Florida Tournament Golf

As I wrote in the last blog entry, we'd been invited to Florida by our friends, George and Martha, so Glen could play with George in the Sugarmill Woods Country Club Member/Guest Golf Tournament.

The club takes its name from the sugar mills which David Levy Yulee built to process the sugar cane he grew on his plantation in Citrus Country.  Mr. Yulee was the first Jewish American to be elected to the US Senate (1845) and his mill produced sugar, syrup, and molasses (used to make rum).

The tournament was to be three days of golf and an incredible learning experience for Glen.  First thing he discovered was there was money and a car on the line.  Never has Glen played for such high stakes.  Then he learned each golfing pair was ranked according to their handicaps.  Glen's handicap was capped at 36 which meant he and George were in the final pairing of the last flight.  Each flight grouped golfers of similar abilities so high handicap golfers weren't competing with low handicap players.  There were 5 flights in this tournament.  The winners of each flight would do a shoot-out for the top prize of $1300.00.  A Cadillac SUV, Harley Davidson, and another vehicle were the prizes for a hole-in-one.

Thursday's schedule began at noon with a practice round of 9 holes and an optional skins game.  When each player competes for a prize on each hole, that designates it as a skins game.  The idea being if you have a good hole, you can win even if the rest of your game is less than stellar.  It gently eased Glen into the idea of playing for more than just a team trophy (his team won the BPRG tournament in 2012).

Round 1 started at 3:00 and Glen and George were paired with Paul and Todd, pretty serious golfers.  But G & G had nothing to prove so they enjoyed their round.  I was sitting by the pool drying off when I saw them putting on the nearby green.  Martha and I cheered them on as they headed to the tee box behind the tall hedge that edged of the property.  When the round ended, G & G were up by one point.  This meant they had won one hole more than the opposing team.  We did some celebrating that night with wine and beer.

There are three different nine hole courses at Sugarmill Woods, each named for trees.  I played Cypress on Wednesday and Oak on Sunday.  Honestly, their sand traps could swallow me whole.  Of course, the tournament used all three courses and no one else could play so there were no worries about people coming up behind you.  This held true during normal play as golfers are staggered 20 minutes apart unlike the 10 minutes apart for courses we usually play.  G &  G played the Oak course the first day.

On Friday, they played two 9 hole rounds on Cypress.  Round 2 with Jim and Dan and round 3 with John and John Jr.  Both these teams had low handicap golfers so George felt they would lose their lead but as it turned out, they beat the first one by one point and the second by 2.  John Jr could hit drives of over 250 yards so to beat that team was a definite plus.  Glen and George's smiles were a mile wide at the cocktail party as they toasted their new position on the flight--first!  Now you see why I bet on them to win.

It couldn't last, of course, as old bones and muscles began to demand a rest but they were definitely in the game on Saturday.  They were also up against some good players.  Gary and Bob were their opponents in round 4.  Gary worked for Chrysler and loved to talk.  He'd actually done a presentation once in Red Deer and was amazed at the number of dealerships in the province.  Round 5 was against Paul and another Gary.  Paul's handicap was close to Glen's but George felt Gary's was better than what was recorded.  He called him a sandbagger (someone who inflates his handicap so he has extra strokes on any given hole).  Not sure if this was the case or just that the guy was just having a very good round.

Round 5 was the only time Glen and George lost and they did so by one putt.  When all the scores were tallied, they came in second in their flight.  Considering they began with no hope of winning anything, second place was fantastic.  Glen was elated to win money and garner some prestige among George's friends.  I also won money since I had bet on him.  I got back my original $20 and won $1 on top of that.  Sweet!

But, the day was not over.  All the flights had to compete in a shoot-out.  We watched as they teed off at the first hole on Cypress, then everyone who had a cart, followed the players down the fairway.  It was an incredible sight and must have been unnerving for the players.  Almost like having a gallery follow you in professional golf.  The guys who had won the fifth flight were eliminated at the first hole since the rule was for alternate stokes so the better player couldn't dominate the team.  The second hole was a three way tie which was solved by a chip off.  Two teams were eliminated there.  The final winner was from the fourth flight so even though the guys weren't the lowest handicap players in the field, they won all the money.

Everyone talked golf at the banquet.  It was nice to see how so many people enjoy this game.  Besides the prize money, Glen also came home with a lovely tournament shirt and a lob wedge (which I've since claimed).

Golfing in Florida

Neither Glen nor I ever thought we'd golf in Florida.  So, it was a dream come true for us when we landed in Tampa last week.

About six months ago, our good friends, George and Martha whom we'd first met in the Galapagos, invited us to stay in their home and partake in the Members/Guest golf tournament run by the Sugarmill Woods Country Club.  Like us, they'd come to golf late in life but were as passionate about the game.  The tournament was to be a fun get-together with like-minded men taking place over three days.

Our flight down on United Airlines went without a hitch even though we schlepped two golf bags and a large suitcase.  We arrived at the airport the recommended 2 hours ahead (3:50 am) only to find the check-in desks deserted.  Attendants arrived at 4 am but Customs didn't open until 4:30 so we had to wait there.  I desperately needed a cup of coffee as we'd awakened at 2:30.  As soon as we made it through customs and had rid ourselves of our clubs, we hit Starbucks for a quick breakfast.

I think the next time I fly to the States, I'll book directly with United as Air Canada couldn't reserve our seats and we ended up sitting apart.  The flight to Denver was only two hours and we landed to lovely weather (snow had been predicted).  We bought lunch at a sandwich shop then waited to board the plane to Tampa.  I saw our suitcase being loaded so prayed our clubs would make it onto the plane.  Flying with clubs isn't cheap as we paid a total of $15 extra for taxi cabs and $140 for the airlines to handle them (Fed-Ex charges would have been between $300 to $1000).

George (G) and Martha (M) met us at the Tampa International Airport.  It's a lovely place with lots of light.  Like Denver, a train takes you to the main terminal.  The airport began as a small airfield called Drew Field named for the citrus planter who sold his land to the city in 1928.  During the war, the military used it but gave it back to the city when the war ended.  It became Tampa International Airport in 1952.  We flew into a newly renovated section that was very clean and welcoming.

It is an hour drive to Homosassa where George and Martha have their retirement home.  Nestled between two parks and sitting next to the golf course, their place has a wild feel to it.  At night, the sky is pitch black and we heard owls and coyotes as well as tree frogs peeping.  The area originally belonged to David Levy Yulee who established a 5000 acre sugar plantation there in 1851.  After the American Civil War, he lost the plantation and its slaves.  Today, 35% of the area's population is over 65 with the median age being 58 so I wasn't the only one with white/grey hair.

Martha and George have a beautiful house and were gracious hosts.  Their home has a guest wing where we stayed and an open concept kitchen/family room.  George has a den (man-cave) and Martha lives in or beside the pool.  Although not large, the pool has a deep end and I could do six side-strokes from end to end.  It was so good exercising in a pool without chlorine.  Bonus, it was heated to 88ºF (~30ºC) with solar energy.

Each of the five days we spent with G & M began with a huge breakfast either waiting to be reheated or for the men, at the clubhouse.  G loves freshly-ground coffee so he was up early preparing it.  M had an assortment of sausages, bacon, pancakes, waffles and pastries for us to enjoy.  She also made an incredible frittata one morning.  We ate in their breakfast nook overlooking the pool, watching the maintenance crews tend the nearby golf greens.

Our first full day was Wednesday and M and I were up early to join her 'Swingers' league.  They play 9 holes of golf and often have fun games thrown into the mix.  We were paired with M's good friend, Debbie, and her guest from Rochester, NY, Kathy.  M assured me this league was more about having fun than playing serious golf.  After our group all scored double par on the first hole, I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the round.  M was the coordinator for November and her fun rule for this round was that once per hole, we could tee up on the fairway.  When Kathy pulled out her driver, we all joined her epiphany and moved quickly up the fairways.  It was a hoot!

Lunch was in the clubhouse and their chef was excellent.  I had a delicious chicken wrap while M enjoyed half a BLT with at least 6 slices of bacon.  The club Pro tallied the scores for the regulars and Martha came in third.  No one won the 25 cent/player pot for chipping in but when they do, they'll get a Canadian quarter.  Meanwhile, G and Glen did a practice round to get a feel for each other's game.

M always has a dip after golfing so we headed back to her house for a swim.  There were some issues with the pool so the water was cold.  Okay, it was 78ºF but that can be shivery.  It took me forever to enter the pool but I enjoyed it once I was in.

