Weekend at Bella Vista

It's been busy lately... very very busy, so, it was kind of nice to have a weekend off. My relaxing weekends off don't seem to be quite like most people's relaxing weekends off (or what I hear of them). Relaxing for me is not sitting around watching movies (though I do enjoy doing that) or lying on a beach (though I do enjoy showing off my speedo and pseudo-Herculean body (it used to be just Herculean but living in Drayton Valley and eating it out has added on a "pseudo" to it)), relaxing is doing as much as I possibly can that is relatively stress free, hopefully mildly dangerous, and always adventurous.

The plan was to head to Bella Vista for the weekend for some time with the fam. Well, we actually didn't stay at Bella Vista, we stayed at Akiskinook where we have better access to ye boat, and beach, and pool, and squash court, and tennis court, and etc. It was interesting to go back and have us all staying in Akiskinook; it has been a long time. We used to be there all the time, but now Bella Vista has stolen some of the thunder.

I think that while there were some errands to be done most of the family was going to relax as much as possible. This sounded like a good plan, but I had work that needed to be done. Next weekend (which is actually today since I am a week behind on writing this) was going to be the Calgary Iaido Club/Ka Muso Kai's Fifth Annual Summer Seminar and Kim Taylor Sensei would be coming to town. I happened to have about twenty hand guards for practice swords (tsubas) that I was finishing for sale (stitching, wax hardening, etc.) and I wanted to get them all done. I had the drilling done, but I needed to finish the stitching and this weekend would be perfect for it.

History

We started our weekendy stuff with a fantastic breakfast and then Dad and I headed over to Bella Vista to look at a little erosion problem. From there he headed back to Akiskinook with the women while I started to work on the tsubas. This was not the first time I had done this, so I set myself up on my familiar rock and began to pound grooves into the leather for the stitches to sink in to. This is actually an excruciating activity as it seems to hurt my shoulder somehow and it is just kind of tedious; still, it is well worth it as the finished product is super duper awesome. The crew went for lunch while I hammered away.

I did not need to get all of the tsubas grooved, but enough that I could go on the boat for a few hours without running out of work. I got a handful done and headed back to Akiskinook. I called the fam (who were chillin' on the boat) and they sent the great chariot, Faralee's Ferrari, to come and get me. I hopped into the glorious golf cart and we were on our way.

Last year I spend the summer in New Brunswick. That means that it has been at least two years since I have been on the boat. It was nice to go out again. We were very lucky. One weekend a year there is a hang gliding competition where hang gliders and parasailers leap off mount Swansea and glide towards the lake. There is a target either in the water or on the beach and they need to get as close as possible. The competition was this weekend.

We were a little late getting to the competition but there were still plenty of people leaping from the mountain. We got down to the end off the lake near Inveremere and joined the tens of boats already anchored in the shallow waters. We happened to drive right by a set of friends of our and we anchored beside them. Engine off, drinks in hand, we sat in the sun and heat and watched the thrill seekers leap off the mountain and make their slow descent towards the lake. It is always a good time to watch these adventurous souls make like birds and fly.

Hang Glider Competition

Falling

Soar

In the past the target has been in the water. Some times it is on land (probably safer for drowing risk). This time it was on the beach. It is a little less entertaining, but there are always those who aim to please the crowd...

Goin' in the Water

The ones that land in the water are fun, but the most interesting one this year was a hang glider who when passing over the restaurant on the waterfront, dropped a doll with a parachute. The hang glider kept on going as the little paratrooper made his way down for a perfect landing on the patio. The hang glider then passed by a few more times and made his heroic landing.

In the Lake

I don't know how many of you like swimming, and I don't know how many of you like swimming outside of pools. Well, one of the risks of swimming outside of pools is the dreaded seaweed. I guess it is lakeweed, or riverweed, here... but same same. My sister happens to be a river/lake/seaweedaphobe so when we had our fill of hang gliders we took the boat into the middle of the lake where the water was deeper and the weeds out of foot tickling range.

It has been a strange year. There has been a great deal of rain, and it has been cool in the mountains. Just now the snow is finally disappearing. That means that the lake is hella cold.... hella cold but hella refreshing on a scorching hot day. It was cool when you got in, but once you were in you could easily stay in for a good long while before getting too cold...

In the Lake

The swim was incredible, but something was still missing in our day on the lake... Ice Cream... We began to head back towards Akiskinook. We were just gently trolling along when over at Timber Ridge (a development 2isk km north of Akiskinook) we saw the "Ice Cream Float" pulling into the marina. For those of you lacking some imagination... the "Ice Cream Float" is a pun, and its not like a glass of root beer with ice cream in it bobbing around in the lake, it is a pontoon ice cream shop boat that drives from beach to beach to provide ice cream to beachers and boaters of all denominations, descriptions, and... derigibles? Right... so there it was. It tied up to the dock and was swarmed by the beachers. There wasn't really a good opportunity for us to tie up so we waited... paitently...ish... as the beachers got their ice cream.

With its customers satiated, the Ice Cream Float released its lines and powered away. The driver had not seen us so she headed back towards her home marina (Pete's Marina in Athalmere). This was a real shocker... pontoon boats/house boats look sorta... medium hydrodynamic at best, but she cranked 'er and that Ice Cream Float took off. I think there was shock in all of our faces as she gained distance on us. Dad followed suit, gave a little gas, and the Demon du Midi was in pursuit. It was a short chase and when the pilot of the Ice Cream Float saw us she released her throttle and let us pull up beside her. My brother-in-law and I held the two boats together while we procured some ice cream. And then we ate it. Floating... heh... get it?

It was a good ice cream.

The Ice Cream Float headed towards Pete's Marina and we to Akiskinook.

The afternoon was waning, but there was still some time. I did a little Iaido in the squash court and then it was just about time for supper. Supper was a usual 5-7ish course deal and it was fantastic.

It was pretty late when that was all done so it was time for bed. I have been having issues sleeping... and issues with pain... I guess I sort of always have that... anyways, I took the time to indulge in my sleeping/chronic pain pills and that was the last thing I saw till morning...

Sunday is always the go home day, and living in Rocky Rapids I have a looooonnnngggg go home so it takes a good chunk of the day. After breakfast I headed over to Bella Vista where I continued working diligently on tsubas. I was back to pounding away with the screwdriver and hammer and Chloe came to help with the stitching. We sat in the sun and enjoyed ourselves as we worked. Good company, good view, stupid good weather... what more could we want?

By the time we had finished it was getting close to the time when I needed to hit the road. We didn't just want to work so we went for a walk. Now, we have a weed problem at Bella Vista. They grow on the road and grind along the bottom of your car as you come up the hill. Dad just purchased a scythe to deal with the problem, and I could not resist giving it a go. We headed down the road and scythed the crap out of some weeds. I cannot possibly convey to you how much fun this was... I can't wait till I get out there again.

Bella Vista

Bale

Barren Fields

Cognizant of time, we continued on our way down the hill. Bella Vista is not just a house, it is a farm. The field we have isn't huge, but it is big enough. The hay grows and then we have some farmers that chop it down and take it away. The chopping was done, but not the taking away. This resulted in ginormous bales of hay chillin' in the field. Looking at the immenseness of the bales and knowing my own sense of adventure there was only one rational thing to do... ride the bale...

Bale Ride

With burs in my pants and bits of straw poking me in the ass we made our way back up the hill. It was time to go. We said our good-byes to each other, to Bella Vista, and then I was on my way.

The ride back to Rocky Rapids is always gorgeous and always filled with amazing sights. I don't know what it was, perhaps just the timing, but I saw more horses then than ever before... four herds and then a bunch of stragglers. There were three herds of Indian Horses (who are relatively tame and easy to get photos of), and then the big herd of wild horses. The Indian ones are mixed, but the herd of wild horses are all black and they are jumpy. You can stop to get some photos, they startle easy and peace out real quick like...

Indian Horses

It was dark and tired out when I got home. A quick unpack, and then off to bed.

Another amazing weekend.