Is there a limit?

I have a question.  Is there a limit to what you would do or where you would go to participate in an activity that you love?  If it includes family, does that make it even better?

Well for me if someone had told me that I would hop on an airplane and fly for 5 hours to attend a paper craft technique I probably would have laughed.  As much as I love creating scrap book pages, cards and learning techniques, up until now I have done that from a U Tube Video.

When my sister from Kamloops sent me a link to a class she was taking in Vancouver using a brayer I booked a flight.  I also wanted to spend some time with my sister and for both of us do be able to go to a class together was exciting.  She actually booked us into 3 more classes while I was out there.  It was fabulous and I even had time to swim in the ocean.

Arriving at the destination for out first class was a vacation in itself.  It was in Granville Market. a trendy tourist place in Central Vancouver.  The atmosphere was one of excitement, children laughing and screaming waiting for the Children's market to open.  This was our first destination as well.  A room upstairs in the Children's Market set aside for a group of women to participate in a Christmas in July theme.  Christmas theme meant making a Christmas card.  So cute. This class also led us to the discovery of a cute little stamp and srapbook store.

Our next class was the reason for my spontaneous flight and vacation.  It was at Scrapbook Warehouse and as I have been there before I knew we would have to go early to browse.  We did that of course but went the day before to browse and shop then early for class to browse and shop and even found time to shop after the class.   Jessie Hurley was the instructor for this class and it was fabulous.  This girl has a really talent and A LOT of patience.  Jessie was also the instructor for the next two classes we participated and they were in Burnaby.  When I left I felt I had a new friend and Jessie has since flown to Ontario and taught four classes at One Crazy Stamper which I signed up for immediately.  I cannot wait for her to come back here.

This spur of the moment trip to see my sister and take classes was so much fun and  think we might have to make this a yearly event.  Sis it's your turn though, come fly to Ontario for some more creative excitement.

At our first class (Granville Market) 

Jessie Hurley in the middle, 

The Warrior Dash! Fun in the Mud!

                                                

It was described as a “mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme run from hell.”  I had heard about this event but the need to see who would partake in such insanity would mean a trip to Horseshoe resort near Barrie, Ontario. The event is a race or should I say dash, The Warrior Dash. 

 It’s quoted on their website as an event “held on the most challenging and rugged terrain.   Warriors conquer extreme obstacles , push their limits and celebrate with kick ass music, beer and warrior helmets.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NM1xYDtm9uw&t=0

The day of the event I got up early for the two-hour drive to Horseshoe Valley.  Since it was Saturday morning traffic was at a standstill in places.   I thought to myself driving north on a Saturday was a challenge it itself. People actually drove through this to get to something more challenging.  

When I arrived a brief breeze whipped clouds of dust around the long line of yellow school buses.  Many participants filled the buses from a makeshift parking lot I had passed on the highway.   As I moved toward the noise my first observation was the ambulances on standby.  Several were in one area along with a first aid tent. A few people were already inside getting first aid. That was a bit of a concern.  Being a relative of three willing participants I was a little worried at this point. So as to not bring attention to myself I walked with purpose past the registration tents overflowing with ballerinas and a blue man group (three men painted blue).  Music was blasting from huge speakers in the next area and there was mud, lots of mud. But what I noticed most was the camaraderie.  The atmosphere was exploding with excitement.

 Somewhere in this crowd I managed to find the three people I had come to cheer on dressed in camouflage.  They quickly got registered and were ready to go.  I was the official personal belongings keeper and photographer which meant I was to stand in the hot sun and wait for them to hopefully come back in one piece.   Every 30 minutes a heat left for the 5 km dash through water, mud, and a tire obstacle course. They climbed over cars, down water slides and did all of this on the hills of one of Ontario’s famous ski resorts.

As I made my way over to the start line the excitement was building.  500 warriors stood nervously in this heat, anticipating the challenges and waiting for their chance to prove to themselves they could finish.  10-9-8-7 and they were ready. This is what they signed up for and with flames shooting out of the starting gate they were off.  I wandered over close to the finish line and took my stance by the fence for the best position for photos.   Beside me, people covered in mud cheered others on coming  toward the end of the race.   I listened to some of them and even though at the start of the day, most of these people were strangers, the excitement and camaraderie of being a warrior for the day made the mood contagious.  As I watched them climb over the 10 foot wall, jump across two fire beds and then jump into a pit of mud under barbed wire, I realized that this actually looked like fun. Some were limping, most were filthy and all were smiling. 

 I asked Laura (my daughter) what she felt the day of the race.  Not surprisingly her reply was “Just before I started out-I wanted to GO! I was tired of waiting. I had been looking forward to the Warrior Dash for six months and didn't want to wait a minute longer. When it was over I was disappointed when I rounded the corner during the race and saw the last three obstacles. I wasn't ready for it to be over! I felt like I hadn’t challenged myself enough.  Another of our trio said “this was so awesome, felt like I was going to die going up those hills with the heat and everything, I would do it again if I could, best weekend so far this summer. The hills were killers and so challenging, Mud was great at the beginning and at the end, especially the end, pure fun and extreme at the same time.”

