TIP Day 4 ...

Right — and now back to recap mode!

The morning after our informal sea swim and lovely dinner at Deckers with G & E was the CITA build up triathlon. You may have read something about it in an earlier post. I started the morning early as company for Brent while pilons to mark the course were distributed, then did some fine (if I do say so myself) body marking followed by the swim leg of a relay. Then I picked up my camera! And learned that when I go carry-on only I need to take a slightly larger tote to accommodate my good camera as well as my point and shoot. These are just a few shots of the day. After all, no photos = didn't happen.



This is Mr. Shillingford covering the event for the Caymanian Compass. Backgrounder: here's an older but more colorful bio than this more current profile.



Possibly my favourite bike dismount shot of all time! Note also the quality body marking.



I chose this one for a few reasons: I love airborne running shots, this fellow looks so happy, and you can see the shadow of the gentleman he ran with step for step the entire run. Also, Coach Jerry Harper and Andy Bonner can be seen in the background.



Then they finished up with an all out sprint through the finishers chute!



Kate Alexander (you may recognize her as our unofficial sea swim race director) and Brent doing volunteer things.



On Cayman, the swim buoys find their way home with a little help!

As is usually the case, clicking the photos will get you closer.

Heron Back Again!

These shots were taken only a few frames apart, as the heron made some decisions about what to do next. Isn't walking the beach and wading a little a great way to consider your options?



I like this for the shadow and bit of water showing as well.



Also, I was really taken with the bird!



If you look closely you'll see reflection in the thin layer of water over the sand.



And then a change of direction. My vantage point didn't change in any of these shots.

I am inclined to think one of these photos should feature in my seasonal missive! Does anyone have a standout favourite?

Just Under a Hundred ...

You may not have immediately guessed that the header is a summary of how many photos I took of that tri-coloured heron last week! That would be why I bought an extra SD card on island. So here, for your viewing pleasure, on a gray Ottawa day, are five photos of a mostly gray bird.



Really, the little camera performed admirably under tough conditions. But that didn't stop me from wishing I'd brought my big camera!



If you're going to fish in waves like this, eventually you will get wet!



It might look a bit awkward, but really it's a well balanced bird.



Success! Actually there were lots of successes, but this is the only one I caught.



After being absolutely doused by crashing surf, a walk on the beach and a shake of the feathers is in order!

If you're a bird person it really is worthwhile to click on the final three to enlarge. If you're not, you can skip tomorrow's post, as there are more where those came from!

Swim Bit!

So ... December 5th we have a little swim meet. After the team Christmas party the night before! I still have not made up my mind if I want to swim the 50 or the 100 fly, and as they are two events apart (the hundred is first). So I entered both and may or may not scratch one. I also entered the 50 breast and the 100 IM. So if nothing else it will be an interesting morning!

In other news, I brought two pairs of goggles back from Cayman — the handy dive shop around the corner from Brent's has a Wall Of Goggles. The good news is neither leak. They do, of course, leave raccoon rings, but I can live with that. It's not like I'll be training in them all the time. The first pair I tried Friday — and can both dive and see with, but the rings are undereye rings making me look like I've never slept. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration. The second pair (like these, only blue) left rings over my eyes, also didn't leak, but I honestly couldn't see out of them! Oh, I could see the lines of the tiles on the pool, but felt like Tony — I had no idea where the walls were! And I really couldn't see the clock. It was really, really discombobulating! So, with a q-tip I took off the film that seemed to be coating the insides (now they're probably free of anti-fog coating), and I'll try again with them tonight.

And, in conclusion, I think this is the last press I will bring you on our Unofficial Sea Swim!

Here's That Fish!

It would be wrong of me not to link to this, despite feeling there were far too many column inches devoted to yours truly. Those in the know are aware I am a long standing Ron Shillingford fan, so I am flattered, if slightly embarassed by the attention.

For those of you still looking for the teensy fish, I have cropped an image for your convenience. ;-) Betcha the stripey little fellow will look relatively large if you click!



Back in the great white north (that thankfully is not yet white) it was 6:30 swim practice this morning! I still have a bit of travel related discombobulation, though!

Questions, Crabs & Chitons!

Yesterday Meg asked:

Was it pretty windy but still warm? I don't remember the water being so choppy!

Yes. And that's exactly why the 5K swim was cancelled/postponed. The temperature was around 30°C, but the sea was very busy.

What was your favorite part of the trip?

I enjoyed swimming in the sea, walking on the beach, meeting new people, seeing G & E, volunteering at the tri — but mostly hanging out with my brother.

What did TB do when you got home?

As I opened the door he was looking right at me! He let out a happy yowl and immediately started speed work. After wind sprints and a snack, much cuddling was required. He does not always sleep with me, but the past two nights he's been making sure I stay put! I am lucky, in that he is a good trainer. He knows not to punish me for good behaviour like returning home!

