Peter's Journal

Boondocking vs Campgrounds

2009-07-17T11:39:00.001-02:30

Boondocking vs Campgrounds: This is a copy of the email I sent to the Central Newfoundland Morning Show on CBC Radio. They had done an interview with someone wanting to ban RVs from mall parking lots.

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I only caught the tail end of the conversation about campers overnighting on mall parking lots, so I may have missed something (I'll DL the podcast and listen to all of it), however, I felt another view was in order.

We are doing the "vacation at home" thing, and have had to change our plans three times this summer because the various campgrounds we wanted to stay in were full. We had the options of trying elsewhere, or staying home, but what is a visitor from out of province to do when the closest park is booked up?

Getting to this island is expensive, fuel prices are expensive, and staying in a campground every night is expensive. Having the option to boondock a few nights a week may make the difference between a tourist being able to come here or not. Also, having these people in a town generally means they will be spending money there. It may not the the local campground, but they need fuel and food, and may take in some of the culturial offerings and engage in other activities available to tourists.

The few campgrounds I've stayed in since buying our little travel trailer last fall have been far removed from what I consider camping. Sites are close to each other, and you have almost no privacy, or experience of nature. You might as well be on a mall parking lot. If you take this even further, eventually canoeist and kayakers will be banned from setting up a tent on a shoreline close to a community. At least RVers eventually use are dumping station, what are those tenters doing with their waste? Ban them all! :-)

Here are a few links on the subject:

"While RV parks are the best accommodations for RVers, sometimes commercial parks are full, or perhaps the RVer simply cannot find a local park, especially if it is late in the evening. Other issues come into play as well. For instance, how tired is the RV driver? Were it not for easily accessible public parking lots and other similar locations that offer a resting place to RVers, you would see an increased accident rate. Far too often, RVers will drive too long, too late, or continue searching for an RV park way past their safety and comfort zone. Knowing that they are welcome to pull into a parking lot and get a few hours of rest anytime of the day or night is an enormous safety net for the traveler."
http://ping.fm/UfV4i

"Score a victory for RVers in their battle against the state of Maine. In a period of less than a week, the state legislature introduced a bill to ban overnight stays in RVs in any public parking lot in the state and then quickly killed the idea."
http://ping.fm/sl3k7

"I say so called because it sure doesn't look like a "Park" to me! Much more like a parking lot! Why? When you have a rig with all the amenities of home, that you can take darn near anywhere, why drive from your crowded city streets back home, only to park in a crowded "parking lot!""
http://ping.fm/7WTZH

"Defined: What is boondocking? (Free Camping)"
http://ping.fm/xCRxw

(Original Blog Post: http://haliburton.homelinux.net/strofficeview/?p=87)

100PUC W4/D2/C1 and Winter Activities

2009-02-12T19:47:00.001-03:30

100PUC W4/D2/C1 and Winter Activities: I put off doing push ups for a day to allow my neck to heal a bit more, and today I felt it was good enough to try day 2 of week 4. It took everything I had in me, but I was able to once more complete the minimums, for 72 in total. I have a feeling I'll be repeating week 4.

This morning I went for a ride on my father-in-law's snowmobile. I usually get out on it once or twice a winter. Today I wanted to scout out some of the trails to see which were suitable for skate skiing. I took the rail bed up to Lewisporte Junction and back. From the industrial park I cut across to the bogs and made my way up to Scissors Pond and then into Airways Pond, before returning home for lunch.

After the meal had some time to settle, I grabbed my skate skis and the dog, jumped aboard the truck, and drove up to the end of town. The route I chose is the 3km one I use in the summer for sprinting. It was the smoothest, and the flattest, for my learning how to skate on snow.

For the past 4 years I have been using a cheap pair of non-wax/fish scale, traditional style skis. I bought them to compete in the first winter Raid Avalon adventure race. It took me a while to get used to having these long sticks on my feet, and I fell down often. I do not fall anymore, and take them all over the place, treating them much like snowshoes. They are, however,very slow, and showing their age.

Last spring, just before the final flake of snow melted, I bought a nice skate ski package from The Outfitters in St. John's. Being end of season, I saved hundreds of dollars. Being the end of the season, I was only able to use them once, briefly, on some slush before putting them away.

This winter I have been impatiently waiting for snow enough to accumulate to get out and really use them. I've risked my old skis three times on exposed rocks and sticks, and rough trails, since conditions have not been suitable for skate skiing until now, and this is still far from ideal.

Today I managed to get in a bit of training and muscle adapting to this new style, but I had to revert back to the old diagonal motions often. It was probably 30% skate and 70% traditional. Lifting the ski after pushing, and keeping it from digging into the loose snow was a challenge. I could only get in a couple dozen strides before pulling the skis back together and shuffling for a bit to catch my breath, and let the muscles relax from the new efforts.

I was surprised how well I was able to diagonal ski on these all glide skis. There are no fish scales or kick wax to push against, yet I could move as fast, if not faster than with my old skis. My nice new poles with the comfy hand straps had a lot to do with this. This gave my arms more of a workout too. Going down the slight grade on the way back, I was able to just glide and double pole for a while at a fun speed.

While not yet able to skate ski any real distance, and not at all graceful, it will come in time. There are still a few weeks of winter remaining, and each outing will bring improvement. This winter should allow me to build a good base for next winter, and I have yet to fall down with the new skis.

