As the bucket list goes -- it grows but so do the adventures that are placed in the bucket.
I have just finished the Open Water Scuba Dive portion of my scuba training. I am now a certified (and still certifiable) scuba diver. What a hoot! The training and adventure were amazing and like most things that I get myself involved in there is always an added "kick" to the story.
The 4 dives that constitute the open water training took place on Saturday and Sunday at Confederation Park in Barrie. Saturday morning was particularly invigorating with a major downpour and 15 degree weather. I suppose you could say - big deal since we were going to get wet anyway -- but it does make a difference when everything around you, clothes, papers, food etc is soaken wet and downright cold. But then the upside is that the water looks inviting. One scuba school actually cancelled its class.
Anyway, after an orientation session, we geared up - I now have the experience of what women go through in putting on certain clothing -- when I had to put on the wet suit; boots, hood and gloves. By the time I had my 24 lb. weight belt and BCD on I was just about exhausted. We then had to walk about 40 feet to the shore and into the water at which time we put on the fins (I kept calling them flippers - but that just shows how old I really am.)
The testing was organized and would go well if it wasn't for the fact that I now had to come to grips with a realization that probably existed for decades -- I have a waist - what I don't have is hips!! Which means the weight belt will not stay up. It sounds funny. It ain't. By the time I had completed the first test (satisfactorily) I left the water and was ready to call it quits.
The 3 diving instructors then had to consider how to deal with the issue of how to keep the weights on me so that I would be able to descend into the water - and yet be able to get rid of the weights in a split second if necessary. They were quite imaginative and by the time they were done I was wearing two sashes with the weight belt resting on the sashes. All was well and I was now a relatively happy camper (or diver).
For the next two dives, the sky would look as if it was clearing and then the rain got worse. The visibility in the water was about a maximum of 12 inches. Really freaky. But all went well and by 3 p.m. I was on my way home, tired, water logged and not hearing very much.
Sunday looked promising. The weather was sunny. However, as soon as I stepped out of the car at the park it started raining for about 30 seconds. Definitely someone was laughing at us!
The last of the 4 dives went quickly. We were all certified - 6 guys; 2 gals; ages from the young lady who was about 12 years old to the 63 year old motorcyclist; sky diver; etc.
But the best was yet to come. One of the instructors stayed behind to take 7 of us on our first additional dive. An excursion to a sunken barge 29 feet deep. It was a 30 minute dive and was fantastic. Beautiful views (about 5 or 6 feet of visibility) and lots of fish. It was amazing to stop and look at a fish who just simply looked back at me. It was as if we were communicating.
So thank you to Liam, Dan and Alan (with one L) ( all of Scuba2000 in Richmond Hill) who took us on the dive and emphasized all that is important to remember about diving. I can't say enough good things about Scuba2000. They are a class act!!
So, I have now done - earth (motorcycling); air (sky diving) and water (scuba diving). After I finish the Edgewalk at the CN Tower shortly, I am looking forward to the next adventure. I am going to again meet up with Alan (with one L) since he is also a ski instructor. Judy and I have never downhilled skied - and it is about time we find out what it is all about. I suppose I should tell Judy that Alan (with one L) is also a pilot but she may not be very happy about that.
be well -- and my MD says that my full hearing should be restored within a few days ;-)))))
august 3
Just when you think that you are smarter than all that nature can muster - wham -- you are brought back to reality.
Such has been the case with me for the last couple of days. Thinking that my youth had not left me I decided to jump out a plane; ride a bike like Captain America; and for those of you old enough to remember - swim like Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt.
Suprise, surpise -- not likely. I now have the most miserable summer head cold to remind me that you can't fool with mother nature. I have never been one to believe in the adage: "all things in moderation". I believed that "grab what you can because it will be gone tomorrow". Unfortunately my body is thinking otherwise. So instead of walking around the outside of the restaurant at the top of the CN tower; or doing a solo parachute jump -- I will hibernate for a few days and be ready to be stupid again by the middle of next week. After all, I can use the excuse that I forget what I did last week and simply repeat it.
be good.
