2011.2.27 - Outdoor adventure show and animal tracking (smelling)

These two divers worked so hard inside the sealed water tank to entertain the crowd. I have my sympathy for them.

 Kayaks and canoes are always my favorite toys. This experienced craftsman was making a paddle with simple hand tools.

Learned some tracks on the show and I put them into use in the afternoon. We went with guys from Wolf' Den for a walk to find some animal tracks. Lots of K9s around, other than that, a few squirrels, deer, raccoon, and red fox. I had to smell the urine to tell the difference between the fox and dog, well, it was 100% natural. Learned to tell the scraping mark on the tree bark from squirrels, smell that you feel like push your nose into a furry squirrel. After the walk we lit a fire and chat a bit. I practiced hand drill fire making. But failed many attempts with full hand bloody blisters.

2011.2.26 - Another working Saturday, for more doughs.

Snowing in the morning, very slippery. I cheated my Week1Session3 on my treadmill to reduce chances of injury.

Went to Seaton Hiking Trail after work. There were new square poles, don't know what's that for, probably for marking distance or interpretive plaques.

 Always thinking about creeking down the West Duffins, but my Pyranha Fusion is still sitting in the MEC.

Beaver's work is everywhere but their lodge is nowhere to be found upstream.

Massive dead falls at a side stream.

Looks like a crime scene where a squirrel was murdered a while back.

I could just sit on that branch forever, listening to the trickling water flowing down the creek.

2011.2.25 - Make your own cover for skate blade

The proper ones are only a few bucks but I would like to make my own using materials readily available. Just a piece of rubber tube and a few rubber bands make a good protector for my skates. The drawback is it doesn't absorb the moisture as a terry soaker does but I may have a updated version later to address this problem. Little projects like this won't contribute to the GDP, in a sense, it makes the world greener.

2011.2.24 - The snow is coming again

But the following rain will destroy it immediately. The sidewalks and trails are icy and slippery, I have to be extra careful when running.

Week1 Session 2

2011.2.23 - Learn to Run 10km Program

http://www.sportmedbc.com has a learn to run 10km program and some people really recommend that. So I started this morning. I just need a pair of warmer gloves for cold morning. This is week 1 session 1, 13 weeks to go.

2011.2.22 - Heater core nightmare

Took on a day long repair job today - replacing the heater core on a 01 Audi A4. What a mess!

2011.2.21 - Nordic Ski @ Scenic Caves

 The trail is very well groomed but it doesn't help too much on my newbie skill level.

View from look out spot.

 You can see the chalet from the look out.

Chadash is playing his flipping trick.

2011.2.20 - Ski @ Snowvalley, Barrie

Leaving on a TOC trip for XC ski on family day, I had to make up for my family. So we went skiing at Snow Valley. The weather was great, track condition is fair, the crowd - beyond my imagination.

2011.2.19 - Working Saturday

Haven't been working on Saturdays for a while.

2011.2.18 - Super warm day

I took a picture of this snowman back on Jan. 19th. Look at him now, stripped and sagging. It's always sad to see things you know go, but as time goes by, you need to know how to let go of things.

2011.2.17 - Cars

The Audi's 4.2L engine is powerful. But people's desire never end. We always want more than what we need. Maybe this is the force moving the society forward and this very same force will drag us down the hell. The world has been changed greatly for the last century and it may just all over within my lifetime. There are too many smart people but a few wise ones. God bless us.

2011.2.16 - Camping backyard

Due to high temperature, my unfinished igloo shrinked and can no longer be finished properly. Didn't want our efforts go wasted I converted into a snow shelter and slept in it during the night with my boy. Never camped so close to home!

2011.2.15 - How you start your day?

Many people start their morning by a cup of coffee. Tim Hortons seems to be the only choice for many people. It seems to be a habit that hard to break. Really? I'm afraid not. There are many things in your life that you assume may shatter just in a snap.

2011.2.14 - Winter is short

Browsing through my photo archives, thinking about the ending of this winter. Weather forecast shows that the daily high will linger around 0 probably for the rest of winter. How many times can we still be able to camp on the snow, go for snowshoeing, make some more quinzhees, and I don't even have a chance to improve my xc ski skills. What's gonna be like when I go downhill ski in the coming weekend when the temperature will soar to near double digit? Summer is fun but I'm missing winter already.