(Original Blog Post: -*http://haliburton.homelinux.net/strofficeview/?p=82)

Lightweight Linux

2009-02-11T11:52:00.001-03:30

Lightweight Linux: The computer I am using for my web server is an old Compaq DeskPro 4000 I bought second-hand many years ago. It has an Intel Pentium II 233MMX CPU, 256MB RAM, and a 13GB HDD. It is running the standard LAMP: Debian Etch GNU/Linux, Apache2, MySQL, and PHP.

It came off server duties for a little while while I tried to make it a desktop system for general family and guest use, but even with XFCE or Fluxbox I was not happy with the speed. As a web server it is also slow, but I can live with it.

For a while it was command line only, but I got tired of using wget to download CMS updates and so on. I'd have to use another computer to edit the HTML files, or suffer through Nano. Yesterday I decided to put Xwindow on it, and go with the Fluxbox window manager. This combination should not slow down the system too much, and I only have to start X when I need it.

On the command line I used:

File Manager: Midnight Commander (MC)

Email: Mutt

IRC: irssi (usually through Screen)

Text Editor: Nano

Web Browser: Lynx

Package Installer: Apt-Get (sometimes Aptitude)

I will continue to use these applications, but now with the GUI installed, I wanted some lightweight graphical programs too. They have to take up very little HDD space, and not have too much overhead with running so as to slow down the serving of web pages too much.

Here is what I have decided to start with:

File Manager: ROX-filer

Text Editor: NEdit

HTML Editor: Geany

Web Browser: Dillo

Audio: XMMS

Image Viewers: feh and GQview

Those were installed today, and will be tried out over the next little while. If anyone has a suggestion for another I should look at, leave a comment.

(Original Blog Post: http://haliburton.homelinux.net/strofficeview/?p=74)

2009-02-06T10:30:00.001-03:30

Thinking I may go out for a ski this morning. I wonder what the weather and snow conditions are like now for it?

2009-02-05T18:39:00.005-03:30

My Push Ups Logger: If you want to follow my progress with the 100 Push Ups Challenge, I'll be logging it on this website: PushUps Logger as JPHaliburton. Have you started ye... http://s3nt.com/cigd

2009-02-05T18:39:00.003-03:30

If you want to follow my progress with the 100 Push Ups Challenge, I'll be logging it on this website: PushUps Log... http://s3nt.com/cigd

My Push Ups Logger

2009-02-05T18:39:00.001-03:30

My Push Ups Logger: If you want to follow my progress with the 100 Push Ups Challenge, I'll be logging it on this website: PushUps Logger as JPHaliburton. Have you started yet?

Blogged with the Flock Browser

(Original Blog Post: http://haliburton.homelinux.net/strofficeview/?p=66)

PingPressFM Test

2009-02-05T10:22:00.005-03:30

(My Original Blog Post: http://haliburton.homelinux.net/strofficeview/?p=63)
This is a test of the PingPressFM plug-in for WordPress to see if it will have Ping.fm update all the social networks.

2009-02-05T10:22:00.003-03:30

[Blog] PingPressFM Test: This is a test of the PingPressFM plug-in for WordPress to see if it will have Ping.fm update all the social networks. http://s3nt.com/cigd

2009-02-05T10:22:00.001-03:30

[Blog] PingPressFM Test: This is a test of the PingPressFM plug-in for WordPress to see if it will have Ping.fm up... http://s3nt.com/cigd

Starting to do 100 Push Ups

2009-02-05T10:01:00.001-03:30

(My Original Blog Post: http://haliburton.homelinux.net/strofficeview/?p=58)
For my initial test on Tuesday I managed to do 30 push ups, so I was bumped up to week 3 of the program. On Wednesday I decided to start, and since it was the middle of the week I went with day 2. Not wanting to overdo it at the start, however, I chose column 1. (W3/D2/C1)

This consisted of sets 10/12/8/8 and my count at the end was 18 for a total of 56 push ups. A good start.

Friday or Saturday I will attempt W3/D3/C2.

2009-02-04T16:31:00.001-03:30

Fixing up my blog site. http://ping.fm/8UP30

2009-02-04T15:12:00.001-03:30

Watching a recording of Daily Breakfast on Ustream. http://ping.fm/0aBOj

Last Bicycle Ride of the Year - Maybe!

2004-11-14T21:30:00.000-03:30

I pulled my bicycle out of the shed this afternoon to go for what might be the last ride of 2004. The temperature was slightly above freezing, and winds were very light from the NE. It had been maybe two weeks since I was last out, and that was on the railbed up to Lewiporte Junction and back. Those gentler climbs are better for me with my asthma than what you face on the roads, especially when it is cooler. I like heading into any wind on the way out so that it is at my back on the return trip. That is why I chose to head towards Little Burnt Bay.

I had dressed in similar clothing to what I would wear cross-country skiing. It is always a challenge deciding what to put on when faced with a high output activity requiring nothing too bulky, while keeping warm. By the time I got to Byron's house I was already cold and tired, so I stopped in for a quick visit. The hot coffee was just what I needed. Before leaving I switched from fingerless sailing gloves to cotton glove. A hat was in my pocket, just in case.

The bike, a Schwinn Santa Monica comfort style, needs to be tuned up again. The back brakes barely slow me down, and the shifters are not changing gears properly. It could use some oil and tightening here and there as well. Lots of things I could do myself, if I only had a place to work. I suppose I'll get a shed/garage someday. For an inexpensive bicycle (under $300), it has served me well though. It has been used for 5 adventure races so far, and all the training and recreational trips in between over the past 15 or so months I've had it.

