Sedona - Day 4

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Started the day with a timeshare presentation in Cornville about 10 miles from here. We said we wouldn't do any but they offered us two first class train tickets for the Verde Canyon Train which we were going to buy anyways, plus $50 cash. A $220 deal!! Not bad for a couple of hours work. We then spent the afternoon driving and hiking (yes hiking) around the Sedona area. Went on a walk for an awesome view of Cathedral Rock and a vortex!







This is supposed to be a special female healing place. Saw a group of women leaving just as we got there. Not sure about all that, but we hiked for a fair distance and neither of us were sore or tired afterwards!!
Here's a shot of Chris soaking up the energy.



Met an interesting couple from Idaho that were there geocaching. Kind of interesting stuff. More info here Geocaching


Finished the day off with dinner at the Oak Brewery


and then up to the airport to watch the sunset on the Red Rocks. The last formation on the right in the first picture is Coffee Pot Rock.




Another great day!

THE BRICK!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

We started the day out with a timeshare presentation at the resort we're staying at. We were here on a special and that was one of the prerequisites. It was an easy presentation.
We then got in the car and drove 90 miles just to see a Brick!!



Our band, the Fishguts paid $50 a year ago to have a brick laid in "Standin' on the Corner" park in Winslow AZ. When my brother Bud passed through last year, it still hadn't been laid yet. So we decided to do the right thing and go and verify it's existence.






We stopped in Flagstaff on the way home and had dinner at Cracker Barrel.
When we left, we drove right into a driving ice pellet storm that made for treacherous driving until we had driven downhill about 1000 ft in altitude where it finally turned to rain.

Sedona - Day 2

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sedona is just a very magical place for us. It is hard to describe the peaceful feeling that overcomes you when you're here. Just sitting by the pool with a gentle warm breeze and such majestic surroundings.



We checked out a few artisans at one of the local malls today. Saw some incredible photography and some great native jewelry and pottery. We then went "uptown" and visited a number of the shops there. All with the Red Rocks surrounding us.



The Rock formation in the lower right corner of this shot is Snoopy Rock!




This is Bell Rock, one of Chris' favourites. It also captures the colour a little better than other shots.

Sedona, Day 1

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Got up early (it's a lot easier after a 3 hour time change!) had a slow morning at our timeshare unit. We are staying at the Sedona Summit Resort in a one bedroom unit that is very nice. It is a great timeshare with some spectacular views.





We headed to the Coffee Pot, our favorite restaurant here for a fabulous breakfast and then spent a leisurely day in Cottonwood.





We discovered the older part of town there that we missed last time that contained some real neat little shops including the Hippie Emporium where Chris was in her glory! She even bought a mood ring!



Our rental car has Sirius radio so we have been immersing ourselves in 60's music.

Had a shake at Bing's Diner, a really cool converted garage.


Then we looked at a huge antique shop with multiple buildings and tons of neat stuff. Kind of like Mr Used in Hamilton taken up a few notches. This old Ford was in the lot and they claimed it still ran. Judging by the license plate, it looks like it sat outside for years!





Stopped at the Castle Cliff Casino on the way home and had a great time!!
The evenings here are spectacular with wall to wall stars and very little light pollution.

Arizona!!

Friday, November 5, 2010



Had a great but long flight from Buffalo to Phoenix and an easy drive to Sedona.
Great timeshare. More pictures and reports to come.

Wild Day

Had an awesome and wild day!!
Fought 6 foot waves. Weighed in 16 lbs.
Fished with Rocky Crawford a Canadian Fishing Legend and a great guy. Two of the five fish weighed were mine including the biggest 80)
Too much to talk about. Got to get to bed. Big day tomorrow!

Day 1

Thursday, July whatever
Had an great day on the water today. I was teamed up with Mike Watson one of the best smallie fishermen on Lake Erie. We ran for an hour to get to his spots that he had found in pre-fishing. Unfortunately the fish had moved. After a few hours we finally got on fish. It was a gong show with 20 to 30 fish following everytime you hooked one.
Unfortunately they were all small but we got our 5 fish limit. We tried all day to increase our bag but it just didn't happen.
Unfotunately my biggest fish was a 10 pound pike 80(
We weighed in a 10 pound bag of fish. Regardless, I learned a lot today and fished with a real CLASS guy.
Got to get to bed.
Tonight.

A Good Day

We were on the water early today for a pre-fish. Learned a lot. We probably spent 85% of the time looking at electronics, 5% fishing and 10% moving from spot to spot. Initially had trouble locating fish, but Mike eventually pegged a 6-4 smallie. A few head checks to see if anyone was watching us and then off to the next soot. A few spots later I pulled in the 4 pounder above on a drp shot and we quickly vacated the area. We later went to a shallower spinnerbait spot and sure enough 3 casts on I caught a 3 pound smalle. We got off the water at 3:00 and got back to the cottage to clean up before driving to Kongston for the Tourbament meeting.
I lucked out and drew three good mature guys who aren't going to do anything stupid in the really rough water we're expecting
I drew Miike Watson for tomorrow
Former Canadian Bass Champion Rocky Crawford for Friday
And an experienced partner got Saturday.
Got to go get some sleep!!

