One Year Anniversary....

Well its been a year now since we made the move to Vancouver, and pardon the predictability, but how time has flown by. So many things have happened and yet so many things remain the same. The question I get often is "Are you happy in Vancouver?" Usually asked wish a tentative look on people faces......the simple answer is yes. There are many things I miss about living in Victoria, mainly the people, but also the small town feel and nature that was always at my finger tips.

So what has happened since my reallocation to the big city? Well the very first task that was one of the best things to have happened to me was the need to downsize....going from a 2500 SQ FT house to an 800 SQ FT condo meant getting rid of a lot of stuff.....I mean a lot!

But if felt great....I am not sure completely why but it was very cleansing, almost like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Now we have a small storage locker and that's it.....there are bike rooms (thank god!) and we have an in suite pantry that I could not live without. But all in all what I see is what I have and its all I need, not once have I reflected and said we should not have gotten rid of something.....actually that's a lie, a bucket....yes something as simple as a bucket I did not keep! Of course my clothes and shoes are the hardest thing to keep in control....we have a Cystic fibrosis donation bin in the building so when too many new items make their way into my closet a bag goes into the bin....ok..maybe not the shoes ;-)

Speaking of shoes, since moving here I have amassed a collection of shoes from a local designer.....he is even in  the Shoe museum! John Fluevog, I am in love with his shoes...they are comfortable, pretty, but most of all unique. Grab a pair if you ever get a chance too!

http://www.fluevog.com/

So what have I learned about living in Vancouver for a year....? I love living in  the city, I am absolutely sure that if I had to drive and make a long commute I could not survive! We are in False Creek, close to downtown by not right in the middle of it all, so safe from riots....The heart of Yaletown is a 5 minute walk away, as is Granville island, and a 25 minute walk to work...for both Dwight and I.

This neighbourhood is great! and there is always something happening.......last weekend there was a summer solstice festival, this weekend is of course Canada Day, and Jazz Fest! Certainly a never ending list of things to do and places to go.......

A big part of my life in Victoria was triathlon, that has certainly changed. Sometimes I reflect and wish I was still that fit...but mainly I miss the friends I used to train with. Don't get me wrong, we are still keeping fit.....at least a little. In some ways I am happy to take a break from that singular focus, I have enjoyed the chance to explore different sports, without the move to Vancouver its not likely I would have started skate skiing, or started a yoga practice that I now do almost everyday. We still run (albeit not far) and I pulled by bike out last month for the first time in a year.....and rode with a sense of fun, something I had not done for sometime.

This weekend was the start of our regular trip up the Grouse Grind...a torturous 3km hike up Grouse Mountain, what a great workout! Its like continuous hill work, and the goal is always "don't stop!" It definitely feels good when you are done!

So thee main reason for the big move was for a job I had landed....well all that has changed! As of next week I am starting my career as a public servant, yes...I have landed a role with the Ministry of Finance! I am very excited, Dwight keeps telling me that I need to prepare myself to work a little slower however I don't think that will be the case. The role is with the Financial Institution Commission of BC and I am looking forward to not having to call myself a banker anymore! The one great thing about working for the government of BC is that in BC they are the largest employer....and that means that there is a ton of opportunity to move around.....maybe even to back to Victoria someday!! Check it out if you want to do some light reading......!!

http://www.fic.gov.bc.ca/

So when I reflect on the past year I think about the friends I miss in Victoria, but I also think about how wonderful the city of Vancouver is, how much I enjoy everything it has to offer.

Time's passage is one of the constants in life, it will always go on, how we spend it is what matters.........

till next time happy chatting......

What I learned in Las Vegas.....

Las Vegas is an interesting place, it is a city that really should not be there....its in the middle of the desert with the major water source coming from the dammed Colorado River, without this the city would not survive.

When we go to Utah we fly in and out or LV and spend a few days there before coming home, mostly to shop...which we did! But while I was there I was in awe of the "weirdness" of the place, yes that is the best word I could come up with!! So here is what I learned......

Smoking is STILL a nasty habit......

 

Elvis is not only still alive but he has cousins! 

You can gamble anywhere.....anytime......

Art is everywhere........even where you don't expect it...

Everything is done BIG!

REAL BIG! 

There is nothing romantic or exciting about gambling...

You can relax....a little....

and you can find normal people...sometimes..even from Germany! 