Thursday was the first day of the tournament so G and Glen were off early (see my next blog entry, Florida Tournament Golf).  M and I joined the other wives and went to a casino run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

When Spain discovered Florida in 1513, there were about 200,000 Seminoles living in the region.  Despite being devastated by European diseases and American colonial aggression, the Seminoles refused to be dominated by the white man.  Seminole is a rough translation of the native word for 'free people'.  Andrew Jackson began the first of the Seminole Wars (1814) to deal with the 'Indian problem' and escaped African slaves.  The US government spent 20 years trying to crush the Seminoles and take their lands.  In 1842, President Tyler ended the wars but a peace treaty was never signed.  The Seminoles continued to live in the swamps of Florida until the 1920s when their frontier lifestyle ceased to exist.  In 1938, they were offered a chance to live on reservations.  Few did so but by 1957, they had established their own constitution which Congress recognized.  In 1977, they began selling discount cigarettes and were the first nation to use gaming to finance their lives.

Seminole Hard Rock Cafe Hotel & Casino Tampa is a huge complex and our bus was one of many arriving mid-morning.  The sound of the gaming machines was loud and the place was crowded.  Even Vegas' more popular casinos seemed less busy.  M wanted to play the old-style slot machines but we couldn't find any.  One no longer pulls a lever and has a bucket of quarters spew out.  She did win a free game on one machine but it was less than exciting.  I had to comb the entire casino to find my favourite game, VideoPoker.  I slipped in $5 and promptly lost it.  We then tried to find a roulette table as G wanted to spend some money he had won in Monaco but the tables had been replaced by machines (there were no craps tables either).

We then had an early lunch in the Hard Rock Cafe.  I enjoyed Yuengling Lager and the blackened fish (Mahi mahi) sandwich.  Martha had a salad and white wine.  Yuengling (pronounced yin-ling) is America's oldest brewery. It began when David G. Yuengling arrived from Wurttenberg, Germany and settled in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.  He had anglicized his surname 'Juengling' which is German for young man.  He established his Eagle Brewery in Pottsville in 1829 but changed the name to D. G. Yuengling in 1873 when his son became his partner.  During prohibition, the brewery made near-beer products but by 1920, David's grandson, Frank, had to open a dairy to survive.  He ran the company for 64 years and it is still an family-run brewery.

After lunch, M insisted I play more poker so we found an empty machine.  She must be my lucky muse as I won back my $5 and came away $2.50 to the good.  I even pulled 4 Aces which caused a few bells to ring.  Very exciting.  However, being that I'm not a true gambler, I cashed out and we headed to the bus lobby which was quiet and whiled away an hour chatting until our bus arrived.

That evening was the tournament's cocktail party.  I now know what 'heavy' hors d'oeuvres are -- supper.  We ate everything from meatballs, to scallops wrapped in bacon, to coconut shrimp.  Add to that were skewers of veggies, steak, and chicken as well as a smattering of canapés.  The invitation mentioned a limited bar but I didn't see any evidence of that.  We later discovered a pitcher of excellent beer was $2.50 (in Canada we pay close to $15).

While eating and drinking, we also chatted with some of G & M's friends.  We were given a chance to bet on the teams so I place a $20 bet on G and Glen -- $10 to win, $5 to place, and $5 to show.  I guess my casino win made me reckless.

Friday, the guys headed to the club early for breakfast then M and I drove to Worldwoods Golf Club. We met Debbie and Kathy there and played the short course (no par 5s).  The PGA has named it one of the top ten most beautiful courses and it was.  It wasn't easy either but we all had fun.  Afterwards, Debbie suggested we eat at the Seagrass Waterfront Restaurant.  We followed her bright red Toyota Solara convertible to Homosassa Springs.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is famous for its manatee rehabilitation program.  They also have wild manatees who visit during the winter as the water is warmed by the hot springs.  The park began as a tourist attraction in the 1900s and continued to attract visitors as various owners showcased the wildlife of the area.  In 1984, Citrus County bought the land to preserve the environmentally sensitive region.

The Seagrass restaurant sits on the Homosassa River and offers inside dining as well as a screened porch and what's called dockside dining.  We chose to sit on the porch and enjoyed a great view of the river.  The restaurant has an extensive beer menu but I stayed with Yuengling.  I ate cajun crayfish tails and had a bowl of New England-style chowder.  Both were excellent but the cajun spices were very salty.  M said Floridian cooking tends to be salty and they love to coat seafood in batter.

After lunch, we again swam in the pool and the guys joined us after their round.  That evening we had a cookout--what we would call a BBQ.  Martha created huge burgers and we enjoyed eating supper on their pool patio.  I could get used to having pre-dinner drinks by the pool.  It is Florida law to surround your pool with a screened 'cage' that is alarmed so if kids enter, you know are warned.  This meant G & M's patio was also screened so sitting out enjoying the evening was pleasant with no bugs.  I also spotted some tiny lizards that must feast on whatever wriggles through the screening.

Saturday, M and I spent the morning in pool then headed to the club for a putting clinic.  The female Pro, Chantelle, showed us some tips on putting and how to read the green.  Since I've never had a putting lesson, I learned a lot.  They had set up a mini-course on the practise green so we played that.  At one point, I had to straddle a branch to putt and it looked like I had a tail.  That lead to a few laughs.   Kathy won and acknowledged she played a lot of mini-golf.  We were supposed to eat lunch with the men but G and Glen were out playing.

That evening was the tournament's semi-formal dinner.  I enjoyed a fillet of grouper and Glen had the fillet mignon.  The grouper was breaded (and salty) but once I removed its covering, the fish was excellent.  Glen's steak was delicious, too.

Sunday, we again golfed, this time with G & M.  Unfortunately, both Glen and I were pretty much golfed out.  Glen had played 18 holes every day for 4 days and his game came apart on the first 9 holes.  Rather than subject G & M to more misery, we opted out of the second 9 and enjoyed a pitcher of beer on the club's patio.

Monday morning we packed up and G drove us to the airport.  We arrived in time for lunch and with a 3:00 flight could enjoy a leisurely meal at the Columbia Café.  Little did we know we had stumbled onto a Tampa landmark.  The original café opened in 1905 serving Cuban coffee and sandwiches.  I was tempted to order their signature, Original Tampa Cuban sandwich but opted for the grilled mahi mahi sandwich made with Cuban bread and served with plantain fries.  Glen joined me and we washed it down with more Yuengling Lager.

Our flight left on time but upon arriving in Toronto, the pilot aborted his landing because another plane was in the 'orange' zone.  It was pretty scary being pushed into your seat as the plane jumped back into the sky. We had supper at Casey's (it's becoming a Toronto airport tradition).  Casey's began in Sudbury, Ontario in 1980 but has since grown to over 160 restaurants.  Glen had a mushroom burger with brie while I had the tastiest veggie burger ever.  Stella Artois was on tap so we had that while I monitored our gate.  We had spent an hour going through customs/security so didn't have much time for supper.  We shouldn't have rushed as our plane was late arriving.  By the time they de-iced and worked out a problem with the rear door, take-off was an hour later than scheduled.  It was midnight by the time we arrived home (2 am EST).

Anniversary Trip

We decided to take a weekend trip to celebrate our anniversary (41st) but really it was a weekbeginning trip since we left on Sunday and returned Monday evening.  We also wanted to spend a little money in towns that had suffered from the flood, Canmore and Banff.

We slept in Sunday after a great anniversary dinner made Saturday night by our daughter, Meg, then headed out Highway 1A.  The traffic on this highway travels at a leisurely pace and that was our mood.  We planned to do some letterboxing along the way but missed the turn-off to Kananakis Country so changed our plans.  There is a box hidden at Grotto Pond near Exshaw so we headed there.  By the time we arrived, it was nearing lunch and the trek to the box was about an hour. My stomach rules my life so instead of doing the hike, we headed to Dead Man's Flats.

There are several stories as to why it's called this.  My favourite is the tale of two First Nation trappers who were poaching and fooled a warden by playing dead.  The reality is probably the version that says it was coined to foster tourism in the area.

The box we sought was close to the trailhead so would be quick to find.  We had walked this trail with Glen's cousin, Alan, about 30 years ago and suffice to say, things have changed.  For one, there is a parking lot with washroom facilities.  The trail was lovely and we had a great stroll through the forest until we came to the creek.  The letterbox was hidden under a pile of stones beneath the first bridge.  Problem was, there was no bridge.  There was certainly no letterbox.  The creek was filled with flood debris and the banks badly eroded.  We saw where the water levels had been and it was scary the power this tiny creek had.  Newly-laid stepping stones linked the trail across the creek bed and even though we did a search, nothing that resembled a letterbox did we find.

Next up was lunch at our favourite restaurant in Canmore.  The Grizzly Paw patio was packed so we ate upstairs.  They had run out of Glen's favourite beer, Powder Hound Pilsner so we had a pitcher of Rutting Elk Red which I like.  He had a burger while I enjoyed a Veggie Panni.  We both loved their Roughage salad.  We've had it many times and each time, it's served differently.  This time it came layered in a ramakin dish so tossing it was difficult.

After lunch we headed into a part of Canmore where we've never ventured.  A letterbox took us to a lookout above the town and gave us a good view of the Bow Valley.  The box, planted by Ontario boxers, had been destined for the Ink Pots at the top of Johnston's Canyon but due to the flood, never made it.