The thousands who participated showed great energy and as the long line of white t shirted partipants with warrior helmets waited for the buses to take them back to their cars I mentally scheduled the warrior dash as a must do item on my bucket list. 

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Cape Breton Discovering the Beauty

A visit to Nova Scotia is not complete without visiting Cape Breton Highlands National Park.  Once on this Island you will find the Cabot Trail, one of the most spectacular drives in Canada and probably in the world.  The scenery on a clear day is breath taking as you climb up the mountain roads by vehicle or for the more adventurous hike the many trails. 

We set out one clear morning to drive the Cabot Trail with only the expectation of seeing some magnificent views.   As we approached the base of Smokey mountain we could see a road going up and around.  For me who is a little afraid of heights it looked a bit intimidating.  Once we began climbing it felt like the excitement when you are going up a roller coaster and can only see the sky and the tops of trees.   There are a lot of twists and turns before you get to the top but when you do and you can pull off the road and just admire the blue sky meeting the  deep blue ocean in the horizon,  the trees in all their glorious shades of green you can't help but be mesmerised. The drive down Cape Smokey offer some extraordinary views as well.

One of the Island’s locals had given us a map and highlighted some must see tourist attractions.  One of those stops was for a lunch break in a quaint little fishing village.  We found this restaurant tucked away in a small hamlet known as Neil’s Harbour.  This is the home of Cape Breton’s Chowder House.

The detour into this small fishing village was well worth the extra few minutes it took us.  We saw the Chowder house sign and were sure we could not be in the right place.  The light house was at the top of the hill but on the left was what looked like a little shack.   This shack was brewing up the best crab and corn chowder I have ever tasted.  Not only was the soup delicious but the entire meal.  

Driving up the hill  toward the lighthouse and Chowder House on the right was the best view of the docks.  The fishermen were just coming in from their workday and the smell of fish was quite strong.  It was a picture perfect view and after eating we took a few moments to enjoy the activity and snap a few pictures. 

The detour from the Cabot trail to Neil’s Harbour was one of the best stops along the trail.  This should be a stop for everyone to make when touring Cape Breton.  To miss this view and not have the opportunity to experience lunch or dinner at the Chowder house would be almost like missing the spectacular views from the mountain tops on a rainy foggy day. 

If your driving the Cabot Trail, you can do the drive in half a day but leave yourself lots of times to enjoy everything it has to offer.  The views, restaurants, shops and the many trails that are available to explore will have you planning your next visit back to Cape Breton.  If it doesn't,  then a stay over at Broadwater Inn will have you wanting to extend your visit. Our tour of the trail began from our cabin at Broadwater Inn.  It is just a 10 minute drive  from the beginning of the Cabot Trail and overlooks Bras d'or Lake.  Broadwater is a beautiful historic inn with connections to Alexander Graham Bell.   The Innkeeper is very friendly, knowledgeable and when you meet him you will feel like you have been a friend forever.

We were very sad to leave Cape Breton Island.  The locals are so friendly and I honestly felt as we were driving away that we were leaving family.  A piece of my heart will always be in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Umno5CAhWhg

Steveston, BC Much to offer

On a recent trip to Vancouver to visit my sister and partake in a few crafty classes, we found time for a visit to explore the hustle and bustle of Steveston BC.   As we were staying in Richmond, Steveston Village was just a short drive Southwest.  Because this quaint little fishing village is part of Richmond  it's hard to find the population.  It is an attraction though to both tourists and residents.

The many shops along the pier are unique and what a tourist would expect to see but there is so much more. Steveston has their own magazine that list all they have to offer.  It tells of all upcoming events happening as well as provides information on local businesses. 
http://issuu.com/pallamedia/docs/steveston_insider_aug1_2013__online/31?e=0 


Having all this within a few steps of the pier is wonderful and creates an atmosphere of excitement that is hard to explain.  What adds to the excitement is the fisherman docking at the pier and putting out their signs for the sale of the days catch.

This was not my first time at Steveston.    When visiting three years ago, my sister took me there for dinner which was the beginning of my love affair with this waterfront community.  We managed to get there twice this year  fitting in dinner both times at Sockeye City.   The service and food were excellent and it offered an unbelievable view.    There is something about eating fresh fish on the boardwalk and watching the workers come in from the day at sea.  Looking past the docks from where we sat we could see the many ships travelling by as well as tug boats towing containers of saw dust.

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After enjoying a fabulous meal,  a walk along the pier is a fitting way to end the day. Gazing into boats and the smell of fresh fish and sometimes the scent of what was left over after cleaning the fish is evidence of the hard work that they do to provide their customers with a taste of the sea.

What is most inspiring about Steveston Village though is the fabulous sunsets,  Watching the sun disappear  in the horizon behind the fishing boats in a fiery ball of colour has been embedded in my memory.   Whenever the need to visit this thriving community arises,  I just close my eyes and envision the picturesque Steveston Harbour.

Until we meet again....