Marathon all 10 Canadian provinces in 5 years — that’s the plan. Opportunity knocked. Got to tagalong Stephen & Sheila’s family gathering in Nova Scotia. They arrived the weekend prior, sight-seeing the easternmost portion of the province, Cape Breton.
I landed Thursday evening: (Air Canada) Denver to Toronto, Toronto to Halifax. What a greeting – welcomed by the entire Cavanaugh clan! Easy dinner nearby then an hour north to Wolfville. Stayed with Lynne & Andy; beautiful home, gracious people.
Early to bed, early to rise. Andy had coordinated a 15K trail run with his daughter Kyla, a 2018 Boston Marathon qualifier. Super personality – a mile downtown, past Acadia University, left at the ice rink (home of hockey’s Axemen), then the next hour entirely on trail. Rolling farmland levied from the Bay, 2 centuries ago by the island’s French Acadians.
Quick pace – this gal wasn’t even breathing hard. Ran alongside Minas Basin ’til we hit our target distance, then turned back toward town. 15K, sub-9/minute pace. Whew – welcome to Canada! GREAT 6 a.m. morning run! 🙂
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- my 4th Canadian province
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- trail run along farmland dredged from the Bay, 2 centuries ago by the island’s French Acadians
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- MATCHING uniforms 🙂
Shower, 2 packets of instant oatmeal – back to adventuring. Hiking the outer tip past Scots Bay, to Cape Split on the Bay of Fundy. 4 miles out-n-back. Lynne’s sister Jade volunteered today’s hike. Cool misty morning, had the trail almost entirely to ourselves. Green, leafy trees completely canopied our trek. Few ups-n-downs, steady even trail, near PERFECT conditions – (skill level) overrated as moderate…absolutely stunning views. Landscape reminiscent of ‘Last of the Mohicans’, similar to our East Coast Alleghenies.
Hike end: tip of the island, Cape Split – completely obscured by dense fog. ARGH! Sea gull cries pierced the all consuming cloud, their bodies darting in & out as they plunged off nearby cliffs, riding the Bay’s blustery current.
Backpack lunch, then the skies opened. 20 minutes of sunshine. What once was shrouded by thick clinging fog, now exposed multi-coloured rock, high canyon walls & a shark-fin island – Cape Split – pounded by ocean waves in the Bay of Fundy. WOW, WOW, WOW!
Drove home via Scots Bay. Stopped at the [Blomidon] Look Off, soaked in a scenic/panoramic view of Annapolis Valley. “On a clear day you can see five counties.” Fail – Kings County, the only one [of 5] I can remember (sorry Jade).
Sandwich & an hour nap, more than enough. Attending my first Cèilidh tonite!
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- ‘Last of the Mohicans’ reminiscent, like our Alleghenies
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- thanks Jade — BEAUTIFUL hike!
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- LONG LONG way down!
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- sea gull cries pierced the all consuming cloud
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- eerie, yet MAGICAL
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- SUNSHINE!
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- jutting UP from the Bay of Fundy
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- FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- 4 mile out-n-back
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- scenic/panoramic view of Annapolis Valley
Cape Split, NS
Dropped Ash & Tom at DIA, their next stop: Reykjavik, Iceland. [after work] returned to pick up Marty, my first (& only) grandpup. Year-half living with Ro, knew this 2-week reunion would be appreciated by both. BROs reunited!
Spoiled? Well…maybe a little. Pup-Peroni snacks, hot dogs, fried eggs each morning. Eggs are good for their coat, right? 🙂
Short work week, family & friends now gone, weekend plans? A June SNOW hike…of course. Travelled north to Brainard Lake, short 45 minutes away. Generally roads open Memorial Day weekend. No such luck this year.
Originally had hoped to hike Lake Isabelle. 2 mile jaunt to Brainard, beautiful sunshiny skies. Lotta hikers. Brainard still half-frozen. Kicked back & people watched. BIG smiles from BOTH pups. Ro loves the snow, Marty loves to hike.
Circled ‘round Brainard. Met by a wall of snow. No Isabelle in today’s hike forecast.
Home returned via Nederland. In-town cell reception, received another batch of texts from Iceland. Wouldn’t trade our Colorado snow hike…but this particular weekend, think I got aced by Daughter. Volcanic hot springs, Icelandic ponies, oceanside boulder hike, spelunking & whale watching – that doesn’t include a 2-day jet set to London. Well done Ash. Nothing left undone.
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- BROs reunited!
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- Brainard still half-frozen, surrounded by snow
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- yes, dogs do SMILE 🙂
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- HIGH rushing water
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- roads still closed, weekend after Memorial Day
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- no Isabelle in today’s forecast
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- well-rested on Papa’s bed
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- world travelers HOME
Ash & Tom’s Icelandic Adventure
EUROVISION — my annual serial drama/talent show, limited to Europe, Israel and sometimes Australia (but no one knows why). Year over year – kinda all over the place – never know what you’re gonna see. It’s rarely ’bout the music.
With the exception of a few – Abba & Celine Dion – Eurovision winners never cross the Atlantic nor make any US impact. Rap, rock, jazz, lotta ballads, lotta Euro pop. Each country nominates an artist & supplies an original tune…Eurovision is a ‘song’ contest.
This year’s event comprised 40+ contestants, LIVE from Ukraine – home of last year’s winner, Jamala. Opening drama? Russia’s entrant, Julia Samoylova, was not allowed to enter the country. Political rift between Ukraine & Russia.
And then there were 42…
Over 4 nights watched all 42 videos, re-watched my favourites, made my selections.
Last year I favored Ukraine’s highly emotional 1944, lyrical retelling of Crimea’s ethic Tatars forced deportation. Gravitated to light & happy this season, settled on: Romania & Belarus.
Other faves: Hungary (digged the gypsy beat & mid-section rap—lyrics too political), Sweden (sexy slick production—catchy hook, but no substance), Georgia (powerful singer—too ‘American Idol’), Netherlands (the Dutch ‘Wilson Phillips’—harmonies tight, song weak) & Ireland (young kid, song grew on me—but Ireland never makes the Grand Final).
Critics favourite: Portugal. Didn’t hate it, just didn’t get it. 1950’s style ballad, fit in with Eurovision’s 60th anniversary theme.
Accurately called much of the Top 10 – but certainly didn’t nail it this year.
Neither Georgia nor Ireland made the Finals. Romania & Hungary: FUN videos, weak LIVE performances. Sweden & Belarus, the complete package…though think only I liked the folksy couple from Minsk (finished 17th).
This year’s winner: Portugal, followed by Bulgaria & Moldova.
Win some, lose some. Still stand by my pick, gonna Yodel It! all year – awaiting EUROVISION 2018, LIVE from Lisbon!