Another Ontario boxer planted two in Banff so we headed to Tunnel Mountain to find those.  We realized as we drove past the campground, we had never been there before even though we've lived in Alberta for over 35 years.  Isn't it always the way that a tourist finds places a resident never does.  The boxes were on the popular, Hoodoo trail.  One family stopped and asked if we were geocaching as they had just found one further along the trail.  We explained what letterboxing was about and I think we may have piqued their interest in this hobby.

We had booked a room at the Holiday Inn in Canmore.  The hotel has had several owners over the years and I guess Holiday Inn hasn't decided what to do with it.  The restaurant/bar was closed which they hadn't mentioned on their website and one customer had been told they served a 'free' breakfast.  We had hoped to eat in the restaurant so Glen tried to goggle nearby eateries but the hotel wifi was not working.  Other than those problems, it was a great hotel--very picturesque.

A friend's daughter who lives in Canmore, mentioned the Iron Goat restaurant when we said we were making this trip.  It was close to our hotel so we opted for that.  What a gem!  It sits on the top of a hill with a great view of the Three Sisters (famous Canmore landmark).  The food was excellent and not expensive.  Glen had a meatloaf of bison, elk and lamb while I had the 'catch of the day' which was a seafood and chicken paella steamed in a banana leaf.  It was cooked perfectly and the mussels were fresh and not 'rubbery'.  Yay!!  We drank at Czech-type Pilsner from Big Rock Brewery called Saaz Republic Pilz.  While choosing our beer, we learned our server was also from Ottawa and went to Carleton U, our alma mater.

Back at the hotel, we talked to our real estate agent and made the decision to sell the house to a couple with whom we'd been negotiating for two weeks.  It seemed a good way to end our anniversary day.

We were up early Monday and drove to Banff before having breakfast.  We were going to hit a coffee shop but then remembered Phil's.  As you drive to the Banff Springs Hotel, you pass Phil's.  Like the Hoodoos, we knew it was there but had never been inside.  As we pulled into the parking lot, it looked as if the place were closed.  It wasn't but we were the only customers.  Breakfast is Phil's forte and it's been serving it since the 1960s in this location.  Glen had bacon and eggs while I had sausages and hash browns (chunky but you could have them shredded).  The coffee was good and the orange juice tasted freshly squeezed.  Other customers arrived just as we left.

We decided to walk the golf course because it is only 9 holes.  We planned playing 18 with lunch in between so walking was a good option.  We hit a few balls on the driving range then paired up with Jan and Cathy, two locals about our age.  We all struggled at some points in the game so it look 2.5 hours to play.  I did get a par which I felt good about.  It is not an easy course.  Glen actually killed a ground squirrel with one of his drives.  The poor thing had stupidly made its burrow in front of the tee boxes.

We had lunch in the clubhouse which Cathy called Battlestar Galactica, enjoying Banff Springs Lager with French Onion soup.  The soup was very salty and when the served asked if we wanted salt and pepper, I nearly laughed out loud.  Our second tee time was 2:15 but we were ready to go at 1:45 so they let us play.  The clouds were quite dark by this time and we had rain off and on during the game.  We played with another Glen so that wasn't a hard name to remember.  He was an excellent golfer so we did the course in 2 hours.  Unfortunately, I'd been having back pain for a couple of days and by the last hole, I could no longer swing a club.  I caddied for Glen which was fun, too.

When we got back home, we signed the final documents to sell our house.  A new phase in our lives begins which is exhilarating and scary at the same time.

Chapter V -- Holiday's End

Some of you may be curious as to why I've labeled these summer blogs chapters.  At the beginning of our holiday, I thought I might find time to finish the last chapters in the book I'm writing with the working title of Sarah.  I know I have only a few chapters left and I'm pretty sure I know how they unfold.  But in writing, as in life, things rarely follow set plans.  My characters do have minds of their own and can throw me off at any moment.  So, until it is actually written, I don't really know how my book ends.  I do know how my holiday ends, though -- we go back to Calgary.  So, by calling the blogs chapters, I can tell myself I did get my chapters written even if they did not add to my book's word count.

We spent the final week trying to cram in everything we wanted to do before leaving.  Monday, we had the van serviced and after 19 years, finally replaced the spark plugs.  The beast now has the same shape as the newer caravans and could pass as a new model although it lacks that 'new car' smell.  It's great for ferrying around golf clubs and carts as well as people when they visit.

I had spent a couple of hours on the weekend carving a letterbox stamp and preparing the box for planting so Monday afternoon we headed to Cedar Hill again but this time not to golf.  We walked along the nature path that skirts the course and found the perfect spot to hide the box off the 4th green.  We watched those playing and figured we aren't as bad as we thought we were.

Tuesday, we golfed Mt Doug with the S and M team, Nigel (a Scot) and Mario (a Mexican) were a delight and I discovered I'm not the only one who tosses a club when frustrated.  Perhaps there is a little Latino blood in me.  As usual, we stopped at Galey Farms for strawberries, beans, and cherries.

Who knew we'd ever golf two days in a row but because of a tournament on Thursday at Cedar Hill, we ended up golfing again on Wednesday.  We were paired up with two singletons, Ann and Don, both excellent golfers.  Again I was glad to have my walking shade even though the clouds seemed to come and go.  My golf this summer has been iffy so I'm thinking I need another lesson.  You do pick up bad habits that go unnoticed until someone points them out to you.

Thursday, we decided to have a day of rest but in the end, it still meant a long walk to the beach and a favourite coffee shop.  Ross Bay is a lovely wild, winter beach and in the summer it seems quite tame but is still beautiful.  As I explored some tidal pools, Glen enjoyed watching the ships and sea birds.  That evening, we finally got together with the neighbours who live down the hall and kindly keep an eye on our place when we aren't here.  Ray and Cynthia also let us use their parking spot when we drive to Victoria which we really appreciate since parking on the street can be problematic.  We went to Christie's as one can always relax with friends in one's local pub.  Cynthia ordered grilled fish as the fish in her fish and chips and I followed suit.  I'm not into heavy batters but didn't realize I could opt out at Christie's.  Glen devoured a huge yorkie stuffed with beef while Ray indulged in his favourite, bangers and mash.

Friday, it rained for the first time since we arrived.  Our plans to walk down to BCAA and renew the van's registration went ahead as did a stop at the bank and Don Mees.  The Yummy-yummy lady served us my favourite sesame buns.  Our table quickly became laden with mostly seafood dim sum dishes and we brought home enough for supper so I didn't have to cook.

Saturday, we shopped at the Pandora store in Victoria for another charm for my bracelet.  This time a ferry which seemed appropriate.  That evening I wore it to dinner at the Marina in restaurant in Oak Bay.  We had our 'usual' waiter, Paul, who treated us well.  We enjoyed Evening Cove, Komo Gway and Zen oysters and although they are all the same species of oyster (Japanese), we loved their different tastes.  The Zen had a lovely buttery flavour.  We both ordered the special of grilled Steelhead trout on Warba heirloom potatoes which were introduced to British Columbia in the 1920s apparently from Argentina (read my blog Buenos Aires).  We had a lovely white wine with dinner from the Terravista Vineyards called Fandango and it actually tastes as the name implies, a lively dance of crisp citrus flavours.  Glen had apple cake for dessert while I had a Monte Cristo coffee.  Later, Glen smoked a Cohiba cigar on the balcony.

Sunday, we decided to golf again at Mt Doug and did so with another couple our age, Chris and Emily. It was such a fun morning and Glen got a birdie and a par so he was thrilled.  A doe and her fawn ate blackberries along the edge of one fairway with no fear of us or our golf balls.  We stopped in at Galey Farms for our final feed of strawberries then spent the rest of the day organizing stuff for our trip home.

The first Monday in August is BC Day so a holiday for everyone but us as we packed and readied the condo for our departure.  It won't be empty long as this year has been one for visitors using it.

Chapter IV -- Victoria's Secrets

No, this is not a post about fancy underwear but about those hidden places Victoria has that are missed by tourists and yet are gems to visit.  I've written about some of them before -- see Hidden Gems and Hidden Gems II.  This time we explored part of the Lochside Trail (29 kilometres) that winds its way through Saanich, Central Saanich and North Saanich (and yes, these are three different municipalities) linking Victoria with Swartz Bay (the ferry terminal).  The Galloping Goose Trail (55 kilometres) begins in Victoria and goes to Sooke so there is no part of the tip of Vancouver Island that can't be explored on foot or by bicycle (Geoff rode part of the Galloping Goose Trail -- see Sooke, Puke, & Spit)

The Lochside Trail was originally a passenger railway line running between Victoria and a steamship dock at Patricia Bay (with transport to the mainland) until the 1920s when the Canadian National Railway bought it for use in transporting freight.  It is a multi-user trail so hikers, bikers, and horse riders share it.  In some places, it uses farm lanes so one must give way to working farm equipment including tractors and ATVs.

