Nancy and I arrived into Winnipeg on Thursday in order to visit Newdale in Manitoba for the towns 125th anniversary. Why visit Newdale - a town with a population of 100 people, which is located over two hours drive west of Winnipeg. Some might say that Newdale is in the middle of no-where, I wouldn't say that but no-where isn't far away. Not only were we there to be part of the celebrations, but also to see the place where Bob was born and brought up.
Newdale was originally named by Edward Cook, the area's first postmaster and it's derived from "new" meaning new district and "dale" meaning the low ground south of the little mountain (mosquito hill). The CP rail line came through in 1885 and the town moved to its present location to be near to the railway.
With Wendy and Brenda, we arrived into Newdale on Friday afternoon and checked into the only motel. Lets just say it was not the Hilton, but it was all part of the experience. We also visited a number of Bob's relatives who still live in the local area, including some of the people that attended our wedding. A highlight being a visit to a farm, meeting the livestock and the biggest tractor that I have ever seen - check out the photo. We also saw the house Bob was born in and the old Marks family farm. Friday evening events included seeing a local band and the fireworks display, which was much better than expected - although our expectations started off very low.
Saturday we enjoyed the free pancake breakfast, homecoming parade and then in the evening the dinner/dance in the local ice rink. One of major highlights for me was playing Manitoba soccer, which involved two fire engines, long fire hoses and a football. Basically I had to use the water pressure to move the football across the opposition goal line and the opposition can spray you if you step over your line. My game turned out to be a goal less draw, but it was great fun and I got soaked. The downside of the trip was the bug bites and mosquitos, at dusk I was bitten to hell - they seemed to like my fresh English blood!
Monday 26 July 2010
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Celebration of Light - More Fireworks
Since 1990, Vancouver has been home to the Celebration of Light. This is an international pyro-musical fireworks competition that has attracted the world’s leading fireworks designers and is seen as a highly prestigious event. The fireworks festival creates an exciting display where spectators enjoy the latest explosive techniques and the most innovative fireworks materials are used as different country teams compete to be crowned the winner. This was an event that we attended last year and really enjoyed, especially as it was free!
After work and a dentist appointment for me, Nancy and I wandered up to English Bay to sit on the seawall with the ocean waves lapping at our feet and the smell of hash in the wind. Tonight it was the turn of the USA team to impress and attempt to win the fireworks competition. This was no ordinary fireworks display due to the scale, number of fireworks, noise and sound track plus the huge number of onlooking boats and yachts in the Bay. Great spectacular for no cost!
After work and a dentist appointment for me, Nancy and I wandered up to English Bay to sit on the seawall with the ocean waves lapping at our feet and the smell of hash in the wind. Tonight it was the turn of the USA team to impress and attempt to win the fireworks competition. This was no ordinary fireworks display due to the scale, number of fireworks, noise and sound track plus the huge number of onlooking boats and yachts in the Bay. Great spectacular for no cost!
Monday 19 July 2010
Calgary Stampede 2010 - Less Brokeback, more Clint Eastwood
Last week, I had the opportunity to experience the Calgary Stampede for the first time, which was a fantastic experience. For those of you that are not familiar with the Stampede, it is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta. The ten-day event, which bills itself as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, attracts over one million visitors per year. It features the world's largest rodeo, a parade, midway, stage shows, concerts, agricultural competitions and chuckwagon racing.
The city of Calgary takes on a party atmosphere during Stampede; residents don Western outfits and events are held right across the city, including barbecues and pancake breakfasts. To really fit in with the locals I purchased a custom-made cowboy hat, which you can see me sporting in the photo. I got the hat from the same company that George Bush gets his cowboy hats from, and so I was in good company. That evening we went onto see the chuckwagon racing, rodeo and then the show with fireworks, acrobats, brass-band, singers and flyer motorbikes. The highlight being the chuckwagon racing, which involved wagons, four horses per wagon and a bunch of outriders, which thundered around the course at over 70 km per hour.
On the second night in Calgary, I was out on the town with my new cowboy hat and another one of my sales managers. We were an interesting sight - the British cowboy and a Chinese cowboy eating out in a sushi restaurant! You don't see that too often, even in Calgary.