I try to keep my speed above 15kph, but was barely able to stay above 10 going up the hill past the mussel bed turn. That's the steepest part of this road, and I'm happy to always make it to the top without having to get off and walk. While going through Embree the chimney smoke from all the wood furnace fires was almost enough to choke me. There wasn't enough wind to make a difference as it hung close to the ground. At times I had to hold my breath until I made it through a particularly bad spot.

It didn't look like I would make it all the way to Little Burnt Bay. I didn't want to overdo it, and had planned to be home by 4:00 anyway. The evenings get dark rather early, and will continue to get shorter for another 5 weeks. Since Colin lived at the end of Embree, I thought I would go that far and visit with him, but seeing his car at the church, I decided to carry on to Foxes Dock, the place from which we launched many a kayaking trip over the past season. I paused their briefly to look out over the water and take a few sips of Gatorade.

Riding home was slightly warmer with the hills not so steep. I finished the little over 26km in 1 hour and 18 minutes (20kph average), and put the bike back in the shed until the next opportunity. Monday we are expecting up to 10cm of snow.

Raid Avalon 2004-D

2004-09-06T15:47:00.000-02:30

Once more I participated in the Raid Avalon adventure race. I was one of a team of four this time around, so I didn't have to race solo like in two previous competitions.

HMS Calypso/Briton

2004-07-04T10:52:00.000-02:30

One of the places I like to kayak to is Job's Cove in Embree where the remains of an old ship rest. Originally known as Calypso, it was renamed to Briton.

HMS Briton

HMS Calypso under full sail.

All that is left of this vessel now is a rusted hulk.

Choosing a Sea Kayak

2004-06-28T13:19:00.000-02:30

I have been sea kayaking for a couple years, and over that time I've developed some opinions about what I would like to have in a new one. My current kayak is a Wilderness Systems Cape Horn 15 that I am at least the third owner of. It is a good boat, but doesn't quite fit my ideal. The one I had previously, a Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 was much closer, and sets the standard by which I'll judge all.

All sea kayaks are good boats. You have to find one built in a style you like, feels good in the conditions you will be paddling in, and fits you.

The number one priority is an adjustable skeg. The Cape Horn has a rudder, and I have yet to put it in the water. A skeg works as well with fewer parts and a cleaner looking boat. The only disadvantage is storage room taken up by the trunk in the aft compartment.

It should have recessed deck fittings, 3 bulkheads, day hatch and good size bow and stern hatches, perimeter deck lines, lots of bungie cords, at least 16' long, under 24" wide, good initial stability, great secondary stability, and a good physical fit.

Besides another Tempest 170, my list of potential boats includes:
Current Designs Sirocco

P&H Capella 166 RM

Necky Chatham 16

Raid Avalon 3

2004-06-21T10:00:00.000-02:30

On June 19 and 20 I finished my third Raid Avalon adventure race. For my complete race report visit http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/haliburton/adventures/ra2004b.html.

Agony of de Feet

2004-06-14T22:30:00.000-02:30

Finding a well-fitting pair of shoes is always a problem for me. Being only 5'7" is one thing, but having only size 8 feet because if it is a nuisance. Sometimes, depending on the make, I may need a 7.5 or even a 7. Even with different shoes from the same manufacturer the size can vary. It can get very frustrating. I got lucky with the trail runners I bought on sale at Canadian Tire about at year ago. They fit, and were just what I needed to do my first Raid Avalon, even before I'd heard of it. They were too worn for this summer though, and the search was on again.

Trail runners didn't seem to be very popular in any of the stores, so this made the task even more difficult. After about a half-dozen stores I found something suitable, but not exactly what I was looking for, and at the top of my budget. There was only a week before the race, and I needed something ASAP to at least get in a bit of training, so the Nike TR9000's would have to do.

The next day I decided to go for a little 4 hour stroll over the railbed to break them in. I'd alternate between walking and running up towards the junction for 2 hours and then make my way back. Well, by the time I'd gone 1.5 hours I realized I'd gone 30 minutes too far. The shoes I went to break in were breaking up my feet. The return trip was a bit slower, so I was gone 3.5 hours in total by the time I struggled into the house. Everything hurt from the waste down.

In February I had walked for about 6 hours in heavy, uncomfortable winter boots, so my current state surprised me. It put doubts in my mind about being able to do the race at all if this was the shape I was in. This is a day later and things have improved a great deal. I went kayaking today to give the feet a break. Tuesday the most I will do with them is bicycle, but come Wednesday they will need to be ready for a little more training. The race starts on Saturday morning.

CRCA Level 1 Course

2004-06-06T23:30:00.000-02:30

Modern sea kayaks are based on water craft that evolved in the north over thousands of years. While they come in several varieties, one built for touring can generally handle some fairly rough water. The weak point is usually the paddler. This is why is it a very good idea to take a kayaking course. In Canada, the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association (CRCA) has a tiered system rangeing from Flatwater to Level 4. This weekend I became Level 1 certified by the Newfoundland Kayak Company.

Friday evening I arrived at the Aquarena in St. John's. I was a few minutes late because I was over an hour late leaving Lewisporte. It seems like there are always things that come up to delay me when I have to travel anywhere. This meant I didn't have time to stop along the way, do the shopping I needed to do, or get more than a quick bite for supper.

