My Events 2014




Contents

Click to enlarge photos, hover for caption


First Ski of the Winter

We got quite a lot of snow last night so Lynn and I abandoned all other plans and rendezvoused for our first ski in the Sawmill Creek Wetlands for a total of 5 km of blazing trails.

Lynn & Adam XC skiing Adam XC skiing Lynn XC skiing


Meatballs at Ikea

We are into the wet and cool season here in Ottawa before skiing starts and so today Lynn and I did a walk to Ikea to pick up candles and LED light bulbs on our 20th date. While we were there we had a meatball lunch.

Lynn & Adam at Ikea


Dim Sum at T&T

In the pursuit of Dim Sum, Lynn and I traipsed down to the huge Asian grocery store T&T in Ottawa. We not only picked up Dim Sum supplies for home, but we had lunch at their Dim Sum bar too, which was packed on a Saturday.

Lynn & Adam at the T&T Dim Sum bar


At Mud Lake with Lynn

This time of year is too cold for biking and there is not yet enough snow for skiing, so Lynn and I did a hike to Mud Lake, a small natural area in Ottawa near Britannia.

Lynn on the pathway with a painted heart Adam on the pathway with a painted heart Lynn on the Mud Lake board walk Mud Lake


Halloween Party with Lynn

Lynn invited me to a Halloween party at her neighbours, so we got dressed up and went!

Adam & Lynn


More Ice Skating with Lynn

Lynn and I went skating again this week. We like skating together so much I am sure we will do more of that over the winter. I made a video of us skating together:

Adam & Lynn


Ice Skating with Lynn

Lynn and I both got in our first skate of the winter, indoors at the local City of Ottawa ice rink! Public skating starts at the beginning of October here.

Adam & Lynn


Biking with Lynn

Lynn and I have been taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather lately to get out and do some serious bike trips over to Quebec. On this trip we biked about 32 km from her end of town to Lac Leamy and return, stopping at the rock balancing sculptures as shown.

I also put together a video of our ride:

Adam & Lynn Lynn


At the Nepean Sailing Club with Lynn

Lynn and I spent a day at the Nepean Sailing Club. We were supposed to get out sailing, but the winds were very high until late in the day. We had a fun time regardless.

Adam & Lynn Nepean Sailing Club Nepean Sailing Club


With Chris at RibFest and Parliament Hill

On Saturday Chris and I went downtown to listen to some music in the Byward Market, see the sunset from Parliament Hill and have dinner at Ribfest.

Adam & Chris Adam at the Summer Pavilion on Parliament Hill (Photo by Chris) Sunset from Parliament Hill RibFest on Sparks Street


Last Sail of the Season

Today was the last sail for Scotfree and her crew for this year and the final cruise was marked by a beautiful Indian Summer evening, lacking only one element: wind. There was not a breath of wind, so we motored out and had dinner on the Ottawa River. I managed to get out sailing eleven times with John and the crew this summer and it was definitely a highlight of the year for me.

Scotfree at the dock Becalmed sailboats Scotfree's crew motoring Sailing sunset Sailing sunset Adam with Scotfree (photo by Chris, 18 Septemebr 2014)


Scattering Ruth's Ashes

On a small group of us completed the hike, I read a eulogy and then we scattered Ruth's ashes, as she had requested be done. It was a lovely day for a 10 km hike and no rain fell during our time on the escarpment. Ruth returned to the wind she came to us all from.

We also shot a video of the event:

On the trail At the lookout At the lookout At the lookout At the lookout At the lookout At the lookout At the lookout At the lookout At the parking lot


Bicycle Picnic at Lac Leamy

It was a surpisingly cool Sunday in September when my friend Cyndy and I biked up to Lac Leamy in Quebec for a biclyle picnic there. Cyndy took the opportunity to sketch the lake scene including the ducks and gulls.

Cyndy biking Cyndy sketching ducks Adam & Cyndy with her sketchbook


Adam & Chris at the Gladstone Theatre

Chris and I had tickets to the opening night of Molière's The School For Wives at the Gladstone Theatre. The play was really well done and we enjoyed a great evening out together.

Chris all dressed up Adam & Chris dressed up for the theatre Adam & Chris dressed up for the theatre


Adam & Chris at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Chris and I visited the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, got to sit in a Cessna 150 and saw a Twin Huey that I used to fly.

