tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23649027012969095812024-02-07T00:45:20.534-05:00Pond Hopper - The HockumentaryThis site is intended to record my road trip around North America. I'll be stopping in to each city that hosts an NHL team to watch a home game - 30 cities, 30 games.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-33160590798235766322007-04-05T10:51:00.000-05:002007-04-06T10:58:21.633-05:00This is the end...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvQIqB86hr2k9WSs9WPurrxXfkQpMyQyxHjTz0mis_PV6650I9Wv3PqquKmslq89iSXT7uGXTiBCl2eBmpf2snwk5R5Uc2VVjs3k4gBhn2_yCKZoxlollGSDS0FA1l1qCl_YODFlNxegI/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvQIqB86hr2k9WSs9WPurrxXfkQpMyQyxHjTz0mis_PV6650I9Wv3PqquKmslq89iSXT7uGXTiBCl2eBmpf2snwk5R5Uc2VVjs3k4gBhn2_yCKZoxlollGSDS0FA1l1qCl_YODFlNxegI/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050334232430479170" /></a><br />Well, I made it back to The County after 92 days on the road. Art was happy to get the Rav back, Mum was happy to finally see me and I was happy to eat some Sam's pizza!! I thought I should wrap up this blog with a final post and provide you with some additional stats from the trip:<br /><br />Final kms: 27,478<br /><br />Average km/day: ~300 (equates to wearing the ass out of 2 pairs of jeans!)<br /> <br /># of games watched alone: 6 (out of 31)<br /><br /># of days/nights alone: only 15 (out of 92)<br /><br /># of home team wins: 16 (out of 31)<br /><br />Gas station stops: ~70 (not including pee breaks!)<br /><br /># of "Roll up the Rim" wins: Zero..Damn!<br /><br />States visited: 35<br /><br />Provinces visited: 6<br /><br />Some might consider this a bit cheesy but I want to thank everyone for sharing this trip with me along the way. Here is a list of everyone that I stayed with or met me along the way:<br /><br />Pyke, Sinead - Calgary<br />Donald, Jamie - Edmonton<br />Gary, Rhonda - Vancouver<br />Mark, Rachel - Portland<br />Trevor, Bronwyn - San Jose<br />Derek, Marie - Dallas<br />Jack, Isabel - Ruskin<br />Kendall, Arlene - Sarasota<br />Jon, Marla - Atlanta<br />Doug - Atlanta to Nashville<br />James - Atlanta to Carolina<br />Jason, Missy - Greensboro<br />Mark, Ed - Pittsburgh to Washington<br />Vicki - New Paltz, New Jersey, Buffalo<br />Laura, Heather - New York to New Jersy<br />Colin - New Jersey<br />The Cook's - Buffalo<br />The Weise's - Buffalo<br />Darryl, Allyson - Sarina<br />Donna, Pat - London<br />Steve, Kim - London<br />Joe, Joy - London<br />Dale, Chuck - Chicago<br />Dave, Holly - London<br />Archie, Hillary - Toronto<br />Johnny Mac - Toronto<br />Heather - Toronto<br />Emily, Sean - Ottawa<br />Uey, Annette - Napanee, Kingston<br />Spence - Kingston<br />Cad - Ottawa, Napanee, Kingston, Montreal, Halifax<br />Cad, Tash - Halifax<br /><br />Thanks to everyone (family included) who found the blog entertaining enough to keep following and for your comments contributed along the trip.<br />Also, I need to thank all my friends in Australia for their support and assistance in getting me on my way - in particular - Brad, Jeff, Pat, Bari (thanks for the calls), Andrew (hope my stuff hasn't been put to the curb), Bennett, Rachel, Fairlie, The McLarens, Sonja, Nathan, Clara, The Innes family, and Therese for the phone calls which seemed to come when I needed them most.<br /><br />Now, what crazy idea can I come up with next...stay tuned...Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-7747216140393892972007-04-04T01:18:00.000-05:002007-04-05T06:27:27.410-05:00Go Habs Go...