Ultimately I learned that I like Las Vegas better in the day, night time brings out the ugly side of the town.....and I can't spend more than a few days there......BUT that being said, I will go back, I will shop, I will hang out by the pool....and I will always love the desert! 

Till next time....happy chatting......

Adventures in Utah, a contrast in altitude....

Zion National Park

Those that know me know that I love to be outdoors, and there is no better place in the world to do that than right here in Utah. We are surrounded by canyons, Snow Canyon is a 5 min drive away and boasts some of the most beautiful red rock I have ever seen, about an hours drive away is Zion Canyon which is one of the oldest parks in the national park system and has towering cliffs made from Navajo sandstone that has been carved from the Virgin river over the centuries, the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon are also within reach.....so enough of the history lessons and more about being outdoors! 

Snow Canyon

Sand Dunes at Snow Canyon

Rock Climbing anyone? 

Dwight and I decided to rent a couple of road bikes and travel through Snow Canyon, since I have moved to Vancouver I have not had much saddle time and I certainly noticed my lack of bike fitness almost immediately! Still I am pretty happy with myself, I lasted 4 1/2 hours up and down some rather hilly terrain...and some not..... :-) 

The second adventure day took us to Zion - This place will take your breath away, I never get tired of coming here and experiencing all it has to offer. This time we choose a more difficult hike away from the  crowds and it proved to be perfect! Its called hidden canyon trail and round trip took about 3 hours which included a great stop at a viewpoint for lunch.  The trek up is a little bit of thigh buster and a little rough on the nerves if you are afraid of heights! I am not, Dwight on the other hand does not take well to being on a ledge where the cliff drops straight off and all you have to hold onto is a chain they have bolted to the rock! I don't think I was helping the matters much as I was doing the video recording while as I was walking along.....making him all the more nervous! But her did well, we survived and it was worth it. At the top you followed a wash through the canyon that wound its way into the rock......all I can say is wow! 

Hidden Canyon

Not so hidden canyon

Zion Hike

Waterfall in Zion 

I have put together a little video that captures some of our adventures over the past couple of days, I hope you enjoy.... 

http://youtu.be/T_tutB9V9j

We head off to Vegas next Wednesday so there is still plenty of time for more here.......we shall see what we decide to do!  

Desert Yoga......

I remember the exact moment I did my first yoga class, and why. I was home in Victoria, not working and not training, this meant that I did not get to see my friends very much because at that time they were working and they were training, which is all you can do when you are getting ready for an Ironman.  I remember talking to a friend who said - "come try this Hot Yoga class we have been going to on Monday nights, it will be great, we can catch up!"  Well, we both rushed in almost missing the class, there were a few other people there as well so we chatted briefly. Not really knowing what I had to do I followed the gang like a little puppy dog up the stairs into this room with what must have been 50 already sweaty bodies, most were laying down like they were taking a nap...I thought I could do this!

Then there was what I call the "sush" moment, of course I was there to catch up with my friends....not nap.....so we began our talking in the softest voice we could muster but I think it was my friends distinctive giggle that gave us away! We immediately got the sush from the room and the rest of the class was spent feeling like a child that was caught doing something wrong.....you know you look at each other in the mirror and try to stop yourself from breaking out into a all out laugh fest.

So although it does not sound like a good introduction into the yoga world, for me it was the perfect one. With friends, relaxed and having fun, I was hooked almost immediately. I was going to classes almost every day and loving what it was doing for my mind and my body.

These days I don't practice hot yoga, I found the time restrictions of the classroom tough to meet now that I am working again, and I also found that I wanted more variety in my yoga. I tried the DVD thing, yeah that's not for me! Also tried grabbing a magazine and following the instructions on which pose to do when, nope still not it. So without sounding like a salesman of this website I must tell you what I found and how wonderful it is, at least for me.

Its called yogadownload.com you go there and download audio classes for your iPod. What I love so much about it is the portability and the fact that I still have an instructor in my ear telling when and what to do. This way I hold the poses as long as I need to, they give awesome instruction on body placement, and if you want you can download the pose guide as well....all that for about $5 bucks!  As their mantra goes, "Take Yoga Anywhere" - And I have!

I have done yoga on the roof on the Moana Surfrider in Wakikki, on the beach in Kona, and on the lava rocks in Waikaloa. And now every day I can choose form about 15 different classes I have on my iPod, from 30 mins to 60 mins and be practicing in the beautiful desert that I love so much.

