Tempus Fugit

Latin (tem-pu̇s-ˈfü-git): Time Flies

Posts

  • Sandilands trip

    On Monday Eric and I went out to Sandilands Provincial Park to do a little mountain biking. We had a great trip out discussing all sorts of things while driving through all kinds of weather including some snow and rain. Upon arrival, it was cloudy and cool, and we set out on one of the cross country ski trails. It turns out that these trails have been chewed up by ATVs and as the Park name implies the area is quite sandy. This made for some really tough riding.

    After a short outing we decided to drive over to another part of the trail system to see if we could find some better trails. Eric remembered that once upon a time there were some really nice single track trails, but we never did locate them. The second bit of riding was better, and there were a couple of water hazards like this one. One rather large puddle Eric road through and I heard him say “keep to the left”. After almost going down in the small lake as I rode across I later found out he said “got my shoes wet”. Turns out the puddle was a little deeper that anticipated. All in all a good trip, but I think we’ll be trying some other trails before coming back here again.

  • Early Snowfall

    This was the scene in our driveway at about 10am. We'd just stepped out side to try and photograph a beautiful rainbow, but it faded very rapidly. In the one shot I got off, it's barely visible. This was the first time I'd seen a rainbow where there hadn't been any rain, or snow for that matter, for some time and it was a generally clear sky. But, as you can see, there was snow on the ground from Friday afternoon, and over night into Saturday. I skipped the FOG ride. I don't mind cold, but cold & wet is just a little too much. Perhaps there will be a ride on the holiday Monday, but I think Eric & I will be heading out to Sandilands for a little mountain biking instead. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I know I've got lots to be thankful for.

  • IBM and the iPhone

    I feel an iPhone coming closer to me.

    Lotus Notes/Domino adds iPhone support – Industry Watch – IT World Canada

    IBM’s Lotus Notes/Domino collaboration platform is adding support for Apple’s iPhone. Domino server 8.5.1 is the first version to natively support the iPhone via Lotus Notes Traveler software, allowing automatic synching for e-mail, contacts and calendar data to the popular handset.

    IBM makes iPhone more attractive to businesses – Technology Live – USATODAY.com

    IBM just announced it is hooking up with Apple to try to popularize the use of iPhones in the workplace. Big Blue says Lotus Domino and Lotus Notes Traveler can now be paired with iPhones to allow users to automatically synchronize their corporate e-mail, contacts and calendar data on the hot-selling handset.

  • OPP on the Water

    For the last week the OPP have been at Smith Camps just down from our cottage and seem to be conducting some training exercises for the marine unit. All weekend 5 or 6 boats like this one have been cruising around the bay and going in an out from Smiths on quite a regular basis. While we were out in the kayaks once, we didn’t get “pulled over”, but I’d be sure I had all the regulation gear on board because I think they are just itching to practice on somebody.

  • Talk like a Pirate Day – Arrr, shiver me timbers!

    ’tis be hilarious! I noticed speak Like A scurvy pirate Day a few years ago, but they have really taken it to a new level.

    HOW TO: Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day

    Saturday, September 19th is the date of a rather unique holiday made possible largely by the internets. Pirate enthusiasts around the globe will be celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day in various ways, but the unifying theme is to shiver up your timbers and adopt some pirate language, me hearties!

  • On the Long X Trail

    On the Long X Trail

    We’re about 1 1/2 hours into an almost 8 hour “character building” ordeal when we stopped for a photo op after a long muddy climb of about 500 vertical feet. It’s rained Friday night and we’re out on a spur trail off the Maah Daah Hey trail in North Dakota called the Long X Trail. We knew the trail would be difficult if not impossible when wet, but some how we just kept on thinking it would dry up and get better. It didn’t.

    After we rode on far enough to start thinking things would never get better, we were too far gone to bother turning back, so we kept on ridding and it kept on getting muddier, slipperier, and then it started to rain. Parts of the trail were so rough that not only did you have to walk the trail, you needed to carry your bike. If you didn’t the tires just picked up so much mud that they refused to turn. Everyone spent a significant amount of time just scraping the clay muck off your bike so you could resume riding for what ever distance was possible before the bike was once again coated in mud. At one point we even resorted to washing the bikes in a cattle watering trough to get free from the mud.

    Everyone made the full days ride of approximately 20km which I’m sure was actually longer because the cycling computer didn’t register the mileage while I was carrying the bike, and there was a lot of carrying going on. Once back at the CCC campground everyone washed up and changed before driving down to the Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch where we washed the bikes and enjoyed a BBQ pork & beans dinner.

    The Sunday ride was much better. More on that later.

  • At the End of the Day

    Nothing beats sitting on the dock looking out over the water at the wonderous creation.

  • Return to Maah Daah Hey

    In just under a week I’ll be heading off to ride the MDH trail in North Dakota with the boys. For many years we made an annual trip to ride this outstanding single track trail, but this will be the first time since 2005.

    I’ve been taking with some of the guys and everybody is getting pretty excited about the trip. Its quite the action packed weekend with a 9 hour drive thru the night, breakfast at 4am, a brief nap in the vehicles until the sun comes up and then all day riding!
    I think we’ll be riding the northern section and taking in some near by trails on Saturday. Sunday we’ll ride for half a day in the Buffalo Gap area. As some would say, it should be GTs. I’m looking forward to it.

  • open windows

    Apparently all these windows are computer controlled to regulate the building temperature. I think I’ll sit here and wait for them to close.

  • Twitter bio’s

    I’m thinking it’s a little funny how many Twitter Biographies are reading like this line from Galdiator but with a family/church twist.

    Gladiator (2000) – Memorable quotes

    Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

    It must have been raining way too long for me to have noticed this. Wait, what’s that? There is a strange glow coming in the window! Could it be? Sunlight? YES!