Chris with Rolls-Royce RB.211 engine from a Lockheed L1011 Adam & Chris in the Cessna 150, we fit! Adam with Twin Huey 135114


Adam & Chris at the Mer Bleue bog

Chris and I went to the prehistoric Mer Bleue bog in the east of Ottawa and walked the board walk though the unusual landscape. The bog is named from the fog that is often seen over it on spring mornings, that makes it look like a blue sea.

Adam on the boardwalk at the Mer Bleue bog Adam & Chris on the boardwalk at the Mer Bleue bog The Mer Bleue bog landscape Chris on the boardwalk at the Mer Bleue bog


At the Ottawa Pride Parade

The Ottawa Pride Parade was huge this year, with many mainstream participants, like Loblaws, the Royal Bank and the TD Bank. All the major political parties were there too, except the bigoted one. I went with my friends Gwen, Shannon, Louis & Cyndy.

Large rainbow flag at the 2014 Pride Parade Shannon & Gwen at the 2014 Pride Parade Pink Triangle Services at the 2014 Pride Parade Costume made from garbage bags at the 2014 Pride Parade Jesus at the 2014 Pride Parade Mayor Jim Watson at the 2014 Pride Parade RCMP at the 2014 Pride Parade Canadian Forces at the 2014 Pride Parade Queer Mafia at the 2014 Pride Parade Liberal Party at the 2014 Pride Parade Foreskin Pride at the 2014 Pride Parade Muslim and Jewish groups march together at the 2014 Pride Parade Balloon decked-out truck at the 2014 Pride Parade Proud to be Out on Bank Street at the 2014 Pride Parade Dress up at the 2014 Pride Parade Brockville Pride at the 2014 Pride Parade Loblaws at the 2014 Pride Parade Cyndy & Louis at the 2014 Pride Parade


Adam's New and Improved Mountain Bike

In August I had some work done on my Norco Alpine mountain bike. While replacing the bottom bracket bearings the bike shop also replaced the cranks, chain-rings and front derailleur, upgrading it from its original 12-speed configuration to 18-speed! I also bought a new saddle for it, the third one it has had so far. This has all made the bike a lot more capable than it was.

Adam & his Norco Alpine mountain bike Adam & his Norco Alpine mountain bike


Adam & Brenda at the Mackenzie King Estate

Brenda and I spent a cool rainy Friday afternoon at the Mackenzie King Estate. At least the tearoom was open!

The Moorside house and tearoom The carriage house at Kingsmere Adam & Brenda at the Abbey Ruins Adam & Brenda at the Abbey Ruins


With Cyndy at Rideau Falls & Rideau Hall

My friend Cyndy and I did a hike to Rideau Falls and onto Rideau Hall. The roses were all done for the year, but the grounds were lovely to see.

Cyndy at the Rideau Falls Rideau Falls Adam & Cyndy Cyndy at Rideau Hall


Jane Comes to Visit

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Jane, my good friend from Owen Sound, came to Ottawa in July for BluesFest. We also did a bike trip on a lovely summer afternoon up to Mooney's Bay and Dow's Lake.

Jane rides the Catrike Trail Jane and Adam Jane and Adam


At the Ottawa Fringe Festival

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My friend Cyndy and I saw three plays over two days at the Fringe: Deranged Dating, Paco P. Put To Sleep and Kitt and Jane: an interactive survival guide to the Near-Post-Apocalyptic Future. All were good, but the last one was really superb!

Adam on his way to the Fringe Adam and Cyndy


Volunteering at the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival

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I volunteered for the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, held at Mooney's Bay, and was assigned to the "alternates crew", filling in wherever needed. My first day's assignment was on security at a remote back gate, while on the second day I was on "chair patrol" and the main north access gate. On my last day I was on accessability patrol, water, gate duty and finally bicycle parking.

Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival sign A Dragon Boat A Dragon Boat A Dragon Boat The Green Team Adam on Dragon Boat Festival Security Detail Dragon Boats Dragon Boats Vendors Kid's inflatable ride Sign Beach Spectators Bike Parking Box Trolls Childrens' inflatable slide A Dragon Boat being paddled A Dragon Boat being paddled


First Sail of the Season

On Saturday I helped John rig the sails and rails and paint part of his ketch Scotfree and on Sunday we got her out sailing on the Ottawa River for the Commodore's Sail Past at the Britannia Yacht Club. Crew were John, Jim, Lisa and Janice, plus me.

