Blowin'

Gaff Point

Jan. 12, 2014

Winter beach

Hirtle's Beach, NS

Feb. 2, 2014

Scrape, shiver....mutter...

Upper Kingsburg, NS

Nov. 15, 2013

I haven't been taking many pictures lately, here's a typical winter morning scene.  I'm one of the few maniacs looking forward to the snow on Sunday.  Now where did I put my ski boots?........

Smokenator 1000 Beef Brisket

Thanks to my new Smokenator 1000, I am able to get the kettle temperature below 250 F, welcome to flavour country!  If you have a Weber bbq, pick up one of these muthas!

Brisket begins

The finished product.  

I smoked the brisket with oak chunks I dug out of last year's firewood pile.  Don't believe everything 'purists' say, the smoke did not impart a bitter or weird flavour.  I was very pleased with the results, check out that smoke ring!  I'm glad I planned ahead and had the brisket marinating in the rub for 24 hours, great flavour.

When the recipe says 7-8 hour cooking time, they ain't kiddin'.  I smoked it for ~5 hours and had to finish it in the oven.  Lesson learned.  

Lunenburg Bike Barn Cyclocross Race #2 at the MARC

The switchback starts to fill up with early race leaders in the first lap. 

All photos Dec. 1, 2013 @ the M.A.R.C., Dayspring, NS

 Still more room at the top....

Almost full of riders!

I decided to play around with capturing speed blur shots for the rest of the race, here are some of my better results:

Shawn Marshall, race leader for many laps, finished #2.

 Not sure if the smiles were due to the early stage of the race or the fact that the labyrinth/spiral/vortex race feature was gone.

Shane Eno with his eye on the prize.

Jack be nimble....

Glad I lucked out and got two racers in this shot.

Jack be quick....

The aftermath of the race.  Mild temps made for slicker conditions than last week.  I witnessed a couple spills during the race but luckily nothing serious.

What's on this weekend? One Breakfast. One Luncheon. One Supper....and a craft market.

A bit of this, a bit of that on this weekend, take your pick.

I'm most excited about the always excellent Halifax Crafters Society Holiday Craft Market!  It takes place tomorrow and Sunday and is NOT TO BE MISSED:

Breakfasts

November 30, 

Royal Canadian Legion #23, Lunenburg, 

7:30-11:30 a.m. 

Adults $8; ages 5-12, $4. 

Takeout available for pick-up $8.50. 634-4215

Teas/Luncheons

Saturday, November 30, 

Annual Christmas Luncheon and Silent Auction. 

Middlewood United Church Hall (just past Exit 16, Highway 103)

12 noon - 2 p.m., . 

$8. 

Menu: Chili, various soups, clam/ corn chowder, rolls, pie, tea/ coffee. 

Entertainment by the Uke Mates.

Suppers

December 1, 

Annual Seafood and Corn Chowder Supper. 

Riverport Fire Hall. 

4- 6 p.m. 

Adults $12, children $6, under 5 free. Cakes for dessert.

Lunenburg Bike Barn Cyclocross Race - Nov. 24th

(all shots from Dayspring, NS, Nov. 24)

Racers gather at the start line while Al and Tobias sort out last minute details. ^_^

Cyclocross, wut?  File under: it's big in Europe, especially....Belgium?  This was my first cyclocross race and it won't be my last.  Cyclocross races typically have many short laps and what seemed like a short race duration.  They also feature technical course sections, forcing racers to slow down as they navigate tight hairpins/switchbacks and other interesting elements like this pinwheel/labyrinth:

Did I mention dismounting?  You heard right, it wouldn't be a *cross race unless riders were forced to get off and push their bikes up steep sections.  The sawpit in the background is usually a soupy mess of sawdust but on this race day it was looking pretty frozen:

Those that managed to ride up the steep section had a slight speed advantage on the exit, which I hope my 'speed blur' attempts convey:

To add insult to injury, there was a stair/step section and this lone obstacle which forced all riders to dismount and carry their bikes.  I was hoping for an epic bunny hop over this one but as far as I could tell, no takers that afternoon:

Riders will return to the MARC next Sunday, Dec. 2nd for another cyclocross race.  The course makes for great viewing as a spectator and by all accounts the racers liked it too.  Even the pinwheel.

See you at the MARC!