Winterlude 2012 - Ottawa

Sheena and I went to Ottawa on Feb 10 for Winterlude and also to see friends and family....1st place ice sculpture.

Skating on the canel on saturday....Derek, Jen and Kendall...total of 14 klms. The night before we did a 7 klm snowshoe hike at Gatineau Park in Quebec....unfortunately it was too cold for the camera and also our fingers were too cold to take a picture. We started the hike around 9 pm.
Beavertails....the main attraction at Winterlude.....Martyn, Joel, Sheena and Lynley.

At the end of our 14 klms skate....Lynley not used to the cold weather yet.

My travelling friend....Sheena

Uncle Harvey's birthday

At the end of January we had alittle birthday party for Uncle Harvey - 47 - at Herb and Brenda Marshalls....Greg, Michelle and crew as well as Crystal were in town to celebrate.

More sights of Sapa...

Little girl enjoying being carried...
view of the rice fields and farms

walls are built to trap the water in the fields

we were away out in the middle of nowhere and they have better phone service then we have here.

Sapa....Northern Vietnam

Little twin girls having breakfast after their long walk into town.

tribal women waiting for the market to open...

Fresh lunch...

Country ladies come into town to work in the market.

Overnight train to Sapa

A few days in Hanoi

The posting of my remaining pictures from our trip to Vietnam is long overdue. Here are some shots of our few days in Hanoi....
The local a little over excited about seeing "the turtle" and supposely if you touch the very old turtle then you will have good luck for the rest of your life....Julia and I almost lost our life in this mob.

Julia's weakness...and we all had to try them....warm, possibly fresh greasy donuts.

Lunch in the rain....nothing like a good bowl of Pho to warm you up!!

Latest Purchase....29 Panatella Road NW

Sarah Pihrag and I just purchased this end unit townhome....possession in next friday, July 15.
Front View....landscaping to be done this summer

view from the living room up to the kitchen and down to the main entrance....nice side windows, lots of light.

view from the opening in the kitchen down into the livingroom...15 foot ceilings in the living room and door to the balcony.

kitchen...no the fridge is not blue, that is the protection wrap.

It has been a very exciting and fast process....offer was made June 26 and possession July 15. All are welcome to come and visit and stay...lots of room!!!

Rebuilding my shoes....

My shoes did not fit and I went to the repair shop...wow, what an experience.
ripping, glueing, burning...

I was not sure what the outcome would be...

4 guys sitting on the floor surrounded but wooden feet and material but loving their job.

Let the shopping begin....

Many stores to pick from to get clothes made...very overwhelming at first.

A very stress time for a girl....so many shoes and boots.

This how they do it...measure your foot, take the measurements to the tailor and then the fittings begin.

The is why there are fittings....but it is all fun...kind of feel like a celebrity will all the appointments and running around....very stressful week!!!

Hoi An

On the overnight bus to Hoi An....back of the bus on the top sleeper....everything must be tried once!!! After we wiped down the area we could relax a bit.
Hoi An....scheduled a week here as this town is where you get clothes made....lots of clothes!!!

Oldest covered bridge

Fancy hotel for Queen Drake!!! she could no longer in the same area as the toilet...we like to tease her...but this really was a nice place to spend a week.

With a tub for our 2 week traveler Julia.

still enjoying the sites of Vietnam...

Sheena and River....the organizer of the bike trip.
The little cabin where we stayed for one night...

a sleepless night for Julia...her attempt at keeping the misquitos away from her.

Learning english

Stops along the way...

Crazy Castle

The view from the back of the group.

Making silk...amazing process...very patient ladies working at this factory.

higher view of the rice fields