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Showing posts from May, 2012

A day by the water

Bel Aire Motel, Burlington Cool art By Lake Champlain Views of beautiful Lake Champlain These swings were all over the park and leisure areas in Burlington. What a wonderful day!! I spent most of it by or on Lake Champlain.  This morning I walked down to Handy's diner which was about a 25 minute walk.  Had pancakes with Vermont maple syrup.  It was a real old style diner with the counter in a horseshoe shape and seats around it.  No tables. Oldest waitress going but think she was the current owner's mom.  This diner has been in the same family for three generations.  The pancakes were good and fueled me for the walk ahead. Beautiful walking path From there I headed down to the water front and the small marina and headed off to the left path.  I was grooving along enjoying myself when I noticed the woman ahead of me do a little skip and look back so I looked as I approached and there was a snake on the right side of the path

Great day in "Most Peculiar"

Vermont State House, Montpelier It was a fab day today in "Most Peculiar" - aka Montpelier. (pronounced Mont-pee-lieer)  That is the local's slang for it per my friend Donna and she should know as she was raised in Vermont.... I was up early and got the 7 a.m. commuter bus from downtown.  The bus driver (named Buddy) knew everyone on board but me.  He was quite the character.  The marathon was this past weekend and he had a picture of his daughter on the bus with her time and he knew everyone who had done it.  He announced on his loud speaker that his daughter had been it and congratulations to all who had done it.  Then as we were arriving in Montpelier he started talking on the loud speaker about drive ins and how there weren't many anymore along with A & W stands.  No one seemed to take notice so I assume he has a little speech every day.  He was very friendly - well they are all here.  The drive was beautiful.  The scenery was so lush and green - loa

All talk and no action

Well aside from heavy rain, thunder and lightening that never really got that bad at all it's all finished now.  Still lightly raining but I went over to the convenience store and got myself a liquid beverage :) and some veggie crisps.  Absolute crap on the TV - how people can watch those reality shows is beyond me.  95 channels and nothing.  So here I sit surfing the net.  Not in the mood to read anything on my ereader.  Found the bus stop going downtown so all being well I plan to be on the 6:22 a.m. bus from here to catch the 7 a.m. to Montpelier tomorrow.   My backpack is ready to go.  So exciting that I have a normal bed tonight - I forgot to mention that the bed in the dorm was a thin mattress on a plank of wood - and it was as high as my waist.  Getting in was fun and especially fun on Sunday!!! Not as bad as trying to climb onto the wet marble counter when I had my turkish bath (I still shudder at that memory and the poor girl is probably still recovering from my nake

Crash bang cha cha cha

Yes it was rattling and rolling here and still is from time to time.  Burlington is under a tornado watch with flash flooding warning as well.  Major bummer as I had hoped to do a 5 km walk this afternoon when I got here. Anyway I am getting ahead of myself here.  Got a taxi to the bus station due to two bus changes on busy Ottawa busses - got there in loads of time and the bus to Montreal was a little late leaving.  Enjoyed the pretty scenery - lots of trees.  I have not done that trip since 1973!!  Time to visit the washroom in Montreal then on the bus to Vermont.  The border crossing was long as usual - I got through quickly then waited on the bus forever.  The U.S. border guard had taken his grumpy pills that morning - I don't have much luck with border guards in the eastern U.S.  Disovered there was wifi so sent a quick facebook message but quickly put my computer away as like to watch the scenery.  Arrived at the Burlington airport which is where the terminal is - I reali

Can't think of a title for this post

This was a quiet bopping around day. Walked around downtown looking in shops and taking a few photos as it turned out to be a glorious day.  I went to the Scone Witch in the early afternoon and had a currant ginger scone with devon cream and apricot jam - I didn't need it but couldn't resist.  And I got myself a cranberry/orange scone for my breakfast....I then went to see the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" which I loved.  Makes me want to go back to India soon!!  I had supper at 6 p.m. at the Parliament pub opposite Parliament Hill - how do I know that - because the Peace Tower chimed at 6 p.m.  I had a quiche and salad - or should I say the Jack Layton quiche - well better than the Stephen Harper pizza!!! However the quiche wasn't the best I've had and could not finish it -will not go back there.  It was neat to sit outside though and see the Parliament buildings.  At one point the police drove in with flashing lights followed by about three black ca