Ian met me at the door. I knew him from when he led our group at the kayaking retreat a couple weeks previous. The class was forced to relocate, so he guided me through some twists and turns and eventually to where my 13 other classmate were. Justin had already gone over some things, and people were introducing themselves. I just got the tail end, so names are still fuzzy.

Following some general instruction on kayaking safety, coastal navigation, and so on, it was time to get changed and hit the pool. Once on the water, it looked like just about everyone else was as apprehensive about inverting their kayak as I was. We had to force the kayak upside down, pound on the hull 3 times to attract attention, wave our arms back and forth as long as we could, grab the pull strap on the spray skirt to release it, and then tumble foreward out of the kayak and come to the surface still holding the paddle and the kayak - no problem.

Actually, it wasn't that bad. I watched the instructors do it, and some of the other students, to program the moves into my brain. I took some deep breaths and threw myself to one side to force a normally stable kayak to roll over. I did each of the steps, and the next thing I knew my head was out of the water with kayak and paddle close at hand. Nothing to be scared of at all. For the rest of the night we performed various rescues as victim and saviour. At about 11:30 I was loading my kayak back on the car and heading to my brother-in-law's place for a few hours of sleep.

On a cool, windy, and rainy Saturday morning we met at Long Pond just north of the university. Here were were going to learn boat control. We paddled forward, stopped, paddled backwards, and then sideways. Next we turned and pivoted. In the afternoon we covered bracing - the art of righting yourself before you tip over. Some people didn't quite get the hang of it until they did go completely over. That gave us opportunities to practice our resuces again. During the day we did some navigaton and planned our trip for Sunday, so the night session was cancelled. (I'm sure it had nothing to do with the big hockey game on that night...)

Sunday morning we all gathered at the Village Mall parking lot with plans to get underway for Cape Broyle by 0800. That meant another night with not enough sleep, but we needed an early start, if people like me could get away before supper. So, a convoy of kayak topped vehicles set forth down Highway 10. We stopped at a convenience store to grab some extra grub and change into our paddling gear, and then headed for the local beach to load up and do some paddling.

2004 Kayakers' Retreat Weekend Report

2004-05-24T23:15:00.000-02:30

I checked in and confirmed my attendance on Friday evening before going to find a place to stay. Wound up at White Sails Cabins in Eastport. It was close to 20 minutes drive from the center of activity, but much cheaper.

0845 Saturday morning we gathered at Pinetree Lodge and got the lowdown on the day's events. It was about 1100 before we got on the water, launching from a beach at Burnside. There were close to 50 kayaks travelling from there to the place we stopped for lunch. At that time we split up, with the "advanced" paddlers heading out first to their more distant destination, and the remaining "intermediate" kayakers breaking into two groups.

John Knight's bunch took the counter-clockwise direction around the islands, and we went clockwise under the leadership of Ian Fong. Our heading was more protected from the wind, which was higher and from a different direction than forecasted, so we only had a couple rough passages. We stayed on the sheltered sides and returned the same route we had travelled out. The other groups experienced a bit tougher time of it. Around 1800, people began landing back at Burnside, and I was one of the first half dozen in. I was surprised by my speed compared to most others all day, especially since I have a relatively short, wide and heavy, and thus slow, kayak. Now I need some skills to go with that.

Saturday night we had a social at Pinetree Lodge. There were kayaking videos and photographs on a screen, plus some live entertainment by a paddling guitar player of great talent, Eric West. The bar was open, and snacks filled the tables, but many people, including us, were heading to bed by 2230.

I arrived at the Sunday morning meeting only to be told that winds were going to be too high, and the official paddle was cancelled. At this point, smaller groups of people got together and did their own thing. Not knowing many there, or the area, I hung out until I heard that St. Chad's was the place to go. This was close to where we were were staying, so I went back to the cabin to let Roxanne know what was up, and changed into my wetsuit. I managed to find the beach, with 5 kayaks already in the water, and 4 more arriving while I was setting up.

This whole section of coast was well protected from the winds by the high hills, and there were no significant waves until a couple hundered meters out. This gave us lots of room to play. There were several NDKs, two wooden kayaks, and one Sea Knife, with plastics being in the minority. During lunch, both of the women practiced rolling, which they made look very easy in the NDKs. While paddlers came and went, I stayed and practiced in the shallow waters for over 4 hours.

Sunday night we gathered for the big meal, door prize draws, and presentions. Gift certificates from The Outfitters and MEC were what I most wanted, but alas, my number was not drawn. Following the turkey dinner, the tables were removed and Ruth Gordon, of the Canadian Freestyle Kayak team, showed photos and gave a talk about some of the interesting places they have visited in the world. She and fellow teammate, Tyler Curtis, received the honor of being screeched in as well.

Monday morning started with packing and loading up the car. This took longer than I hoped, and it was after 0930 by the time I arrived at breakfast. The KNL executive were put to work cooking up a fine meal of pancakes, and other goodies for the hungry paddlers. This was the best social time of the weekend, and I got to talk to a few people I had only met in passing previously. Once again I passed up a chance to buy an autographed copy of Ken Campbell's book, Around The Rock.

At 1030 Ruth and Tyler put on a short demonstration of freestyle whitewater kayaking skills at The Ruins in Glovertown. This was very interesting, but I think I will stick with sea kayaking for a while yet. By 1130 we were heading back home having experienced a full and interesting few days, and hopefully, having started some new friendships.

