It is a cold and wet Saturday morning - a perfect time to write a blog entry. The view of Gatineau Park from our apartment window is changing daily, as the trees have turned from a dark green to shades of red, yellow and brown. Yes Fall is here (the geese are flying south - see pic) which means the infamous Ottawa winter is not far off - let us see if Ottawa's tag as the second coldest capital in the world eventuates this Winter - a lot of the locals are sceptical because of the (sped up) effect of Global Warming - last week the average temperature was 25 C (the 'norm' at this time of year is supposed to be around the early teens), the locals are all saying it is strange. Anyways, the Maples in Gatineau have changed and tourists are cueing up to drive through the Park. We on the other hand are still in Ottawa, at least for today, and will go to the 'Heart & Crown' to watch the AB's play France in the World Cup quarters. We are watching it with a couple from London, who will be happy that England beat Aussie in this mornings quarters 12-10. It will cost us $20 each to watch it, as the pub has to pay $10,000 to get the sports channel that plays the world cup!
So the last month - again a lot has happened. It started with the trip to La Ronde, a roller coaster park in Montreal; then there was the 3 day canoe trip down part of the Noire River in Quebec with 4 others; a 200 foot bungee jump; a secured full time position at a certain embassy; and the busy happenings in Ottawa.
La Ronde , a roller coaster theme park in Montreal was a blast. I had never been on a roller coaster before, and Miriam hadn't been on any for years, so we thought we would have a look. We chose the wrong day as it was a national holiday in Quebec, and the cues for rides were....long (like the airport cues in America - with the zig-zag lines). However the park is massive with hundreds of rides, so there were some options, like the Goliath, Bateau Pirate, Boomerang, Cobra, Manitou, Monstre, Orbite, Super Manege, Tornade, Vampire, and the Vertigo . Speaking of adrenaline rushes, I was asked to join some of our Ottawa friends in bungee jumping (Miriam wasn't up for it) at the 'Great Canadian Bungee' in Quebec (about 20 mins drive from Ottawa). The reason why I said yes, was because the jump was half price - not because it was a dodgy outfit or anything, but because a friend had a 2-for-1 pass. It was a 200 foot jump into a lagoon - I asked if I could be dipped on the way down, I ended up getting dunked down to my waist!
About 4 weeks back, we went on a 3 day canoe trip with 4 others (Dan, a Swiss Canadian, Mike & Amanda, friends of Dan, and Dave who knows Dan and whom we meet at tennis in Ottawa). We went down part of the Noire (Black) River , in Quebec. It took us about 2.5 hours (from Ottawa) to arrive at the canoe outfitters - located way out in the wops, down a gravel road. From there we were fitted with all the gears - life jackets, helmets, paddles; sorted out our food - in which we stored in a waterproof/bear proof barrel; and loaded the canoes onto the trailer for the 1.5hr drive to our drop off point (the road was rough as guts - 4x4 only). When we arrived at the drop off point, it was getting quite late (and dark), so we paddled up stream for about 15minutes to find a suitable place to camp the night. We had enough food to (almost) sink a canoe, and we needed to some how hoist the barrel of food 15 feet up a tree (and 2m out from the trunk), in order to safeguard it from the bears. Dan (the Swiss Canadian - well he comes to Canada all the time, so is considered a local) had the rope and with the help of some of us, we manged to hoist the food up without any hassle (the following night we weren't as successful, as the branches came crashing down on us - too much food in the barrel).
The next day, we had a gentle canoe ride down the river - although the wind made it seem as though we were paddling up stream at some points. We arrived at the campsite just before the infamous grade 3 rapid aptly named '50/50' - because you had a 50% chance of capsizing or getting through it unscathed. It was the first time we had encountered anybody for the entire day - in fact the campsite was choker (about 15 people), so we had to pitch the tent on some wild brush - very uncomfortable. Dave and I were the only ones game enough to try the '50/50' - we studied it a few time that night and were going to attempt it the next morning, without the camping gear inside the canoe. The next morning came, we studied the path we would take (over and over) before deciding it was time. We were all psyched up, we hopped in the canoe - adrenalin rushing through our veins - and paddled up stream a bit to get a better run up - on the way up stream we both spotted a snake swimming across the bow - was this a good omen, we thought. Nup, we capsized 2 seconds into the rapid, and went down the rest (over boulders) on our arse - canoes are s**t, why can't they stay upright! Anyways, the canoe was stuck (full of water) on a boulder in the middle of the rapid - we managed to somehow tip it over to release some of the water, and it finished the '50/50' without us. Oh, well there were more grade 3 rapids that day - bring it on!