Not bad, not bad at all

I feel surprisingly spry after my 21 km walk yesterday.  Fairly tired from lack of sleep (although did sleep fairly well last night - guess exhaustion does that to you!) but otherwise not bad at all.  I could do a 5 k walk but I won't!!  Lots of walking ahead (every day for the next 8 days) so I don't want to mess that up.  Of course it could hit me tomorrow....we shall see.  Regardless I am glad I didn't opt to go to Vermont today - another reason..Memorial Day with a lack of public busses no doubt (I plan to take the local bus from the airport to my motel) plus the cost of my room at the motel was almost double.   I am excited though - Vermont is uncharted territory for me and I love exploring new places.  The forecast calls for thundershowers tomorrow afternoon in Burlington so not sure on my plans to do the 5 or 7 km downtown walk....27C for my 11 km walk in Montpelier.  I had breakfast at Cora's - mushroom and brie eggs benedict with potatoes and a huge mound o

I DID IT!!!

Yes I completed the half marathon - my second worst time ever (4:05) but I am just happy to finish and get my lovely shiny medal.  What a beautiful course...the only dull parts were in Hull and by the war museum but other than that it was lovely.  Passed through some great neighbourhoods - people sitting outside having their coffee and I was envious as I hadn't had one today.  Coffee and long distance walks don't jive too well for me!  I was pretty strong in the first half but lack of sleep caught up with me and I slowed down near the end.  I am so exhausted it is crazy between the long walk and lack of sleep.  Tomorrow is a do nothing day - go to Cora's for one of their fab breakfasts and then do laundry.  Other than that it will be what I decide but nothing that involves much energy.  I still have 8 days left on this adventure so I need to keep healthy.  I am so glad I decided to go to Vermont on Tuesday... I am so proud of myself for hanging in there and carrying on

No sleep again!

Another night of not much sleep (perhaps two hours) This is really getting annoying....I am dizzy with exhaustion and I haven't even begun the race....very very disappointing.  I will start but I think I will have to leave within a couple of hours - but there is still a spark of hope inside me and I am pretty stubborn.  However I can not even focus on normal things - could not find my brush and comb - my brush turned up on the floor but my comb is missing as is my ereader and earrings and am too tired to look for them.  If I am too tired to focus on that I think I am too tired to walk for close to four hours without stopping.  Of course as always happpens I fell asleep around 5 a.m. and the alarm woke me at 6:30.  Tomorrow I plan to do  nothing but go for a nice breakfast if I can stagger that far (although if I only walk a couple of hours that should not be a problem) and go to see a movie...that's it.  Oh and do laundry...

Thanks to my buddy Eilleen

She told me I could exchange my t-shirt - VERY unusual at a race event.  Hers was too small too.  We did the 3 km Fun Run (well walk - we were the only walkers!)along the Rideau canal followed by fresh fruit, juice, bagels, etc.  I had a container of fresh fruit and some juice and took the bagel (with peanut butter) for my pre-race brekky tomorrow. (along with a big honkin' orange and a banana)  Anyway I raced back here and got my t-shirt and was able to exchange it for a mens medium which fits better - the ladies xl's were all out and that does not surprise me. So that was nice.  Then she gave me a marathon bus tour ticket as she had picked one out for me so off we went to tour the marathon route - we are of course doing the half so a bit different but was a fun tour of Ottawa.  I also bought the holder for the medals...I am saving approximately what that holder cost a night staying here rather than the B and B so thought damn it I deserve it.  I must admit I am not a girly gi

NO SLEEP

I am cursing myself for going cheap and cancelling the  B and B.  My room is by a very busy road with traffic constantly.  I tried opening the window last night to let in some cool air but it was just too noisy.  |And being close to the bathroom has it's down side such as toilets flushing.  Not good.  If I don't sleep tonight I won't be able to finish the half marathon.  I am going to look into seeing if I can change rooms but not too much hope....very disappointed.  I booked months ago so am so discouraged that they gave me this lousy room.  I stayed here before and did not have this problem. I did not sleep a wink sad to say so am dizzy and very tired this morning  needless to say.

Great time in Ottawa

It's been a great week.  On Monday a group of us walked in Merrickville which is a very historical town on the Rideau Canal. I got a ride with my friends Donna and Dorri as they were volunteering - they were kind enough to give Eilleen and me a ride.  I was going to do the 10 km walk then decided to do the 5 km walk so I could look in the shops.  I am glad I did - thoroughly enjoyed the walk and took photos along the way.  Very pretty. I walked by myself which was fine as then I could pop into shops and spend as much time as I wanted.  I was actually here three years ago with Donna and Dorri but we didn't walk around - just shopped!  This time I didn't buy anything...just lunch!!!  We had lunch at the Yellow Canoe and sat outside in the shade.  It was lovely.  I had a turkey/cranberry/currymayo sandwich with cold cantaloupe soup.  First time I've ever had cold soup and I really enjoyed it.  Then we went to the ice cream shop for ice cream - it's all home made - I ha

I'm sitting here sweating....