Sailing Sailing Janice Janice John Janice and STV Black Jack Trimaran Varekai Laser STV Black Jack STV Black Jack Tanzer 7.5 Somerled Tanzer 7.5 Somerled


Doug's Visit to Ottawa

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My friend from 'way back in high school, Doug, came to stay for a while in early June.

We visited a number of popular tourist attractions, like Manoir Papineau in Montebello, Quebec, Laurier House in Ottawa, The Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park, the Meech Creek Valley, Wakefield including Lester B. Peason's Grave.

Manoir Papineau Manoir Papineau Manoir Papineau Manoir Papineau Manoir Papineau Manoir Papineau Manoir Papineau Laurier House Laurier House Mackenzie King Estate Mackenzie King Estate Mackenzie King Estate Mackenzie King Estate Meech Creek Wakefield Pearson's Grave


The World Partnership Walk

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I decided to do some volunteer work and got involved with the World Partnership Walk run by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada. They needed a last minute fill-in as Walk Marshall to organize and deploy about 50 volunteers and make the whole thing work. So I said I could do that and we made it happen.

Saturday was set-up and I had a team putting up signs, while Sunday was the walk event itself.

World Partnership Walk start line


Catriking to the Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park

I took my Catrike Speed recumbent trike and cycled up to the Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park. The round trip was 75 km, but involves a lot of hills, making it a challenge. I hit 62 km/h coming back down one of the hills, though, a new record for me and the Speed.

This was the Ottawa Race Weekend when the marathon and other running races are held, so everyone was down in the city and the estate was pretty much deserted. The trike ride was a good workout, but I sure wish I had someone to cycle with, as doing these sorts of adventures alone is not much fun at all.

The Mackenzie King Estate is the former country home of our prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, who donated it to the nation in his will. He was an odd person and had some unusual hobbies, like governing the country by seance and collecting ruins, which he had assembled on his estate.

Adam at Mackenzie King Adam at Mackenzie King Adam at Mackenzie King Adam at Mackenzie King


Working on the Ketch Scotfree with Janice

Janice and I have been invited to do some sailing this summer on John's boat Scotfree. Today the boat was lifted from its cradle and put back in the water by crane. We then helped raise the masts and set the rigging

Janice and I have decided that since our long term goals are so different that we are just going to be friends in the future.

There is also a video:

Janice on Scotfree Janice on Scotfree Janice on Scotfree Janice on Scotfree Janice on Scotfree Janice


Two Years Without a Haircut

Today marks two years since Ruth last cut my hair on 13 May 2012. She made me promise to grow it down to the bottom of my shoulder blades, so I still have some distance to go.

Adam


Out Biking

The weather has finally warmed up in Ottawa and so I have been getting out biking while I can. This photo was taken on the Ottawa River, while I was on my way to meet my friend Rachel for dinner.

Adam with his Norco Alpine mountain bike


Catriking to Quebec

Today I went for my first Catrike ride and decided to head to Lac Leamy in Quebec. I didn't quite make it all the way there as the photos show.

I also shot a video:

Adam with his Catrike Speed Adam with his Catrike Speed and the Museum of Civilization Parliament Hill from Quebec The Lac Leamy pathway closed due to flooding


Meatball Date

Janice wanted to get some shelves for her apartment at Ikea and asked me to come along. To make it more fun we had a dinner of Swedish meatballs while we were there.

Janice at Ikea


Biking Season Starts

With a nice day and no rain at last I got out for my first bike ride of the season today, a short 12 km trip to Mooney's Bay and back.

Adam and his Norco mountain bike


Hike to the Britannia Yacht Club

Janice and I hiked from her apartment to look at the boats at the Britannia Yacht Club and especially Scotfree, the ketch we will be doing some sailing on this summer.

Janice Janice Janice and ScotFree


Planting a Tree For Ruth at Sati Saraniya

Janice, Louis and I went to the Sati Saraniya Buddhist Hermitage near Perth on Saturday where White Spruce trees were planted for three local Buddhists who recently died, including Ruth. The day was cool and rainy, but a number of people came to plant trees, have lunch with the nuns at the hermitage and then to do a short meditation and chanting.

I made a video of the tree planting part of the day

Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya Sati Saraniya


Hiking in Gatineau Park

Janice and I decided to go hiking in Gatineau Park on the Easter Weekend, so we had a picnic lunch up at Shilly Shally cabin. Afterwards we drove up to Wakefield and went to the bakery there as well as some of the curio shops. Being new to Ottawa, Janice got to see some new places and I got to play tour guide for her.

