not as diligent as BP....

So - we were in Australia from March 5th - 20th - YES we loved it. Didn't take any means to communicate ( no computer or phone - I kinda planned it that way - make it a real holiday ) - really a small problem. It was hard to get computer access ( I wasn't looking too hard ) - hence my lack of posts and FB & Twitter absence. Blogger was even worse. I was the polarity of Mr. Payne's near twice daily postings ( BTW his blog post is awesome stuff !! Don't stop Bryan ).

This is my sister's deck pool in Trinity Beach - Cairns - Queensland looking out at the Coral Sea. The cyclone Uliu was ~ 1200 kms offshore - making for more than average winds and churned surf. It landed south of Cairns about 3 days after we left. Queensland - LOVED it. Too humid - killer jellyfish and crocs prevent swimming at the beaches - but it is paradise in the Tropics. Running was a bitch with the humidity and heat.

This is Longreach Bay on Rottenest Island off Perth Western Australia. My brother lives there with his wife and daughter. YES - my sibs couldn't live any farther apart ! A five hour direct flight thank you.
WA is gorgeous - and yes you can swim in the surf.  Did LOTS of running along the West Coast Highway. The driver's are so disrepectful to cyclists ( even worse to pedestrians ) - that the roadies also use the paved path on the WCH. I didn't get to ride a bike - probably a good thing. While I did drive cars on the wrong side during the stay - I felt that riding a bike with the locals would have been a shitty endeavour. Couldn't believe how many Giant bikes there were - at least 3/4's of all bikes I saw were Giants....

So - one of my highlights was a little reconaisance in Busselton. Why ? Oh this little get together every December called IMWA. My goal is to participate in 2011. Scouting report ? Everybody I've spoken with about this race LOVES it. I can see why - a near perfect 1.84 km long jetty makes the swim a follow of it's periphery. Flat course - lots of international participants. Mind you - December in WA is gonna be stinky hot - so get ready for a 38 - 40 degree Celcius day.

Near Busso is Margaret River. Home to at least 60 wineries and a real playground for the Perthites for weekends - holidays - whenever. Again paradise. This does make for costly accommodation - so be prepared that anywhere near Busso - Dunsborough - Yallingup - is gonna be pricey for the stay. But well worth it !!

If I had the cake - I would live 2 months of the year in Yallingup. A gorgeous little villa on the slope of the Cape Naturaliste point - overlooking the Indian Ocean. Mind you - I would miss the mountains and snow and dark hours run & bike training.

Thanks again to our extended families on both Coasts of Australia - the hospitality you extended our way was incredible !!

So - gotta cut short on this post - will write more in the next couple of days.

Cheers

Brent

p=mv

So - last post before heading to BOTH sides of the continent we call Australia. Perth, WA and Cairns, Queensland. Will try to post and post whilst going walkabout.

Sunday. Participated in my first ever Sunday Road Ride. Some very talented big engines in this town - reasons are too many why I've never rode in it before. Average an 80 km loop all over East Kelowna, Belgo, McKenzie Bench and Airport areas of Kelowna.

http://vimeo.com/9828166

So here it is for you to watch. The ride ? AWESOME. I really enjoyed getting spanked by the tandem boys. I tried like a bastard to keep up with them - couldn't do it. Then I remembered........

              p=mv                           Momentum = mass x velocity

In high school - this was a lost in the crowd equation - too simple. This video blasts the reality of this little equation through your brain like a shock wave. The chap Frank on the rear deserves a round of kudos. Getting off the couch brigrade - wants to drop a shitload of weight. He's out there - he's starting.

Too many of the boys cut out early to watch the men's olympic hockey final game. Poofs.
I'm more excited about our Cross Country ski results.

Men's 2 man relay 4th !!!!!!
50 km race - 5th ( off the Gold by 1.6 seconds !!!!!!!!! )

Watching NHLers is not something I'm gonna blow a ride off for. I like hockey - but I LOVE riding my bikes !!

The Total Restoration Cycling team did the Round the Lake ride - so some of the big engines were not in this ride. All said and done - a robust 110km ride for me - definitely a harder pace than I planned - but was expecting. 1/2 barf pace if you will. The sprints and sporting climbs left the downhill recoveries too short..........

Enjoy the video. Best of luck to all participants in Ironman China - coming up fast. Fellow blogger Bryan THE PAYNE TRAIN is trying to qualify for Kona. I've been enjoying his posts - his journey has been long and hard - let's hope his destination is as planned......