Let the Kayaking Begin

2004-05-01T23:00:00.000-02:30

May 1 marks my first kayaking trip of the season. Randolph came from Fogo for the weekend and we paddled from Lewisporte to Jobs Cove to see the remains of the HMS Briton (Calypso). On the way there we passed over the mussel bed, so a shopping bag was filled for a snack that evening. Winds were light and out of the NE. An excellent first trip.

Changing of the Seasons

2004-04-11T14:05:00.000-02:30

The time has come to put away the skis and get out the bicycle. Well, I did have the bike out in February for the Raid Avalon, but that just left it dirty and rusty. It is in the process of being cleaned and oiled, and may get out for a test drive today - if the wind drops out.

Final Ski

2004-04-02T21:00:00.000-03:30

Since I figured this would be my last chance to get out skiing before the snow disappeared (a couple days of rain in the forecast), I decided to make it a good one. The dog and I skied all the way to the end of Scissors Pond, a distance of about 7km each way. There were a number of snowmobiles, but most past at some distance. We past a hole in the snow that looked like it had been made by a beaver. On the way back I went exploring and gathering GPS trails to plot on the mapping software. I now have a fairly large network of trails to use next winter, and a few places yet to explore

Moose on the Loose

2004-03-29T22:18:00.000-03:30

While I was out skiing this afternoon I saw a moose on the trail. This was the first time in several years I'd run across anything larger than a mink while outside doing anything. I took a couple pictures, but I wouldn't get close enough for them to turn out. I'd just come out on a large open bog and had no protection if it decided to charge, so I kept my distance.

Time is Short, but the Snow Still Deep

2004-03-24T21:23:00.000-03:30

In many places in Canada they have long lost the snow they had this winter, but the way we got dumped on it might be July before the last of it is gone. Well, maybe the end of April anyway. There seems to be over a meter remaining in most place as we near the end of the first week of spring. This is not a terrible thing though, it means that I can continue to XC ski for a bit longer.

Today it was so warm (0° C) and sunny that it would be a shame to waste it doing anything else. I strapped on my day pack, with snowshoes attached just in case, and headed out. It was around 1330 and I had about an hour before the kids got out of school and the number of snowmobiles on the go took a big jump, so I took to the railbed with is groomed for them first.

Not knowing how many days like this I'd get, I decided to take some detours and try some new areas. The first deviation was to jump over to the pole line instead of going down to the railbed. There appeared to be only the one snowmobile track here, and it was hard and full of alders, so I put my so-called touring skis to the test and tried the untouched snow. I was surprised at how well I was able to travel on top of it. There was only a slight depression in the surfaces behind me. This was fun for a while, but soon the trees became too thick, and I followed the snowmobile track back to the railbed.

Things were normal here as I headed up to the bog just before reaching the industrial park. I continued to go over the less travelled areas until reaching the point where I usually head back to the pond. Instead, I turned left and continued over the bog to a rock where I had stopped for a rest the previous winter while out snowshowing with Parker. Here I removed my skis and pack, and rested a few minutes while taking a few sips of Gateraide.

I decided to keep going this direction and play things by ear. Reaching the point where the trail heads into the woods, I took a right and went over clear snow to another bog where I found a bunch of snowmobile tracks which took me back to where I branched off, and I continued on to the pond.

The pond was in terrible shape for skiing. The snowmobilers travelled over it a couple days before when it was around +7, and the slush was now refrozen into icy lumps and valleys.
The going was slow and I had to constantly make adjustment for the terrain. After a few minutes I was at the other side and in the municipal park. From here I followed the road until it hit the trail to the left which lead to an old road that used to run up behind the town. I tried to find a way to access it while on my mountain bike the previous summer, but couldn't see a good way to get on it. Things are sometimes easier in the winter.

There is a good view looking over the town and the harbour from the highest point, and just past that is the trail which leads back of the lookout and on to the pond again. There must be a half dozen trail heading off in various directions from the pond, so it is a great place to start and end ski trips. Mine ended with another rough crossing to the snowcovered parking area. There I removed my skis and walked the rest of the way home. It had been a wonderful 3.5 hours out enjoying nature.

Junction and Back

2004-03-20T17:30:00.000-03:30

Once in a while I would meet some other skiers while on the trails, and we would chat for a couple minutes. During one of those conversations I learned that others shared my goal of skiing up to the junction and back - a return trip of about 22km from the industrial park. I estimated that this could take up to 8 hours, depending on how many and how long the breaks.

Not one to just talk about things, I decided that March 20th, the first day of spring, would be a great time to do it. I let a few people know about my plans, and posted it on the ski club's website in case anyone wanted to join me, but there were no confirmations. I was on my own again. Oh well...

Originally, I planned to leave at 0900 sharp with the group, and have a lunch in the chalet at Notre Dame Park, but since it was just me there was no rush and I could travel at my own time. It was closer to 0930 by the time I finished a good breakfast and had the car loaded up - dog and all. Then it took a while to find a parking spot. With all the snow there are few places left. By 0950, however, I was on the trail.

Conditions were really good, although it was overcast all day with a light SE wind blowing. This helped to bring the snowmobiles out in force. I wouldn't doubt that 100 passed me on their way to cabins and Mt. Peyton. So much for fresh air. Regardless, I made good time and arrived at the junction shortly before noon. I skied around the loop to head back home and looked for a good place to stop for lunch.

I pulled off to the side of the trail at a cabin intersection (Farrs?), took off my pack, pulled out a cold peanut butter sandwhich and colder bottle of milk, and ate while watching the snowmobiles whiz past. 10 or 15 minutes is long enough to be still in these temperatures, so it was soon time to hit the trail again to warm up.

