Minivacation
I’ve spent the last couple of days at my parent’s place which has a panoramic view of Lake Ontario. On a clear day, I can look out and see the Toronto skyline which includes the Skydome. The weekend started off with me driving my father to the airport as he had a business trip in the states. I was able to get in some geocaching, home maintenance and catching up with my parents, brother and nephew. I fixed my nephew’s mp3 player and usb drive which made him happy. I cut out the wooden frame of the four windows that my father and I will replace later this year. I bolted the aluminum storm windows on to act as temporary barriers until the vinyl insert windows arrive from the manufacturer. Today, I replaced the internal door lever on the screen door so that G couldn’t push his nose against the door and accidentally get out. I finished my second Barry Eisler novel with another four waiting for me to read back in Ottawa. It has been hot with temperatures averaging in the hight 80s. I’m looking forward to heading back to Ottawa tomorrow where it is a little cooler. Once in town, I have to start preparing for my next adventure, a long weekend of hiking over the upcoming holiday weekend.
Windows
My parent’s live in an old house and over the past couple of years we have been replacing the windows. Taking out the old wooden ones and replacing them with vinyl insert windows. They open at the bottom and the top and you can clean both sides of the window from the inside. This is handy. No more getting out the ladder to wash the outside of the windows. Today my father and I cut out two of the final four old wooden windows. I’ll cut out the remaining two over the next couple of days. The vinyl inserts are being made at the factory now and we will install them in a couple of weeks. It is fun getting out all the power tools and getting covered in saw dust. It is a satisfying experience. My brother and his son are heading to my parent’s place tomorrow and it will be great to catch up with and have a couple of BBQs.br /br /The planning for my first Adirondacks trips is coming along slowly. Next week, I have to head to MEC to buy a summer sleeping bag and some freeze dried, just add water meals. The plan is to head down early Friday morning and to get in a short hike once we get to Lake Placid. I’ll be hiking with 15 other folks and so, the other cars will be arriving throughout the day. We will set up a base camp at Adirondack Loj where they have car camping and to use it as our trailhead. The plan is to have two long hiking days, Saturday and Sunday. Monday is a holiday so hopefully we can climb another peak. Hmm, four days and three peaks is most likely to ambitous. I’ll have a better feel when we have our group meeting on Tuesday. I’m looking forward the adventure…
Sore, tired, stiff and Adirondacks
Tonight, I did my first interval workout of the year in the a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_Arboretum”arboretum/a. It took the form of a 25 minute warmup followed by 4*1km intervals on 90 seconds rest. It was great to be back in the arboretum again as we run around a 1,000 meter loop that features cinder underfoot which gives a great spring when you run on it. The conditions were a hot and sunny 88F. The cool down was a 30 minute jog along the Rideau Canal back to the UOttawa campus. As I write my legs are warm, sore and stiff.br /br /At the end of the month, we have a holiday called Canada Day on July 1. Since it falls on Sunday this year Monday is a holiday. I’ll be heading over to the Adirondacks for a long weekend hiking trip. It will give me a chance to try out a new summer sleeping bag, inaugurate my new REI tent and to try out the camelback-backpack combination for hiking. As well, I’m hoping to buy a stove whose fuel comes in a canister. We should have two solid days in which we can ascend at least two mountains. I recently developed this urge to become a a href=”http://www.adk46r.org/”46r/a. It will involve a fair amount of hiking as you have to climb a href=”http://www.adk46r.org/listf.html”46 peaks/a in the Adirondacks.
