Ride for Passion

Archive for the ‘Ballet’ Category

Planning a vacation on a motorcycle is one thing, taking a 4000 mile spin in 10 days is a test of endurance. The right gear is necessary considering the amount of travel room you have on a bike. A good set of saddle bags should be sufficient to store everything needed. This adventure started in July from the west coast of central Florida at 4:30 in the morning at a bar called “Peggy’s Corral”.

Day One: Having stopped at the gas station next to Peggy’s we saw the owner “Rip” and told him we would see him on the next Saturday when we returned. Our plan was to be in Mass. in three days for a yearly bike club rally. The itinerary was to travel approximately 500 miles a day, camping in State Parks or campgrounds. The first day was great. We traveled nearly 800 miles found a campsite in South Carolina, pitched our tent, unrolled the sleeping bags and rested our weary bones.

Day two: Rising early, the day started out good but we ran into rain early. Slipping into our rain suits, we ended up wearing them all day. Blinding heavy rain slowed us down considerably. Not getting far we decided to hunker down in Hazelton, PA to and dry our gear.Day three we made it to our destination by early afternoon and rode into a party going full swing. That night was the reason for the trip and we enjoyed it tremendously. We pitched our tent right there and rose early to continue our adventure.

Day four After we left our friends in mid northern Mass. we headed for Maine. That afternoon we had lobster on the docks in York Beach and continued Northwest. The White Mountains in New Hampshire has fantastic scenery and the views are breathtaking. Needing some rest we decided to take it easy and got a room in Conway New Hampshire. Staying at hotels started breaking into the cash so we were glad to have a credit card.

Day five We rode our bikes to the top of MT Washington (tallest in the NE). We traveled the breathtaking Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains into Vermont. That night we camped on the Canadian border at Lake Memphamagog in Newport Vermont.Day Six the decision to cross over to Canada was made. Our destination, was Montreal Harley Davidson so we could acquire tee shirts. With our newly acquired shirts in the saddlebags we headed south back into the States and that night was spent at a campground on Lake George, New York.

Day seven we traveled all day and spent the night in a Hotel in Hazelton PA, again that credit card cam in handy.

Day Eight we traveled the Cherokee Trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains and camped in Lynchburg Va.Day nine was spent traveling through the Carolinas and spending the night at a campground in Savannah GA. Dinner at the Red Hot Blues Barbecue was the highlight of the evening.

Hockey, the great Canadian pastime, is also a booming industry. Hockey is a pervasive sport that is enjoyed by boys, girls, young men and women, and an ever-growing group of “oldtimers”. Certainly not old, but perhaps no longer young, oldtimers continue to enjoy actively participating in the game as they come to terms with the realization that the NHL scouts will not be calling.

Canada is not the only country swept up by this fast paced team sport. Where did this fascination with hockey first begin? Some say it may have come from the British field sports of “hurley” or “shinty”, or perhaps the French version of field hockey which used a wooden stick called a “hoquet” to bat a ball or cork around. Nevertheless, somewhere, sometime during a long cold Canadian winter, some hardy folk tried playing a version of field hockey on ice. The game soon became well known in Scandinavian countries as well as in Russia.

So it is no wonder that North American hockey organizations are now offering hockey schools and tournaments abroad. Of particular interest to many hockey enthusiasts, especially the oldtimers, is the opportunity to combine a hockey tournament with a destination holiday through different European countries. Imagine, after a day on the ice in international competition, enjoying some sightseeing: mountain biking or hiking through mountains in Austria, touring quaint villages and castles in Italy, and attending an authentic Oktoberfest dinner in Germany. An organized international hockey tournament holiday creates the perfect opportunity for your partner to join in on your hockey friendships.

Retired professional hockey players offer hockey schools and fantasy camps in many locations, presenting opportunities to learn from and play with the best all over world. But if a European vacation is too big an undertaking, you can still travel with your family and friends, and enjoy your sport within North America, in such places as Lake Placid, Chicago, Las Vegas and Montreal.

With many local, national, and international sports governing bodies having approved the use of artificial sports surfaces for both indoor and outdoor sports, it is important to get special technical expertise for the construction of sports facilities and installation of equipment related to different sports. Also, artificial sports surfaces are available in different specifications to suit the requirements of different sports.

In general, the installation of artificial sports surfaces can be described in 5 phases:

excavation of the grounds
laying of water-permeable underlayer
Laying the artificial turf over the underlayer.
infilling with sand and/or rubber

Synthetic sports surfaces can vary in their playing characteristics depending upon the requirements of the sports to be played on them. This is why astroturf or synthetic grass is available in a range of pile lengths. A specialist sports facilities construction company will have the know-how to decide upon the best sports surface for the purpose based on site conditions, uses of the sports facility and budgetary concerns. For training and professional purposes, the sports surface must conform to the guidelines laid down by the respective sports bodies for different sports.

A competent sports facilities construction company will take care of all the details such as differently coloured playing lines for the different sports for the MUGA. Such a company also specialises in sports hall flooring, which are meant for indoor sports. Indoor floors are made extremely durable, depending on the choice of surface finish. Like outdoor synthetic sports surfaces, these are also easy to maintain and safe to play on.

Are you ready for hunting season? Fall hunting is just around the corner, with some deer seasons opening as early as mid-August. Since it’s never too early to scout for great deals, I’ve highlighted some crucial pieces of hunting equipment below.

The Hands-On Hunting Knife
Regardless of whether they hunt with a bow or a gun, every hunter needs a first-class hunting knife. There are two main types of hunting knives I recommend: fixed-blade and lock-back folding knives. Fixed-blade knives are rugged, reliable, and easy to clean. Fixed-blade knives can also be dangerous if not packed and handled properly, so be sure to invest in a high-quality sheath. Most lock-back folding blades have the strength and reliability of fixed-blade knives, and they are safer to pack and carry. I favor lock-back blades against traditional folding knives because they reduce the risk of cutting your palm or fingers while in use. Additionally, many lock-back blades offer one-hand operation, a useful feature for any hunter.

Multi-function, Multi-use, Multi-tool
A professional multi-tool is also an excellent resource to draw upon in the wilderness. Multi-tools, or multi-function pocket knives, provide hunters with a myriad of instruments. Additionally, these tools double as excellent fishing, hiking, and camping accessories.

Let There Be [LED] Light
Third, you shouldn’t go anywhere without a light, to be specific, an LED light. Even if you plan on hunting in the daylight, packing a reliable LED torch is just good common sense. After all, if you’re a serious hunter, efficiency with your light is crucial. Many times you don’t have two hands free to fumble with a switch, which makes an LED light with a one-handed operation design very hunter-friendly. LED headlamps are even better, as they free up both hands. As far as power and light output are concerned, LEDs far out-perform traditional bulbs. Whether you’re using a flashlight, headlamp, or lantern, LEDs will not only shine brighter; they’ll last longer too, meaning they’ll function when you need them most. LED tactical lights that attach to rifles and other weapons are equally effective and efficient.

There’s No Place Like Home
Finally, a compass or GPS unit is essential for tracking. You don’t know where the game will lead you, but you’d better know how to get back to your camp. Even in the simplest of settings, it’s easy to get turned around and lose your way. Don’t risk getting lost because you didn’t think you needed an orienting instrument. Additionally, make sure you know how to properly use your navigation device. If you don’t, ask a seasoned expert to show you how, and practice in familiar territory before venturing out into the wilderness.