Such has been the case with me for the last couple of days. Thinking that my youth had not left me I decided to jump out a plane; ride a bike like Captain America; and for those of you old enough to remember - swim like Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt.
Suprise, surpise -- not likely. I now have the most miserable summer head cold to remind me that you can't fool with mother nature. I have never been one to believe in the adage: "all things in moderation". I believed that "grab what you can because it will be gone tomorrow". Unfortunately my body is thinking otherwise. So instead of walking around the outside of the restaurant at the top of the CN tower; or doing a solo parachute jump -- I will hibernate for a few days and be ready to be stupid again by the middle of next week. After all, I can use the excuse that I forget what I did last week and simply repeat it.
be good.
July 29
All within the month of July, 2012
by land, by air and by sea
air - tandem parachute ride at 14,000 km.
land - iron butt ride - great lakes - 16,847k in 19 hours
sea - scuba diving certification -- my open water certification to be completed asap.
all at the young age of 63
we don't get older we get better.
by land, by air and by sea
air - tandem parachute ride at 14,000 km.
land - iron butt ride - great lakes - 16,847k in 19 hours
sea - scuba diving certification -- my open water certification to be completed asap.
all at the young age of 63
we don't get older we get better.
July 24, 2012
The second of my "triathalon" ----
GOING FROM TORONTO TO KINGSTON VIA SARNIA!!
the final tallies for the Iron Butt Ride -- a Saturday July 21, 2012 ride are:
started at 2:54 am and ended at 10:44 pm. -- way too many cigar breaks; leisurely trip along the seashore parkway in pa; texting; and having to pay cash for gas
odometer: 1684.7k
overall average 86.6k
moving average 101k
max speed - I forgot to use it ; or I deleted it (sorry your honour, really)
total moving time 16:38 hours.
hardest parts -- I-75 is a mess; Buffalo to I-90 is a mess; 401 is a mess all the time
conversations with Customs -- priceless
at Port Huron -- the officer heard of the ride -- he didn't think he could do it on his Harley -- since he was wearing a gun I merely gave a non-committal nod without any other comment.
cost - about $110.00 not including the cost of Gold Balm
temperature -- 12(not including wind chill) in the morning 87 in the afternoon
amazing: I did not use my air horn even once!!
what I learned -- I do not have an iron butt.
That ghost is gone forever!!!!!
Now that I have done the “air” and the “land” time to do the “sea”
allan
GOING FROM TORONTO TO KINGSTON VIA SARNIA!!
the final tallies for the Iron Butt Ride -- a Saturday July 21, 2012 ride are:
started at 2:54 am and ended at 10:44 pm. -- way too many cigar breaks; leisurely trip along the seashore parkway in pa; texting; and having to pay cash for gas
odometer: 1684.7k
overall average 86.6k
moving average 101k
max speed - I forgot to use it ; or I deleted it (sorry your honour, really)
total moving time 16:38 hours.
hardest parts -- I-75 is a mess; Buffalo to I-90 is a mess; 401 is a mess all the time
conversations with Customs -- priceless
at Port Huron -- the officer heard of the ride -- he didn't think he could do it on his Harley -- since he was wearing a gun I merely gave a non-committal nod without any other comment.
cost - about $110.00 not including the cost of Gold Balm
temperature -- 12(not including wind chill) in the morning 87 in the afternoon
amazing: I did not use my air horn even once!!
what I learned -- I do not have an iron butt.
That ghost is gone forever!!!!!
Now that I have done the “air” and the “land” time to do the “sea”
allan
July 17th
Every so often I review my bucket list and wonder if it is time to strike another adventure off the list. So it was in the last week or so.
