Charlie McDougall

As the hockey season comes to a close for another year it was great to get out for the annual Charlie McDougall Hockey Tournament in Bedque. We returned as the defending champions and expected nothing less for this year. It was an interesting journey from game one to game five. Starting out with our guns loaded destroying the first team 13-1. We quickly hit a brick wall losing 3-1 the next day which motivated all of us to get the hunger back to win all of our remaining games. The first game of our final day we destroyed a team 8-0 getting us into the crossovers. In the Crossovers we fought a tough battle and came out victorious 3-0. This guaranteed us a place in the Championship game against the team that had already sidetracked us once. We where up for the challenge and had the taste of revenge from the day before. After 50 minutes of play we clinching our place yet again on the Charlie McDougall Trophy winning 5-2.

MEC

When I was in Halifax this past weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Mountain Equipment Co-op. I always enjoy checking out all the gear that is in the store and thinking man this piece of gear or that would make my three months a year I spend in a tent much more enjoyable. Somehow I normally talk myself out of buying most things that are not essential. I normally have a chuckle or two walking around the store watching people buying tents, sleeping bags and every other piece of gear they have no idea about. They buy this extreamly good tent, sleeping bag and every other fancy item in the store and will most likely only use it for a weekend in a campground. Yet someone like myself buys a cheap tent and sleeping bag from Canadian Tire then lots of stuff from the local thrift stores when I live in it for the whole summer in the middle of the wilderness in northern BC or Alberta. I mainly buy cheap gear being that it is only going to last a couple summers (if that) anyway and for others only using it on the odd weekend buying good gear will last them for many years to come. Next time you're in the store or on the trail look around and have a chuckle for yourself.

The Nalgene

How has Nalgene become such a huge name in heavy duty water bottles? I have worked in wilderness camping for a couple years and yes they are great for camping. Also they are great at times when I am treeplanting, but really $10 bucks for a one liter water bottle? I do admit Nalgenes are basically indestructible other than their very weak lid to bottle strap. One reason may be that Nalgene, until recently, did not really have very much for competition in the high strength water bottle market. I suppose they must be good seeing that they have sold millions of their little plastic bottles.

Backgammon

Do I have any Backgammon fans out there? This is one game I have always wondered how to play. It is normally on the back of every chess board and so many other places. Finally this summer it all came together. I met a French man named Martin who had a backgammon board at the treeplanting camp I was working at and he taught me how to play (same situation as learning crib, just different year and a different frenchman). He almost always destroyed me, but I have been getting much better with practice. I really enjoy the game now and know why it is such a classic. It is just too bad more people who are my age do not know how to play.

Relaxing under the warm sun.

Me and the boys down in the Florida Keys last week on our study break in Florida.

Just another day on the beach in Key West, Flordia. The water was warm, the sun was shinning and most importantly I was there (the one thing that may be more important is that I am going to be there agian in a couple days).

The beach at fort Lauderdale was quite a bit busier than the beach in Miami. I'm guessing just because of the time of day. It was packed.

Miami Beach when I was down there in 2003. Hopefully it's just as warm and beautiful out when I go down this time.

Flordia

I'm heading to Flordia for Study Break. Should be a good time.