To train for this event I'd increased my ski excursions from 2 to 3 hours and then up to 4 hours, but that was really pushing it. I was unsure if I could go 5 or 6 hours, if that was what this trip actually took. It would have if I left from the pond like I normally do and gone all the way to the chalet, but going from the industrial park saved me about an hour. This meant I was back at the car again in around 4.5 hours. I'd achieved another goal. Been there, done that. Those other people can just keep talking.

Raid Avalon 2 Completed

2004-03-01T21:54:00.000-03:30

I made it through the second Raid Avalon adventure race. It took me about twice as long as the other teams who finished, but after nearly 10.5 hours I crossed the finish line. Much of the excess time can be blamed on equipment. I had waxless traditional skis rather than skate skis, my bike had summer road/hard trail tires rather than studded winter tires, and I had an old pair of wooden snowshoes rather than the modern type. With the right gear I could have easily trimmed at least an hour off my time, and probably 2.

Speaking of trimming, I am not in the best of shape. According to the charts, I could stand to lose 20 or 30 lbs. I don't move overly fast at the best of times, and maintaining a high rate of speed, especially in the cold of winter, is difficult with my mild asthma. Then there was the fact that I was racing alone against 2 teams of 4, 1 team of 3, and 1 other single. Anyway, I knew all this going in and hadn't expected to be anything but last. My goals were to finish, and hopefully not be more than 2 hours behind the leaders. I managed the first part.

The race itself started out with cross-country skiing, interrupted halfway through by an Australian (attached on the back) rappel down a steep slope. That was followed by a bicycle ride through slush, mud and ice covered roads. From there the route went up a long, steep hill, through the dense woods, and over bogs. The final stretch involved crossing over the frozen harbour, and then down the road to the finish line. All kinds of weather was experienced too, but the worst was the 30 to 70km NW wind which blew in my face, and impeeded progress, whenever I was away from any shelter from hills or trees.

The organizers, volunteers and other racers treated me very well, and I was congratulated on my accomplishment time and again. I don't feel, however, that I achieved any more than the others racers who took part. I was just slower, but well, I guess there is something to be said for having done it without the benefit of a full team. Perhaps I'll have one for the next race. Wanna join me?

Still on the snow.

2004-02-14T23:45:00.000-03:30

I've been working a lot the past couple weeks, so skiing is limited to the weekends, weather permitting. Today I took a new route. Half the fun is getting out in the woods and exploring. The trails are well used by snowmobiles, so I can't get into any real trouble. I also have enough gear with me to survive a couple days if I were to get lost - as outlined previously.

There is a map of the paths I've used on the Notre Dame Ski Club's website. I've been working on that for a couple weeks, and the bulk of it is completed. The map is made by capturing the plot trails from my GPSr. All the software is free and available to anyone. See the site of the links.

As well as the new route, I made my first circumnavigation of a loop I had only done in sections before. Both combined total about 9km, and I did them in a bit less than 2 hours. That means my speed and endurance has improved slightly. Last week I followed a very experienced skate skier. That was a challenge since he can travel over 3 times faster than me. Other than that time I've skied alone - with the dog. Today, however, I met another skier in the middle of the pond.

The dog, Princess, usually stays pretty close to me and comes when called. Once in a while she'll run ahead, or stop to sniff at something, or chase after a squirrel. I hold on to her when the snowmobiles pass to keep her from getting in their way. There were a lot of snowmobiles on the trails today, and one time she was too busy smelling something to come right away when I called. This caused her to hit the ski of a snowmobile which had stopped in time to avoid running her over. She limped a bit for a few minutes, but was soon running around like normal. I think the people on the snowmobile got more of a fright.

XC Skiing

2004-01-20T18:30:00.000-03:30

I've had my new skis for 5 days, and been out on them twice for a total of about 2.5 hours. They are Karhu Pioneer touring with Salomon SNS Profil auto bindings. My boots are Salomon Escape B5, and the poles are Swix ST061. It seems like a nice package, and I got it for a reasonable price from a good store.

My first hour was spent on familiar ground - the woods and bogs south of the pond at the end of my street. No groomed trails here, only the multiple tracks left by many snowmobiles. Not only did this make for a rough surface to travel over, but the machines were zipping by every few minutes and had to be avoided. I had maybe 3 minor falls on the way out, and none returning. A successful first time on skis.

Today I was a bit more ambitious. I travelled a trail I was unfamiliar with, heading west of the same pond, so I would have to practice my navigation. I also added the weight of my backpack and enough supplies to keep me alive for a day or two in an emergency. Included were a first aid kit, some power bars, map, water, cellular phone, GPSr, waterproof matches, compass, flashlight, multitool, extra clothes, flare, and a few other items. I also brought along the camera.

The terrain was similar, but fewer snowmobiles appear to travel this way, so I only had to get out of their way 3 or 4 times. I had hoped to find my way back to the route I had used the last time so that I would have a nice 5 or 6km loop to practice on. This path, however, seemed to want to keep going generally west, so I decided to turn around an go back the way I came in. The machines had mostly erased my tracks, but I didn't need a trail of bread crumbs to find my way.

I have read that beginners should get really good on the groomed trails, and take a couple lessons before considering going where I have gone, but too late now. This is how I learned everything from computers to kayaking. Besides, in about 6 weeks I could be in much worse while participating in the Raid Avalon.