Almost five days without internet access - screech!  It is scary how I depend on it.  My friend Donna only has internet on her phone.  Yesterday I quickly scanned emails on her office computer for 15 minutes but no time to blog.  I am now at the University of Ottawa dorms - no air conditioning...and there is a heat wave...need I say more.  The sweat is dripping off me.  Sometimes cheaping out is a false economy if you can't sleep due to the heat...especially as I am due to walk a half marathon on Sunday....and forget finding a hotel room in this city... Today Donna and I went to the Expo where I spent a bit of cash...new t-shirt, socks (I have a fetish but these were so cute with little Canadian flags on them..).  I got my race package but alas the marathon t-shirt does not fit me - too tight despite being a size large.  Sigh...they assume we are all tiny runners.  So I guess the goal is to lose 15 lbs at least by September so I can wear it to the next half marathon I do....

Whoa it's hot!

This morning I did the 5 km walk instead of the 10 km as it was so hot.  The tulips were way past their prime as in dead...there were a few there but nothing to what it was....anyway the walk was still enjoyable.  We walked through the tulip beds and beside the Rideau Canal and in a beautiful park like setting.  We got a school bus there and back.  When I got back I had grand ideas of going to downtown Ottawa but I was hot and exhausted walking to the bus stop so decided to head over to the nearby shopping centre to try and get a couple of things I had forgotten to bring with me. (razor blades and extra shampoo)  I love travel size!!! I stopped at Timothy's coffee (as opposed to Tim Hortons...) and had an iced Chai Latte - yum - and a veggie sandwich which could have been better.  I sat and read the paper in the nice air conditioning for quite a while.  Now I sit in relaxing in the cool air.  I am really quite tired.  I may be going out later - we shall see - have to make a pho

Busy weekend

Well I decided to relax a bit and catch up on email, etc.  Yesterday was all right but did not go quite as I had planned.  Breakfast here is hectic as the Algonquin residence is full of the likes of us walkers, teenagers on band trips, etc. plus families.  They serve continental breakfast but it involves a lengthy wait.  I usually opt for coffee and a bagel, bring it up here and add a banana.  Yesterday morning was my last board meeting...:)  Afterwards a few of us on the board went for lunch.  By the time we left the restaurant I wasn't sure what I should do...I registered for a 5 km walk downtown but on the way to the bus stop I turned around as I realized I would be rushed.  I hate being rushed! So I wandered over to the shopping centre and went into Bath and Body Works again as they had given me a coupon...sigh...of course in my bag I had another coupon but I shall resist....what can I say I love that stuff.  I looked in the New Balance store but couldn't find anything to u

Hello from Nepean

Hi from Nepean as that's where I am - it's now part of Ottawa but don't tell the locals that. :)  The flight was good.  I had the neatest seat - when I checked in it automatically selected this one and it is a single one - no one beside me.  I loved it and of course it was a window seat.  It left bang on time and arrived on time as well - yeah we all love to trash Air Canada but they do a good job most of the time I think. I still prefer WestJet but this flight was cheaper and direct.  Very few of us got off at Ottawa - most were flying on to Montreal. My friends Donna and Dorri were there to meet me so that was great and off we went.  We had lunch at a chinese buffet - yum yum - and they were naughty and treated me.  Afterwards we went back to the house so I could say hi to Ben the Beagle and Sunshine ("Sunny") the Sheltie.  Then they dropped me off at Algonquin College.  The rooms weren't ready yet so I stored my luggage and headed over to the New Balance

Five more sleeps and the addiction of marathons...

Yes five more sleeps and I am off for the next adventure to Ottawa, Quebec and Vermont.  It took a while to get me organized for this trip between two back to back winter holidays and moving but I think it's sorted now and I am getting excited!!  I will attend our annual walking conference which is also the 25th anniversary celebration of our national walking club.  It will be a blast.  I am also planning to do a half marathon - my first since September 2010.  Gulp!  As you know I had to drop out of the one in California which broke my heart in two...but I will do it someday...two weeks from tomorrow...screech!  I am a little behind in my training - I am not really TOO worried but I know walking 21 km without stopping will be a challenge.  And I will not beat myself up if I cannot finish it.  The friend I am doing it with and myself are going out that evening in Ottawa for a nice meal.  I am hoping that I will be wearing my nice shiny medal but if I'm not well I know that at le