Actually, the next one was 1oom upstream, one in which we were not aware of. We packed our gear on board and headed downstream. In 3 canoes ahead of us were a family (including a very young baby strapped in the front of the canoe - when I say strapped in, I mean strapped into a baby seat (like in a car), not a baby literally strapped to the canoe (like a pack);). 50 m upstream we all noticed the rapid. Miriam said, 'I hope that canoe with the baby is not going down that rapid ahead', I said 'no, but we are'. They portaged it, and we were heading for it. In the end, with Miriam's superior front end guidance and my panicky steering at the back, we got through the rapid fine, albeit a little wet - and so did the others. From then on there were many small rapids (grade 2s and 1s) and low water crossings to make - all of which we survived. However, later in the day we stopped before another grade 3. Dan suggested we take the gear out for this one. So we walked the gear through the forest to the other side of the grade 3, and studied the path we would take through the rapid. 'Alright, who is up first' , Dan said. Miriam and I said we would go first - on the walk to the canoe there were a few nerves, but also kiwi pride - we will do this one for all kiwis that have been in a canoe (not many). We headed up stream a bit - Miriam would go hard out up front and yell out directions, I would go hard out , steer, and yell out 'Oh mama'. Right this was our moment, the Canadians were filming it and were cheering us on. Now you would think that we might have come a cropper (**like the All Blacks vs France) , but nay - we conquered it - sweet. We some how turned the right way at the right time with our eyes closed and ended upright, out the other side of the rapid. Now it was the Canadians turn - Amanda and Mike were next. We were filming this time. They were looking good until the front left got stuck on a rock and swung the canoe around, tipping and filling it with water in the process - bugger (it was unlucky, as they were looking good. Even more unlucky was that when they tried to upright the canoe, it buckled under the pressure - this wasn't noticed until we returned the canoes to the outfitters later that day - they were given the option of buying the canoe for $800, or paying $250 for the damage - they paid the $250). Anyways, Dave and Dan were next. To cut to the chase, the experienced canoeists did with out a problem - nice one.
So within a few hours the canoe trip was over. It was a great experience, one in which we will do again for sure next summer.
** As I said at the top, this blog post has been written over a few days, because of the lack of time in which I have had to write it. I managed to secure work at 'that place' and have decided to postpone my studies until January (part-time, work full-time), because of many reasons. Mainly I had just started the new job, which was taking up a lot of time, and we have been making the most of the good weather by exploring parts of Quebec and Ontario - like last weekend in Tremblant.
Thanksgiving weekend, we went to Mont Tremblant to see the colours of Fall - the red, yellow and brown maples. We drove through Gatineau Park on the way, and then up the 317 to Tremblant. All I can say is stunning. If ever you get a chance to come to this part of Canada, come in Fall - it is unreal, the pictures don't do it justice at all.
So, Miriam's mum is here in a week (she is actually in Calgary at the mo. in a singing competition - good luck Anne!). Miriam has taken the week off (and I am in between contracts with 'that place'), so we might go to Quebec City and Montreal for a bit. Hopefully the Fall colours are still around.
Winter is a coming, so we purchased some ski/snow board gear at a warehouse sale. The gear was, get this, 70% cheaper than in NZ. We were stoked, as it will last us for years, and we saved a s**tload. Now all we need is snow.
I am still doing the OSSC sports on Wednesday nights. This time I have registered to do the 'All Sorts of Sports' option - which includes Dodgeball (yes like the movie - it is big over here), volleyball, floor hockey, indoor soccer, and basketball). During the winter, I might try ice hockey or curling!
We had a go at Salsa a few Tuesdays ago. It was cool, I think I'm a natural......being that needs to practise in order to get good at it. Miriam made it look easy - how do you move your hips like that! Anyways, we haven't been lately cos of some work (liaison) dinners that have ended up always occuring on Tuesday evenings. We'll get back into it in Winter.
We just purchased winter tyres and rims for the car - a must for Ottawa in Winter. They set us back a bit, but we are hopeful they will last the distance. Also speaking of the car, we are driving down to New York for Christmas and New Years and meeting some friends (Hamish & Karen) there, who are flying across from the UK. Hopefully the journey south will be OK - without the hassle of holiday traffic and blizzard like conditions.
Well, that is about all for now - back to my book 'Eau Canada' ( it is a book about water governance/management (or lack of it) in Canada. There is a common perception that Canada has 25% of the World's fresh water - this is a common 'myth' that has circulated around the media. The fact is that Canada has 6.7% of global fresh water, in which only 2.6% is able to be used in a renewable way. The great lakes are like giant swimming pools - if the water is used they will dry up, as they are not fed significantly and the average rainfall around the lakes is quite low. And the water sources up north are unattainable for obvious reasons. There are water shortages in the prairies, and water management is of concern throughout Canada - eg the Walketon disaster . USA has more renewable water sources than Canada, and they still import a lot from Canada. Brazil and Russia, top the list for global water resources).
I still can't believe the AB's are out of the World Cup.
Bloody Ref.
Need Marmite;)
