Sprint Canoe Kayak Nationals

Today we went to Lake Banook to watch our favorite paddler in the midget war canoe qualifying event.  They ended up fourth overall (third in their heat) and will be in the finals on Saturday.

 

Judges Stand (judges are sitting on the stairs)

Getting Ready

Finish Line

A Bit Disappointed?

While we were walking from the parking lot we came across some signs in Chinese.  We have no idea what they are about.

The top character is 2 and the bottom is mountain.

The top character is water and the bottom is mountain.  Anyone recognize the others?

Shubenacadie Lake (commonly known as Grand Lake)

Last evening we were invited out to Grand Lake for supper and a boat ride.  We had the main course in the house and then ate dessert while on a boat ride up and down the lake.  It was a beautiful evening.

Sigh, Weep, Bawl, Sob

Yesterday we spent our last afternoon and evening with Nathan and family in Nova Scotia .  They left to return to Calgary this morning.  Tuesday and Wednesday (7th and 8th August) their house got packed up and the moving van was loaded.  We had the boys here while they packed and Wednesday evening all but Nathan and Liam slept over here.  Thursday they all (except Orson) went to the Residence Marriott in Halifax.  Saturday evening there was a good-bye social at the church as several families are leaving.  (It was also a welcome social for the families that are moving in.)

Sunday Nathan was released as Bishop. 

They were in and out this Monday and Tuesday.  Now they are gone.

Good-Bye Picture

We are certainly going to miss them.  We saw them several times a week for the last 21 months and spent time with them several days every week.

On the bright side when we get back to Alberta in October we will be only two hours away from them and from two of our other sons and families and only 30 minutes away from our daughter and family.

Also Orson didn't return to Alberta with his family.  He will be staying with us until the end of the month so he can compete in the National Paddling Competition with his was canoe team.

One Last Weiner Roast; One Last Natal Day Race

July was very hot and dry and there was a fire ban for the whole area.  August has been rainy and the ban was lifted on August 3rd, so we had one last weiner roast before Nathan and family heads west.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

The106th Dartmouth Natal Day Road Race was held at 8:15 this morning (August 6th).  There was a 2 mile and a 6 mile race.  The weather: Overcast, Foggy, 24 Degrees.  Nathan and Orson ran in the 6 mile.

 Start of the Race - Over One Thousand Runners

 Nathan - Start of the Second Lap

 Orson - Start of the Third Lap

 Nathan Start of the Third Lap

 Finish Line - Orson 67th - 42 minutes and 18 seconds

(9th in the 20 and under category)

 Finish Line - Nathan 197th - 52 minutes 7 seconds

After the Race

Amherst, Nova Scotia

This past week was busy.  Tuesday morning Tara and the boys were here while someone looked at their house.  Bob went to our district meeting.

Wednesday was a very busy day at the temple.  It was transfer day for the missionaries.  New missionaries from Southern Alberta were Elder Steed (Wade Steed's son), Elder Bullock (David Bullock's son) and Elder McIntyre from Magrath or Raymond.  We went out home teaching in the evening.

Thursday was another busy temple day.  They was an extra session for the Elders that were leaving the mission - 13 or 14 in all.  Elder Hudson from Welling,  Elder Redd and Elder Heggie from Cardston and Sister Olson from Calgary were among those that left.

Sunday we accompanied  the Robinsons (Temple president) to Moncton for their speaking assignment.  We left here at 6:45 a.m. to get to church at 10:00.  After church there was a "linger longer" (a pot luck dinner) and then we headed back to Dartmouth.

On the way home we went into Amherst to view the old stone buildings in the downtown section of town.

 The Town Hall

Bob liked the lights in front of the police station.  On one side of the police station there was a bar and I think Dooleys on the other side was a bar.

The Court House

First Baptist Church

Federal Building

The Cenotaph

Fire on Lindenwood Terrace

Yesterday I was driving Liam and Orson home from our house when we noticed a big cloud of gray smoke coming from the direction of their neighbourhood.   It usually takes about 8 minutes to make the trip but it took much more because we got stopped on several corners near their house and turned back the way we came.  We finally went down to the harbour and made a legal u-turn and came back by some back streets.  The power was off at the Baines home and at a traffic light on Portland Street.

Two houses on Lindenwood Terrace burned and the siding of a third house melted.  We could see them as we were driving by.  No-one was hurt in the fire.  Tonight for family home evening we went for a walk past the houses.  I imagine there hasn't been so much traffic on that street since it was subdivided.  Everyone was out for a look.

The houses looked much worse from the back as we could see from the highway.  When we walked we could only see the front.

Parade of Tall Ships

This morning the tall ships slowly sailed out of the Halifax Harbour on their way to Lunenburg.  They were supposed to sail around the harbour before they left, but if they did, we missed it as we arrived at the harbour an hour after start time.  All the ones we saw were across the harbour on the Halifax side.  I guess I should admit that it was a boring as Nathan predicted.

 The Coast Guard boat was the only one that came around the Dartmouth side of Georges Island and it used its engine rather that its sails.

 A Yacht that Impressed Bob

Saturday evening we went to have cake and ice cream for Lochlan's 3rd birthday.  He was born the summer we arrived back from China.  How time flies.

Sunday evening we went to the mission home for a social with the Senior Couples in the mission.  The Temple president and his wife had been in the Abba Nigeria Temple presidency before they came to Halifax and they gave a slide presentation about Nigeria.