Power to the pedal

Brent

How can you NOT be happy ?

Family Fun Day for the Big White Racers Saturday Feb 20th. Kids vs parents on a large Slalom but not quite GS course. Timers, Start Ref, Finish Ref, Chief of Course ( a VERY cranky one too ! ). It was all official.

http://vimeo.com/9613318

So - I knew Ilana was going to kick my arse. Did I know this bad ? NOPE. Was I happy ? OF COURSE.
I cannot believe the skill development she's evolving here - it's spectacular. For Ilana - this was 4 years in the making. I was always busy working - never available to race her.

Boy did she make up for the years past.

Yes I realize this is every parent's hope - the kids have fun, learn, and develop many skills with their choices. Sports, music, video mediums....the life skills, friendships, etc they build in these electives is priceless.

So here is a happy music video to look at on a rainy day. Enjoy - try not to laugh too much at my getting whooped. It was fun

Cheers,

Brent

Mike's new trail " UP "

Been slamming busy folks. The two school assemblies were incredible. Been running lots in the am. As far as the biking - well - no slack is the catch-phrase.

Rode last night at Rose Valley with 5 hearty mates. Ken dropped off early w battery issues - and my video camera was not running for the time I wanted it to.

See for yourself...

http://vimeo.com/9525130

Cheers & Enjoy,

Brent

Olympic Opening Day

My Torch & I have been busy bees in the last couple of days. Yesterday was us and 3 other Torchies at Lakeshore Place Retirement Residence for their Olympic Breakfast. Very humbling very cool. The senoirs loved it - and appreciated us bringing the Torches in to show.

January 25th ~ 11:00 am at Casorso Elementary. Lucky kids - the Olympic Flame wasn't even in Kelowna yet !!!

Today is kahuna day - for everybody. For me - Rose Valley Elementary School this am - room to room presentation - gym assembly - run around field. Plus two business stops - again in full regalia with Torch.
Then this afternoon is Raymer Elementary - same spiel - room to room - gym assembly.

Before today's date - I estimate that our Torch has been held by ~ 1200 people. Pictures ? At least 5,000.
The morning of my Torch Relay - Pierre-Luc reminded us that we were SELECTED on the merits of our application. He told us it will change our life - and challenged us to do something with it.

This sharing of the hardware has been so fulfilling - it is beyond words. The kids are so pumped to hold and grab the Torch. The questions are endless - and most creative.

I want to thank Jody Nelson - teacher at Casorso Elementary for asking me in late December if I could bring the Torch to the school assembly. It sparked me to share this special gift with as many people as possible.

I hope that many other Torchies are doing same.

Here's to a very successful Opening Day for the Olympics - here's to a spectacular day for everybody !!

Enjoy your day !! Pics to follow.

Cheers

Brent

Weasel House BWR Flag

As one of my last duties as a member of the Big White Racer Executive - here's the finished product. BC Alpine shipped us this flag - I had to organize and den-mother peoples and little racers to sign the flag - but not fill in the Maple Leaf. Thanks to Gerry Whittaker ( volunteering with Tom Fydell, and Chris Jaegli ) here's the finished product hanging in Weasel House at Whistler. Each registered Ski Club in BC had the opportunity - great idea. Weasel House is a R&R gathering place - Gerry writes that this is where all the volunteers go to drink !!
If that's the case - then the Maple Leaf will be filled up in no time.......LOL
Thanks to Kathy Stahr of BC Alpine. Thanks to the Big White Racer kids for writing their messages of luck and " bring out a can o' whoop-ass ".

GO CANADA !!

Thursday @ 7:30am - myself and 3 other Torchbearers ( with our flash outfits ) will be at Lakeshore Place Retirement Residence for their Breakfast Olympics. This is going to be special - as it sounds like there are going to be plenty of families with their residence members.
Friday AM - Rose Valley Elementary Olympic Assembly - room to room presentation of the Torch & I ( in the flash outfit ) plus a run around the field.
Friday PM - Raymer Elementary Olympic Assembly - sounds like same thing....in the flash outfit.

Have definitely lost count - but Dad & I have had more than 1000 people hold and take picture with our Torch. I trust that other Torchbearers can do same....

Cheers,

Brent

the official Torchbearer photo...

Not too many words needed here. Thanks again to the entire Torch logistics team, and especially to the RCMP security runners. Hard to believe it was 2 weeks ago today.

Cheers