Summer ... curling???

I spent this past week-end in the little Thousand Island village of Gananoque. This is the place where I have many very happy boating memories with my ex Barry. However, I wasn't there to visit friends or go boating - but to participate in a curling competition at the local arena.

Curling is considered a winter sport, which usually starts up in October. It's only the really crazy or really avid curlers who curl in the summer. I guess me and the rest of the team can fit into both categories.

Summer curling can be much different than winter curling because the outside temperature can dramatically change and/or alter the ice conditions. Ice conditions can also be different in an arena instead of a regular curling club. This was the case in Gananoque.

Our team is made up of very experienced curlers - some of us being winners of large championships too. But this didn't matter - it really was a disadvantage! That's because it took your entire strength just to get the rock to slide down to the other end of the ice sheet! (referred to the term "the ice was extremely heavy"). This took the entire precision out of the game. We struggled trying to cling on to the precision that we're known for - but it didn't matter. Instead, people who had only been curling for one year were beating us. As well, there were many patches of frost where you had no gliding ability and then without warning you hit a patch of ice that was as slippery as a fish. Two people actually fell, hitting their heads and having to go for stitches!

Curling is a sport that's hard on your quad leg muscles. And, if you haven't used these muscles in the curling manner for some time - you'll hurt the next day. Ha! next day .... it's been three days and I still am a "hurting unit". I don't feel so bad because my entire team is in the same condition - we've all been avoiding stairs as much as possible because - ouwww - it hurts to walk up and especially down them. The good news is that league play begins in a month and hopefully this pain will give us the upper hand then.

Despite this bizarre curling experience we had a tonne of fun. I'll be curling with these people in league play and competition this upcoming winter and I really look forward to it. If I can get thru a competition like the one we just experienced - I think I can get thru anything with them. Oh, and I won some bungee cords out of the entire thing as well.

This upcoming week-end should be fun too. I'm heading out to Port Dover with that "mild mannered blogging teacher" and a bunch of friends.

Adios for now!

Niagara Falls

This past week-end I had my 14 year old nephew and a friend come down from the Ottawa region for the week-end. On Saturday, we took a trip down to Niagara Falls

Nephew - Jeremiah and his friend Ryan looking over at the US part of Niagara Falls with their toques on. It was about 30C, but they don't care because they're cool (In their own minds).

The Canadian Falls (above and below).

They sure love skate boarding ... Now I'm off for some well deserved sleep!