And now for the POTD: Not far from the sanderling, there were crabs and chitons — most of the crabs were camera shy, though! Clicking should bring them closer.

Home Again, Home Again!

But not quite lickety split! There will be many more TIP photos to come, but for now I will leave you with surf and a sanderling! Clicking should get you closer.

There Be Pirates!

And on things piratical, a big thank you to Tony at SCAQ for a wonderful shout-out.

There also be fishes. From larger ones to really, really wee ones! There's a little bit of a fish in this tidal pool. You will probably need to click to find it — it is a very small stripey fish!



Although I may still have been overheated from Coach Mike's workout last night — the warm pool water combined with hypoxic sets makes for a wicked practice! — I had a lovely mile sea swim to start the day today. Sadly, I must soon start to pack in order to wing my way back tomorrow, but it will be delightful to see The Boarder!

Good Times!

Seriously, folks, it just does not get much better than this!!!!

And yesterday no sooner had I put the wax body marking pencil down than I was a last minute addition to an Olympic distance tri relay team — two sea swims in two days. Doubtless there will be some tri photos to come. Tonight's plans call for outdoor swimming at masters practice, then a bite with G & E at Fidel's.

But today's snapshot is another cute little curly-tailed lizard (much smaller than the last) hunting very small insects as they walk up the tree trunk.



I am, however, completely stymied as to why a click won't get you closer. I may have to try again later!

Unofficial Sea Swim ...

An intrepid group of swimmers met early yesterday morning at Governor's Beach despite the cancellation of the Official Pirates Week 5K Sea Swim. The seas were calmer especially in some spots, so with the adept assistance of Coach Jerry Harper (as our referee, chief timer, and clerk of the course) and Brent as starter and official photographer (I had tucked my camera into my swim bag), we swam anyway.

Here's Kate Alexander, our race director, drawing the course:



Our merry band of swimmers, and Coach Jerry:



In we go (oh, sure it looks flat here!):



And we're off!



It was a lovely swim, although I must say the sea was much flatter this morning! As usual, images are clickable, and for those who are interested, have not been photshopped. The colours are real!

TIP Day 3, The Sequel

Near Treasure Island.



Near The Grandview.



Tri-coloured heron! I find close-ups with the point and shoot to be softer in focus than I would really like, so clicking doesn't get you the detail you may be accustomed to.

TIP: Day 3

Rooster!



Snowy egret hunting insects.



Northern curly-tailed lizard (adult!).

More photos to come!

TIP: Day Two

I had a fine practice with the Cayman Masters last night! Brent ran while I swam. We popped into Fidel's afterwards for dinner. I asked if our waitress missed us ...

I had whiled away the day here (my brother's balcony looks right out onto Seven Mile Beach), with only an afternoon side trip to Icoa.

There will be a meeting this afternoon to determine whether tomorrow's swim will go ahead — here is today's sea state courtesy of the Cayman Islands Government: Moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet especially along the west and north coast. Small crafts should exercise caution over the open waters. Some swells are likely along the west and north coast.

It's a bit too early yet for the curly-tailed lizards to be out in force, but I may wander down to Cafe del Sol in a bit. Last night on our way to practice there were four snowy egrets hunting in the tropical rain pool across the road, so I'll pop my camera in my bag, just in case!

Surf's Up!

My dreams of an early morning sea swim were dashed when I looked out Brent's patio window and saw the surf! That and the small craft warning. Note the position of the tree's fronds on the far left of the photo. However, we did pop in on Miss Ursell at Cafe del Sol ... so it's not like the morning's been a complete wash! And a curly-tailed lizard or two had begun basking on our return.

Brent is now beavering away at the office, and I am feeling the fatigue and stiffness that come after a long day's travels. I am very hopeful that the weather will cooperate and let me swim masters practice tonight. While I do that my brother can hit the ground running! In the meantime, I'm sure I can while away some tropical island time!

Eleventh Hour, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Month ...

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

John McCrae

Just Hanging Out

The Boarder and I are relaxing on my chair, he's above and I'm below. His eyes are sleepy, but not quite closed. It is only in the past couple of weeks that we have been hanging out this way. Ironically, it was one of George's favourite things to do indoors. Soon I'll get the laundry underway, and use the Evil Vacuum Cleaner. Then his countenance will change! He'll probably look more like this:



As usual, feel free to click for a bigger Boarder.

Don't Look Shelley!

It is not often you have a fine orb weaver able to make a substantial catch on November 8th in this neck of the woods! Click for a better view.

P.S. The Boarder reports that he can supervise his spider from the front window, as she is clearly visible.