The city of Calgary takes on a party atmosphere during Stampede; residents don Western outfits and events are held right across the city, including barbecues and pancake breakfasts. To really fit in with the locals I purchased a custom-made cowboy hat, which you can see me sporting in the photo. I got the hat from the same company that George Bush gets his cowboy hats from, and so I was in good company. That evening we went onto see the chuckwagon racing, rodeo and then the show with fireworks, acrobats, brass-band, singers and flyer motorbikes. The highlight being the chuckwagon racing, which involved wagons, four horses per wagon and a bunch of outriders, which thundered around the course at over 70 km per hour.
On the second night in Calgary, I was out on the town with my new cowboy hat and another one of my sales managers. We were an interesting sight - the British cowboy and a Chinese cowboy eating out in a sushi restaurant! You don't see that too often, even in Calgary.
Saturday 17 July 2010
Summerfast 2010 - Another 10K Road Race
This morning was my last official 10KM road race before we fly out to Washington DC for the official challenge race on 29th August. Based on my previous race result my goal was to have a time starting with 50 minutes, which means a race pace of 5 minute per KM. An ambitious target indeed!
The start of the race was located 500m south of Ceperley Park on the paved path, directly across from the Parks Board Office. The finish line was also in Ceperley Picnic Area at Second Beach, Stanley Park. The Summerfast 10k featured a course that was very scenic and fast as it travels around the Vancouver seawall. The race course was completely flat and after the start, the race course headed east along the south side of Lost Lagoon and over to Mile Zero. Here the runners completed a short side loop along Coal Harbour, very close to our apartment building, before heading out onto the seawall. The race course then followed the seawall in a counter clockwise direction, where unusually there was not too many people in our way.
The race went well with regards to pace and I kept a steady pace of just over 5mins per KM and the conditions were perfect with early morning sun, but not too much heat. Although the pace took it out of me going into the last KM and I was certainly puffed out crossing the finishing line.
The race went well with regards to pace and I kept a steady pace of just over 5mins per KM and the conditions were perfect with early morning sun, but not too much heat. Although the pace took it out of me going into the last KM and I was certainly puffed out crossing the finishing line.
So what was the result? Was it a personal best or did I fluff my last chance? Well, according to my Ipod the time was 51 min 3 secs. However, the verified, official race time was 51 min 7secs and so it was a personal best but not quite what I wanted to achieve.... Conclusion is more training and practice to get my time down.
Thursday 15 July 2010
A Tough Day at the Office
I received a last minute phone call on Monday afternoon, which was an invite to the Mercedes-Benz driving academy for all day Tuesday. This was an opportunity to drive a selection of Mercedes product, including the high performance AMG models like the E63 AMG (0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds).
An early start from Vancouver and a hour and half drive to Mission raceway was followed by a driver briefing and some learnings on race car driving tips, including trail braking. Then we were relased onto the track to complete lap after lap of performance driving - great fun and like I say a tough day at the office for me!
An early start from Vancouver and a hour and half drive to Mission raceway was followed by a driver briefing and some learnings on race car driving tips, including trail braking. Then we were relased onto the track to complete lap after lap of performance driving - great fun and like I say a tough day at the office for me!
Sunday 11 July 2010
Underwear Affair 10K Run
Last night was the Underwear Affair 10K run for cancer awareness and research. I raised the small sum of $325 for the cancer charity, but it was also my third opportunity for a competitive 10K run time. My goal was to break the 55 minute mark and get myself closer in time to Kris and Ross (especially with Mr P dropping out of contention for the challenge).
The event was well organised and there were loads of people in fancy dress or very little dress to raise the attention for the cause. Nancy and I are both commented on the fact there was a great deal of flesh on show and somewhat distracting.
Anyway, the race course was along the Vancouver seawall and so was flat, except for one incline at the 8.5K mark which led onto and up the Burrard Bridge. It was a warm evening and I needed a couple of water stops to keep going, but in this race I wasn't held up by other runners. My time, according to my Ipod was 51 minutes and 16 seconds, subject to confirmation from the official timekeeping from the organisers. This is easily my personal best time for 10K and beat my last time by over five minutes. As you can imagine I am well chuffed!
I have one more competitive 10K race planned for next weekend on 17th July before we fly out to Washington for the official challenge. So the aim now is to get to 50 minutes, which will be going some to keep a pace of 5min per KM.
ADDENDUM - Monday 12th July
My official race time has now appeared on the website and is 51mins 30 seconds.
The event was well organised and there were loads of people in fancy dress or very little dress to raise the attention for the cause. Nancy and I are both commented on the fact there was a great deal of flesh on show and somewhat distracting.
