Longview Spring water

The directions on FindaSpring could be abit more detailed... the drive up the road was more than "up the hill a little bit". It was a good kilometre! Found it as described coming out of pipe into a trough.

Only if I can't get to the Rockies would I stop off at this spring. Easy access on-route to Fernie and Crowsnest Pass via Hwy 22.

Rocky Mountain view from the spring parking spot

My "Thrive" bottle full of fresh spring water

Lynnwood, WA - Surburban Spring Water

Lynnwood Artesian Well: Off to visit friends in Seattle, I stopped off highway I-5 South. I wasn't sure what spring source I'd find as I was in the middle of suburbia.

Exit 183 (164th St SW), west 600 metres, little parking area on the north side, at the bottom of the dip in the hill.

I bumped into a couple women who were cool to have their picture taken with me.
Once I was done filling up my glass bottles, there was a line-up of people. Super busy popular spot!

Awesome when the community cares for the water source with analysis.

Canmore Spring

A frequent stop for me whenever I'm out west in the mountains. Easy trek into the bush near Harvie Heights just off Highway 1. Will usually see a trodden path in the snow from the parking spot into the trees. Follow upstream to the pipe.

view from the spring source

Spring Water! Nowhere Spring near Hinton

Spring water defeats gravity and actually levitates up from earth to the ground. It's a great feeling to bottle up my own water, and it tastes remarkable. I'm getting into testing and learning more about it.

Anyone I've carpooled with for x-c skiing lately, has had to stop at a spring with me. After tasting it, they've all admitted to wanting to bring glass containers with them next time!

Filling up with spring water 5-km up Hwy 40 outside of Hinton

Directions appear sketchy, though easy to find just as written.

People are slowly starting to populate the website created by Daniel Vitalis http://findaspring.com/ with locations found all over the world.

The Raw Snowman

I made apple-butternut squash soup for the Raw Food Potluck on Sat. I couldn't resist to bring along the Raw Snowman dessert. Super quick and easy to make. Tough to cut him up, though everyone enjoyed eating him!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup cashews
juice of 1 lemon (I ran out so used some lime)
7 dates (pitted)
unsweetened coconut flakes

Decorations:
Eyes - pumpkin seeds
Nose - goji berry
Mouth - chia seeds
Buttons - raisins
Arms - grape stems

Recipe:
Blend dry cashews until like flour. Set aside in a bowl. Blend dates, juice and a few sprinkles of coconut flakes (prevents sticking). Mix wet with dry with a spoon to make a dough. Make 3 balls, roll in coconut flakes, build snowman! Source: http://rawfoodswitch.com

Anyone is welcome to join in on the Edmonton raw food potlucks. Contact rawveganedmonton@gmail.com to get on the mailing list. Different venue the 1st Sat of each month. The food is outstanding!

2010 X-C Ski Season Begins...

Ski season had a couple week late start later November this year. Of course, I headed to the mountains whereever there was enough snow to glide on.

The view driving towards Hinton, view of the Rockies near Jasper.

Skiing with Taras at the Hinton Nordic Centre Nov 21, -20C

Awesome conditions, super fun, though cool temps

Early season tracks at Hinton Nordic Centre, Nov 25

Mountain views at the end of Morraine Lake Road in Lake Louise, Dec 1

View from the top of Blueberry Hill in Kananaskis, Dec 2

Pic on Blueberry climb that Alf Skrastins took of me! that I found on skihere.ca

Hinton friends Sue & Skye heading out on a balmy -8C day, Dec 5

2010 AB cyclocross season end

Nov 6 - Riverbend Cross Madness, Red Deer
The last Alberta cyclocross race was on a fast-paced open course, with a few twisty sections in the scenic river valley.

photos - Central Alberta Bicycle Club

With cyclocross Nationals on the same day in Toronto, the three women that showed up in Red Deer raced with the Expert men. Fun start in the mass, dodging racers that had overshot a few corners off the twisty start, getting through the rideable sandpit in a drunken path. I was positioned well. Once we hit the open sections, the strong guys quickly passed by.

Held my own with not getting lapped and duked it out with a couple guys. I was adamant to climb the insanely steep climb. Was getting more fatigued each time though made it without walking! The cheering section there helped!

Finally, mastered the barriers taking the bike speed into the run. Check out the height, especially on a slight uphill!

Jumping the barriers to me, feels like this!

photo - Aaron Falkenberg

Totally proud of the Albertan women that made the trip to Cross Nationals - Elite and Master women. Was hoping to see both Pepper and Katy on podium. Glad superwoman 4-time National cyclocross champ Wendy Simms had strong Alberta racers to challenge her! Pepper and Katy mostly raced in the Expert men category back home. Paid off with 2nd place for Katy and 4th for Pepper!

