Ride for Passion

Archive for the ‘Hockey’ Category

The training was complete and it was finally time to ride. I loaded the pickup with the two bikes and started down Interstate 80 headed west towards Wyoming. I was making the journey in the truck by myself as Susan and the girls were flying out a couple days later. I enjoyed the drive through the western states. When I get in the drivers seat, my mind starts to work. I love just driving and thinking. I couldn’t wait for the bike ride to begin.After a couple of days visiting with my sister and her family in Portland, it was finally time to ride. Susan and I arrived at the hotel we were staying at prior to the start of the ride. The nerves were starting to pick up in my body as I was thinking, “what in the world have we gotten ourselves into?” We wheeled our bikes into this beautiful hotel, on to the elevator and up to our room.

After getting very little sleep due to the excitement of the event, Susan and I grabbed our gear and the bikes and headed to the parking lot for the start of this journey. We were not sure just how many miles we were actually going to be putting on our bikes, but we knew it was more than 200.As we arrived at the starting line, the sun was peaking out over the buildings in downtown Portland. We started to introduce ourselves to the other riders that had joined up with for this ride. People from all over the country had flown in, drove over and pedaled their way to this event.

Finally the time had come. A prayer was said and we locked ourselves into the pedals of the bikes that would be a part of us for the next three days. Though we had guides, the ride was really on our own. We were to go at a pace comfortable for us and enjoy the sites of the Northwest.I remember starting down the streets of Portland at a pace that would’ve matched Lance Armstrong, at least that was what I had dreamt the night before. The excitement of the day and the adrenaline flowing through my body kept telling me to go faster. Thankfully, I had a wife who reminded me over and over again, to pace myself; this was just the start of the ride. I had to be reminded that the finish line was our ultimate goal, not how fast we started.

It seems I have to be reminded of this often in my life. It is not how you start, but how you finish. My personality tends to lend itself, more times than not, to come up with a great idea and start running as fast as I can towards the intended goal. As I sit here now writing this and my leg is shaking at feverous pace with excitement of the thoughts running through my mind. Now, I don’t believe this is a bad trait to have, one of excitement, enthusiasm, and love for life. The issue I have faced is, how do I keep the excitement I have for life and at the same time have the patience I need to enjoy the ride.

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.

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.

Horse Racing Betting, The Risk Free Way

You may or may not of heard of all this talk about been a change to horse racing betting where you can bet on horse races risk free.

Yes that’s right, Risk Free!

Now this isn’t some bogus system that gives you one horse that is guaranteed to win, it isn’t even like normal gambling. It’s more like trading as you are betting on more than one horse in a race even all of them.

I hear you saying how can I make money betting on every horse in the race?

Because of the competition between bookmakers and now the rise of Betfair there prices are all over the place. One horse can be 4/1 with one bookmaker and 7/1 with another.

Every bookmaker is trying to get customers by giving away free bets, the best prices etc. They do this by making a couple of horses in a race better priced and then advertising it. If every bookie does this you can make a profit very easy.

The idea is that you place the right amount of money at the right prices so that no matter what horse wins the race, you make a profit.