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8GN8KwO-lOwHz0QQslFgyz1iHjoNK89ljkQt5F1wlt7UFrF8d7nt0PANFWRtGJ2Wem1F3Ok5QqJ6heWwe3rkWEp7cntchnztRU-CQDHGTJzQKD8NyVgEYA6cz_3FLn0b06VVUD0pJT7R/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8GN8KwO-lOwHz0QQslFgyz1iHjoNK89ljkQt5F1wlt7UFrF8d7nt0PANFWRtGJ2Wem1F3Ok5QqJ6heWwe3rkWEp7cntchnztRU-CQDHGTJzQKD8NyVgEYA6cz_3FLn0b06VVUD0pJT7R/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049903116498208562" /></a><br /><br />How could I possibly ask for a better finish to this fantastic road trip? The Habs win their last regular season home game 2 - 0 against the Bruins in front of their 100th consecutive sell out crowd. Montreal’s playoff hopes are still alive and with only 2 games remaining it should be a pretty exciting finish. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFfXmOBSwCC2uiTqWRONc0thU3IJq7Dm9J_3vMSCXSdHzA66K8IV9YipwyccNzry5BOY2AFeQ8dBvDINKpZZ7-yPwjddN8iGs6h_UdgmLXjrJFCUWnHzz4BSIv6UaSQFZc5fsj4fpe_Ro/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFfXmOBSwCC2uiTqWRONc0thU3IJq7Dm9J_3vMSCXSdHzA66K8IV9YipwyccNzry5BOY2AFeQ8dBvDINKpZZ7-yPwjddN8iGs6h_UdgmLXjrJFCUWnHzz4BSIv6UaSQFZc5fsj4fpe_Ro/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049901918202332946" /></a><br /><br />Captain Koivu, who received a lot of local media for being benched in the final minutes of their last game, scored both goals and they were beauties! Big time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPsT7Qh73v2IYVyprZLPIIHNYRjVMmzGX2GKX591hBkr0x91fkQPt_kALC6KqMuQs2aJUdBLJNN_LZ_xh6seL-KjgmANXIhPCZzKgUiFFy_39ibuKo5pvVCBsc7a6DsPj_g8Wvkj-MnKD/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPsT7Qh73v2IYVyprZLPIIHNYRjVMmzGX2GKX591hBkr0x91fkQPt_kALC6KqMuQs2aJUdBLJNN_LZ_xh6seL-KjgmANXIhPCZzKgUiFFy_39ibuKo5pvVCBsc7a6DsPj_g8Wvkj-MnKD/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049901922497300258" /></a><br /> <br />The crowd didn't generate the atmosphere that I experienced in Ottawa but it was incredible all the same. I have followed The Canadiens since I can remember and have never seen a game in Montreal so to say that I felt a bit of emotion would be an understatement. <br /><br />The crowd after the game cheering:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAZPvcnQ2qzGBSMtg1Y6tYVOgmw3yaY83hGkNdLvN2At8gRMgzU4ghbSzj72GTrkYBNEUaMvEpBqjMapv7Y51EwbULNRgLdzkAHbUrSkw9lIgymXZHSog7qUi3YyyeeU0w5R6RzrwdA0b/s1600-h/DSC00023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAZPvcnQ2qzGBSMtg1Y6tYVOgmw3yaY83hGkNdLvN2At8gRMgzU4ghbSzj72GTrkYBNEUaMvEpBqjMapv7Y51EwbULNRgLdzkAHbUrSkw9lIgymXZHSog7qUi3YyyeeU0w5R6RzrwdA0b/s320/DSC00023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049901913907365634" /></a><br /><br />There will be another post once I get home to put this blog to rest where I will give you a run down of some highlights and stats. But before I do, I have to update you on my last couple of days...<br /><br />Cad (Aaron) and I went to the Napanee to spend some time with Uey (and his family). Spence also joined us from Carlton Place for a night out in Kingston. <br /><br />Uey, Me, Cad and Spence:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdThfra5KzNFC5Nz9971UjwcVBRvu6Za5wNIflDIR7VAerwzNeozULHvXJl7Gow16HCIa3ASxv8Vo1V-1nveRYV6g1pmc_gvMLcbLpD6TvAj-jTT7RVwTuBcljNKSWI4UCJrDGKZQj17i/s1600-h/DSC00009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdThfra5KzNFC5Nz9971UjwcVBRvu6Za5wNIflDIR7VAerwzNeozULHvXJl7Gow16HCIa3ASxv8Vo1V-1nveRYV6g1pmc_gvMLcbLpD6TvAj-jTT7RVwTuBcljNKSWI4UCJrDGKZQj17i/s320/DSC00009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049901901022463714" /></a><br /><br />Annette, Aaron (Uey), Hannah and Cal (forgot to take a photo of them when they were all at home so Cad took this photo of a photo!