Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Nor-Ams Trip - Day 1 and 2

Quick update from Silver Star:


The drive was uneventful (which is good).  It could have easily been "eventful" as there was thick fog for long stretches....  I was trying to look directly down at the line to stay on the road....  problem was the line was frequently covered with sand/dirt/snow.  Had to use "feel" to keep it on the road a few times which was stressful.

Woke up on Monday ready to rock and got to Sovereign Lake Nordic Area only to see this: 


I talked the girl into selling me a ticket anyway ($5)...  I headed out for about an hour but the conditions were pretty bad (just as the sign said).  So, I packed it in and formulated a plan B.

I got on the road and headed towards Kelowna to a place I noticed a year or two ago when I was in the same area.  I think it called Kekuli Bay - right on the shores of Kalamalka Lake.  I wanted to get my heart pumping and so I did some roller skiing...

Ready to rumble...

It was beautiful but cold....

I was winding along country roads then through a deserted campsite....  It was a pretty good selection of hills, flats lefts and rights...  it was pretty fun.



Trust me when I say that it is very difficult to make roller-skiing look "cool".  After my workout I decided to do a little timer-based photoshoot....  the three shots above were the best I could get.

My "mess o' skis" and my trusty leg - would really like to use these on some good snow!


The lighting and the scenery were a bit surreal - I didn't see another person the whole time I was on these roads...  pretty good training.  Not snow - but I'll take it.

With that workout in my legs I headed into Kelowna which is about an hour away...  I had nothing better to do than burn fossil fuels on the highway.  I picked up a few things I needed (like a cable for my camera which I ALWAYS forget.)

Then I picked up a book called The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  He won the Pulitzer Prize for this book so I was worried it might be a bit heavy...  No.  It is so eerie and great.  I will put a review up in a day or two when I am finished reading it.


I finished the day with a little 007 at the movie theatre in Vernon.  Quantum of Solace....  it was pretty decent though not as good as the last one....


Well, if you are still reading (thank you), I will reward you with this cliffhanger....  I registered for an awesome event in 2009 today.  I'll tell you all about it tomorrow (or maybe tonight...)  Thanks for reading!

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

From those pictures, it sure does look like a beautiful place to train. Good job finding a way to get your training in as best you can.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the big event.

James Greenwood said...

Looks so awesome MJ - I love it when there is no one else around.

Have a great week - hope the snow picks up a ton for you.

Chat soon