Training Time

2004-01-13T00:22:00.000-03:30

There are about 6 weeks until the next Raid Avalon. This one, being a winter event, will use different equipment than the last race. I've done a little bit of snowshoeing on my father's old wood and leather pair, but yet to do any cross-country skiing. I spent some time reading up on the available gear, and getting to know a little bit about the sport. Some decisions were made on what to get and I should have the complete package by the weekend.

For the past couple months I've been doing push-ups and stretching. Recently I added sit-ups back into the mix. I want to be able to easily do 50 of each at a time by the race. Walking/running around the pond was getting a little boring, so today I went for a 90 minute hike in the woods and over the bogs. I loaded up my backpack and attached the snowshoes to it. That extra weight really makes a difference. I'm going to train with it overloaded.

I don't know for sure if I'll be able to compete in the race, but preparing for it is a good excuse to get outside and get some exercise. I don't think I have stopped eating since Thanksgiving, and have been afraid to step on the scale. If I take to the X-C skiing, and the weather cooperates, I'll be looking forward to seeing what my weight has fallen to. :)

The Changing of the Kayaks

2004-01-07T08:53:00.000-03:30

My lovely, nearly new WS Tempest 170 sea kayak is gone. Mike showed up at 7 this morning to make the exchange. The movers were packing his stuff up today for the move to BC, so he had to get it back in time to be put on the truck.

What I have now is his WS Cape Horn 15. It is a good kayak, but a big step down - in my opinion. I lose the skeg, which I really liked, and now have a rudder. It is also 1.5 feet shorter (as you can see in the picture of both taken Sept. 2003). There were a couple times out in the Tempest where I would have traded some of its high secondary stability for a bit more primary stability, and the Cape Horn has plenty of that, so it is not all bad. I might also appreciate the extra room in the cockpit.

Boxing Day

2003-12-26T10:42:00.000-03:30

It is now the day after Christmas. There were many gifts under the tree, too many really, but some very useful things among the packages. Saphyre is graduating from high school this spring, so next fall she'll be living elsewhere and in need of many housekeeping items. In one day she received enough to be able to survive by just adding food. From dishes to a microwave oven, she is not wanting for much now. Parker, as usual, needed more goalie equipment, and a new mask is what he wanted most this year. He got some tools, clothes and electronic gear too.

I gave Roxanne a nice watch, but where she hasn't had one for a few months, this one is taking some getting used to. It is a bit larger than the one she had. Hey! I just discovered, when I got the link to the picture, that the watch is now on sale. I never buy things unless that is the case, but this was the only watch I could find that I liked. We have now decided to bring it back, and put the money towards a George Foreman Grill (when it goes on sale), plus a different, less expensive watch. 'Tis the season for exchanges...

I got the one big present I was asking for - a Leatherman Super Tool 200. I actually wanted the Wave model, but this one is top-of-the-line. It will replace a rather inexpensive multi-tool I've worn out in about 2 years of use. The new one has a 25 year guarantee.

The big meals are still ongoing. I've probably put on all the weight I lost over the summer and fall. The boxes of sweets and cookies don't help either. Going to have to take advantage of the nice days and get outside for some exercise on a more regular basis. It has been warm and damp the past couple days, and just about all our snow is gone. I was looking forward to trying cross-country skiing next year, so I hope we get more soon.

Master, Limited - Almost

2003-12-18T14:58:00.000-03:30

The requirements for becoming a tour/charter boat (<60gt/around 50') captain, in Minor or Home Trade IV Waters, are as follows:

2 months (480 hours) of sea time aboard similar vessels (>5gt/8m) to which you will be working on.
Marine Emergency Duties A2 - Small Vessel Safety
Marine Basic First Aid (I took Marine Advanced First Aid)
Restricted Operator's Certificate - Maritime Commercial (I obtained an ROC-M previously)
Ship Master's Medical Examination
Transport Canada 040 Chartwork and Pilotage exam for the waters of operation
Transport Canada 061 Navigation Safety exam
Complete an oral/on-board examination

This week I completed the 3-day ROC-MC (99% final mark!), so all I have left to do is get my sea time officially signed for, and be quizzed aboard the vessel I'll be operating. The 040 exam I did was for the Minor Waters of PEI, so I'd have to do another one of those if I find a job in a different area. For example, the Bay of Exploits, where I live and do most of my boating, is classed as Home Trade IV. The cost of all this is up over $1000 so far, and currently no solid work prospects in this field. Should you know of anything, please contact me.

A Full Year of Raids

2003-12-12T23:39:00.000-03:30

Today email arrived today with dates and details for the upcoming Raid Avalons. There is a new website for the adventure races too (http://www.raidavalon.com), but it is not yet setup. As a sneek preview, here is what is planned.

2004 RAID Avalon Schedule

February 28, 2004
RAID Avalon Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Start time 8:00 am, male, female, solo, 3 person teams, 4 person teams (mix). Estimated time 5-8 hours. Distances not revealed - mt. biking, map and compass, cross country ski (Back country ski), snow shoes, rope activities, and cultural and traditional activities - $80 per person.

June 19-20, 2004
RAID Avalon, Urban adventure race St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Start time 8:00 am, male, female, 2 person teams, 4 person teams (mix). Estimated time 4-10 hours. Distances not revealed - biking, hiking/running, map and compass, canoeing /or sea kayak (to determinate), rope activities, and cultural and traditional activities. $450 per team of 4, Kayak include) or $ 300 without kayak.