Our stroll through the countryside began at Michell's Farm Market.  We have passed this Island Farm icon many times on our way to the ferry or airport.  A huge pumpkin patch greets us in November which becomes a small lake around Christmas time.  Never have we left the highway (see photo) to explore it but a letterbox adventure spurred us to stop at this market.  It was a 3 kilometre walk from here to a pig farm where the box was hidden along a section of the Lochside Trail.

We walked passed pickers harvesting cauliflowers, zucchini as far as the eye could see, pumpkins and wheat.  Tall teasel plants nodded beside the road as did giant black berry bushes.  We felt as if we had stepped back to when farming neighbours walked country lanes to check out who was growing what.  We weren't alone.  Despite it being Monday afternoon, there was a constant stream of bike traffic and several hikers enjoying the fresh air of farmland so close to the city.

I love pigs!!  I worked with them when I graduated from university and they still have a special place in my heart.  At our destination, one pig had buried itself in a muddy wallow while others lay in the shade of an open shed.  A rooster crowed making the moment truly magical.  Glen quickly found the letterbox and we stamped in before a group of cyclists stopped to check on the ripeness of nearby black berry bushes.  Only a few could be picked as they are late this year.  We then returned to the market for coffee and to buy strawberries, blueberries, eggplant, and potatoes.  All island grown.

The rest of the week we golfed again at Mt Douglas (with Ken and Bruce), Cedar Hill (with Stanley and Paul), and The Ridge.  We also entertained our friends, Diane and Tony, for lunch on Friday.  I made bean salad, rice salad, tomato and boccocini spears, devilled eggs, vinegar beets, and quiche finishing with strawberries on fruit cups with whipped cream.  We enjoyed Garry Oaks Winery's Pinto Gris and Zeta and wonderful conversation.

Saturday, we headed down to Finest at Sea to buy more Sea Angel oysters and Salt Spring Island Mussels which we had for supper.

Chapter III -- Much of the Same

Last Monday morning, I wrote the last blog post then we headed to an area of town we'd never seen before.  We wanted to find a letterbox on Christmas Hill.  The hill is part of the Swan Lake conservation area in Saanich and protects a meadow of endangered Garry Oaks.  The first Europeans to the Island thought these were natural areas but really the Coast Salish natives cultivated the meadows as the oaks protected a wildflower they used for food.

The hill is 109 meters above sea level and you basically climb that to reach the summit.  Rock stairs make the ascent easy and when you reach the top, the views are incredible.  My camera could not capture the panoramic vista.  I tried to enhance this photo so you can imagine how we saw Mt. Baker from Christmas Hill but the 360º view can only be seen to be believed.

Tuesday, we were back golfing at Mt Douglas and played a round with Darryl and his nephew Dan who was two weeks away from being married.  They were nice people and I wished I could emulate Darryl's easy swing.  Turns out he lives in a condo two block from us so we may see him again when we are out and about.

Wednesday, we shopped.  We walked to Hillside Mall to hit the Sears for their sale of summer shirts for Glen.  They are renovating the mall and it will eventually house a Target store.  It always felt like the mall was dying but now there is new energy and despite the dust and noise, the food court was packed.

Thursday, we decided to shake the monkey off my back and play Cedar Hill again.  I was not looking forward to it but had rigged Glen's old Ikea umbrella so it would cover me as I walked the fairways.  I called it my 'walking shade' and it made my round enjoyable (and improved my score).  So much so that on Friday, we drove out to Langford to buy a special UV golf umbrella that Glen refers to as 'the tent'.  It is wider than I am tall so it should also keep me well shaded.

Saturday, we were up at 5:00 am to pick up Diane and Tony and catch the ferry to Salt Spring Island to do their famous market.  We came prepared with a cooler full of ice packs as we usually get cheese and fish as well as broad beans (Glen's favourite).  We've found a special parking area in Ganges and by being at the ferry dock an hour before sailing, we could snag it because we were one of the first off the boat.  After wandering the market full of everything from veggies, berries, and cheese to pottery, weaving, and sheep skins, we headed to our usual coffee shop.  While Foursquaring it (a game I play on my phone where I log into places I've been), I noticed there was a special for newbies at the Salt Spring Island Coffee shop, a few steps away.  No Scot says no to free coffee so we went inside and I enjoyed a very spicy Chai latté.

We then wandered up the hill to Harbour House where we had reservations for lunch.  Despite the crowds thronging the market and nearby restaurants, this place was deserted.  Its patio overlooks Ganges Harbour but has enough shade so we could enjoy being outside without roasting.  The food was excellent and not expensive.  We all had their lamb burger except Tony who had a portobello mushroom burger with smoked tofu.  Local beer and wine washed the food down.

We stopped at The Fishery on the way back to the car and bought a slab of halibut.  Then it was off to Garry Oaks Winery to buy our annual case of wine.  We ended up doing a tasting as they had two varieties we'd never had before.  In the end, though, we bought our usual Pinot Gris and Zeta.  Sometimes the tried and true are the best.

We planned catching the 3:50 pm ferry but as we arrived in Fulford Harbour, the 2:00 pm ferry had just docked.  We squeezed into the wait area (one of the last in line) and boarded not 5 minutes later.  That's when I discovered I had lost my custom-fitted clip-on sunglasses.  I've often misplaced them in the past so I guess it was just a matter of time before I'd forget them somewhere.  Once you are on a ferry, there is no turning back.  The menfolk napped during the crossing while Diane and I chatted.

Sunday we decided to play another round at the Ridge.  We arrived to find our friends, Robert and Yonnie, who we've met through golf, enjoying a coffee on the patio.  Sunday is their biking day but I think they really wanted to golf.  We ended up playing behind two sets of boys around 12 so the round was long (2 hours).  The young men who followed us were from Calgary and they joined us for the last four holes.  Simon's father lives in High River so he told us all about the clean-up efforts that resulted from the devastation of the June flood.

This morning the fog rolled in and chilled the air instantly.  It is the first day without sunshine since we arrived so I guess we can't complain.

Chapter II -- Too Much Fun in the Sun?

Saturday, June 6th, we got our new stove.  It is the last major 1980s era appliance that needed replacing.  We bought one with a ceramic glass top and self-cleaning oven and I've enjoyed cooking on it.  There's only one problem -- our 'old' kettle doesn't sit down on the burner so takes forever to boil water.  I know, first world problem.

Sunday we spent the morning at The Ridge par 3 golf course practicing.  I worked on my putting while Glen tried to master his lob wedge on the chipping green.  We played for 2 hours but the time flew by.

Monday is always laundry day so I was up early to get it done before our luncheon at Diane and Tony's.  We saw their newly renovated driveway and drainage system then enjoyed a lovely lunch of salads, cold meats, tasty bread finished off with strudel.  The hummingbirds visited their feeders and the bushtits popped in and out of their lovely garden (these tiny birds had left a nest hanging in one of the trees).  Unfortunately, I regretted this fun in the sun because that evening I was ill with sun stroke.  For some reason, I forget I suffer from this so must re-learn my lesson every year.

Tuesday, I woke feeling better so we were off to play golf at Cedar Hill.  Not a wise decision as it turned out.  Despite wearing sunscreen and a hat, I faded quickly until I ended up in tears at one hole.  I could not hit or putt the ball for all the tea in China and even though I tried to stay in the shade and keep hydrated, my body was not happy.  I noticed most of the women golfers on the course had umbrellas up to create a walking shade and I vowed to adopt this sensible idea.  A beer afterwards helped but I was still not myself so when we got home, I took to my bed rousing only when Glen suggested we eat at Christie's.  We shared a plate of wings then I had their Fanny Bay oysters with a huge salad.  Glen enjoyed their spaghetti and meatballs.  The meal and the above photo were the best things of the day.

Wednesday, we holed up inside only leaving to get groceries.  Glen had work to do and I took it easy so I was ready to get back to golfing on Thursday when we returned to Mt Doug.  It was cooler with scattered clouds which kept the crowds down and we golfed alone.  I got my first par of the year on the first hole which set the tone for the game.

Friday, we went fishing.  I'd love to say we hung a line over a pier but actually went to our favourite fishmonger, Finest at Sea and bought Sea Angel oysters and a 4 pound salmon.  We feasted that night!

Saturday, Ocean River Adventures and Mountain Equipment Co-op sponsored a day of learning all there is to know about kayaking from lessons (beginner and beyond) to yoga to demoing boats.  We met Tony and Diane on Willows Beach and had a great morning talking to folks about the various kayaks and watching Tony paddle about as he tried a couple out.  I fell in love with a Sterling kayak, Illusion, as it looked like a West Coast native canoe adapted to work as a kayak.  Tony said it was incredibly manoeuvrable.  Afterwards, we headed to the Estevan shopping area for lunch at the Village Café and Deli.  We had eaten in this sandwich shop 10 years ago with Meg and Mike when they lived in Victoria.  It was run by two retired teachers but it has since changed hands.  The food is still excellent and the service fast and friendly.  We ate outside and I sat in the shade (see I can learn).  We enjoyed Phillips beer--Glen their seasonal lager, Tony and I, Blue Buck.   Diane had a refreshing cider.  She and I ordered Estevan chicken sandwiches while Tony and Glen had their burger.  Glen added a fried egg to his and I said not to get used to it because I wasn't cooking eggs when he barbecued burgers.