Getting Ready

Left work early today to get packed for the trip to Jim's cottage in Napanee. Maddy & Miranda came over to make fresh bread with Nana while I packed the van. Got away around 7:30 and was concerned that the guys would be in bed by the time I got there. Boy was I wrong!!
Pulled in at 10:30 just in time for a steak dinner!!
Got to go. Will be up early to put in a good day of pre-fishing. The boys ran 50 miles today to fish American waters.
There is an angler's meeting tomorrow at 6:00 pm to determine fishing partners for the 3 days of the tournament.

The Canadian Open!

July 19, 2010
The tournament of a lifetime is drawing near.
Some background here: Canadian Open
I will be leaving tomorrow after work, heading to the cottage of one of my bosses at Fishing World to prepare for the Canadian Open. We will be pre-fishing on Wednesday and attending an Angler's meeting on Wednesday night to see who I draw for my pro-partner for each of the three days of the tournament.
Stay tuned!

Going to Work!

Tuesday, March 3 to Wednesday, March 4, 2010

Well I've only been to ONE Timeshare presentation this year, but Sheraton made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Tickets to the Legends Concert and Le Grande Cirque along with a $50 gift certificate for the Outback. A deal worth $210!!! Since Tuesday was a heavy rain day, it pretty much was a no brainer to go to work for a few hours. A low pressure presentation and then off to Beef O'Brady's for dinner before attending the Legends concert featuring George Strait, Rod Stewart, The Temptations, Marilyn Monroe and the Blues Brothers. It was an excellent show, especially the Temptations. We had seen Rod Stewart and the Blues Brothers before. If you ever get the chance, you should go. A good evenings entertainment.
Today I finally got to Bass Pro Shop here. Its one of the smaller stores, but still an interesting place. Chris hit a few stores as her Marathon Shop-a-thon is slowly coming to an end 8o).
We then went to the Outback for dinner using our gift certificate.



Then we proceeded to the Palace where The Grande Cirque was playing. We had attended Cirque de Soleil in Orlando and had heard good reviews of this one. It did not disappoint! If you ever get a chance to see one of these shows, don't hesitate.

Sorry no pictures since neither venue allowed photography.

Winding Down

Monday, March 1, 2010

We woke up on Monday to this beautiful view. It was only about 50F, but the sun was heating up our Patio very nicely.


The day was spent re-familiarizing ourselves with Myrtle Beach. We drove along the beach..


.....and stopped in at Broadway on the Beach (which is actually not near the beach) to visit Margaritaville!




The hurricane on the ceiling slowly rotates and then all of a sudden it starts speeding up. Surfboards, Sharkfins and Beer openers appear to have been sucked up into the storm. Then a bottle of Tequila comes down from the eye of the storm and fills up a blender!!!


Cheers!


A view along one of the promenades.


Looking down into the water the view is disgusting!


Someone has obviously heard about the FishGuts Fans known as the FishHeads.......


Happy 9th Birthday Maddy!!!

A Big Day!!

February 28, 2010

We early woke this morning to a full moon shimmering down on the lake outside our bedroom window. A wonderful way to be leaving the house that has been home for the last month.
Today starts our slow process of going home. We have booked a last minute timeshare at the Sheraton Plantation in Myrtle Beach. We have stayed there before and it is a nice resort.
We were on the road by 6:30 am and stopped in Savannah Ga for the afternoon. It is a place we have always wanted to visit and it turned out to be a great experience.
We spent the afternoon along the River Road, a cobblestone road full of shops and eateries which runs alongside the Savannah River.

The Peacemaker was moored at the dock. It is owned by the Twelve Tribes a religious communal group.




It is a real interesting area.






We stopped for a bite to eat at the Shrimp Factory before moving on. You can also see Chris' Mickey Peace symbol that I got her in Downtown Disney. Everyone comments on it.



View Larger Map







We pressed on towards Myrtle Beach. Now I faced a dilemma. The Canada/USA Gold Medal game was starting. My cell phone was not working so getting phone updates wasn't going to work. I couldn't get it on the radio. I stopped in at three McDonalds trying to get a wireless update on my iphone, but none of them were working (they were all supposed to be free on January 10.......... Damn!!!). Then I located a Best Western (I think in Varneville, SC) and went into the lobby to "borrow" some of their free wireless!! and lo and behold, the game is on a big screen in the lobby. Holy crap! One and a half minutes left and Canada is up 2-1. Canada calls a time out, I run out to the van and get Chris. She just walks in the door and the USA ties it up with 24 seconds left. The period ends and she says "Come on, we'd better get going" and I say "ARE YOU KIDDING????"
We sweat it out in overtime until Sid the Kid becomes a National Hero!! What a great way to end the Olympics!!



But I must say that I was moved by many other new National Heroes. People like Joannie Rochette and Virtue and Moir and many others. And I was more than surprised, in fact amazed at the American (NBC) perspective on the Olympics. They gave a surprisingly balanced view of the games and gave Canadian athletes much exposure and painted such a positive picture of our country.
It was time to get back on the road. We didn't get into Myrtle Beach until 9:30 pm, but I got a chance to watch some of the closing ceremonies (including Neil Young!) once in our unit at the Sheraton Plantation. This is a very nice timeshare that we stayed at once before.





It's been a loooong and eventful day!!!