There is a video from our hike in Gatineau Park.

Janice Shilly Shally Adam at Shilly Shally Waterfall Janice Janice and Adam at Wakefield


Second Date With Janice

For our second date Janice and I went to the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau.

Janice and killer whale


First Date With Janice

Ruth made me promise to get out and meet someone new in April and not spend the whole summer alone. I met Janice on-line and we had our first date on 09 April 2014, a nice dinner out. We really liked each other and so decided to keep dating and see where it goes.

Janice and Adam


Skiing At The End Of March!

With more snow on the past weekend, the ski conditions were rejuvenated for a bit this week and I got out to the Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetlands once more. The conditions were quite mixed, with some parts quite fast and others hard and icy. In some places the sun was getting at the asphalt pathway and melting things.

I have never skied this late in the year before and certainly not down at the low elevations that we have in the city, as opposed to up high in Gatineau Park. With warm temperatures on the way for later this week this will probably be my last ski of the year.

I finished the ski season in March with 21 days of skiing and 132 km completed.

Adam Running out of snow


Skating

When the weather isn't up to XC skiing I often go skating instead. This year I have been skating at my local city facility, Jim Durrell Arena, five times. The indoor ice is always nice and smooth, unlike the Rideau Canal which can be pretty rough even at the best of times. As a bonus weekend skating has been free of charge at all arenas in the city, thanks to sponsorship from the Royal Bank.

The one disadvantage of being on my own these days is that all the photos are those darn "selfies".

Skating at Jim Durrell Arena


Back Volunteering at NCF

I had to curtail my volunteer work at National Capital FreeNet in May 2013, due to Ruth's illness. I was able to start there once again today, helping people out with internet issues. It was good to be back!

Adam at NCF NCF sign


98 km of Cross Country Skiing at Sawmill Creek

The ski conditions have continued to be very good here through the middle of February, at least up until today when we start into a four day thaw. I have managed to ski 16 days now out of the 20 days since 31 January and cover 98 km. Hopefully we will get some more snow after the melting is all finished.

The photo shows me with the still-incomplete Airport Parkway Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge. Construction started in 2011. The bridge should be completed late in 2014 or early in 2015, hopefully.

Adam with bridge


Matt & Katia in Ottawa

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On the weekend of 15-16 February Matt & Katia came to Ottawa for the weekend and brought their two cats, Anton and Teddy. We all went skating on the Ottawa "Rink of Dreams", except the cats.

Matt & Katia Matt & Katia


55 km of Cross Country Skiing at Sawmill Creek

The ski conditions here in the middle of this winter here in Ottawa have been really good, no freezing rain and no melting temperatures. So far I have been out skiing ten times and skied 55 km. Hopefully conditions will continue to be as good for a bit longer!

Sawmill Creek ski tracks Adam


Ruth's Ashes Come Home

Today I retrieved Ruth's ashes in their container from the Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa. The Co-op staff were all great, they made the whole process very easy.

After Ruth's ashes were scattered on this container was donated back to the Co-op for their use. Ruth specifically didn't want me to keep it.

Ruth's ash container


Cross Country Skiing at Sawmill Creek

Ever since Ruth died I have no longer needed to walk the 13.2 km to May Court and back every day, so to get some exercise and ensure I actually get out of the house I have been skiing in the Sawmill Creek Constructed Wetlands instead. Since we received 10 cm (4 in) of snow yesterday the conditions have been quite good and I blazed all new tracks in the fresh snow.

Ruth loved skiing the Wetlands, so I know she would have approved.

Adam


Ruth's Death at May Court

Ruth died from her cancer today at the Hospice at May Court.

When a patient dies at May Court they light a "Circle of Caring" candle for them and this photo shows Ruth's candle.

Ruth's candle




Ruth at May Court

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Due to her her ongoing cancer, as the year opened Ruth was still staying at the Hospice at May Court. This is a continuation of her stay there in 2013.

She agreed to let me take these photos with her laptop's webcam on 03 January 2014, but asked me not to take any more photos of her after this, so these will be the last ones.

Ruth and Adam 03 January 2014 Ruth and Adam 03 January 2014 Ruth and Adam 03 January 2014 Ruth and Adam 03 January 2014 Ruth and Adam 03 January 2014 Ruth and Adam 03 January 2014 Flowers for Ruth 22 January 2014