Sunday morning we golfed at The Ridge and I nailed my putting which kept my score down (4 pars gave me my PB score).  I also was on the green in one shot on 6 of the 9 holes.  So was Glen making it a good round for the both of us.  We stopped off at Galey Farm Market for strawberries, blueberries, cherries and potatoes, all locally grown.  Their corn maze includes a giant sphinx and a train ride so it'd be a great place to bring the grandkids.

Chapter I -- Summer Holidays

I always wish summer weather began in June but it rarely does in Calgary.  However, this year, we spent the first few days of the month in Vegas (see previous blog post) and temperatures were very hot so it was nice to come back to cool Alberta.  A week later, we played windy golf at the annual departmental tournament, our first of the season (an attempt in April ended with a snowstorm).  Two days later, we golfed at Valley Ridge (I had a 175 3-wood shot of which I am very proud) and did the first nine holes beside the high, fast-flowing Bow River until torrential rains forced us into the clubhouse where we enjoyed supper with Meg and Mike (it was a mother's/father's day celebration).

A week later, the front nine was no more.  The "flood of the century" hit Calgary when a heavy rainstorm dumped over 100 mm on Canmore swelling Cougar Creek.  It washed away the Trans-Canada highway as it rushed to join the now raging Bow River.  Meanwhile, the Elbow River tore apart Bragg Creek.  These turbulent waters met in Calgary and flooded most our downtown.  We live on a hill so did not experience the suffering of others in the city.  It was quite surreal.

Our holiday plans were to drive to Victoria in two days but with the Trans-Canada highway closed, it would mean heading north to Red Deer, then west through Rocky Mountain House to Lake Louise.  Normally, the Calgary-Lake Louise drive takes two hours, this route would take us five.  Luckily for us, the highway crews worked around the clock to clear the road of debris and make it safe to travel.  Highway #1 opened the afternoon before we left.

We experienced no real delay in travel time so had lunch at our favourite bistro, the Whitetooth Mountain, in Golden.  I always enjoy their homemade soups so ordered the carrot/almond special--it was thick with almonds and very tasty.  Glen had their Reuben while I went west coast and had their salmon wrap, also very good.

We then held our breath as we travelled though the avalanche sheds on the way to Revelstoke.  Last year, we hit a chunk of wood which made our holiday less than relaxing.  This time we passed through without a problem although were saddened to see the hotel where we took shelter was now boarded up.

We arrived in Salmon Arm around 4:00 MDT but it was only 3:00 pm in this lakeside town.  Fortunately, we could check into the Best Western, then walked to the local mall for coffee.  Dinner was at the Hideaway Pub.  We were disappointed their fiery hot wings were no longer on the menu but did enjoy a cooler version.  Glen had chicken Alfredo with a caesar salad while I created my own veggie pizza.

The next day after a 'free' breakfast, we ate a picnic lunch at the Information Centre in Chilliwack.  Glen began to relax as we boarded the 3:00 pm ferry and enjoyed a heaping cup of 'ferry ice cream' (see photo).  The crossing was perfectly calm and the weather a delight.  It hasn't changed over the week we've had here in Victoria.  Some days have been warmer than others but basically the temps are in the low 20ºCs.

We unloaded the car then went to Christie's for supper (it's a tradition).  Glen had the stuffed yorkie which was huge while I enjoyed a Greek salad and pot stickers.  We drank Blue Buck beer while watching the antics of a bunch of lab techs who were celebrating two retirements.

Saturday involved mundane chores like grocery shopping and getting the van boosted as the battery had gone dead.  In the evening, we met friends from Calgary, Elma and Tony, and took them for a scenic drive around Victoria before dining at Penny Farthing in Oak Bay.  I had a fantastic bowl of Salt Spring Island mussels while Elma and Tony had wild salmon sandwiches.  Glen had fish and chips and again we drank Blue Buck.

Sunday we began to get serious about golf and hit the driving range.  Monday was Canada Day and we ordered our new stove which arrived a week later.  Tuesday we played 9 holes at Mt. Doug with two older women, Ronnie and Pearl.  It was nice for me to actually play with women.  Afterwards we met up with a couple we had chatted with last year, Rob and Yonnie and had coffee with them on the new patio at Mt. Doug.

Wednesday we did a banking run so went to Don Mee's for lunch.  We arrived at noon and I couldn't believe they had run out of sticky rice and sesame seed balls, two of my favourites.  However, they did have dumplings which were new and were shaped like tiny flying saucers.  They were tasty, too!   We then walked up Fort Street so Glen could buy his Cohibas at the Cuban Cigar Store.

We both had work to do over the course of the week and there are always chores that must be done but on Friday, we golfed at Cedar Hill with two Waynes.   They were older gentlemen and kindly gave us tips on improving our game.  I may have hit close to 200 yards on one of my drives.  Too bad my putting sucked.

Other than experiencing an earth tremor which made me feel like the couch had become a 'glider', we've had a pretty uneventful week and it is beginning to actually feel like a holiday.

Final Day

Tuesday, June 4th, was our final day in Las Vegas.  It was with a touch of sadness we packed our bags instead of lounging by the pool.  Since our plane would not depart until 9:00 pm, we had the whole day to spend in the city.

After enjoying lunch at NYNY, Meg (see photo) and I having beer and pizza at Sirrico's and Glen and Mike pigging out on pastrami (2 inches thick) and beef/ cheddar sandwiches at Greenberg's Deli, we took the monorail on one last trip down The Strip.  Mike had bought a wallet at Madam Tussauds Wax Museum shop and his friend, Ben, wanted one, too.

Did you know?

1) That The Strip is not actually within the city limits of Las Vegas

2) The first casino on The Strip was built in 1941 and was called El Rancho Vegas

3) The Strip runs from the now-defunct Sahara Casino to Mandalay Bay (coincidentally the monorail's north and south termini but the train itself doesn't run down The Strip)

4) The Sahara was the last vintage 'Rat-Pack' hotel and hosted The Beatles in 1964.  It closed in 2011 after 59 years in business

5) In 1995, when Dean Martin, a member of the Rat-Pack, died, the lights along The Strip were dimmed.  In 1998, they did the same for Frank Sinatra

6) The Strip is the second highest-grossing gambling centre after Macau, China

7) Las Vegas means "the meadows" which Spanish explorers called the area because of its water supply

8) Ironically, Mormons were the first to settle here but they left in 1857.  By 1905, Vegas was a railway town because the steam trains needed its water.  Mining ventures in the surrounding mountains also used the town as a base.

9) Gambling was legalized in 1931 which saw Vegas's tourism industry grow but it was the Manhattan Project in the 1940s that propelled its development

10) The fastest way to and from the McCarran Airport is not the cheapest.  Ask for the most direct route

We left NYNY mid afternoon figuring we'd have a leisurely meal at the airport after going through security.  I had booked Glen and myself on WesJet so we could fly home with Meg and Mike.  Apparently, WestJet flies more people into Las Vegas than any other international carrier (Air Canada is second).  

We departed from the new terminal 3, opened in 2012, but before taking off, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Las Vegas Chophouse & Brewery.  It was a delicious way to end our Vegas adventure eating our way through casear salad, chicken picatta, crab cakes, a prime rib sandwich and a club sandwich with mashed potatoes.  All washed down with Stella and Longboard beers.

Glen and I boarded the plane first and missed seeing Meg and Mike pass us.  The plane took off early so I assumed they were sitting in the back.  I slept for an hour and was still pretty groggy when we landed at midnight.  We used our Nexus cards but it took several goes before the machine recognized us.  Iris scanning is not all it's cracked up to be.  Meg and Mike actually reached the luggage carousel before we did.

Meg had arranged for a limo to pick us up and the driver was there waiting.  I've never driven in a stretch limo before.  What can I say?  I sure could get used to it.  It was a fantastic way to end our holiday.

Two days later, Glen and I were in Kananaskis Country gazing at this view (photo below) from our hotel room.  The contrast with the glitz of Las Vegas was awesome!

Boring 'Dam' Blog

Third time's a charm.  After wanting to visit it the last two times we've been in Vegas, I finally got to see the Hoover Dam up close and personal.  Many years ago, I watched a National Geographic TV show on the building of the Hoover Dam and was inspired to see this feat of human strength and engineering.  Glen was game but Meg and Mike declined, they had plans to see the  National Atomic Testing Museum (dams are boring whereas blowing things up, aren't).  It did sound fascinating but I had my heart set on seeing the dam.