I could tell the story as follows: I decided to go for a plane ride over York Region, Ontario. I booked the flight, paid the fare, got on the plane but after reaching 14,000 feet I was very unhappy with the plane ride - so there was only one thing to do - I left out the back door.
But really, the exit was planned -- as in -- jumping out at 14K as a tandem jumper meaning that attached to my back was a professional parachute jumper. They made me sign a five or six page letter containing numerous acknowledgements and waivers -- but nothing about hijackers. They then put the harness on me and started giving me the details of the flight.
About 12 jumpers and 3 photographers started off in the plane. It took about 12 minutes to get to 14K feet -- above the clouds. We walked off the back of the plane -- did a somersault; did a free fall; flew with a mini parachute to keep us at 200 k/h and then after about a minute the parachute opened and it was another 5 minutes of a slow descent and then a soft landing.
The only thing I forgot was to ask what happens if my tandem partner blacks out. Oh well -- it turned out to be an unnecessary question.
Two things -- on the plane they asked me two questions -- how was I doing. I gave the answer about a dozen times with my head nodding "bad idea", "bad idea". Then they asked me if I had any last words. I said "amen".
With that I walked off the plane.
Next time I will get a better seat !!!!!
Every so often I review my bucket list and wonder if it is time to strike another adventure off the list. So it was in the last week or so.
I could tell the story as follows: I decided to go for a plane ride over York Region, Ontario. I booked the flight, paid the fare, got on the plane but after reaching 14,000 feet I was very unhappy with the plane ride - so there was only one thing to do - I left out the back door.
But really, the exit was planned -- as in -- jumping out at 14K as a tandem jumper meaning that attached to my back was a professional parachute jumper. They made me sign a five or six page letter containing numerous acknowledgements and waivers -- but nothing about hijackers. They then put the harness on me and started giving me the details of the flight.
About 12 jumpers and 3 photographers started off in the plane. It took about 12 minutes to get to 14K feet -- above the clouds. We walked off the back of the plane -- did a somersault; did a free fall; flew with a mini parachute to keep us at 200 k/h and then after about a minute the parachute opened and it was another 5 minutes of a slow descent and then a soft landing.
The only thing I forgot was to ask what happens if my tandem partner blacks out. Oh well -- it turned out to be an unnecessary question.
Two things -- on the plane they asked me two questions -- how was I doing. I gave the answer about a dozen times with my head nodding "bad idea", "bad idea". Then they asked me if I had any last words. I said "amen".
With that I walked off the plane.
Next time I will get a better seat !!!!!
April 24
Almost a month -- and the very good reason why I have not posted is that I am way way too busy to be putting my fingers to a keyboard -- until this moment and the ten minutes that it is going take for me to spell out what has happened.
First -- way to much work at work. Hearing, tribunals, attendances, real estate, corporate, estates, mediations, etc etc etc. It is a good thing that I love doing what I do. And then, since I had some spare time, I finished the Motorcycle Training Program at Centennial College. My students aced the exam last weekend -- I shadowed an instructor and the seven students passed the MTO exam. It was great watching them develop from individuals very nervous to sit on the bike to riding like a pro during the exam. I am still aching from all the exercise I got -- and my voice is still hurting from acting as a cheerleader.
And now I have meetings all the rest of the week and Saturday morning.
If idle hands are the work of the devil, there must surely be a place for me elsewhere.
First -- way to much work at work. Hearing, tribunals, attendances, real estate, corporate, estates, mediations, etc etc etc. It is a good thing that I love doing what I do. And then, since I had some spare time, I finished the Motorcycle Training Program at Centennial College. My students aced the exam last weekend -- I shadowed an instructor and the seven students passed the MTO exam. It was great watching them develop from individuals very nervous to sit on the bike to riding like a pro during the exam. I am still aching from all the exercise I got -- and my voice is still hurting from acting as a cheerleader.
And now I have meetings all the rest of the week and Saturday morning.
If idle hands are the work of the devil, there must surely be a place for me elsewhere.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