Canadian Cross Nationals - Katy hopping the barriers with Wendy

photo - Canadiancyclist.com

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Oct 30 - Brian Kullman Memorial Cross, Calgary

Race course set in the schoolyard beneath the Children's hospital on a super balmy summer-like day. More twists and turns than the prior year made it challenging fun. Many new faces with the thanks to the organizers for reduced entry for women. World ranked road racer Julie Beveridge showed up. I knew she would be speedy, wasn't sure about technical.

photos - R. Haskell

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Off the start, the many ability level field broke up quick. Bridget took the lead, with Sonya, Shantel, Julie and Marg close behind. Bridget lead strongly though washed out on the tricky descent corner to a swooping steep ascent. We avoided her and quickly passed by.

Shantel grabbing the cash prime at the first run-up the stairs

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In the open sections it was awesome to hang onto Julie's wheel drafting making good ground.

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Marg hovering behind Julie
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Passed Julie on the stairs run-up and stormed on any technical section to get away. Not overly thrilled to race solo on an open course to wind.

Approaching the barriers... .

I'm always excited to clear the barriers without tripping!
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tricky sharp left turn after the barriers
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small person technique up the steep climb

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Meanwhile, Bridget was strongly chasing her way back. I held the lead for a few laps, though energy was flailing. Ended up washing out on the same spot as Bridget earlier, now having to run up a normally rideable climb. Lost alot of the precious lead.

Bridget with her eye on Marg
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Marg working it, though tuckered

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Within the lap, Bridget came by Marg strongly

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Super exciting women's field racing this season!


Oct 31 - Beans 'n Barley Cross, Calgary

Next day, back to Shaganappi Park for the Halloween race. I dressed up with a costume minimally with black ears and black tail. The racers that dressed up were outstanding.

photos - Bill Quinney .

Had a super start with the course catered to my compact chainrings 50/34 in the straightaway sections. Felt strong today.

2010 Cyclocross

Sep 25 - School of Cross, Edmonton

AB cross season started slow for me with rolling my ankle on a super steep off-camber dismount within the first half of the first loop of the first race of the season! Doh, it hurt as I limped up the climb. After resting for a few minutes, I decided to coast back to the finish to pull out of the race... catching sight of the last rider ahead, and feeling ok, I (stupidly) started chasing! It was a fun course, clawed my way back to mid-pack by the end. Paid for it with a Fred Flintstone size ankle the next morning despite doing everything I could to keep the swelling down. It was a bummer to not race the next day... and next few races.

the wickedly fast start to the 1st cross race

photo - Aaron Falkenberg

Oct 9 - GP Jim Horner Cross, Edmonton

Rested my ankle for a couple weekends, then had two good races on the Velodrome course grounds.

Following Bridget and Shantel for a couple loops on the techie curves

photo - Bill Quinney

Shantel chasing Bridget over the barriers

photo - Saul Ansbacher

Up & down the grassy bowl near the Velodrome

photo Teresa Chung

Much needed help to open the bubbly!

Oct. 10 - Redbike Red Cross, Edmonton

Similar course to the prior day, in reverse direction. Seemed abit flowier. Still fun!

Marg laughing at Shantel's huge course taped hands.

Shantel jockeyed Bridget for 2nd.

Oct 17 - Kelowna Cyclocrawwws

While I was in Kelowna for a super fun birthday party weekend, I took the opportunity to go into Kelowna's first cross race. Choice of categories A and B, so I went A with the speedy guys and World Mountain bike champ Catherine Pendrel.

Course was rougher than the plush Alberta grass courses. Lots of fun technical sketchy corners and trails, with the steepest hike-a-bike section for a cross race ever!

First time I've flatted and had the good fortune Monica Nelson who was spectating overheard me and offered her wheel. Had fun catching back up to a few guys after my wheel change.
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Finished 2nd to Catherine though she lapped me, and was challenging the top 3 guys! Good atmosphere, and well organized for a first time event.

On podium with Catherine Pendrel

Oct 23 - Lion's Den Provincials, Devon

Course designer Cory Dickinson put in the "agitator" snail loop again. Made me dizzy going into it...Off the start, Katy was quickly binocular distance ahead. A good spectator race was happening between Bridget, Shantel and Marg, with sightings of Master woman Sonya not far behind. We were wheel to wheel.

Devon photos - Bill Quinney

I did a horrible job leading into the snail loop. With Bridget getting by me, it was so much easier to follow good riding lines, or should I say circles!

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Into the final sandpit, a stake tripped me tossing me and my bike into the pit. Bridget scooped her bike that bit it as well, with me dusting sand off not far behind. The wind was out of my sails to chase. Very exciting action for the crowd!

3rd at Provincials

photo - Alexis Hillyard

Oct 24 - Pedalhead Roadworks Super Prestige, Edmonton

Next day, woke up to rain which made the thick grassy course at Goldbar nicely rideable.

Pedalhead photos - Darcy Reynard

Many exchanges of the lead with Shantel, Trish, Sonya and Marg. Lengthy sandpit section which was challenging to grab the line closest to the pond (only one guy fell in!). In the end, Shantel had a stronger finish.

Marg chasing Shantel

Shantel chasing Marg

Coolest weather day though nice to watch from the indoor pavillion