The Amazing Race

On Friday July 9th, 2010 we got most of the office out of Toronto and into the country. Michael Luong kindly stayed behind to watch the fort, answer the phones and keep the office open. (A Friday in July is not typically that busy!)

We met at Metcalfe Rock up in Grey County. The first challenge of the day was getting there. We found that GPS was more of a liability up there than a help. It confuses the software when the roads have three different names - and when some of these 'roads' suddenly end in the middle of the woods. After a few phone calls, we got everyone in one place and we could start the adventure!

We were randomly divided into teams and given a list of stations to look for. The tasks included both physical and mental challenges. We hunted for flags, crawled through a cave, built a shelter, traversed obstacles and solved puzzles.

Building a shelter

Solving a riddle

Climbing through a spider web

Looking for clues

In the end, all of the teams completed all of the tasks, but one team did it faster than everybody else. The team called 'Space Invaders' was the clear winner. Christian, Marie, Viz, Olgha and Greg were gracious in their victory. By nature, they are a modest and bashful lot, and did not gloat at all!

Christian, Marie, Viz, Olgha and Greg being modest and bashful

After all the action, we gathered at Mikael and Viz's cottage for a barbeque party. There's nothing like running through the woods for a couple of hours to give you an appetite - and to make you thirsty!

Happy racers

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The Amazing Race was organized by Free Spirit Tours. We would definitely recommend them!

The First Annual John Zsolt Single Handed Race

On Sunday, July 4th, Thornbury Yacht Club hosted the first annual John Zsolt Single Handed Race.  John was an avid racer and his friends and family have continued to keep John’s boat Oxygen active in the Georgian Bay racing circuit. One of John’s ambitions was to solo race.  This year Thornbury Yacht Club decided to start an annual solo race, named after John in his honor.

John’s boat Oxygen acted as the committee boat for the race and I was fortunate enough to be invited along to help out.

The race committee on board Oxygen

A fleet of eight boats entered the race

Sunday was a great day for sailing. The lake was calm. There was an offshore breeze that varied from 10-15 knots.  There was good friendly competition between eight skippers and their boats.  John would have loved it!