A Sunday Snippet

I tried to strap that brace back on yesterday, really I did! But Dad called just as I hit "publish post", and as they're off to Florida this morning, so that was a clear priority. And then there was figure skating on TV. And then is was DARK!

I'll get at them today! Maybe even soon ...

In the meanwhile I bring you a nice offering from Mr. Sutcliffe.

On Pretending it's Friday!

I had to ask the folks at The Home of Fresh Pasta and Lucianos to pretend it is Friday today. They then knew exactly what I wanted and prepared my order as such!

Yesterday Lise helped us celebrate Mom's birthday — we had a lovely lunch at Al's Steak House. Although I will be in seafood territory soon enough, I had the tuna steak. They had a very nice piece of chocolate layer cake (with a very thick layer of white and dark chocolate atop it) complete with a candle for her, so that was very nice. But it was not a day to then have pizza for dinner!

On our way to pick up Mom and Dad we stopped at Kinemedics for me to try on (and pick up) the extra small back brace. I tested it doing some raking a while ago — given that nothing off the shelf will be perfect this is certainly the most workable solution.

On the way back we stopped at the post office to pick up these. I can't actually get them shipped here commercially, so I ordered them sent to Jenny and she posted them on to me. Thanks Jenny! Actually, Dr. G. is lifting one in a different colour. Here is Blackie, having captured the extra laces of the shoe that's out for adaptation. This past decade I have been notoriously hard to fit in sneakers, and so many have air technology in the soles that they are not liftable. I wonder if come spring I should get yet another pair?

Some of you know I am rather fond of amphibians, and have a small collection of sparkly ones. So I'll leave you with these, as I go strap back into that brace and move a few more leaves!

Soup's On!

In about three hours I anticipate a Flurry of Commentary from The Boarder pointing out that Soup is Ready! We scored some chicken bones yesterday, half are now frozen, half are in the pot. By tomorrow there should also be chicken jello! Right now, however, he is having his first long nap of the morning.

I must say Thursday afternoons at Plant can be idyllic. I warmed up by myself in the medium lane, and moved to the fast lane (again, by myself!) for the 25's! That sure makes it easy to stick to the intervals. The 25's I swam were the main set for evening practice, but I modified the warm-up and cool-down sets.

No swim today, and tomorrow practice is cancelled for an age group swim meet, so if I venture into the water it will be at one of the less than idyllic lane swims. Perhaps I will rake leaves instead. After all, that's cross-training, right?

Thursday Tidbits!

♦ It's an unusual object of desire for me to post ... but oh, how I want one of these! And I'm sure The Boarder would like it better than the Big Terrifying One. It could the Small Less Terrifying One.
♦ Coach Duane is in warmer climes this week, so I'll be standing on the deck tonight and Tuesday evening. Which means I will toddle off momentarily and swim tonight's practice.
♦ When I head to the pool (both pools, actually), it is likely that my puffer jacket will be venturing out for the first time this season. Just moments again there were white flakes falling from the sky!
♦ Where the Wild Things Are was better than A Serious Man. The animation was wonderful, but I wouldn't give it a rousing recommendation. I have entreated the Movieteers not to see Pirate Radio till I return.

Tuesday Tidbits ...

♦ Here's a pair of shiny things for the fellows to start the day: some most appealing cufflinks!

♦ If you covet my needlefish necklace pictured here, it is currently marked down!

♦ With a hat tip to Tony at SQAC, here's a bit on masters swimming and tech suits from the Wall Street Journal.

♦ And last, but certainly not least, happy birthday Brent!

Monday Miscellany!

There are seven lawn and garden waste recycling bags out at the curb this morning. I'm hoping to get that particular brand of cross-training done this week!

Meanwhile, laundry continues apace, and a fair load of things went out the front door this morning for charity as my closet purge continues. On the closet front, I am now without a white shirt, so am considering adding this one.

The Boarder is profiting from a nice warm sunspot in the front window, and seems to find Science Diet Light tins an acceptable tinned offering. The Science Diet Culinary Creations Roasted Chicken Dinner, however, is a bust. Well, the gravy part is good ... but the little blocks of processed chicken meat are left looking very forlorn in the bowl.

And now, to head out into this glorious fall day and spend a couple of hours teaching!

Fell Back!

Or, at least two clocks, the microwave and one watch did. I'll be working on the rest this morning, I guess. The forecast looks like it brings nice cool running weather to New York City today — hopefully the marathoners will profit from it. Go Lauren! Go Jean! And as thousands and thousands of people run 26.2 in the Big Apple, Mark Sutcliffe points out that big events are great but smaller races have their charms too.

I didn't see all my favourite people in costume last night — but this is a pretty good looking bunch, isn't it? And a good time was had by all!