This vacation just keeps getting better and better every day.......!

Till next time, happy chatting.....

Unwinding.....

So we are finally here, the trip down was rather uneventful....plane was on time, no long line ups, found coffee and breakfast. We did our regular stop in Mesquite which is just on the boarder of Nevada and Arizona......food and wine/beer were the purpose of the stop and it still makes me chuckle to see the slot machines in the grocery store!

With our stops done we rolled into the Entrada complex around 4:00pm...perfect timing to unload the car, unpack and then unwind. The view is just as beautiful as I remember it, the red rocks and the warm air made me feel at ease instantly, well almost. As we sat in the back yard looking at this amazing view I could help but think to myself that I needed to be doing something, you know that feeling that makes you just a little anxious, the one that makes you get up and down a million times but for nothing. I was very tempted to grab my computer or my phone and loose myself in hours of mindless activities but then I thought, no...thats not what this is about. This trip is about unwinding, taking time to relax with Dwight in an environment that is beautiful.

So I went into what I call a forced detox, no not of wine, but of stress, of stuff to do, of noise and busyness..... could I do it we discussed, could I possibly sit here for a few hours with nothing but the view, the sounds of the frogs at night and Dwight? The answer was yes, and it was wonderful......so much so that I plan on spending every night like this.........

a little taste.....See if you can..?

Off for some rest.....and stuff!

Well, its finally come....my long anticipated trip back down to Utah! Yes we are heading back down to one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Not far from Las Vegas, not nothing like Las Vegas, St George Utah is home to one of the most relaxing, energizing and spiritual places on earth. It is easy to loose yourself in all that it has to offer.

Our plan, not to plan! I know, I know doesn't sound like me right....well this time we know where we are going and why we are going there. No races, no agendas, just the desert and whatever we choose to do on whatever day we choose to do it. Rock climbing, running, golfing, or just sitting and reading I am excited about each thought!

We fly into Las Vegas on Sunday and will jump in the car and head 1 1/2 hours north east to Utah, with a brief slip through Arizona. Then its 10 glorious nights at Entrada, a great townhouse on the golf course with a drop dead view. Then we head back to Las Vegas for some hard core shopping, some great eating, a show or two....but I think I will stay away from the 99 cent margarita's!

So I cant promise you outrageous adventures or even interesting ones, what I will say is that I plan to provide posts and and a few photo's while we are there and if you are remotely interested tune back in next week...or even on Sunday, you have to have something to do while on the plane!


Talk soon ........

Snow to Surf 2011 - 8 Stage relay race

Well I must admit this past weekend was a blast! We participated in the annual Snow to Surf relay race that is held in the Comox Valley on Vancouver island. Here is the link, and if you have never done this you should sign up for next year!

http://www.snowtosurf.com

HPR Team Yoko Ono made up of 9 people;   

• Dwight - Down hill skier
• Ann - Cross Country skier
• Karyn - 8km downhill run
• Rob - 8 km downhill run 
• Kelly - Mountain Bike
• Eileen - Kayaker
• Mark - Road Bike
• Laura & Rhodes Canoe

We landed in 4th place in the mixed masters category! Well done team! Everyone on the team made it happen! It cant go without mentioning that HPR had TWO teams in this race, which speaks to how much we love to race. It was so nice to have another team there.....because the race is so spread out you would have been alone in a crowd of other people you didn't know, what was really great is that each stage had another HPR'r that you could chat with while waiting for your turn to go.  Both teams did great and I think we may have even generated enough interest for a third team next year!!!! 

Every stage had a story that made it special....from the down hill ski that made you climb up a hill in your ski boots before coming down, the crazy x-cross country/downhill exchange, the down hill running that was more that a little steep....over 12% grade at times! The mountain bike started calm and easy then they hit you with a super technical section that singled out people for sure.....they kayak had a obstacle course to go through, the bike (well lets just say that mark crushed it!) and the canoe went off into a wicked head wind!

All to finish by running up the boat ramp to ring a bell to get your beer tickets!!! 

What a great time......lets do it agin next year!!! Here is a little slide show of the activities, including a few video moments during the event and of course the all important finish!!! Hope you enjoy! 

Til next time Happy chatting.......