New Years holiday time in West Virginia

I decided to head down and ring in the New Year with my friends in West Virginia.

I figured if I was going to freeze my butt off I might as well do it down there as there was a huge cold air mass covering eastern Canada and the USA. Go figure that it was -14C in Alabama and that friends down there were dealing with bursting pipes and other problems due to the frigid cold.

I was looking forward to using my Nexus card for the first time. Crossing the border was super quick for me as it took a whole 10 seconds versus the hour I would have ended up waiting going through the regular lineup that was 30 cars deep.

US Border Guy: question - Anything to declare.

My Answer: bottle of rum

US Border Guy: goodbye

No where you going, staying, coming back, etc.

I made the drive to WV after work on the wednesday in seven hours which included about a 30 minute stop for gas and various goodies. I had no issues with crappy weather or anything. It was smooth sailing.

I did have to work from WV on thursday ut luckily I have a job with the technology that allows me to do that. New Years eve was pretty low key with great munchies, some drinks, and a movie.

And then came New Years day. I forgot I was visiting the college football fanatics and soon found out I was going to be forced to watch three football games. But not before spending a few hours outside with a chainsaw cutting up the rest of a big tree that fell over in the fall. Ended up making a huge bonfire.

It was pretty neat to see all the deer on my buddies front grass. There were ten of them. Too bad it wasn't Bambi season.

And then came the football. My buddies son Mark was patient in explaining the rules of the game. I am pretty sure he must have thought I was a freak for not watching sports. Dinner was great which included the ham I had brought down with me plus some other goodies Pam whipped up.

Saturday basically consisted of learning how to cut mats for picture frames, make risotto, troubleshoot a busted microwave (turned out to be a bad diode) and the world of the Wii. The Wii was a blast. I am thinking I might get one later on but only after I take care of some of the Xmas bills first.

Sunday was the drive from hell. It would normally would only be a 8 hour drive back home but that would be too simple. I ended up running into a friggin snow storm complete with white outs on the I79 just north of Pittsburgh. It was alot of where did the vehicle in front of me go. Oh there it is in the ditch. I totally laughed my ass off when a Lexus SUV pulled out to pass me and ended up in the ditch about 390M down the hill. Seriously if there are no transport trucks driving in the left lane then the roads must be pretty crappy and then there was the fact that most people down there dont have winter tires.

As soon as I got onto the I90 they closed the I79 behind me. I pulled into Erie, PA for some gas and snacks from Panera bakery before continuing my journey on the I90 East bound. I was the only car on the highway going my way for about 20 km. All I could think about was is this friggin road closed and then i finally saw another car. The west bound lanes were a different story. I watched about 40 vehicles slide into the ditch. They finally closed the west bound lanes once I reached the New York state border to way past Erie.

They raised the toll fair on the I90 in NY state. It went up a whopping 15 cents. Pretty good considering you drive about 100ish km for $3.15 which would be over 20 buck in Canada for the same distance. Soon I was at the Duty Free in Buffalo and then across the border just as quick my trip down south.

My question to Canadian Border Lady: did my card scan ok

Her response: Yes have a nice day

Saved another hour as the cars were over 30 deep in the regular lanes. Soon I was at the Burlington Sky Bridge. The only problem was that it was around 4:30 and I still had an hour to drive to get home. But after checking the traffic report up in my neck of the woods I decided to stay at a co-workers place near my work as it was a total disaster zone at home.

I finally made it home safe and sound monday after work.

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.