2011.2.13 - Backyard Igloo

Spent a few hours building an igloo with my boy in the backyard. It was getting late and we have to call it a day. There are gonna be a few warm days ahead and I'm afraid this thing will melt down, especially there will be a chance of rain.

2011.2.12 - Waterfalls

I had a little business in Hamilton today so I took the chance to visit some of the water falls. There are over 100 waterfalls in the area, big or small. Felker's Falls and Devil's Punchbowl Falls are among the top 16 waterfalls.

At the bottom of Davis Creek. The water was still flowing from the 22 meter Felker's Falls. The snow was almost knee deep and only the tracks of animals could be seen down here.

Climbing back up was a little hard, the deep snow actually helped to anchor my feet.

Ridge Rd. near the Devil's Punchbowl Falls, this lighted cross was erected at 1966 by local elder William Sinclair along with 2 Ontario Hydro linemen. It can be seen far away from Lake Ontario.

Another view of the cross.

This is the Devil's Punchbowl Falls.

Another view of the waterfall.

Near the falls, I stumbled upon this monument. It turns out to be the Battlefield Monument. It was built around 1900 to honor their relationship to the British crown and remind future generations of the war of Stony Creek in 1812.

Steel structure of Burlington Bay Skyway.

 Toronto in the sunset.

2011.2.11 - First time skating

Finally I got the used skates from a friend. Tried it first time on the ice, it was lots of pain! Well, it was just like what I had expected. You have to suffer a little bit to get a lot of fun. That's the life. The first fall was impressive, my toque and glasses went flying when I landed on the ice on my back. I still can feel the impact on my head while I'm typing this. But it was all fun. After few minutes I was able to skate in circles, slowly. Not bad for the first time skater!

2011.2.10 - 97 Toyota Camry premium sound system

My boss has a 97 Camry with premium sound system and he wants to replace it with a stylish new Sony CD player. The problem is the original radio in this car only has preamp output and we want the new player to drive the speakers directly. Or maybe we can connect the RCA connectors to the original wire harness? In both cases there are a lot wiring to do.

2011.2.9 - TOC Volunteer Meeting

I was on tonight's volunteer meeting. Stacy has done a great job within her capabilities. There were some interesting thoughts on the meeting, hopefully we can get the minutes soon. People join TOC because they love the outdoor events or at least events which have some outdoor tastes. Overtime when one gets older, interests may change, life moves on. But I hope TOC will be forever young, no mater who steer its way, it will stay as strong as a magnet attracting true outdoor loves in the area.

2011.2.8 - Repair job done

Replaced the busted wheel bearing today. So no more humming noise while driving. Also did the lower control arm bushing. Now the car drives as smooth as new.

2011.2.7 - Circuit board for my furnace

This one is discontinued, I have to order a replacement kit which costs me $256 from the States. Should I feel guilty for the HVAC guy who doesn't get the job? :)

2011.2.4/5/6 - Bushwacking, snowshoeing and camping

Friday night we drove up to the government dock at Harris Lake and camped there for the night. Is it fun setting up camp at night? No. But why people are still doing this? B/c we are the crazy breed. On Saturday we parked our car at the private dock by the Harris Lake and snowshoed cross the lake. I was so happy bushwacking but some people just hated it. Anyway it was all fun. Being outside with the mother nature cured all my sickness, even though I didn't sleep well in the tent as always.

2011.2.3 - A typical slow day in the shop

Standing around, talking, nothing can make our boss happy when it comes to slow day. There is one thing in common me and my boss both love but in totally different sense - snow day.

2011.2.2 - So glad the year of tiger is over!

Enough is enough. The tiger is over, and won't be back in another 11 years. I've got a headache today, thanks to the tiger which I can blame. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

2011.2.1 - Wabakimi project

 TOC hosted this speaking tour by Phil Cotton. I don't know how to describe my feelings about this, but please do visit http://www.wabakimi.org, it's gonna touch the bottom of your heart if all your heart wants is wild and free.