poverty in Cuba but people seem to be happy. They do get free health care and education including university level. The number one sport there is "Hitch Hiking".

I would definitely go back.

Some of my pics are up here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622666589945/

Almost ready for winter

I have not been doing much in the way of paddling or photograpghy over the last couple weeks.

But at least I can say I have all my outdoor yard work (except for raking the leaves that are falling) done.

Work has been a total zoo lately but at least it has made time go by fast.

My next paddling trip is 14th November for a run down the Lower Mad and a night on the town in Wilno. Not sure how well I will do after not being in my boat for over two months in what will be mostly likely very cold with snow but WTF ... might as well do it.

I am off to a photography show to in Toronto today and who knows what after that.

Alot has happened since august

I kept meaning to update my blog but I was too busy paddling.

Here is the Cole's Note's version.

I managed to get a couple more paddling trips down into the USA.

I had to send my camera back in Pentax for repair. I managed to get it back just before heading down for my next USA trip.

One trip was on the 22-Aug-2009 where I headed back down to Ohiopyle, PA for the over the falls race. Basicaly it boils down to a bunch of boaters being able to run this 18 foot water fall. It is only legal to run it one day a year and that was it. I spent some time shooting pics of some of my open boat and kayak friends. The motly crew managed to get a Lower Yough Loop run in before heading off to the BBQ place for dinner.



The rest of the the pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622038649605/

Most of met up on the sunday morning for breakfast at some restaurant in WV. We were going to run the Cheat River. It was kind of on the low side which made it fun and technical. I had a total blast paddling a new river for the first time.

The pics from the Cheat River are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622175502640/

Labour Day weekend was spent paddling up on the Ottawa River. I managed to get a run in on the thursday afternoon after work. I paddled with some of the KWP Crew on the Main Channel. I managed to have a very scary ride in Kahuna at Coliseum. My boat kept disappearing as the water line was up to my arm pits. I ended up hurting my shoulder and could not paddle for the rest of the weekend.

We ended up having our King of Clubs competition.

It was a series of on river and off river antics inlcuding:

relay race
cardboard boat race
boater cross
boat toss for distance
Z-drag tow a truck up a slight hill
how many boats and people you could get on/in a car (had to be the same amount of people/boats)

I could only take photos of part of the crap show as I could not paddle that day.

They had a how many boats / people can you get into / onto a regular car ... no trucks.

21 boats and 21 people (5 in the trunk) was the winner and you had to drive it at few feet with all the stuff in / on it.



We also had a cardboard boat race through the Lorne Rapids.



The rest of the pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622276981876/

My next adventure was our annual Gull River Open Canoe Slalom Race. The attendance was lower then previous years but that did not matter as it was great to see old friends. Some of these friends you only see once a year at the race.

Here is what your typical spectators look like



My pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622311345539/

My sisters pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622449199780/

My last paddling trip to the USA for this year was for Gauley Fest in Summersville, WV.

I spent the saturday paddling the Lower Gauley with Don and Jeff Beyer. I had a couple of out of boat experiences but nothing to worry about.



Pics from that day are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622431348594/

I spent the sunday paddling the Lower Yough with Don, Jo, and jeff Beyer plus the rest of the normal motly crew of US boater I have been with like Tony, Joe, Mick, Paul, and gang. It was another beautiful day on the river. I managed to take a few sketchy runs in order to bump up my paddling skills, had a few swims, great times.



Pics are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmnypny/sets/72157622307995367/