Tall Pines Pictures

This will be the last Tall Pines post until I have the video footage.

Here are pictures Ian and ourselves took (mostly Ian though).

Ours our the first few, then you can tell that Ian's photography skills far surpass ours.

Johnston makes it around the "S" bend! His girlfriend screams shrillly, as if cheering, in the background. 

Rally of the Tall Pines

So on Saturday, Anne, Ian, Heather, Chester, Tim and I ventured up to Bancroft to watch the rally. Since it was a bigger group this time things moved a little slower and we missed the first couple of cars on the first pass, but no big deal. But say them all the next 2 times at that first spectator area and had a great time. Everyone listed to the advise to dress warm and cold toes were the only complaint. The night stages viewing also impressed everyone a great deal as well.
It was Anne's, Heather's, Chester's and Tim's first time at a rally and they seemed to have their expectations exceed. Anne had even said how we will do things differently next year thus inferring that she plans to go again?! Chester was quite pleased to have gone and had a great time, but I didn't talk to Tim enough to know how he felt.
Anne and I also met Ian's girlfriend Heather for the first time and were very pleased to have done so. We both enjoyed her company immensely. She and Anne got along great and we can't wait to get together again soon.
So it was an excellent day and Maya was apparently an angel for Andrea and John who graciously cared for her all day. I am sure Anne will recount her experience as well.

This Hyundai Tiburon won the rally. Definately the smoothest driver we saw all day. A well deserved win.
He was just coming off of a fairly sharp turn here. 

Across the bridge. This guy came in second.

Only one car really can into the sides of the bridge when we were at this spectator part. But they didn't damage anything or slow down at all. 

Another action shot from last years rally. Pat Richard, the driver here, did not finish due to technical difficulties but is the #1 north american driver. I hope he makes it this year.
There are tons of really good entries so far this year and its look like more top cars are entered than last year already. 

It's time to Raaallllllyyyyy

The Rally of the Tall Pines is on November 26th.
Who wants to come this year? Anne is coming and we are meeting with my friend Ian and his girlfriend Heather. I have some other "maybes" but I need some firm commitments so I know of I want to try and borrow my parents van. We leave early Satuday morning to make it to Bancroft at about 9-9:30am and won't be back until well after midnight. It should be an awesome day, with fast cars, good food and good friends. Dress warm though. 

big guy with a beard

Today Anne and I went to Home Depot. While we were in the line at the check out Anne went to grab one last thing. No one was behind us so I stepped sideways to grab a couple of 9V batteries. While I was trying to grab a 2 pack of them an older couple come up to the line and so I stepped sideways in front of them (and their load of lumber I might add) and said "oh sorry in am in the line I was just grabbing some batteries". Not a big deal.. or so I though.
The old guy says "Oh look at me, I am a big guy with a beard and I can do what I want!". I laugh in a my head until I realize he is serious. I turn around, mouth agape and say " No seriously we were here and just were looking at batteries for a second.". The man replies bitterly, "oh well then, if you are in such a hurry just go right in front of me then!".
I just shrugged and turned around. Then a new till opened and they got in first of that new line.
I guess I looked suitably menacing today :)

Maya the Flower Girl

Here is not one, not two, but 80 pictures of Maya the Flower Girl. Once we got her in the dress she loved it. For the second set we took in the park the other day, she was actually pretty photogenic.

A nice fall trail.
On the Bruce Trail near Kimberey. For fun we walked up one of Talismans most difficult run on our way back to our car.

Some nice fall scenery. The view from some spots was amazing. 

We stopped for lunch on the trail, Maya enjoyed sucking on the hydration pack. 

The trail was a bit rough and the leaves were hiding a lot of the roots and stones, but Maya walked for some of it.