July 31-August 1, 2004
RAID Avalon Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Start time 8:00 am, male, female, 2 person teams, 4 person teams (mix). Estimated time 4-10 hours. Distances not revealed - biking, hiking/running, map and compass, canoeing /or sea kayak (to determinate), rope activities, and cultural and traditional activities. $450 per team of 4, Kayak include) or $ 300 without kayak.

September 4-5, 2004
RAID Avalon Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Start time 8:00 am, male, female, 2 person teams, 4 person teams (mix). Estimated time 4-10 hours. Distances not revealed - biking, hiking/running, map and compass, canoeing /or sea kayak (to determinate), rope activities, and cultural and traditional activities. $450 per team of 4, Kayak include) or $ 300 without kayak.

Just Another B-day

2003-12-07T23:49:00.000-03:30

Well, it is December 7th, and that means it is my birthday. I'm only 1/365 of a year older than I was yesterday, so not much has changed physically. Mentally, turning 40 hasn't mattered much either. However, when I stop to think that there are very likely many more days behind than lay ahead, it can get a bit freaky. Best to have another piece of chocolate cake and change the subject...

Snow Day

2003-12-04T12:25:00.000-03:30

Last night when I went to bed there was just a light coating of snow over everything. This morning it was bad enough to close the schools. We did have some snow in early November, but that batch didn't last long since it was followed by a couple weeks of fairly warm and wet weather. It looks like we are finally getting our winter.

This is good news for all the people who enjoy this time of year. Snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and so on will soon be available to those who partake of such activities. For others, this is when they plan to be spending some time in warmer climates. I personally like the season to the point where I don't even mind spending 2 hours shovelling. It is good exercise, and get you out in the crisp, cool air.

Good-bye LOcom

2003-12-01T00:05:00.000-03:30

LewisporteOnline.com has expired. For two years I maintained a website at that URL, and for about five years previously it had been on various servers as The Lewisporte Web Mall. For most of that time it failed to pay for itself, so it was allowed to die when URL came up for renewal. HalEnt.ca still has some life left, but it is not currently directed anywhere.

This is all a part of closing Haliburton Enterprises. I put nearly 9 years into that business, and it has yet to make an annual gross profit even in the mid-three figures. I've realized that it was mostly just an expensive hobby that may have kept me from growing a good career for myself. Over the next few weeks I have to finish up all the odds and ends so that I can put this lesson behind me.

This means I am now even more actively seeking full-time employment. Prospects don't look very good here at Lewisporte, so I'm also preparing to move in the new year - should that become a requirement. Let me know if you hear of an opening for someone with experience in business, computers, land surveying, sales, handyman, marketing, shipping & receiving, design, or anything, really, I can use to get back on my feet again. There is not much I can't do at one skill level or another, and I don't mind starting near the bottom.

Let the Blogs Begin!

2003-11-24T00:20:00.000-03:30

This is the actual date I created this Blog. Here I will relay important events in my life, express comments about any subjects I wish to rant about, and generally just release a desire to express myself in writing. If you enjoy what you have read so far, then bookmark and come back again weekly to see the latest posting.

Finally, a new Computer

2003-11-21T12:15:00.000-03:30

The computer I had been using was one I bought second-hand in 1996. It was a P120 over-clocked to 133MHz and, until recently, running Windows 95. Last year I upgraded the HDD from 1.2GB to 6, but there were now problems with the modem and the CD-ROM drive on top of constant lock-ups, so one of us had to go. I won.

Today, right around lunch time, my new Dell Dimension 2400, 2.2Ghz P4 system arrived. I instantly gained at least 30 times more speed, 8 times more RAM, nearly 7 times more HDD space, Windows XP, and USB ports! I was going to buy a used computer, but for very little more I was able to get much more current technology, and my first new machine in about 16 years.

I'm not sure what I will do with the old computer, but perhaps I can use it to run Linux. That might be interesting.

Kayak for Sale ... Maybe

2003-11-09T15:00:00.000-03:30

I bought a very nice Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 kayak back in August, but I'm thinking about selling it. I am more into sailing, and would probably get more use and enjoyment from a Wayfarer 16, or similar dinghy. If you are in the market for a great sea kayak, CLICK HERE!

We had a fairly nice fall, so I was able to get out for about 20 hours in various locations with it. The picture was take of me at Norris Arm North. I also paddled around Laurenceton, Lewisporte, and Embree. I don't have a good roof rack for travelling on the highway, so my starting points were fairly close to home. There is also a fair bit more gear required to do anything more than day trips.

Mount Peyton Bike'n Hike

2003-10-04T20:00:00.000-02:30

At 0900 on October 4, 2003, the 4 members of Raid Avalon 2003's team #7, the Last-Minute Misfits, arrived at a wood's road near Glenwood to take their mountain bikes about 20km over some very rough and hilly trails to be followed by about 2 hours of hiking to make it to the top of Mount Peyton. Read the story and see the pictures here!

Raid Avalon has Misfits

2003-09-02T09:30:00.000-02:30

This past Labour Day Weekend was not one I spent relaxing or visiting or out on the water or anything else I had done before. Rather, I was participating in my first adventure race, Raid Avalon. It consisted of 2 days of sea kayaking, running, biking, hiking/treking, and rappelling. To make it even more of a challenge, I didn't meet my 3 team members until the evening prior to the race start. Read the story and see the pictures here!