I can't believe that another year has come and gone. I don't know how I ever did anything when I was working full time, because I don't seem to have the time to do half the things that I would like to do now that I am mostly retired.
In January, Louise and I went on our annual holiday to Mexico. We spent three weeks in Las Brisas, Huatulco, where we have gone for the past nine years. This year, in addition to our friend Wilf who has always joined us, Patty, Ross, Micky and Darcy joined us for two of the three weeks. I think we all enjoyed ourselves - Louise and I certainly did.
You can read more about our trip here, or see all of my photos on my Flickr site here.
Ted sailing in Costa Rica
Unlike last year, we had wind almost every day, so I had lots of good sailing. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with very friendly people, but it also has lots of interesting critters, including trantulas, boa constrictors, and many others.
You can read more about my trip here, or see all my photos from the trip on my Flickr site here.
When I got back, Louise and I enjoyed the Edmonton Boat Show, although it was expensive, because we bought two inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards. They are much easier to transport than our 12 foot rigid boards, so we hope to take them on holidays with us - maybe even to Mexico - we will see…
After 20 years of Snowboarding, Louise and I have switched back to skiing, at least for now. I think I would still snowboard if I had a nice powder day, but skiing is simply easier. We had a great time together, although even on skiis, I have trouble keeping up to Spencer.
Al and I enjoying a beer after a great day skiing!
Louise and I at Marmot
I was able to get out skiing a few times over the season. Louise and I had a weekend in Marmot. We always enjoy Marmot - it is where we both skiied as kids. Then my friend Al and I went to Sunshine for a day, and finally we were able to coordinate a weekend with Laura, Spencer, Louise and I at Sunshine late in April.
In May, I had the opportunity to go to Fredericton for the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators conference. Fredericton is a beautiful historic community. I stayed in a Bed and Breakfast which was in one of the older historic buildings in the community, and I rented a bicycle to use as transportation to-and-from the conference. I also did some biking in the evenings exploring their trails.
I had arrived just a week or two after some major flooding. The river had risen to the point that all the on and off ramps to the bridges which join the North and South parts of the community were flooded and closed. They had done an amazing job of the clean-up by the time I got there, although there were piles of junk in front of a lot of the houses from their cleanup after having their basements flooded.
I had one "adventure" when I was 20km outside the community and got a flat tire. Fortunately I was only a kilometer from the next community when it happened so I was able to hike there to call a cab. (My AMA benefits include bike repairs in Alberta, but apparently that service is not available in Nova Scotia.)
Ted biking in Fredericton
Conference Gala - Kiss the Cod welcome committee!
I had another adventure after our final banquet. I had ridden my bike to the Banquet - about four kilometers. I admit having a few drinks after the banquet on the patio. The bike didn't have lights, but I figured there were street lights so I would be fine. What I didn't anticipate was that the first kilometer or so was on a wooded trail which runs between Government House and the river.
There were no lights, and it was a cloudy night so it was pitch black. It was a bit challenging (after quite a few drinks), trying to stay on the path without being able to see. I had to do it by feel. If I started riding off the path the sound would change because the path was shale and there was a bit of grass on either side. After I got out of the trees, I had no problem for the rest of the way home as there was lots of ambient light. I probably did look a little funny riding along in my business suite at 1:00 in the morning.
Later in May our company started a large project with the County of Camrose preparing intermunicipal bylaws and plans for the County, six villages and one town within the county. The project involved travelling to each of the towns, touring their facilities and talking to their administrators about their services.
It was interesting to get a close look at these communities. They all have their "special" places including parks and interesting facilities. I have lived within an hour of all of them for the past thirty years, but had never really taken the time to get to see them. It was really enjoyable exploring all of these "New" places.
Beaver Lake Lookout in Ferintosh
Breakfast at Bett's, our Daily Tradition
Handre, Cam, Blaine, Al, Rene, Brad and Harold
In June, I went to Hood River, Oregon to Windsurf with a bunch of other windsurfing addicts from the Edmonton area. This is the 15th year that we have been doing this twice a year, once in June and once in September. When it is windy, we are on the water windsurfing or kitesurfing. When it is not windy, some of the guys golf, and most of us bring bikes. The road and mountain biking in the area is spectacular.
This year we had about 12 sailors/kiters. It wasn't the windiest year ever, but we still had a lot of fun as usual.
If you want to read more about our trip you can go to my 2018 Spring Gorge Trip Blog here, or you can view more windsurfing photos on my Flickr site here.
