Friday, July 27, 2012

Bathtub Races

Nanaimo is home to an unusual race, but one that has gained international reputation.  From the website of the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society, this blurb explains the history ...

"Nanaimo harbor was the scene of a bathtub race extravaganza at the first race in 1967 Canadas’ 100 birthday and its’ Centennial year.. As the City of Nanaimo's "Centennial Event" that year, close to 200 tubbers (in every type of craft imaginable) entered the fun competition and amazingly, 47 completed the 36 mile course to Vancouver's Fisherman's Cove across the straits of Georgia. Now the "Great RACE" finishes at Departure Bay in Nanaimo covering a very grueling course that leaves Nanaimo harbor circles Entrance Island and then up to and around Winchelsea Island and then back to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. In the early days it was indeed a challenge to just get past the starting line in the choppy confusion caused by an extra 785 small and large observation and escort boat in Nanaimo harbor. From the confusion of a first time bathtub race 45 years ago, the Nanaimo to Nanaimo "Great" INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE & 4 day Nanaimo Marine Festival has evolved. Where once a select band of tubbers were the highlight they now share the spotlight with many other land and water events which are interesting and often spectacular to watch."

Grey skies and choppy waters made for challenging conditions this year

A close up look at the boat made from a bathtub

The Sailpast on Wheels parade
These guys don't take themselves too seriously.  Click on that link above and have a read of their website.  I guarantee a chuckle or two.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival 2012

Every year, I look forward to this festival like it's Christmas weekend.  I plan for it, work for it and when it all comes around .. enjoy the hell out of it.  The Nanaimo festival is unique among the racing circuit in that it always has a  theme.  Teams dress up in costume or compete for best decorated tent.  This year, we honoured the Sixties.









Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The World

According to its press .. "The World is not a cruise ship. It is the largest privately owned residential yacht on earth. It might look like a cruise ship from the exterior, but that’s where the similarity ends. This exclusive community offers the ultimate combination of luxury travel with world-class dining, custom tours and enriching cultural events. It is the embodiment of a distinctive lifestyle experience.

Strata fees must be crazy!




During practice, the KVL Kruisers had the chance to get up close to this boat, seen here docked in Nanaimo for a couple of days. Yes, it was impressive. Man, there was a ton of boat traffic around her, most of it either working vehicles or, like us, just wanting to get up close enough to take a good picture. Our steersperson was kept busy trying to keep us out of trouble from the wake waves, so we skedaddled fairly quickly.

You can read more about The World by clicking this elegantly-crafted link.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Lace and sunshine

This might be my favorite window in the entire house.


Can't you just smell the fresh air coming in that window?  The butterfly bush outside the window adds a fragrance that is somewhat like lilac, somewhat like lavendar ... something in between that is hard to define.

The window is on our second storey, so the bush is fairly large.  I noticed today that it was taking up a great portion of the neighbor's yard on the other side of the fence .. so we'll have to go do something about that.  I'd be a bit keener to be a good neighbor if there wasn't a pit bull on the other side of that fence .. a pit bull who has just moved in, so we are strangers to him.  Something tells me we might not be exactly speedy on the pruning.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Barefoot in July



Three Hills, in my childhood memories, has dimpled sidewalks, the kind that gather rain in their little square pockets and make for interesting shades of black and grey as the decades roll past.  The kind that tell a story about pride of workmanship by town crews and sometimes have street names etched at intersections.  The kind of sidewalks that gladly accept pine needles dropping from shady boughs ... then turn those offerings into a beautiful resiny smell to enjoy on a hot afternoon.

Walking home from the swimming pool when I visited my grandparents, I'd stop to listen to the church bells chiming out their Westminster tune because Grandpa told me there was never an excuse to be home late because you'd always know the time if you listened.

I remember the heat of July under my feet and being barefoot because I was a farm kid who couldn't be convinced that shoes were necessary.  And I remember the day I discovered that asphalt could squish beneath your toes as you stepped off the hot sidewalk.

Today was one of those days.


There's a big party in Three Hills this weekend and although Bruce and I won't be attending .. we do hope that everyone has a fantastic weekend, that the weather is perfect and mosquitos non-existant.

For the record .. I'm still  barefoot.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Silly boats 2

Had too many pictures to share with you ... had to break it into two posts.

Prices like this lead to ...

lines like this!  A far cry from last weekend, when I paid $18 for ribs and a coleslaw for lunch.
 On shore, there was a ton of fun stuff for the kids!

Who can resist a purple octopus?

Mini-golf

Slides!

I came across a booth with some pretty wild toys, but this one seemed to be capturing a lot of attention.

It started out small

and expanded as you threw it

Here it is fully expanded

Drummers waiting for the stage

Step right up!  Try on a silly hat and get your picture taken!

Balloons and wind flowers 
What's a party without balloon hats?

Or rainbow wigs?

Or rainbow wigs on giraffes?

And here's another party statement .. of some sort!

Silly Boats 1

Nanaimo is not very concerned about how stately she looks or that she's holding her pinky up when she sips her afternoon tea with the other island ladies. No, she's more likely to be in a bar, laughing it up with the gang ... or even dancing on tables. She doesn't take herself too seriously.



Witness the annual zaniness that is the Silly Boat Regatta.  Held the weekend after the dragonboat festival, teams of four bring all their tools down to the shoreline and frenetically begin building boats to sail.  Teams are arranged in heats and they're off to ply the waters in front of Swy-a-lana Lagoon in an attempt (some vain) to cross the finish line.  All members of the team must be on board at the start and finish, a feat that isn't always accomplished.



I wasn't able to get a lot of water pictures since I'm short and the crowds along the walkways and docks were already deep.  But I did get a few shots to share with you.

Everyone gets into the pirate theme
I'm putting my money on this one not making it to the finish line.
I wish I'd snapped this half a second later.   That young lady on the left executed a perfect handstand.
Harr, matey!

A new type of dragon boat, perhaps?

This one wins the "pink" award
Not thinking this one is a floater, either.

Havin' fun and headin' to Liberia!

They seem a bit perplexed over whether this plane will fly

The Arcade Fiends boat certainly had a theme going.

This one was pretty plain jane except for the oversize Canadian flag lying flat because of the wind.
Not sure how much chance this one has

The captains chair *is* the most important, yes?

Teachers getting into the spirit

This team had some colorful characters

As I was adjusting this prior to posting, I said "hey, I know that woman!"  She's one of my dragon boat crew.
I didn't see her at the time though .. >.<  .. hi Brenda!
Teams line up for the first heat


Race officials head out aboard The Bathtub