Teacher to conquer Great Divide | The Chronicle Herald

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Teacher to conquer Great Divide | The Chronicle Herald

I am very fortunate. Thank you to all!

A GOLDEN MORNING!

What a beautiful weekend here at home in Cole Harbour and throughout the Halifax Region. The sun was shinning, snow melting, and even the birds were singing. Although winter is still planning to visit us the weather of the last few days has given us hope that it will soon be slipping away.

It has been a great weekend of riding as well. I had an hour long ride with my good friend Terry on the trainers in his 'Man Cave' on Friday night. We were up early on Saturday morning for a three hour mountain bike ride from Cole Harbour through Dartmouth and along the waterfront in Halifax as the sun started to rise and heat up the asphalt.

This morning, Sunday, I decided to get up early and left the house before 6am to get a few hours in on the bike in the wee hours before sunrise. I had to get some time in and get it done before the Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Game between Canada and Sweden.

As the sun started to rise over Cole Harbour an hour into my ride hockey fever was also on the rise! The golden warmth of the glow was a prelude to the gold yet to come! And what a beautiful sunrise it was....

Team Canada and Sidney Crosby fans started to line up in front of numerous bars in the area as discovered here at 7am Sunday morning an hour before puck drop. My good American friends will get a chuckle out of this...hockey, beer, breakfast, and most of those in line had a Tim Horton's cup in hand waiting for the doors to open.

After arriving back home at just past 8am I had the chance to drag a couple loads of wood into the house and get on the trainer in front to the TV for an hour long ride and some entertainment Canada Hockey style. Canada was up 2-0 at this point and Sid just notched a key goal while playing terrific hockey.

This is our second weekend in a row with fairly nice weather in the early morning hours. Last weekend Terry and I were out trekking along the Halifax Harbour for a few hours as well. Although the sun was shining it was still -4C. I am the good looking guy in the back and as usual Terry had to be at the front! haha! WE have had some great rides lately.

Kids, Hockey, and Training continues to rule my world. As an example, on this Sun-Day I got a mountain bike ride in from 6-8am outdoors, trained indoors 815-915am on the cyclops, finished watching the game til the singing of O'Canada, grabbed a quick shower and packed Leslie, Brady, and Haley into the car for a 30 minute drive to Brady's hockey game taking us from 11am through to 3pm, afterwards I gotta scoot home to catch Alexis game with UNH on the internet from 3-530pm, then it is time to pack Haley up and run her an hour down the road back to University at Acadia, leaving enough time to hustle back home only to happily run to the airport at 11pm to pick up Brett from Milwaukee where Shattuck was playing - he is home for a two week break!

Crazy Busy yet Fun and Exciting. Have a great week!

PURSUING HAPPINESS: Dreams and Determination

Celebrating African Heritage this month it is fitting that I post this movie trailer and tell you about another movie I had the chance to see yesterday with students and staff from my school. The 'Pursuit of Happyness', as you will see in the clip below, is a heart-warming story about a single father driven to succeed against all odds in the business world to make a better life for he and his son. Yesterday I had the great opportunity to see the movie 'Nelson Mandela: Long Road to Freedom' and had the chance to learn about a man that spent his life, and much of it in prison, fighting to end apartheid in South Africa and fighting for equal rights there and around the world.

Both movies are about ordinary men with a vision and a dream whom are driven to succeed. The driving force outside of that vision for the two are the road blocks and walls put up by those around them, a determination beyond measure, and the ability to avoid giving in to failure.

Pursuing happiness comes in many different forms for each of us. It is important to know your strengths and understand your weaknesses and continue to work on both. It is equally important to find what you are good at and be happy doing what you are doing. Don't be afraid of change and a challenge. Obstacles are there to climb over or go around and are meant to make you better. Have dreams, make goals, and be determined to go after them with unwavering resolve!

KINDNESS CAN BE CONTAGIOUS! Give it a chance...

PAY IT FORWARD....

