Weekend Race in England

On the past weekend, Dan took part in the Whitehorse Challenge Race, which raised money for World Vision, in the hope of providing enough funds to sponsor at least one child for the next 5 years. The start and finish for the race was at the Memorial hall in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, and traveled through some of the most beautiful parts of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The race was 150 km in length with about 1400 m of climbing.

Apparently the reason it is called the Whitehorse Challenge is because the route takes the riders past 4 white horses, one of which is the Uffington white horse which is the oldest of all British chalk figures, dating back almost 3000 years . The horses are mostly chalk figures, made by cutting and removing the turf to reveal chalk beneath. It is then filled with loose chalk. Apparently there are at least 24 such white horses across the UK although not all are visible today.

Still Smiling!

Dan finished 322nd out of the 390 riders that finished the race. He was the only rider riding a single gear bike which he now acknowledges "was pretty stupid". He figures he did something like 75,000 crank revolutions (oh, my aching calves)!! The steepest grade was 17% which he thankfully walked up. His elapsed time for the 90 mile circuit was 6:17:10 of which 5:50 was actual riding time. (He had 2 food stops and 1 flat tire.)
Even before the race he had to bike about 10 miles from his hotel to the race start so all together it was his first 'century' ride. We are sure proud of him!!!

Shanghai, China

Since Dan is no longer keeping his blog up to date, I got his permission to blog some of the photos of his various trips in 2007. I won't be able to tell you much about the pictures but they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

View from an observation deck

They took a ride on a very fast train to the airport, just for the ride. Note the time it took the train to get up to speed!!

Smog, anyone?

Southern Ontario Springtime

I know that you folks out in the West have been having a ridiculous spring so I thought I would send along some springtime cheer.

Here is our blooming magnolia bush given to us by our friends in memory of Elaine. It always blooms near her birthday (April 29) which I think is oh so neat.

Springtime warmth

and happiness

A Sheared Lab

On Tuesday April 15th, our Chloe underwent an operation to repair a 'loose' knee or ligament rupture. The operation performed is called a 'Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy' or 'Ch-ching, ch-ching' for short. Her knee is now sporting a plate to stabilize the knee. The incision is only about 3.5 inches long and is on the inside of the leg. Today she has started to put weight on the leg and she is allowed outside but only on lead. No running or jumping for quite a while for this little lady! But why they took so much hair off is the mystery! Poor girl feels naked!

Newest Pictures of Our New Granddaughter, 2 Weeks Old

2 weeks old and looking all around

Time for a picture of grammy holding little Ella

Boardwalk at Merrill's Inlet

More Birds Seen at Myrtle Beach and Sea Life

A great egret

One of the many mockingbirds seen at the condo complex

Unidentified ducks at Merrill's Inlet

A jellyfish seen from the boardwalk at Merrill's Inlet

Birds from Myrtle Beach

While in Myrtle Beach, I was hoping to add to my birding list. And we did see some new birds, some we identified and others not too sure of their identification.

A double-crested cormorant

A pair of American oystercatchers

Not sure but think a Brewer's blackbird

Brown pelican

Windsor Green Condos in Myrtle Beach

Windsor Green Condos, off of Carolina Way, is a very nice complex consisting of several condominiums. Some of the condos back onto the Wizard Golf course while others are garden villas, surrounding several ponds.

A view from our front porch

A view of the pond across the street

A view from our balcony of the pond behind our condo

Our condo showing our unit on the second floor on the right #201

Joshua Singing with Grammy

Turn up the volume! And I apologize for the angle! I thought that I could rotate this as one can a still picture but alas cannot!

Ella April 1

It is time for a picture of Dad and Mom and Ella. Unfortunately Joshua was in bed.

It didn't take long for Ella to find her thumb to suck!

What beautiful long fingers! A future pianist?

The picture says it all!

Ella Claire

Well we just arrived back in Puslinch after joyfully meeting our new granddaughter Ella. She is just a wee doll and such a good baby. Here are some pictures!

Here is Ella's arrival home, just 28 hours old!

Proud grandpa with baby Ella

All tired out after the trip home

Mommy holding baby Ella on Monday