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrQqPT1EJf6-nV06h7FLydZWc6I5mnHQO6SKb2G448Uj_br8kvILl3miXtiY3-al4ni0NjyQPHsVtGyYPqE4E1VrmeBDa1vxeoN2KZEOZEhhNzQfjmcK4hlAEhd2KGu0Xt98f5_k2AH90/s1600-h/DSC00011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrQqPT1EJf6-nV06h7FLydZWc6I5mnHQO6SKb2G448Uj_br8kvILl3miXtiY3-al4ni0NjyQPHsVtGyYPqE4E1VrmeBDa1vxeoN2KZEOZEhhNzQfjmcK4hlAEhd2KGu0Xt98f5_k2AH90/s320/DSC00011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049901905317431026" /></a><br />We were also able to catch up with another Mount Allisonian, David Pryde, who is now a stand-up comedian (and damn funny) - check out his site: <a href="http://www.davidpryde.com"> <br /> David Pryde.com </a><br />It was a great time…I hadn’t seen those guys for over a decade and it would seem the more things change, the more they stay the same.<br /><br />We (Cad and I) arrived in Montreal on Monday and spent most of the day on Tuesday doing interviews for the CBC. Two radio interviews and a TV interview as well..even Cad got some airtime.<br /><br />Well, it's back to Nova Scotia, 13hrs, probably the longest drive of the trip outside of the leg to Vancouver and the leg from Dallas to St. Louis. One more post to come - probably in a day or 2 once I get get over the shock of not having to move on.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-17201494159804929892007-03-31T17:51:00.000-05:002007-04-04T22:13:31.700-05:00Go Sens Go...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iuPqWkmcqtTN9udepQmlPtnZ02dL4n8ainZzCSu1E4d6r8eJ7ZznfIoX9J0VaPX5tD2B081i5IDNM_uY2YW05Ufwvh5A9cWXJUXy6nCppHbeUs7D18VGiFXukbLJkbNEBFhgxp7lsDeN/s1600-h/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iuPqWkmcqtTN9udepQmlPtnZ02dL4n8ainZzCSu1E4d6r8eJ7ZznfIoX9J0VaPX5tD2B081i5IDNM_uY2YW05Ufwvh5A9cWXJUXy6nCppHbeUs7D18VGiFXukbLJkbNEBFhgxp7lsDeN/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048459945779709762" /></a><br /><br />Remember what I said about how good the crowd at the Leafs game was..well, the crowd at the Sens game was far superior! Six minutes before the game started the noise level was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. It was awesome...except for the end result...the Senators got up over the Canadiens: 5 - 2. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0AGvrDScCDjpGxpz_w_7DSyWZrHkqYjaKZtZeKo1RcqT-C2LJKxvZAc1t7Avx3504t6E4dBsceuf7m3Ea-N-Ly1MbMijghay15vBcQFyS8IZ-vWpven0V1JABYRluZTqoB1-EFn84q-X/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0AGvrDScCDjpGxpz_w_7DSyWZrHkqYjaKZtZeKo1RcqT-C2LJKxvZAc1t7Avx3504t6E4dBsceuf7m3Ea-N-Ly1MbMijghay15vBcQFyS8IZ-vWpven0V1JABYRluZTqoB1-EFn84q-X/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048459950074677074" /></a><br /><br />Sean, Emily, Me, Dave, and Doug (see photo below) all attended the game together...and it was a great time. The seats were excellent and it was Emily's first NHL game - I think she might be hooked. The first game of the trip where the Canadian anthem was the only one sung, the crowd cheered on and on and the guy singing was awesome. I think playoff hockey has finally begun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Oh-BWXalUGhqNjI9ai-64DaMFVG0kmbhy02LnG_T0Ksarfpct03OWXBejRGGfLu2x1qoiXjtI4gm63qFijBPDeps83w4Fv3rwlLdlgqWFqt1Xer14rfLQXkMfHmhsj2_7kwJboQ4ZtrJ/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Oh-BWXalUGhqNjI9ai-64DaMFVG0kmbhy02LnG_T0Ksarfpct03OWXBejRGGfLu2x1qoiXjtI4gm63qFijBPDeps83w4Fv3rwlLdlgqWFqt1Xer14rfLQXkMfHmhsj2_7kwJboQ4ZtrJ/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048459958664611682" /></a><br /><br />My arrival in Ottawa was a great relief for me! I was really looking forward to seeing Emily and Sean (and getting out of the Rav) to spend some time relaxing/watching their new tv/getting over my cold. I had a really great time with them - we spent an afternoon wandering around the city and had great Thai meal. Sean treated me to some of his lasagna and I have to say it rivals Moms! <br /><br />Some photos around Ottawa:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0WWFdNJ-lQIYcKFMprYJijA4w6kQ3KggIU6XXoonxiZJRRurWv39oBQpv4nTo0-XyjQjjW7jX1K44SLCXfbq40iLzMxJvJv8sEzZc3F0CZTbvJqF80UxJlrv_e5Opw9Thyphenhyphen08JXZ8vJsl/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0WWFdNJ-lQIYcKFMprYJijA4w6kQ3KggIU6XXoonxiZJRRurWv39oBQpv4nTo0-XyjQjjW7jX1K44SLCXfbq40iLzMxJvJv8sEzZc3F0CZTbvJqF80UxJlrv_e5Opw9Thyphenhyphen08JXZ8vJsl/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048458154778347234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRJo93f1Y7WOypN0IAXm0zZP3ExGXZ1g9snIJ7B1ppBzMGTT1oHWp2FAiEY-WfM0V83HyEHSbYOGnZarFUOrApp75besNkKs3zAG6f5Aj3MrCpPNpvk0Y1mYG_qyakTB3t2j6jONXih35/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRJo93f1Y7WOypN0IAXm0zZP3ExGXZ1g9snIJ7B1ppBzMGTT1oHWp2FAiEY-WfM0V83HyEHSbYOGnZarFUOrApp75besNkKs3zAG6f5Aj3MrCpPNpvk0Y1mYG_qyakTB3t2j6jONXih35/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048458176253183730" /></a><br /><br />The night of the game we all enjoyed a great bbq with Doug and Karla. You might remember Doug from such great blogs as "Welcome to Blue Land" and "Fang Fingers". He's a big Sens fan and had the jersey waiting for me to try on...not a chance! The weather has been fantastic since I got back into Canada so it was an afternoon in the backyard chasing (and being chased by) the kids. <br /><br />Doug, Karla, Taylor, Liam, Holly, Me, Seth, Dave, Emly and Sean at the pre-game bbq:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRTq3vOljwYW_6ilC5yAJ903zUhgEoR10T8xvoNMiP2hN3BLiLXxWEcm1t5ZtJ7hiR4RBVoAbO6rLHGd1Ah_FGWaj-JK98cmVZxpf0DLen5NJRHj123oVCFnWBDqKfATwbOgx7q9hcOfI/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRTq3vOljwYW_6ilC5yAJ903zUhgEoR10T8xvoNMiP2hN3BLiLXxWEcm1t5ZtJ7hiR4RBVoAbO6rLHGd1Ah_FGWaj-JK98cmVZxpf0DLen5NJRHj123oVCFnWBDqKfATwbOgx7q9hcOfI/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048459932894807858" /></a><br /><br />Seth and I - check out that awesome jersey:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdjUACQlUb8U7Q6pNkV11HLDu-Vb1PdR095-i-qgRTrSJhQrRkZNhWuw5m9Taq_BOLVcStUQh8sMROLkw3gwspWsCYHTE9L1WltADG3g5iRFgU_w8AQ_gJpn5iqDcdRJ6b-pJV9PL_GAi/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdjUACQlUb8U7Q6pNkV11HLDu-Vb1PdR095-i-qgRTrSJhQrRkZNhWuw5m9Taq_BOLVcStUQh8sMROLkw3gwspWsCYHTE9L1WltADG3g5iRFgU_w8AQ_gJpn5iqDcdRJ6b-pJV9PL_GAi/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048458193433052946" /></a><br /><br />Cad arrived in Ottawa bright and early on Saturday to finish off the trip with me. We're planning to head to see Uey ("The Heart and Soul of the Napanee Raiders"), Annette, Hannah and Cal in Napanee for a couple of nights. Last game coming up and soon I'll have to rejoin reality!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-56880847160482885302007-03-28T20:10:00.000-05:002007-03-29T15:22:55.631-05:00Go Leafs Go...