Seeing the Gentleman at the Olympics run down to assist the Olympic Cross Country Skier from another country by giving him a ski to replace his broken one reminded me of the kindness others often display. Hearing of a person go to Tim Horton's and pay for coffee for the next person or next 10 people is another act of kindness. Going out of your way to assist a complete stranger is yet another. Simply opening doors, letting others go first, giving your seat up for someone else, and simply saying please and thank you are all acts of kindness that are important yet at times seem to be non-existent.

I often feel obliged to buy for friends or pay for meals or refreshments when we meet for drinks or dinner. Even though I likely should not be doing so given my other financial commitments and extra-ordinary expenses it makes me feel good to be able to do so. After all, why work hard and make money if you can't spend it and spend it on family and friends. I think differently than a lot of people....I came into the world broke and I am gonna leave this world broke. I live for today and far too often spend like there is no tomorrow (it may not be a good thing but it works for me)!

I think I am getting softer as I age. I have always cared about others and the impact I have on them. I regularly think through things I do asking myself how it will affect family and friends while trying to discern the influence it will have on things and people. Over the years I have realized that this is actually a great trait. I have also realized it is likely the reason I have been given so many great opportunities in life...because I care!

All this thought of kindness and caring reminded me of this movie that I watched a number of years ago, and I truly enjoyed it...watch the trailer and check out the movie if you get a chance. You will enjoy it! Pay your Kindness forward and influence others in a thoughtful, caring, and positive way! You will feel great about it and they will glow inside and out....OK, MAYBE I AM GETTING SOFT!



I will show you another clip next blog showing 'acts of kindness' that I watched a while back and it is awesome as well...stay tuned.

TEAM TOUR DIVIDE AND CONQUER KEEPS GROWING!

Thank you so much to all of you who have jumped on board TEAM TOUR DIVIDE AND CONQUER! So far you have helped raise $13100 for our two causes and I am sure the total will continue to grow in the coming weeks.

Mike Ryan - Halifax	Valerie and Doug Clarke - Dartmouth
Ray, Paula, Cory Richard-Halifax	Brian MacInnis - Port Hood NS
Karamanis Family - Victoria BC	Todd Smith - New Hampshire
George Graham - Cole Harbour	Brian and Lisa Bourque-Waterloo ON
Tony Hamilton - Halifax	Tim Barsness/Grace Richardson-Pictou
Neil Cohn - New Hampshire	John Cox - Cole Harbour
David Lown - California	Taylor Cox - Cole Harbour
Greg Taylor - Dartmouth	Angel de Mey - Los Angeles California
Phil O'Hara - Dartmouth	Michael MacDonald - Sackville
Barb Scott - Eastern Shore	Jill Tasker and Gil Ross - Bedford
Csaba Domokas - New Brunswick	Ron Turnbull - Pictou County
Liz MacDonald - Sackville	Charlie MacLean - Cole Harbour
Todd Parker - Cole Harbour	Richie Holmes - Cole Harboour
Rod Dickson - Cole Harbour	Natalie Webster - Fall River
Kevin Quartermain-Carleton Place	Natasha Burgess - Halifax
Jo-Anne Roski - Halifax	Karen Timmons - Carleton Place
Sandy Savage - Texas	Jim and Leslie Byrne - Plymouth Minn
Glen Noel - Newfoundland	James Sidey - Fall River
Janice Gareau - Dartmouth	Ben MacAskill - Dalhousie U
Kara Fraser - Halifax	Patty Gouthro - Dartmouth
Troy and Vicky Dixon - Halifax	Andrew Gordon - Porters Lake
Tyler Dixon - Halifax	Debra Wolf - Faribault Minnesota
The Worthen Family - Dartmouth	Kerry/Randy Mannette - Cole Harbour
Mike Benteau - Hammonds Plains	Brad Shrout - Faribault Minnesota
Michelle Green - Bedford	Pat McCormick - Dover NH
Freedom Cycle - Halifax	Richard Graham - Fall River
Wendell Vye - Dalhousie U	Paul Herron - Cole Harbour
Dan Joyce - Dalhousie U	Jennifer Grabmann - Dartmouth
Cory and Mel Tetford - Dartmouth	Andrew Langan - Dalhousie U
Jean/Heather Aucoin-Cole Harbour	Matt English - Dalhousie U
Tony Eden - Dartmouth	Brad McCaughan - Cole Harbour
Max Chauvin - Dartmouth	Graham Owen - Dartmouth
Johnny Foley - Hammonds Plains	Tyler Hinam - Cole Harbour
Nicky Foley - Hammonds Plains	Alexi Pianosi - Halifax
Marilyn Foley - Hammonds Plains	Rob O'Brien - Hammonds Plains
Dave Foley - Hammonds Plains	Kyle Bennett - Edmonton
Paul Broderick - Massachusetts	Danny MacKinnon - East Hants
Chad Anderson - Cole Harbour	Clinton Davidson - Calgary
Terry Anderson - Cole Harbour	Billy/Diana Robar - Eastern Passage
Darren Saulnier - Halifax	Al Driscoll - Halifax
The Kidney Family - East Hants	Hillary Trainor - Cole Harbour
The Cardinal Family - East Hants	Geri and George Owen - Dartmouth
Dave Naugle Family - Dartmouth	Matt Penney - Cole Harbour
Nick Stoneman - Faribault Minn.	Chris Quillan and Family-Dartmouth
Steve Brown Family - Dartmouth	John Fahie - Dartmouth
Cindy Shultz/Jack Flinn - Halifax	Neil Breedlove - Texas
Marcel/Lynn Deveau-Cole Harbour	Brett Plouffe - Dalhousie U
Brian Tomie - Bedford	Ingrid Foshay Murphy Family - C.Hbr
Tim Ramey and Family - Halifax	Jennifer/Terry Worthen Family - Dart.
Gary Fortune Family-Cole Hbr	Kurt Jerrett - Lwr Sackville