We spent the morning relaxing by the pool then ate hot dogs at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs in NYNY's Greenwich Village.  Nathon's Famous was founded by a Polish immigrant called Nathan Handwerker who sold his wife, Ida's hot dogs at a stand in Coney Island, New York.  The hot dogs became so famous that President Franklin D. Roosevelt served them to the King and Queen of England in 1939.  Last year, over 435 million Nathan's hot dogs were consumed.

Our tour van, run by Casino Travel & Tours, was 20 minutes late picking us up but we were the penultimate stop so left the city on schedule.  We were 11 on the tour with our guide, Mark.  He drove us through the outskirts of the city along the highway to the dam.  He flooded us with information on both the dam and surrounding countryside.  I learned (in no particular order):

1) The water feeding Lake Mead created by the dam, comes from the Rocky Mountains (in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming).  It's the largest reservoir in the United States
2) Most of the electricity generated by the dam goes to southern California
3) The dam straddles the border--half in Nevada and half in Arizona
4) A $29 helicopter ride lasts 90 seconds
5) Boulder City is one of two places in Nevada where you can't gamble (you couldn't drink there either until the late 60s).  Just outside of town is the oldest casino in the state, The Hacienda
6) 96 people died building the dam; workers got 2 holidays a year--Christmas and Independence Day
7) It was the first time hard hats were used at a construction site
8) It was built in 5 years (2 years ahead of schedule) and under budget
9) It was originally called Boulder Dam
10) It was always meant to be a tourist attraction

Our guide had the 'gift of the gab' but I have forgotten most of what he said so I'll give you my own take on the dam story.

The raging waters of the Colorado River roared through Black Canyon and was prone to ebbs and flows of drying up or flooding.  Farmland (and families) in Southern California suffered.  In 1928, the government (Bureau of Reclamation) authorize the building of a dam to provide electricity and irrigation water for the southwestern states.  The Colorado River runs through seven states so the dam would impact more than just Nevada, California, and Arizona.  Future president, Herbert Hoover, a professional mining engineer and then Secretary of Commerce, tried to reach a deal to build the dam but it was the Supreme Court that finally forced the states into an agreement.

The Hoover Dam is an arch-gravity design that uses the strength of the canyon walls to hold the water so the dam itself need not be as massive.  Still, the Hoover Dam is immense.  At its bottom, it's 660 feet thick and the top is 45 feet wide (designed to be a highway between Nevada and Arizona).  Construction began in 1931 as America suffered its Great Depression and the dam project attracted thousands of workers.  Las Vegas wanted to be the headquarters for construction but the government required Six Companies (the winning bidder for the dam) to create a model city called Boulder City where workers would be housed.

We began our tour in the art-deco style visitor's centre where a Bureau of Reclamation guide took us into the bowels of the dam.  First stop was to see one of the diversion tunnels that were used to divert the river around the construction site.   Coffer dams were constructed to keep the site dry as the dam was built.  The tunnels now are steel pipes which direct the water to the turbines.

The group separated to enter two elevators and I left Glen behind.  We met again at the enormous turbines.  There are eight on the Nevada side and nine on the Arizona one.  A smaller one provides electricity for the dam itself.  Here the floors were done in lovely black and white tiles as the power plant was meant as a showcase for tourists.

After learning all that there was to know about the dam, we headed outside for photographs.  I couldn't hang over the walls (vertigo issues) so Glen took all the photos of the base of the dam.  Soaring overhead is another feat of construction, the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.  As early as the 1960s, the dam's highway became congested but it was only after the September 11, 2001 attacks that the government realized the dam could also be a terrorist target (you must pass through security twice before entering the dam area).  The by-pass is an arch bridge spanning (1060 feet) the Black Canyon and was completed in 2010 (construction began in 2003).

Walking on the dam was painfully hot.  Our guide had given us cold, bottled water which warmed to tepid in minutes.  I was determined to walk to the Arizona side where a clock told us the state's time.  That's when we remembered Arizona is like Saskatchewan and doesn't go on Daylight Savings Time so its clock gave the same time as our watches.  Glen insisted I take a picture of the back of the dam as who does that?

First on a tour bus is always first off so it was approaching 6:00 when we finally got back to our hotel.  After a quick stop in our room, we met Meg and Mike for dinner.  The Sporting House is not a restaurant we would normally dine in but Meg had checked out the menu and it looked good.  There was a game on (hockey and baseball) so we had to assured the hostess we would be spending more than $15/hour of our stay.  It is a large venue and she sat us in a alcove with some quiet hockey fans (an oxymoron but this is America).  Glen and I ordered buffalo shrimp and Meg and Mike ordered crab stuff mushroom caps which we shared.  Both were delicious!  That's when we learned about their day at the museum.

Meg felt they could walk from the Flamingo to the museum forgetting that one, Vegas blocks are long and two, it was 43ºC.  Mike's beer & Clamato juice drink became soup.  The Atomic Testing Museum (part of the Smithsonian) was worth the effort as they saw all the relics of the United States nuclear program from 1951 to the present and in the Ground Zero Theater, experienced an atmospheric nuclear test.  Due to the heat, they opted to take a cab back.  Most impressive to Meg was a B53 nuclear bomb on display.

In my opinion, our dam tour was better than the museum bomb.

Shopping in Vegas

Those who know me, know I hate shopping.  I don't mind gazing in windows and seeing merchandize but actually buying something is not my cup of tea.  On the other hand, Glen and Meg used to tackle Boxing Days sales together.  So Sunday was designated shopping day but first we had to say farewell to Tim and Ed.

We met them and had a big breakfast at America of omelettes, french toast, and a BLT (me, of course).  I declared afterwards that there was such a thing as too much bacon but the others scoffed at this.  We said our farewells to Tim and Ed (I hope we can meet them again in Vegas as we had so much fun together) then headed to the pool to relax before our shopping spree.

Okay, it wasn't really a spree but it did take several hours.  First, we took the monorail to Harrah's then walked to the Venetian.  It was very hot (42ºC or 107ºF) so we tried to stay inside as much as possible but we were headed to Fashion Show so had to cross Las Vegas Blvd at the Wynn Resort.  I practised the waterfall photography technique my sister, Lynda, taught me at the hotel's fountain (see photo).

Fashion Show Mall looks like the flying saucers in the movie, Men in Black.  It's described as one of the largest malls in the world with 250 stores, but West Edmonton Mall beats it hands down.  WEM is no longer the largest mall in the world (it lost that title in 2004), but is in the top ten.  Still, Fashion Show Mall is huge.  Fortunately, Meg knew where she was going as they had explored the mall the last time they were in Vegas.  Mike had bought a watch there and wanted to replace it.

The flying saucer is called The Cloud and at night becomes a movie screen.  During the winter, the mall has snow storms which helps set the mood for Santa and his performers on the mall's fashion runway.

After buying the watch, we walked from the mall to Treasure Island, now branded as TI.  When Glen first visited Vegas, there was a pirate show in the lagoon and the skull and crossbones are still part of the TI experience but the show is now called The Sirens of TI and features scantily-clad woman.  Here we caught the tram to Mirage.  A short, hot ride.

Mirage has a tropical paradise inside with beautifully arranged floral bouquets.  It was also cool.  We walked through the casino on our way to Caesars Palace where Meg wanted to have lunch at the Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill.

Caesars Palace is another old Vegas hotel.  The original towers were built in 1966 and like the Flamingo and Tropicana, its owners were accused of dealing with organized crime.  The hotel changed hands many times and finally merged with Harrah's Entertainment.  It has also added to its original layout.  In 1992, it built the Forum Shops at Caesars to provide high-end shopping to The Strip.  In 2000, it closed its Circus Maximus Showroom and rebuilt it to house Celine Dion's show.  Now called The Colosseum, it even looks like the one in Rome.

Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill is a modern British pub-style restaurant where the staff where punk fashions with lots of safety pins and spiky studs.  There are 36 beers on tap and over 60 bottled beers.  A beer sommelier helped Meg and Mike choose their beverages but Glen and I weren't thinking straight so chose an American beer.  The heat was affecting me so I opted for a chilled shrimp salad then a summer baby vegetable salad.  My body was craving vegetables and water.  Meg forced me to drink a full glass which was one of the hardest things for me to do.  Meanwhile, she had Mac n' Cheese made with three cheeses and black truffles.  It was fantastic!

We stopped at the Pandora shop on our way to the Flamingo.  My friend, Wendy, had given me a bracelet for Christmas and I wanted to add some Vegas charms.  Meg and I checked them out while Glen and Mike explored a store with TV memorabilia and antiques.  I ended up with three charms--a die, a lucky shamrock (Wendy is of Irish descent so it was appropriate), and a bag of money.  I thought it might help me win big but that was a fond hope.