There is a new trend which is revolutionizing many watersports, including windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing, called "foiling". A foil is an airplane shaped device that mounts between one half and one meter below your board on a long mast. Once you get going, the foil lifts you and your board out of the water.
Because the board is no longer in the water there is a lot less drag. That means that you don't need as much wind for windsurfing, or as big a wave to do surfing. It is hard to describe, but it is a lot of fun, and most of our group have started doing it.
After 40 years of windsurfing it has added another new challenge and sort of re-invigorated the sport for us. I am hooked! I am now trying to learn both Windfoiling (Foiling on a windsurfer), and Wake Foiling (Foiling on the wave behind a boat). Lots of fun!
Ted Windfoiling at home
Spencer wishing me a Happy Fathers Day in Hood River!
While I was in Oregon, Spencer dropped by for a visit. He had arranged for a couple of extra days off and wanted to go on a motorbike ride. His first couple of days took him through Idaho and Washington State. He stayed with us for a day to do some windsuring, and then headed south to California. He spent a day on the beach in California surfing before heading home.
He stopped for the night in Hood River with us to wish me a Happy Father's day, and then took another two days to get home. He drove 5000km in 6 days of riding (8 days total). Wow - to be young!
The club does good work in our community and assists with projects around the world. What I like about it is that there is no religion or politics allowed.
It is all about "service above self", and basically a good group of people that I am proud to associate myself with.
Ted with Past President Lou Henderson (Left), and District Governor Ingrid Neitsch (on my right)
Charles and Claire with Spencer - enjoying the day!
In July, we had the pleasure of hosting Louise's brother Charles and his partner Claire.
We had some beautiful weather, so spent our time on the lake water skiing and teaching Charles how to wakesurf. I hope they enjoyed their visit as much as we enjoyed hosting them!
We really enjoyed their visit, and were sorry to see them go. You can see more photos of the trip here.
Later in July, I convinced Louise to come on a short biking adventure with me. We cycled from our house, through Camrose, to Highway 21 and to the Village of Ferintosh (about 70km), where we stopped at the Ferintosh Manor, a beautiful old home now run as a bed and breakfast.
The next day, we rode to the town of Bashaw for lunch, and then on the third day we rode home. Our total was 169km for the three days. We enjoyed the ride, but agreed that Highway 21 and Highway 13 are too busy for comfortable riding, even with wide shoulders.
Ted and Louise on a biking adventure to Ferintosh
Lunch in Bashaw - ready for the trip home!
The BnB was a nicely kept historic home with many rooms. It was full of memorabilia of all sorts, and was run by a fellow who loves to tell stories.
On our last morning, as we were checking out, he told us that the house is haunted, and that a TV crew was coming in the fall to do a story on the house. We hadn't noticed anything, but this was NOT a selling feature for Louise. I am not sure if I can convince her to go back.
Both Laura and Spencer had friends come out several times over the summer and we had some glorious days out on the water in the boat on the water with the kids and their friends! - still Louise's and my favorite place in the world to be!
In August, we had a very nice week-long holiday visting Louise's youngest brother Marc and then her older brother Pierre. Both are boat/lake people and showed us a great time at their cabins. You can read more about it here.
Nothing better than boating in the summer!
Biking with Louise
Later in August, I convinced Louise to join me for a few days on my September Windsufing trip. We went down early and joined my friends Ross, Andreas and Sue. We did a lot of biking, wine tasting and even tried our hand at Glass Blowing.
Louise flew home after a few days, just as the rest of our group were arriving, so I spent the next 10 days windsurfing and Windsurf Foiling.
Once again we had a great trip. With most of us learning to Windfoil, we were on the water almost every day, even though the wind was lighter than it usually is.
We did have some very windy days as well, so it was a good mix. Lots of fun.
You can read all about the trip here on my 2018 Fall Gorge Trip Blog, or see more photos here on my flickr site.
Ted getting a little air at Rock Creek
Ted Windsurfing
Louise and I did a lot of road biking over the summer. Louise would use her e-Bike and I would ride my road bike. Typically we would ride into Camrose and stop at the Tim's for a tea or coffee and then return home - a round trip of about 30km, but sometimes we would also ride around Camrose making it closer to 50km.
Between my solo rides and my rides with Louise, I put just over 2000km on my road bike and about 300km on my E-Bike. While pretty good for me, I have friends that do over 5000. Wow - that is commitment.
We are hoping to go on a biking holiday next spring, possibly in Europe and are looking forward to a lot more biking next summer.
Louise calls her E-Bike an Equalizer. She blows me away on the hills, and I can usually keep up on the flat (unless there is a headwind).
