Ted and Syl fortyhowmany years ago

A lot of memories were re-lived last night

Between Johnny, Elly, Elsie, myself and Ted n Syl.

The Magnolia restaurant had memories emanating

From the corner table well into the late evening.

How is it that our kids and grandkids keep getting older.

And we change for sure, but not that much!

Wishing only good things or better

As you dance the dance toward the next milestone.

Kedging described

Initially I had said I'd get to explaining kedging. Well here it is:

Crowley and Lodge, in Younger Next Year

"Sailing ships, becalmed and threatened, sometimes had to resort to kedging to get out of trouble. The captain would have a light anchor, (kedge) loaded into a long boat and rowed half a mile away or so. The longboat crew would set the anchor and everyone back on the ship would pull like demons on the line, literally hauling the ship to anchor. Then they'd do it again . . . Sounds like a lot of work, but maybe it's worth it if it's the only way to overcome a tide that's pulling you on to a . . ."

". . . . it is our view that you have to do a little kedging now and then to keep yourself motivated." Plan for something that is beyond your ability, (like an athletic event or trip), train hard to get in shape to handle it. Then savor the pleasure of actually experiencing the satisfaction of the accomplishment.

My first kedge, needless to say, was the time trial to Kim and Harry's, (41 km.) When I began cycling in May of 09 getting to and from the Post Office was all that my legs were willing to do.

So. it worked. I'm now setting myself up for the next kedge. Well, it may be the next selected kedge, but maybe not the next one completed. There'll have to be a lot of non "physical type" prep as well in this one. Including finding a companion willing to trek in the Grand Canyon (it's a mile down and 20 degrees F difference top to bottom), with me for three nights or so. I'll keep you updated on the planning for this one.

Well, it's been a few days and nothing new from 'ol Ray. This weekend I've been printing a few pictures from the Algonquin trip in poster format. We are going to see how they show as a blog post.

Turned out, not half bad if I do say so my self.

It's been interesting, since I came back supercharged from the venture

I've had a real "comin' down" that I haven't experienced in months.

It's been a tough week getting back to the gym and on the bike.

I haven't been able to get a handle on the trigger,

But I'm finally back!

So that's good!

Well it's been a few days since last I initiated my end of what will hopefully some day become a dialogue.

To day was spent, along with providing taxi service to a variety of grandkids, beginning the photoshop process of cleaning up some photos that I did for son in law Harry, (SILH).

He of Echo Hill Automation fame.

'Echo Hill' is listed elsewhere as one family related web site you might want to check out. Harry and his brother Dan are beginning testing of their prototype cutting machine, which is a new generation of machine that is beginning to 'turn heads' in their industry. That black device reaching down is truly a very fully functioning arm that has a better range of motion than does mine, and can lift and place longer and more accurately than I can.

The kids often feel sorry for me as they see what they perceive to be the tedium of the retirement lifestyle. So they get together and dream up little projects to slow down the perceptible advances of senility. And I appreciate their concerns and subsequent interventions.

I'm not sure how Jesse James felt, but I find that it feels somewhat good to be "a wanted man".

Anyway, as you can see, I have attached a photo of 'the machine'. I've been encouraging them to come up with an identifier for it. Companies often have intriguing names for their projects. I propose that you submit your suggestion for a moniker for 'the machine'. I promise to pass on the suggestions to Harry and Dan!

Algonquin 2009 Slideshow

Algonquin 2009 Slideshow
Originally uploaded by Ray Rempel

Further proof that we did it and lived to show the pictures! Unfortunately I can only 90 seconds of the 6 1/2 minute slideshow. If you would like to see the entire slideshow, I can e-mail it.

Four days of heaven

Mitchel, Grandpa and Travis

Friday morning we

Load the canoes with

Backpacks, food barrels

And the gear pack.

Map in hand and

We're off.

Travis and Grandpa

Canoe Lake, portage,

Joe Lake, portage.

Little Joe Lake

Portage, portage.

Burnt Island Lake

Locate the ideal campsite

Set up and get the grub on.

Fish fry with stewed dried fruit

The sunrises and sunsets,

Flora and fauna,

The rocks, lakes and rivers,

Fish that we caught

Could not have tasted better.

We kept saying 'wow'.

18 inch bass

Great grandpa George

Was surely smiling down from heaven

As he saw the tins of mackerel

Still in our gear and grub bags

As we paddled and portaged

The backwoods of Algonquin.

More 18 inch bass

Bannock and eggs breakfast

The campfire coffee pot

Was perc'ing from sunrise

To 'hit the sack time.'

The bannock and eggs breakfast,

The fried bass meals

Were 'over the top'.

Loon heading out

Sunset

Weather, we had it all,

Sun, clouds, rain.

Hot weather,

Cool weather,

Chilly nights and

Star studded skies.

Early morning mist

Monday a.m. came too soon.

A last campfire breakfast,

Breaking up camp

Loading the canoes,

One last hike up the hill

To the throne.

A last cup of 'Timmys'

Then, paddles in the water

For a tiring, memory-filled

Trip back to the

South shore of Canoe Lake.

Just in time to plan

The next trip to Algonquin.

The campsite

To paraphrase John Denver,

We have just experienced an

'Algonquin Park' high.

It all seems like a dream.

It's hard to believe

We're back home.

Mitchel leading us home

Algonquin Canoe trip

Well, the day has arrived,

Departure is 11:00 am.

We arrive at 7:00 pm at wilderness central

Algonquin Outfitters Store.

Having had supper and a good wilderness sleep

The canoes go in at 9:00 am.

It's Travis, Mitch and Grandpa

Our first stop will be, with two hungry teens

What else, but lunch of course

On the shore of Little Joe Lake.

Frozen pickerel from another trip

Will fry up well over an open fire.

Late afternoon

We'll set up camp on Burnt Island Lake

Three portages and twelve km's later.

Supper will be the ever hearty,

Salted cod soup, made the way

It's been made in seaside hamlets

On the shores of the Atlantic

For a thousand years.

We cooked up and froze some in

(Not so primitive, but practical Ziplock bags).

Hardly the packing material of the Vouyaguers

Of four centuries back, but, hey it works.

We're counting on fresh trout

As our staple protein.

Tin's of Mackeral are back up.

(don't tell my Dad),

One of the greatest outdoorsmen to walk God's earth

If you chance by him at a Timmy's in the Spirit world.

So canoeing, fishing, photography,

Some good 'ole honest talk, and if need be,

A favourite book for rainy weather.

And our trusty campfire coffee pot

To keep us satiated and happy.

We're good for just about whatever

Awaits us on, what will surely be

The first of many a trip, forest floor

For a bed, sleeping bag and all.

See you on Wed, July 12th

With pictures and many a narative and all

Happy camping to you

Wherever your hearth is for the next week.

Ray, and the two grandsons,

Mitch and Trav,

Ciao,