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABPRAvIVE3ACKghYPEntodhCNP0uJTlfZk_ukjHO7BBf6M5GBV38c7QMDaD0JIh8-Qlx62jFVtcm5qllbNYY5cv_Zjarm9BSXYQYPPV0Wm1B_QtBkM2SV_IE2RQFt-aoXqo-mnMamZFU3/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABPRAvIVE3ACKghYPEntodhCNP0uJTlfZk_ukjHO7BBf6M5GBV38c7QMDaD0JIh8-Qlx62jFVtcm5qllbNYY5cv_Zjarm9BSXYQYPPV0Wm1B_QtBkM2SV_IE2RQFt-aoXqo-mnMamZFU3/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047440694205793954" /></a><br /><br />Leading up to this game, a lot of people had been telling me that the atmosphere and crowd at the ACC (Air Canada Centre) sucked: "No cheering, sushi eating suits!" They couldn't have been more wrong. The Leafs scored 47sec into the game and poured it on for all 3 periods. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpamsj-tQjZb7_eezDxiSBnVVqtbGy08t5Tjc0aqPvgil7F3kFBTn-e2wxkN3LmA-ZYTpdyn2sqqw0E47x4MYkJQ2WfxnS6SJ6oZsys3ph_ZN_vvGTADD0jhCgY_5c_-7eSIjWQNBhChVZ/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpamsj-tQjZb7_eezDxiSBnVVqtbGy08t5Tjc0aqPvgil7F3kFBTn-e2wxkN3LmA-ZYTpdyn2sqqw0E47x4MYkJQ2WfxnS6SJ6oZsys3ph_ZN_vvGTADD0jhCgY_5c_-7eSIjWQNBhChVZ/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047441862436898498" /></a><br /><br />They made the Hurricanes look terrible, or maybe it was that the Hurricanes terrible play made the Leafs look fantastic?? My tickets were in the standing room which gave me a great view of the ice (and I got to sit (I mean stand) with the die hard fans as well. It was 6 - 1 in the end and the roar from the Leafs fans for every goal, every hit and every save was by far the most impressive I have seen and heard. <br /><br />CN Tower:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tZ57af5pozzNmB3YwgSZWYplpc4cxKc48WLLNpVZzZIDzftUqzoKdCcw-rHFma7hBWlSSGHRtBejR_ee589JAUwH9YRD0mv6ItvWcTJaVJQxgoN48ahu2eQnntmcxg7VuiMOvM9lZZ-I/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tZ57af5pozzNmB3YwgSZWYplpc4cxKc48WLLNpVZzZIDzftUqzoKdCcw-rHFma7hBWlSSGHRtBejR_ee589JAUwH9YRD0mv6ItvWcTJaVJQxgoN48ahu2eQnntmcxg7VuiMOvM9lZZ-I/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047440689910826642" /></a><br /><br />As the Leafs are battling hard for a playoff spot, you could really say it was a playoff game so that might attribute to the atmosphere?? You can't get all positive comments from a Habs fan.<br /><br />I drove up from London on the day of the game after spending 2 nights with Holly, Dave and Seth. <br /><br />Dave, Seth and Holly:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKov-rigOTFRy2QNnAdNPy436ZY93BIGoqK9JwyWbHT0G7Hh4BwUYXX4Y_1gWnCStw00iqMEqs_lHp-PtFXQ6oM5P5gO8eCWaHT5-7ISYAmsywl47yscMtKnt6QnIVtNuY4i40nN7mkjK/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKov-rigOTFRy2QNnAdNPy436ZY93BIGoqK9JwyWbHT0G7Hh4BwUYXX4Y_1gWnCStw00iqMEqs_lHp-PtFXQ6oM5P5gO8eCWaHT5-7ISYAmsywl47yscMtKnt6QnIVtNuY4i40nN7mkjK/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047440668435990114" /></a><br /><br />Me and the little man:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl26IshQWu1Y3-hVzlKGVg9m2pE1d1MG2bMd5gwR8UDIPjmn5SLvPy2WljdlabF_GTSlBcwuAQsC6y0FK6818ewfkTYHzblWSxetd5Ox_Qj1_jEM-c-N9kf3ZbgAg2c59ic6faC42HaXmd/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl26IshQWu1Y3-hVzlKGVg9m2pE1d1MG2bMd5gwR8UDIPjmn5SLvPy2WljdlabF_GTSlBcwuAQsC6y0FK6818ewfkTYHzblWSxetd5Ox_Qj1_jEM-c-N9kf3ZbgAg2c59ic6faC42HaXmd/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047440681320892018" /></a><br /><br />Passed by Brantford (birthplace of the Great