There was a letterbox hidden at the Flamingo so we decided to explore their wildlife habitat (with flamingos) and see if we could find it.  Unfortunately, Meg reacted badly to the heat so she and Mike bailed soon after seeing the turtles.  We weren't far behind as a wedding  prevented us hunting for the box.  We ended up on the same monorail train as Meg and Mike so walked back to NYNY with them.

I was not up for supper but still joined the others at the Nine Fine Irishmen and we were seated upstairs.   I had a bowl of Colcannon soup (potatoes, cabbage, and leeks) and Guninness.   Our table was in a good spot as the entertainment began downstairs and it was loud.  The band played many songs we knew and even had an Irish stepdancer performing.

So You Think You Know What Vegas Is About--Think Again

Most people who haven't explored Las Vegas brush it off as a city of crash casinos and glitz.  I think our trip shows that it has more to offer than just gambling and shopping.  Yes, we did play video poker machines (losing more than winning) and there are black jack, craps, and poker tables and high-end shops but interspersed among these, are gardens, menageries, fine art work, statuary, fountains, and waterfalls.  Buildings are over-the-top designs with replicas of what would be ostentatious if it weren't Vegas but you can also see the homes of real people not far off The Strip.

But why not embrace the zany and accept it as part of the travel experience.  I love photographing unique buildings and Vegas is a fun place to capture.  NYNY has the Statue of Liberty (see photo) and the Brooklyn Bridge, MGM Grand has a giant gold lion, The Venetian, The Grande Canal (inside and out) and the Luxor, a pyramid and sphinx.  Where else could you see such works?  For many who don't travel the world, this is the place to experience a gondola ride or see top-rated entertainers without the expense of international travel.  Most hotels offer discounted rates (especially during the week) and airlines do the same.  It cost us $100/person to fly from Denver to Las Vegas and $200/person to fly home to Calgary.  There are many air/hotel packages offering free entertainment or coupons for attractions which make a holiday highly affordable.

Food prices vary depending on the restaurant as many celebrity chefs have places in Vegas so you can dine on haute cuisine or at McDonald's.  Each resort supports a variety of restaurants and for those with hearty appetites, there is the famous Vegas buffet in most hotels.  Glen still remembers when you could get shrimp cocktails as you gambled but that has disappeared (probably a health hazard) but you can still get 'free' drinks.  The rules are you must be gambling for the drink girls to serve you.  Beer comes in a bottle; mixed drinks are 'watered'.  Remember to tip or you'll never see the girl (yes, they are always women) again.

We had a big American breakfast with Tim and Ed at America (how appropriate).  I enjoyed a bagel with smoke salmon while the others had omelettes and pancakes.  Afterwards we headed to Mob Attraction at the newly renovated, Tropicana.  Built in 1957, it has had a tumultuous history with close links to organized crime so it's fitting that a scene from the movie, The Godfather, was filmed here.  Today, the buildings have been completely upgraded in a tropical motif and the 2 acre pool is visible from the various walkways between the hotel's towers.  The casino was refreshing as it was done up in bright whites and pastel colours so different from most others which tend to make one feel night is 24 hours long.

The Mob Attraction is a history of the mob's involvement in Las Vegas.  The video presentation is hosted by James Caan who went 'underground' with the mob when filming The Godfather.  We also interacted with live actors, becoming part of a mob operation.  I was slipped some money which, in retrospect, I should have bribed the policeman instead of blowing our cover (I'll never her the end of that).  The attraction has memorabilia of the famous Vegas mobsters, Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel and Meyer Lansky who built The Strip's first hotel, the Flamingo, as well as a video of the making of The Godfather.

There is a letterbox at the Tropicana so we braved the intense heat to search for it.  Meg had found it before so knew the location and Tim braved the dirt and garbage to drag the box from its hiding place.  The hunt made us hungry so Ed suggested we try Nine Fine Irishmen for dessert.  We all shared their Bread and Butter Pudding and Guinness Chocolate Bomb then went to our rooms to rest.

Everyone agreed Italian was what we wanted for supper but I didn't want to eat in the fancy place in NYNY so Tim suggested Buca di Beppo, a chain of family-style Italian restaurants.  Family-style means sharing and each menu item serves 2 (small) or 4 (large) and large parties are encouraged with specialty tables like the Pope's (12-18 with the pope's bust in the middle of the table) and the Kitchen Table (6-10).  The Buca di Beppo began in the basement of a Minneapolis apartment building in 1993 and has since grown to over 85 locations.  Glen and I shared the Apple Gorgonzola Salad Ed ordered, Tim's Eggplant Parmesan, and our vegetarian pizza while Meg and Mike shared two huge meatballs and a bowl of spaghetti.  Behind us was a wedding reception and it brought back memories of our own reception in the basement of The Villa Capri, a long-gone Italian restaurant in Ottawa.

P. S.  Meg reminded me we had lunch at her favourite Mexican restaurant in NYNY,  Gonzlaes Y Gonzales but I'm not sure how we fitted that into our busy day.  I do know I had excellent fish tacos.

Where Can We Meet? Vegas!!

Another boring day at the office for Glen working poolside but I brought my camera on Friday to explore the views from my deck chair (see photo of empty roller coaster testing the track).  NYNY's pool is in the shade in the morning so a great time to enjoy it without the heat or the hordes of guests who sun-worship.  Meg and Mike had their traditional morning cocktail called a Burnt Cherry as she read my book, White Crane.  It was neat seeing someone lounging on a deck chair enjoying my writing.

Today's excitement began when we met our good friends, Tim and Ed (see If You're Going to San Francisco for our last meeting) who had driven from their home in Newport Beach, California to join in our Vegas fun.  They were up for anything so it was off to the CSI: The Experience in the MGM Grande Resort.  Meg and Mike had done this interactive adventure before but there are 3 possible crimes to solve so the chances were good we'd do a different one and we did.

With clipboards in hand we set out to record evidence at a crime scene.  The set up is designed for those over the age of 12 but younger ones could enjoy it with help from parents.  We had a great time recording what we saw although we over-thought the whole scene, penciling in details that turned out to be staging rather than crime-scene facts.  Still, it was a hoot.  We then proceeded to go through the lab analysis of various elements of the crime until Ed blurted out "who did it".  Turns out none of us were surprised but it was so much fun going through all the stages of the detection process.

We ate lunch at Nine Fine Irishmen, the NYNY pub that had been closed for renovations.  It is named after nine Irishmen who, in 1848, fought for Irish independence from the British and lost.  Their death sentences were commuted when it was agreed they'd become martyrs.  Some were sent to Tasmania but most ended up in the Americas.  Thomas Meagher became a Civil War general and eventually, governor of Montana.  Thomas D'Arcy McGee had a Canadian connection.  He was elected mayor of Montréal then became an MP before landing the post of minister of agriculture.  He was assassinated in 1868 while entering his Sparks Street boarding house in Ottawa. Partick Whelan, a Fenian sympathizer was convicted of the crime and hanged.  It was the last public hanging in Canada.

After a brief afternoon rest, we met again to go to dinner at Caesar's Palace's Cheesecake Factory.  Having eaten in this restaurant in SF, I knew what I wanted.  The SkinnyLicious® Shrimp Summer Rolls.  They were every bit as tasty as I remembered.

Meg had suggested we see the show Absinthe at Casear's so ordered our tickets in early May.  She got us excellent seats in the white tent erected on the Roman Plaza of Caesar's.  As it turned out we were far enough away from the in-the-round stage to escape the barbed (and foul-mouthed) tongue of Gazillionaire and his side-kick, Penny Pibbets.  I'll admit I was a little uncomfortable until I realized no one was spared his comedy.  The circus acts were amazing feats of strength, balance, and danger involving trapeze artists, balancing acts, tightrope walkers, and roller skaters.  There was even a striptease so something for everyone.

Afterwards, Ed suggested we do dessert at Nine Fine Irishmen but they were only serving drinks with their live entertainment so we went to the America restaurant.  The drop ceiling of this place is a giant (90 feet x 20 feet) bas-relief map of the United States with each state's landmarks highlighted.  Glen and Tim (he shared with Ed) ordered the huge brownie sundae, Meg, the lava cake and Mike, a milkshake.  I had a coffee but it came in a 2 cup carafe.  The only disappointment was the milkshake which Mike couldn't drink.

We then parted ways agreeing to meet at America for breakfast.

Three Events in One Day--Too Much Vegas?

Thursday began quietly enough with lounging at the pool.  The water was cold so I didn't swim but I'm not adverse to reading in a deck chair.  Glen 'worked' by answering emails and for him, that's relaxing.

A highlight of any visit to Vegas is a stroll through the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.  This is an aquarium that also features crocodiles and komodo dragons but it is the sharks that illicit the most oohs and aahs as they lazily swim above and below you.  Having snorkelled (once near a shark), the environment of the Shark Reef evokes memories of my own time swimming with fishes.   Meg loves stoking the rays in the interactive tank (see photo).  One ray wanted someone to touch it and almost climbed up the side of the tank, trying to get our attention.  If the rays didn't want to be touched, they could swim out of arm's reach.  Staff members made sure no animals were abused.  As I moved into an area meant to be a sunken ship, I missed an octopus moving along its aquarium's glass.  Meg's photos were incredible!