For those of you not famillliar with E-Bikes, theys are not like motorbikes, you still have to peddle. They work on a power-assist system, so depending on the setting (off, low, medium and high), the bike senses how hard you are pushing on the peddles and then adds a certain amount of power. If you stop peddling, you stop. The harder you peddle, the faster you go - just like a normal bike. Your performance is just a bit better, and it really helps on the hills! Still great exercise!
Biking to Tim's in Camrose
Kanwal and Louise and our boss Shari-Anne
at the Fox Creek office
In the fall I kept busy with Rotary, the Camrose County project, and a small strategic planning project in Fox Creek.
Louise was also asked to join our consulting team to assist with proofing our reports, and to help with facilitating some workshops and public meetings. It was fun having her along on our Fox Creek Project.
I also attended a Rotary District Conference in Edmonton and two work-related conferences, the Alberta Urban Munipalities Association in Red Deer and the Rural Municipalities Association Conference in Edmonton.
Louise was able to join me for the evenings' entertainment at both of the municipal conferences. We had a lot of fun and it was nice for her to meet and get to know some of the people I am working with.
Camrose Rotary Members at the Edmonton Conference
Past President Lou, Tina, Past District Governor Dave, Incoming President Roy, Me, Jim and Jenn
Lorie Kuchera 1961 - 2018
October was a very sad month for our family. Louise's best friend, Lorie, passed away after a a four-month battle with cancer. Louise and Lorie met each other in Grade One and then became best friends when Louise returned to Edmonton at the age of 15. Louise spent many days with Lorie over the summer and fall and was at her side, with her family, when she passed.
Lorie was ready to retire, if not this year, then next, and was looking forward all the things one does in retirement. She left behind her husband, Jim, and her two grown children Zak and Samantha. Life can sometimes be so unfair - yet Lorie had a wonderful, fulfiling life, full of happiness and joy. I cannot even imagine all of the children whom she influenced and helped over her 30 years as an elementary teacher. She will be fondly remembered!
At the end of November, Louise and I joined a bunch of friends of mine from Southern Alberta on a trip to Cayo Coco, Cuba for two weeks of Kitesurfing. We stayed at the Iberostar Daiquire on Cayo Guillermo near Cayo Coco Cuba. It is an older, but beautiful old resort with a beach which must be 5km long. Unfortunately it wasn't as windy as we would have liked, so I only got out kiting four or five days, but who can complain when in paradise.
The staff were very friendly and the food, while not five star, was still delicious.
In addition to Kiting, Louise and I did some Snorkelling, and visited Playa Pilar which is supposedly ranked as one of the ten nices beaches in the world. Louise even fit in some card making! It was a wonderful, relaxing holiday. You can read more about it here.
Ted Kiting in Cuba
Ready for Christmas with the kids!
When we got back from Cuba, we were in panic mode - as Christmas was only two weeks away, and our "Family Christmas" had to be the weekend after we got back as it was the only time that Spencer and Laura could both Join us.
We had a wonderful Christmas Dinner on the Sunday with Spencer, Laura & her friend Frances, Jim Kuchera, his son Zak, and Louise and I. We followed it up with another Christmas Dinner the next night with Spencer, Jim & his daughter Sam, and Louise and I. It was so nice to have Lorie's family with us for a Christmas celebration. I hope we can make it an annual tradition!
As I finish writing this, with only a few more days until Christmas, and less than two more weeks before we leave for Mexico, we are very busy trying to get things organized, and, of course, I have been very busy trying to finish this Christmas Message/Website. It always turns out to be way more work than I intend.
We are looking forward to Christmas at the Farm with Louise's parents in Vimy, and then visiting my folks at my sister Patty's on Boxing day in St. Albert... and that should just about finish the year!!!
Ted - trying out Spencer's Skidoo - WOW!
I couldn't wait for the ice to melt!
SUP ride at home!
SUP ride with Louise in Hood River
Flying my Sukhoi at Bawlf's Littlest Airport
My Sukhoi and my Extra RC Planes
Flying my Seawind on the Lake at home!
A "Selfie" of me taken from my Seawind!
Motor Bike Ride to Reynold's Alberta Museum with Louise
Rotary in the Big Valley Parade - Camrose
My Volleyball Friends in Las Brisas
I had a lot of fun playing volleyball this year.
Our team in Camrose won Division 2!
We hosted a BBQ for our Consulting Team
Sage Analytics
Winter Biking in the Garage
Ted Wakefoiling at Pierre's