One):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-gYJvtoFjbFFpqmCl6zkgqOBrp1i1qvdVc8RhC22UKX9gjgZ_HiPxhMES7z9xqsttikIZPS3TWTpmhNtI66MQGOqCTMKMq9CAg9cTjybOQts5EEe3pMLoN-Cau3RMmW-w4ISMtpvYukA/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-gYJvtoFjbFFpqmCl6zkgqOBrp1i1qvdVc8RhC22UKX9gjgZ_HiPxhMES7z9xqsttikIZPS3TWTpmhNtI66MQGOqCTMKMq9CAg9cTjybOQts5EEe3pMLoN-Cau3RMmW-w4ISMtpvYukA/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047440685615859330" /></a><br /><br /><br />I caught up with Ross (Archie) and Johnny Mac for "a couple of beers" before the game - just what I needed, more beer! <br /><br />Ross, Me, John:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqJNQ1YH3qTJVdKRXmA8B24ODj2-Kmz6LwjFlrZGzZZ3rpkPzj-ZiwenqwHK7o1C3UA8UMXXT-qmewI2iJBpseUK8Lbi2ycwZM736-1fHY8I007Ky13Y-fB6sPdhpmJvvzsP6jqWQZ1fp/s1600-h/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqJNQ1YH3qTJVdKRXmA8B24ODj2-Kmz6LwjFlrZGzZZ3rpkPzj-ZiwenqwHK7o1C3UA8UMXXT-qmewI2iJBpseUK8Lbi2ycwZM736-1fHY8I007Ky13Y-fB6sPdhpmJvvzsP6jqWQZ1fp/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047441858141931186" /></a><br /><br />I stayed the night with Archie and his family in Toronto.<br /><br />The Marshalls:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPHhflo78Cr4RVeU-UXzUmmRYNgMxbdO6kHtOrJmXlaMF-9mPuzXn0Nz_UtzjVBk2z0jmUsf9era-ZfQ-X1f4mOXkoip9854jLzXS-L83HMO6yQkJ-3zIGrxm9zLDzjdyW3d5UKHNq76r/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPHhflo78Cr4RVeU-UXzUmmRYNgMxbdO6kHtOrJmXlaMF-9mPuzXn0Nz_UtzjVBk2z0jmUsf9era-ZfQ-X1f4mOXkoip9854jLzXS-L83HMO6yQkJ-3zIGrxm9zLDzjdyW3d5UKHNq76r/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047441866731865810" /></a><br /><br />Before leaving town I was able to catch up with another good friend, Heather, for breakfast and then it was on the road to Ottawa. A lot of socialising but when I think of how long the gaps have been since catching up with friends, it's always worth every minute. <br /><br />The game on Friday is a big one - Canadiens play the Senators. Go Habs Go!!!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-5043654461668431102007-03-23T23:03:00.001-05:002007-03-26T18:56:18.696-05:00Chicago Blackhawks - All For One...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLF5gS0jzPq2fxl1LM9Ha0tk0UDIGkU-exzGBsZ69-KKL7ah7-YXbJS52gAoRDD1nNZoi-JPhCpcA5Q2zcIc550HXyVc0wxKx5QFYVpwDFe0ARlhjEeLrnKbgsOM6LKAI62GTckm6BaUK/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLF5gS0jzPq2fxl1LM9Ha0tk0UDIGkU-exzGBsZ69-KKL7ah7-YXbJS52gAoRDD1nNZoi-JPhCpcA5Q2zcIc550HXyVc0wxKx5QFYVpwDFe0ARlhjEeLrnKbgsOM6LKAI62GTckm6BaUK/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046341544868657410" /></a><br /><br />It would seem the crowd that turns out for Blackhawk's games are "all for one" but they definitely need something more. Even the Kings managed to beat them at home (2 - 1) in front of a half decent sized, vocal crowd. No one really stood out but one of the highlights had to have been 3 fights and the crowd during their national anthem - where they cheered and clapped all the way through...it was hard not to get into it then. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63hqQ6X6eA2JVRdP9iGgPZJfsoC66ZChIfbnii1OEXJJQyz7sH1ar_aQ_epcsAvYZ7owtoBaFBb-cksdkotirG29iFesL7l4LGTvh2JsJbWPfQhhpE5TDueb-5Q1-Hw6Z1VMGBnbTaVm8/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63hqQ6X6eA2JVRdP9iGgPZJfsoC66ZChIfbnii1OEXJJQyz7sH1ar_aQ_epcsAvYZ7owtoBaFBb-cksdkotirG29iFesL7l4LGTvh2JsJbWPfQhhpE5TDueb-5Q1-Hw6Z1VMGBnbTaVm8/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046341549163624722" /></a><br /><br />I collected Dale and Chuck from O'Hare airport on my way down from Milwaukee on game day. The boys were in good cheer and we decided to continue that mood by heading straight to the pub for a couple of pregame beverages. United Center is huge and the beer was pretty cheap (compared other rinks I have attended). