Our last day in Naramata

sniff...sniff...but on to more good stuff!

old style stuff is also fun, right mom?

Ironwoman, times 5

OK OK. Another way in which other places are simple superior....

I'm lucky to have Nan with me on the last day or I'd pull out my visa card and ask Kathy for another week, no problem.  I haven't visited a single winery, I need a lot of sleep, I've only purchased one bumper sticker and there are more beach days in the future. Alas. It's on to Seattle we go.

jaegermobile, naramata style

bumper sticker: organic farming, bc

Hansel and Gretel

Well, it's Saturday morning, and as much as I'd like to continue this work through tomorrow evening, i think my bread crumbs may run out and we might not be heard of from a little while.  That said, here are a few observations from last nights street party that Penticton hosts for community and athletes in celebration of Ironman.  Did I say that I love it here?

Am I having enough fun, yet? 

Eh!

henna

tattoos

If you look for the guy in beige shorts and brown shirt, it's Peter dancing around to the Kelt-clad musicians. 

friday, a day for FUN

Did I say anything about crass commercialism?  Well, we didn't escape the frenzy:

yes...it's ASHBY's IM CA shirt.

I, on the other hand, chose to spend a little mula at the local linen store where the proprietor actually sews stuff ON Site....much cuter than all that athletic bling.

They're beach pants!

and of course, witnessed on a stroll about Naramata:

no shortage of really beautiful vintage cars

but of course.

one last haircut!!!!

And so friday evening comes and we leave for the party in Penticton.  Our quiet day in Naramata is about to be abruptly interrupted, but we're hoping that the upcoming festivities will make the weekend more complete.

Recession, what recession???

did I forget to bring my compression socks????

the one that got away.

In the UK and it's territories, i think it's called a queue, just like in netflix.  This is a double queue, 50 deep on both ends to buy bling for an event that hasn't even begun yet...

this is the line where we pick up our stuff, we already paid, remember that????

Canadians for a DAY!

the bleachers were freshly painted THIS MORNING!

Peter, passing as a Canadian. 

This is the form that gives me CAN healthcare for ONE DAY!

YEAH....let's move here! I love it!!!!!

I could go on and on and on.  How I love Canada, let me count the ways...

Hair Styles and Stuff

Our host, Kathy is a hairdresser!

this is the swimming style...curls and all on tuesday!

a great way to start a day in hot and sunny wine country is a haircut for everyone!!!! Addie is still not sure, but we all enrolled.  Kathy is good at everything & we really lucked out with our lodging arrangement.

Look at this cutie!

both of these two have battled stomach bugs in the past few days....

Dinner!

Washington to Penticton

The Ubiquitous....last town in states

CANADA!

Hope slide

en route to Penticton

Karen

carpool lanes!

What a beautiful day of travel it was.  It started with views of Rainier and fabulous Washington CARPOOL Lanes and ended in gorgeous Naramata, just north of Penticton, location of CA Ironman.

Freddie!

A month ago, Peter announced that we were going to a fred eaglesmith concert in Penticton on Tuesday night.  I was a bit reluctant, I mean, hey, isn't this ironman week? Don't i need to be sitting around the house obsessing over my gear and planning nutrition and sleeping?  Well, we do things differently, so we went to the Dream Cafe in Penticton, which is the spot for healthy food, local wine and small concerts for a lovely evening with one of Peter's favorite singer/songwriters.

Naramata!

across the street from our house, Lake Okanagan.

good morning!!!!

Ironman. What Ironmman? Given the option of sleeping in and looking out the window at this view on sunday morning versus getting up at 4:30 has me thinking....hmmm.....

Wherever you go, there you are.

 It's a mall!

look, a marketing gimmick from CA pizza oven!

It's true, but it's also a bit true that wherever you go, you're actually in a completely different place.  Here we are in Tukwila, WA which is near Sea-Tac, WA.  We discovered via the web that there were plenty of Asian restaurants, so we drive to the mall and it's huge!!!! We might as well be in Naperville, or wherever, USA.  We unfortunately ended up eating in CPO, since the Japanese place was packed and Addie, back at the motel with Nan and Ashby, had a sore stomach (addie under siege, again).  Peter and I both took note of the fact that we WERENT in Kansas anymore.  Afterall, our food server had giant nappy dreads pulled up in a giant bun, and the style of diversity it much more unique to, say, big west coast cities than big midwestern cities.  Alas, what to do???? Earlier this trip, I commented to Peter, that it seems that as we become a more Balkanized society, every town has become a bastard child of itself.  

Another State

Finally left Oregon. We hauled a quick 350 miles today, and, well, this is about all we got out of it...the Tacomadome (well, a little bit further than that).  Tomorrow, on to Canada, which will be a delight.  It's always hard to leave the safety and comfort of a small quiet retirement community and head back out there, especially when it involves epic feats of endurance and lots and lots of other people, but I'm in the La Quinta, practicing my breathing....calm....calm....calm.....

On the Road Again

Well, our longest stop ends today.  Our visit with parents/grandparents is coming to an end, after nearly two weeks. It's been a good stay, but as Kris said yesterday, I'm in Canada already, trying to pull my focus for race day together.  It's the whole crew, on to Seattle (Peter, me, and the kids).  Most of our ride will be on I-5, so I can't say I'm that excited about the scenery. The company will be great, and I'll listen to KRVM for every remaining instant.  I am always so sad to leave such fabulous local public radio that plays great MUSIC all the time.  Tonight we meet Nan and we have the other side of our family for the remainder of the adventure. Looking forward to seeing Nan!

Party time

cake at the Elks

sweet caroline....performed by the Norwoods

Line Dancing to Elvira

Line Dancing: Elvira

Peter's on his way!

eugene airport, clean and easy!

Today Peter joins our caravan again. He is flying into Eugene and I'm going over in a few hours to pick him up. He'll be with us for over a week, so this means shared parenting AND driving responsibilities.

Unfortunately, Peter is the reader of the blog(s), so i need to produce some more buzz....and here, this morning, our star tree climber: