First bike sponsor!

With the help of friend Allison who works with the company, I received my first bike sponsor this week!

Banff Caribou Properties owns 8 hotels and 5 restaurants in Banff, along with 4 tenant and commercial properties. The 100% locally owned company is by Wim Pauw who moved to Banff penniless in the seventies, the rest is history.

B.C.P provides extensive sponsorship and donations throughout Banff. Several years running, they have purchased every elementary and high school student a full ski pass at Mt. Norquay - $120,000! Quite a feat especially during these "economic" times.

B.C.P primarily sponsors National and Olympic Biathlon and Cross Country Athletes. Leighton Poidevin was their first "summer" athlete with biking, myself their second now.

They truly believe in promoting healthy, active living in Banff while improving their quality of life.

I would be proud to display their logos and stickers where ever possible as I believe strongly in their values, community giving and support.

Thank you very much Banff Caribou Properties.

Seth's 1st Birthday!!

WOW, where did that year go?

Turned into quite the gathering of 35 friends and family at our house.

Mom and dad came in from Fairmont, with Marn's dad flying in from Burlington.

3 new borns as well; 3, 4 and a 5 week old. Great to see Jen & Tyler with little Jolene.

Mom cooked up yummy conch fritters and a killer conch salad- hit of the party.

Seth enjoyed his first taste of sugar, a choc zuchini cake shaped like a bear from Marn and Christie. Though it was to the dislike of Marn seeing Seth eating sugar for first time.

Great to see everyone, Seth definitely has a tonne more toys now.

He is taking a fair number of steps now, and saying his name - hilarious!!

He loves his tobogan now soooo much, giggles for minutes on end running around the park across the street. I let him fly down little hills on his own - smiles of course but to dislike of worrying mother.

Overall he is just way too cute, what an amazing year!

Vegas / Lake Havasu, AZ

First week of November, I was asked / told to take my vacation asap. Scrambling on Internet where is warm with a pool or ocean.

With flights, accomodation and all we picked 3 nights in Vegas then 2.5 hr drive south to Lake Havasu, AZ for 6 nights.

I was in Lake Havasu 7 yrs ago in a Duathlon with my parents, beauty dessert town with a mountainous backdrop.

Seth was sure overwhelmed with the lights and sounds of Vegas. It had been 7 yrs since the last visit, much has changed. City Centre is mind blowing!

Nice to relax in Havasu after Vegas. Had a time share with full kitchenette and 3 pools. 25 degrees made for a late summer for us. Days spent with hours of casual strolls along the water and pool time.

Snuck in a round of golf - course with palm trees and cactus lining the fairways. 4th round of year, played with fun guys from Oregon..shot 74 :)

The states are depressingly cheap. $15.99 for a 60 lber of rum at Safeway!

Great times overall, nice to get away in November as such an in between time of year.

Seth's 1st Halloween

Seth's first Halloween

He was too much in the chicken outfit!!!

Seth had fun with buddies Laken and Charles trick or treating, although mommy would not let him eat all the candy.

Tour Duh Canmore - hilarious

Keith and Liz had talked about a stationary bike race at the Drake in Canmore, decided that afternoon to hit it up that night...sure why not.

No idea what to expect, 3 of us headed to Canmore dressed up in costumes as they had prizes for best costumes and Halloween after all.

Ended up being a fundraiser for the local Rocky Mountain Racers - National X Country and Biathlon teams.

4 bikes hooked up to a computer portrayed onto a large screen for all to see.

15 odd sec all out - fastest time and speed

Terrible first heat realizing after how much I suck in front of these national athletes.

After a few Pilsners my times became faster and ended up in finals....and ended up winning :)

Overall one of the funniest nights in a long time, similar to last years Indoor Cross Race in the barn....booze and bikes.

Keith took top costume prize
http://www.canmoreleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2161406

Browse www.rmracers.ca for a breakdown of event and $$ pics

After putting on 15 lbs since Bow 80, I am ready to roll again after this night.

Bow 80

This year's Bow 80 - what to say.

Blue skies and 20 odd degrees on all days before and after race.

Day of race -
pouring rain at 6:30 am
drizzle at start
turned into snow / sleet up jumpingpound
hairy / cold decent down j-pound in pow
slug up cox while laughing with Darren pushing bikes to summit in white out blowing snow.
contiplated life at cox, Darren saying just get me down safely while shaking drastically.
2,000 foot decent in pow was so sketchy
get to check point, they mention 2 hrs to finish with the last pull out there. Darren and other pulled while I thought what to do. I have never been so cold with my hands unable to change gears barelyfeeling the brakes. Still snowing so pulled as well.
My first DNF, tough to do but was a safety issue.
Hard to swallow as worked so hard all summer and final race ends like that.

The organizers pulled all racers after us for safety issues / cold / snow. Seriously suprised to not hear of issues in the news from people up on the mtns.

suggest www.bow80.com for a perfect review of race

unfortunately no pics

With no cross bike, my season is over. Been quite lazy last few weeks, put on 7 lbs since race :)

Fall Seth pics

Seth turning 10 months old - where does the time go?

He is cuter and cuter every week. Not too mention how nuts he is now, getting into everything. Crawling up stairs no problems, standing on his own for up to 1 mins..won't be long for walking.

The joy I receive returning home from work and seeing his smile - too much. Marn says he hears the garage door open and starts looking for me - can't believe associates the door sound with daddy coming home :)