Anyway, the race course was along the Vancouver seawall and so was flat, except for one incline at the 8.5K mark which led onto and up the Burrard Bridge. It was a warm evening and I needed a couple of water stops to keep going, but in this race I wasn't held up by other runners. My time, according to my Ipod was 51 minutes and 16 seconds, subject to confirmation from the official timekeeping from the organisers. This is easily my personal best time for 10K and beat my last time by over five minutes. As you can imagine I am well chuffed!
I have one more competitive 10K race planned for next weekend on 17th July before we fly out to Washington for the official challenge. So the aim now is to get to 50 minutes, which will be going some to keep a pace of 5min per KM.
ADDENDUM - Monday 12th July
My official race time has now appeared on the website and is 51mins 30 seconds.
127 51:30.62 5501 86/197 M Scott SHEARS
Thursday 8 July 2010
Canadian Please!
Here is a funny video clip that has been sent to me by Wendy and I thought I would share on the blog. A couple of kids from London, Ontario on a YouTube clip - anyone want to be Canadian now?
Click the link.
CANADIAN PLEASE!
Monday 5 July 2010
San Diego Trip
The last four days for us has been mostly spent in San Diego, California - all thanks to the public holiday of Canada Day. 1st July is Canada Day and my second one since moving to Vancouver and it was a great excuse for a weekend away. Nancy's choice of city was San Diego as she wanted beaches and sunshine due to Vancouver's poor summer weather.
We arrived late morning on Thursday, checked into our hotel and then did all the usual things of exploring the downtown area, harbour and sea front. Also enjoyed a couple of gin and tonics on the roof top bar of our hotel with the sun setting - all in all a relaxing first day in San Diego. However, the next couple of days were full of tourist highlights including a free bus tour of the city and the Old Town - it wasn't suppose to free I should add, but we managed to get away with not paying. The Old Town was a mix of a western-style town and a mexican village, full of gift shops but it was pleasant enough. One of the main highlights for me was in the afternoon as I went aboard the USS Midway, which is the second largest aircraft carrier open to the public. This huge ship is moored in the bay with a array of fighter jets and helicopters stationed on its flight deck. Nancy was too busy sunny herself at the hotel pool to appreciate this beast of ship, but I thought it was pretty cool.
Day three was even more action packed that the previous day, as it started with a two hour boat ride around the San Diego bay. This included a tour of the local ship yards and naval ship yard with about fifteen different war ships, frigates and destroyers, a naval submarine base and even some sea lions! After a dash from the harbour back into downtown, we then joined a Segway tour for the next two hours. After an initial training session in a car park, we set off rather unsteadily through the city streets visiting the local sightseeing sites. We soon got use to the machines and even managed to get them up to their top speed of 12.5 miles per hour! The Segway proved to be great fun and the perfect way to get round the city - note to self, find out the price to buy one. Walking has just been made redundant in my opinion. Also something we should consider for the upcoming Washington DC trip.
We arrived late morning on Thursday, checked into our hotel and then did all the usual things of exploring the downtown area, harbour and sea front. Also enjoyed a couple of gin and tonics on the roof top bar of our hotel with the sun setting - all in all a relaxing first day in San Diego. However, the next couple of days were full of tourist highlights including a free bus tour of the city and the Old Town - it wasn't suppose to free I should add, but we managed to get away with not paying. The Old Town was a mix of a western-style town and a mexican village, full of gift shops but it was pleasant enough. One of the main highlights for me was in the afternoon as I went aboard the USS Midway, which is the second largest aircraft carrier open to the public. This huge ship is moored in the bay with a array of fighter jets and helicopters stationed on its flight deck. Nancy was too busy sunny herself at the hotel pool to appreciate this beast of ship, but I thought it was pretty cool.
Day three was even more action packed that the previous day, as it started with a two hour boat ride around the San Diego bay. This included a tour of the local ship yards and naval ship yard with about fifteen different war ships, frigates and destroyers, a naval submarine base and even some sea lions! After a dash from the harbour back into downtown, we then joined a Segway tour for the next two hours. After an initial training session in a car park, we set off rather unsteadily through the city streets visiting the local sightseeing sites. We soon got use to the machines and even managed to get them up to their top speed of 12.5 miles per hour! The Segway proved to be great fun and the perfect way to get round the city - note to self, find out the price to buy one. Walking has just been made redundant in my opinion. Also something we should consider for the upcoming Washington DC trip.
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