Arizona, African animals, and auras

Well, we've turned into snowbirds!  November vacations to Arizona, and we're not even 50.  We took some friends with kids up on an invite to share a vacation rental for a few weeks in a town called Sedona, well known for its beautiful mountain biking.

Most days, the "two daddies" and the "two mommies", as Audrey called us, took turns riding and parenting.

The "two mommies" at Chicken Point

It was great having a house with a big kitchen and a garage, so we could make ourselves completely at home.

Audrey really liked the biking, too.  Because we were in a neighbourhood where everyone seemed to be over 80 and driving super slow, it was a great place for the kids to play on the road.

She's getting so big! 

Oh wait, she's still pretty puny

We also found a nice playground for the kids to play at.

 The riding was as spectacular and fun as promised.

The one day out of 13 that we didn't ride, we headed to a game park where Audrey got to experience African animals up close and personal.  A giraffe ate a carrot right out of  her hand which blew her mind.  She's still talking about it almost a month later.  She's also been trying to convince me that a giraffe lives in our backyard.  I wish!

I honestly don't know who was more excited about this encounter.  Did I mention that giraffes are my favourite animal?

Hey, they're wearing the same jacket as me.

Too much excitement

Sedona is also very well known for its vortexes, crystal healers, and aura photographers.  We regretted not getting our auras photographed while we were down there, so were glad that our friend Kelt had an app on her phone to do so.

My aura is likely two different colours because I fluffed the aura around my head just before the photo was taken. 

Awww, Audrey has a green aura just like me.

I know you're wondering what the colours mean, so here it is...

My first adventure race: All business!

After being support crew for Nelson's races last summer, this was our summer to switch roles.  His team, Kootenay Kaos, won another complementary entry into the Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race (MOMAR) in Cumberland and decided to turn it over to their partners to enjoy.  Only two of us were able to go but we were lucky enough to recruit two more like-minded gals - in for the pure fun of it!  Our "training" consisted almost entirely of scouring thrift stores to perfect our costumes.  We decided to go as the opposite of all the things Nelson's team had represented.

This excerpt is from our Business Communiqué:  "It has come to our attention, given previous participation in MOMAR of our partners and friends on team Kootenay Kaos, that there is a perception of Kootenay residents as “yahoos”, as one racer politely put it.  Well, we are here to establish that not all Kootenay-ites are mullet-haired, red spandex-clad, gold wing-ed, fanny pack-wearing, trucker-hatted hooligans. We are Kootenay Anti-Kaos: professional, organized, and mature."

My support crew

The race began with a 5km kayak in Comox Lake.

Just a minute - I need to take this call.

We got out of the kayaks and began a 10km trek that started on the beach then quickly headed up into the mountains.

Note the briefcase packpacks

I was the navigator.  Or, as my business cards stated: Lyndiana Jones, Vice President, Strategic Direction

I'd always wondered why people did races rather than just recreating in the wilderness on their own.  Now I know - the transition areas full of yummy food!  I was pretty excited to be eating grapes four hours into a race.

We were all really happy to be on our bikes for the final 15km leg of the race.

After climbing to the top, the sweet singletrack back down the mountain was pure heaven.

The finish line! Would you believe I was so focused that I didn't notice my teammate's partner spraying champagne on us?!  Good thing he didn't mess up our hair.

Bike touring on Haida Gwaii

"Bike touring on Haida Gwaii?  I've never heard of anyone else who's done that", is the common response when people hear about this trip. Well, maybe that's because there's only 120km of paved road!!  So, it's basically perfect if you only have a week and are biking with kids who only want you to travel 40-50km a day.

Leaving Nelson's parents' house in Prince Rupert.  Who looks dorkier?

The 7 hour ferry ride over to the islands

We turned onto this aptly named road and suddenly all of the hustle and bustle of the mainland just melted away...

Heading to our first night's campsite right on the beach

You know those sleeps that are so long and restful that you wake up a little groggy?

Eating candied wild salmon made on the island.  Yum.

Head north to Masset, take a right to get to Tow Hill and you've reached the end of the road.

Except that you can keep biking along the beach at low tide for another 10km!

Shipwreck on the beach.

Hiking at Tow Hill


We had good weather until this point in our trip then started to see some rain.
And some of the weird creatures that came out in the rain!

Biking back through Masset

Auds helping set up camp

Totem pole at the museum in Skidegate

We ate dinner while waiting for the ferry to leave, and watched two young Haida carvers working on a new totem pole that will be raised in August.  For more information see:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/haida-gwaii-will-see-the-first-carved-pole-raised-in-over-a-century/article13700197/

Audrey asleep on the night ferry back to Rupert.  Phew, all that biking was hard work!