I was all for seafood for lunch but that got vetoed.  Meg suggested we go to an American-style pub called The Public House in the Luxor.  I love the Luxor as it has an Egyptian theme (it looks like a black pyramid from the outside).  The rooms open onto a central space that mimics the pyramid shape and huge statues of Egyptian gods soar from the floor.  Water features add a relaxing feel to the hotel.

The pub was huge, 7000 sq ft and one wall was a giant TV.  It as hard to ignore Fred Couples when he's over 10 feet tall.  I had a delicious pulled pork sandwich but their menu offered limited food choices.  However, their beer menu was extensive.  Meg and Mike couldn't resist ordering Hobgoblin English Ale and when they saw its tap at the bar, they had to photograph it.

After lunch, we staggered upstairs to the Titanic Exhibit.   One unique feature of Vegas is the vendors who wander the halls, sidewalks, and connecting walkways between the hotels.  Those outside offer everything from coupons to strip shows to cheap bottles of water.  Inside, they offer discounts on the shows featured in the hotel.  Stop and take these coupons as they usually save you $5 on the price of intermission.  This happened as we walked toward the Titanic Exhibit and when admission is $32/person, those discounts help.  As we entered, we were given a card assigning us the name of an actual person on the Titanic.  Mike was thrilled to find he was a first class passenger as before, he had been in third class and ended up dying.

The exhibit took us from the building of the ship through all the artifacts brought up during various dives to the ship's resting place on the bottom of the ocean.  There was even a replica of the Grand Staircase and an actual chunk of the hull.  Meg said they had added a jewellery display she hadn't seen before.  We reached the end to discover even though I was a third class passenger, I had survived the sinking whereas poor Mike had not.

We returned to our room for a brief respite before going off to the Tournament of Kings in Excalibur.  We'd done this dinner/show before and loved it so when Meg got complimentary tickets, we joined her and Mike.  Dinner begins with a bowl of tomato soup (no spoons) and a glass of either water or soda.  Beer can be bought but by the time our server reached us, we were pretty much done our meal.  The meal itself is a whole chicken, a stalk of broccoli, some potatoes, and a biscuit.  There is no cutlery so fingers are the utensil of the day.  It's lots of fun.  An East Indian family sitting nearby had a vegetarian version but I'm not sure what that entailed.

The show is based on a rendition of Arthur and the knights of the round table.  Each knight is the king of a country and his 'people' sit in a specific section of the oval indoor stadium.  We sat in Ireland's section so all our cheers were for our Irish king.  The show had feats of horsemanship, jousting, swordplay, and spear-throwing.   Dancing girls added some female talent.  It is a family show appealing to all ages.  Children under 3 get in free but they must sit on a parent's lap and eat off their plate.  With the amount of food we were served, I could have shared with several children.

As we waddled back to the hotel, we all agreed that doing so much in one day was not a holiday so we would take it easy on Friday.  Famous last words.

Meet Us in Vegas

I've used this title before and yet it seems appropriate to do so again.  Not only did we meet family in Vegas (see Meet Me in Vegas to read about one such meeting) but our friends from California joined us for the weekend.

First though, we had to leave family in Aurora.  We picked Elijah up from school which delayed our departure for the airport.  We weren't worried as we arrived about an hour before our flight left.  But, by the time we'd gone through security, etc, the plane was boarding as we reached the gate.  The flight was short, about an hour and a half.  We flew in over the sprawling city of Las Vegas (see a previous blog, Viva Las Vegas).  Not only was the dry landscape of red rocks spectacular, but the expanse of Lake Mead always awes when seen from the air.

The city is about 2000 ft above sea level and is in the middle of the Mojave Desert.  Surrounded by rugged mountains (one at least 13,000 ft), Las Vegas enjoys about 300 days of sunshine and we arrived to temperatures in the mid 30º C.

We stayed at the New York New York hotel (NYNY) this time; our first time in the middle of all the action.  It is a big hotel with three towers and five large restaurants.  We were in the New York tower while Meg and Mike stayed in the Empire.  After settling in, we went to supper.  Meg's favourite Irish pub in NYNY was closed for renovations so we headed to the Rí Rá pub in the Shoppes at Mandalay Place.  One does a lot of walking in Vegas so wearing good footwear is a must.  But, it's also a good way to burn off all the extra calories one consumes in food and drink.  The portions here are large so often ordering from the appetizer menu is the way to go.  On this night, though, we had hearty appetites.  I enjoyed their shepherd's pie while Meg had a Dublin Burger.  Mike and Glen had their 'small' fish and chips but the fish filled the plate so hardly small.

The next morning, we were up early and had breakfast at a little café, keeping our meal much the same as what we eat at home.  We sat at tables arranged along 'Greenwich Street' in front of brownstones much like those in New York City.  The plan was to begin the day with Meg and me going to the spa in the morning and Mike and Glen hanging out together until lunch.

I am not a spa person but wanted to share Meg's enthusiasm for pedicures and pampering.  I've never had a pedicure before but figured I needed to experience one at least once in my life.  Meg told me to warn the tech as then she'd walk me through it.  Our appointment was for 9:30 and Meg was taken in for her wrap at that time.  She calls it the sushi wrap and assured me I'd love it.  I waited for 20 minutes for the girl to do my feet.  I hadn't brought anything to read so I sat listening to the soothing music and it inspired me so I now have an idea on how to end the book I'm writing.

I survived my pedicure and even had a design painted on my big toe.  There was only one moment of pain for which I was thankful.  She said I kept good care of my feet--who knew?  Next came the wrap. It was wonderful and relaxing.  First, I was slathered with warm Dead Sea mud then wrapped up in layers of blankets and plastic (hence, the sushi reference).  I now know why babies love to be swaddled.  The girl then massaged my head and face.  A quick shower washed away the mud before I was treated to a deep massage using a coconut cream to rehydrate my skin.  I almost fell asleep, I was so relaxed.

We found the 'boys' by the pool drinking beer.  Fortunately, the beer was in cans so they continued drinking as we walked to lunch (the drinking laws in Nevada are civilized).  It has become a tradition we eat a meal at the Rainforest Café so we headed to MGM Grande.  The restaurant is nestled in the basement but its rainforest decor makes you feel like you're eating in a jungle.  The bugling elephant added to this ambiance.  I had a shrimp soba bowl and was shocked I had to eat this Asian dish with a fork.

After lunch, we took the monorail to the Flamingo stop.  This train is a great way to travel up and down The Strip.  It costs $5.00 per ride but there are multi-day passes which make it a little cheaper.  We weren't sure how many times we'd use it so just went with single tickets.

The Flamingo was the first luxury hotel built on The Strip.  Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel financed it and named it for his girlfriend, Virginia Hill whom he had nicknamed Flamingo for her long legs and red hair.  All the air conditioned paths in Vegas lead through casinos and each has its own unique character.  By the way, it's a myth that the casinos pump oxygen into their air but these gambling dens are cooler and often have a pleasing scent.

Our destination was Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.  We've been to several versions of this famous museum in the past (our first experience being the original one in London, England).  Anna Tussaud learned wax modelling from a Swiss physician and created her first figure in 1777 (Voltaire).  During the French Revolution, she made death masks which she showed on the streets of Paris.  In 1802, she moved to London but didn't stay long.  The Napoleonic Wars stranded her there so she toured the British Isles until finally settling in London in 1836.  There, her main attraction was the Chamber of Horrors featuring victims of the French Revolution.  Madame Tussaud died in 1850 but her legacy lives on in her famous museums around the world.

The Vegas version lacks the Chamber of Horrors and all of King Henry's Wives (which seem to feature prominently in other museums) but is interesting for its collection of Hollywood celebrities from Elvis to Lady Gaga.  Glen enjoyed having his picture (see above photo) taken with Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer while Mike seemed to enjoy mugging for the camera with any wax figure he could find.

It was definitely a beauty day for me when Meg then dragged me into her favourite make-up store, Sephora. A consultant, Mimi, offered me advise and I bought a few products she suggested.  Meg knew what she wanted so we weren't long in the store.  Mike and Glen found a seat in the shade--it was hot.  My legs had begun showing signs of my usual reaction to heat on asphalt so we headed back to the hotel so I could lie down with my feet up.

That night Mike wanted to eat at the Burger Bar in the hotel and we all thought that an excellent idea.  Here we drank Rogue Dead Guy, Arrogant Bastard and Turbodog beers and ate chill, mushroom and chicken burgers. Afterwards, Glen and I played video poker and lost $45 in under a half hour so went to bed.  Meanwhile, Meg and Mike rode the roller coaster that winds its way through the hotel and its outside environs.