TAKE CARE OF WHAT TRULY MATTERS, TODAY!

Life can change drastically in seconds without our consent or control. Unfortunately often times it is not always a change for the good.

Sadly, one particular example is of this freak accident and fatality near my home this past week where a trailer/container became dislodged from it's truck striking a small work van in a location where the driver of the van had no where to go to avoid it. Many lives have changed dramatically from this brief and unfortunate moment in time.

If you take time to look up The Steve Gleason Story on YouTube you will be shocked by the story of this professional athlete's life altering and life threatening battle with ALS and how it has quickly taken him from the heights of athletic achievement to fighting to stay alive. It is actually a heart-warming story (and sad as well) of a man who refuses to give in to the numerous obstacles placed in his way, a man who continues to live life to the fullest in the face of unbelievable physical adversity.

Shockingly, how many lives were changed from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings of 14 months ago in Connecticut! Who would have expected that on December 14, 2012 these beautiful people would be inexplicably taken from their family and friends changing them forever!

We take so many things for granted and the time we have left to live a healthy, active, happy and long life is one of them. It amazes me the time we spend worrying about and focusing on the things that don't really matter and missing out on those that truly do.

Life is so precious yet fragile. LIVE YOURS TO IT'S FULLEST EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY AND SHARE IT OPENLY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

(I post these images respectfully and extend my best wishes to the families, friends and all noted above)

BEAUTY AND A BEAST!

The Tour Divide mountain bike race is 2745 miles of beauty and the beast. Here are a few key points and interesting facts:

• 2745 miles or more
• Over 200000 feet of climbing (equivalent of 7 Mount Everests)
• Over 80% of route is on single track, hiking paths, logging roads, or gravel.
• Route goes from Alberta to BC across the border into Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and through New Mexico to the finish at the Mexican border.
• Travel through Mountain Lion and Grizzly Bear country in the mountains into snake and spider country in the desert. Mosquitoes and Dogs are issues as well.
• Weight is also the enemy. Gotta travel light, keep the weight packed on the bike as light as possible, and reduce some body weight too.
• My goal is to complete 100-120 miles per day for 25 days or less which is at least 10 hours per day on the bike working the pedals.
• There will be brief stops in small towns or at gas stops to replenish food and fluids and have a hot meal and a pop or two!! 
• The plan is to sleep on the ground in my one man tent although I may consider treating myself to a hotel room (and a hot bath) halfway through the adventure if I can find one.
• The major issues in planning at present are finding the proper ultra-light gear at a decent price and planning for the unpredictable weather possibilities (and not packing too much).