Practice Race

 Last Wednesday was the practice race for the PDYC Race Division and Caleidoscope was the Committee Boat.

That meant that we set out the tetrahedron and gave the three fleets, two practice starts and then started them for a simple race to the windward mark and back. This was a good chance for the race crews to get back in synch with each other and the boat, after a winter away.

Taz 2 and Redhead

As we had plenty of people on board to do the flags, horn, countdown etc, I used the time to experiment with a camera that Nicola lent me while mine is in getting cleaned.

I decided to try for some different angles and some crew closeups for a change from my usual "full boat" shots.

So, with no apologies, there is nothing but sailboat photos in this blog posts with few or no captions.

I took about 150 photos so it took quite a while to sort through them, delete those that were blurry or repetitive and play with those that remained; straightening the horizon, brightening them (it was a grey, dim, evening), cropping and increasing colour or contrast as I saw fit.

 

There are a lot of photos of the J80 fleet (Dolce Vita, Flyer, Relentless and Sheets and Giggles) as they were the ones zipping around close to the Committee Boat.

Taz 2.

Until I put the photos on the computer I didn't know there was writing on the boom: Its all sheets and giggles until someone giggles and sheets.

Dream Girl

Islay and Grey Escape

Visually impressive and also impressive in terms of the additional speed provided,

Spinnakers and Asymetricals

can cause

difficulties.

After we had started them off 3 times, all we had to do was watch them finish. Then back to the Yacht Club for food and drinks. Next week its the real thing.

Bruce Trail - Map 10. Iroquoia Section, Guelph Line to Mount Nemo Conservation Area.

 After finishing our last hike, Nicky and I realized that we had completed the Niagara Section. She sent me our log and I now have to forward that to the Bruce Trail Conservancy, Niagara, to get out badges. It felt really good to complete another section but I will miss the excuse to explore the variety of little communities, good restaurants and great nurseries that we found there.

I parked at Mount Nemo Conservation Area, on the entrance road, as the gate was closed so I couldn't get to the parking area shown on the map. Dave then dropped us on Guelph Line. We remembered waiting at this tree for him to pick us up when we had walked the previous section.

Deer track in a muddy section.

We were amazed at the dramatic increase in canopy in the 2 weeks since our last hike.

The lack of sun meant far fewer spring flowers

and what there were, were on their last legs.

It was just a short walk in the green and then we had 4km of road.

It was overcast and a comfortable walking temperature.

This Eastern Kingbird was flitting to another spot every time I got focused on him, thus the blurry picture.

They must taste as good as they smell because this cow was chowing down on the Lilac.

We passed some huge estate homes on acreage. Seriously, you need a spring wreath this size??

We thought this a bit more attractive with the stone wall, small gate to walk through and daffodils.

We were surprised how fast that 4km passed and had a snack at the point we knew was the bottom of a steep climb, promising ourselves chocolate at the top.

We hadn't seen a sign like this before, we were warned.

They weren't kidding. There is always rubble accumulated at the bottom of the escarpment but this area was a particular ankle twister. We were thankful for the poles.

We waited for another group of hikers to come down the ladder, one videoing the descent "for insurance purposes". We only saw these 3 and another couple in the whole time. Love hiking during the week.

After that rough section, the rest was along the edge of the escarpment

and now the sky was clearing and the sun warming us up.

A Red Spotted Newt dove for cover.

A Chipmunk had no fear of us as he

sat and ate his beetle (I thought they just ate seeds).

This area had some huge crevices, where the rock would eventually break away from the face,

some great views and

the Turkey Vultures swooping in the updrafts.

At one lookout

there was an indication of how high we were.

The trail turned

away from the edge of the escarpment and through woods to the entrance of the Conservation Area. I had a moment of panic when I couldn't see my car, fearing it had been towed but it was there, just out of sight. Sigh of relief.

9.5km, longer than we usually like but we both still felt good at the end.

Good enough to take a few more steps around Northlands Nursery.

A delicious birthday BBQ and

the next day, the creation of a new bed beside the sidewalk to discourage people from cutting across. All low shrubs and Nic will intersperse them with flowers and ground cover.