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcIvBz-Loz17tMmckTjqkkhzu5nuIeLQcqqI7cJxHZDXNF_-M0sYszJpKHQtOTeqJyAzn7CyO6xeYviC_57wwtAbGEZ2W3Y3OE_N8PWqzhx4aI5JB-ZP4cl1ZUBE0Dsahz7Kq5luBj4Z_/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcIvBz-Loz17tMmckTjqkkhzu5nuIeLQcqqI7cJxHZDXNF_-M0sYszJpKHQtOTeqJyAzn7CyO6xeYviC_57wwtAbGEZ2W3Y3OE_N8PWqzhx4aI5JB-ZP4cl1ZUBE0Dsahz7Kq5luBj4Z_/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046341553458592034" /></a><br /><br />Probably the most violent comment from a fan yet:<br />1. Take off your skate and stab him!! (You kind of had to be there to hear the fans in our section start laughing when that was shouted). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPsNaGXdddtQdhNRYBvPvIx9T05LLCCX6mPkA5KtavKv9_82MP5U-22iT0Na4mXV-UDgLbGo2CV_794Nhhrg8cD6dyuuii_oPeNmJ-mq6DU4G3VZwd_Xm2w3bq8Rmzl9IFuslGl6wvsx8/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPsNaGXdddtQdhNRYBvPvIx9T05LLCCX6mPkA5KtavKv9_82MP5U-22iT0Na4mXV-UDgLbGo2CV_794Nhhrg8cD6dyuuii_oPeNmJ-mq6DU4G3VZwd_Xm2w3bq8Rmzl9IFuslGl6wvsx8/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046341557753559346" /></a><br /><br />An executive decision was made that the guys would attempt to change their flights and we would stay on Sunday to watch a second game - Calgary was coming to town and Dale wasn't missing it for the world. I think we were all glad we stayed as Calgary won a great game, it was 16 degrees outside and for $10 tickets, we even received a free Blackhawks blanket. I guess the only downside would have to have been the 6hr drive to London (not getting in until 1am). Dale and Chuck had to purchase flights out of Hamilton on Monday - I think they were happy to getting back to their couches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug_8J2F9zamlLfVZ-Y7bcKipqlQnjb7-DJF82LaXDdGNL2LxXQ1zRNyH3HicYbFLSdaCUobp10luo3pb70KW7bLYzDLXBK4T2r-XSw4Inbqw9TizKRCFpobNkidvREut7JUP6H65kDFY9/s1600-h/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug_8J2F9zamlLfVZ-Y7bcKipqlQnjb7-DJF82LaXDdGNL2LxXQ1zRNyH3HicYbFLSdaCUobp10luo3pb70KW7bLYzDLXBK4T2r-XSw4Inbqw9TizKRCFpobNkidvREut7JUP6H65kDFY9/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046341562048526658" /></a><br /><br />I'm staying with Holly, Dave and Seth for a couple of nights and then heading to Toronto for the game Tuesday. Only 3 games left and with the playoff race in the East very tight for the last couple of places, I look forward to what should be the best games yet.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-30913509118218286112007-03-21T20:10:00.000-05:002007-03-22T10:16:21.947-05:00Me and Perdy...I'm not sure if this is being shown outside of the US, but here is an AVIS commercial that contains a conversation that, if you insert "parking near the rink" instead of "golf course near the conference", may or may not have occurred in the Rav:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AFs9_tH-IBU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AFs9_tH-IBU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-12103057438478393782007-03-16T22:09:00.000-05:002007-03-21T00:24:17.539-05:00The State of Hockey...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvFN9kS6j4jax-vtEeL9OPQK2AK72v7QNTaMhWDEB7Ijgu_-SWzBH37g8s0Z2aGNJCa7jQ9cO5Aqs24qcZ5k96-WWiCrEWBY33HvqV3PNkZY4huSxtJxwpFwsQgiOmV89gJJMfD9SxGsz/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvFN9kS6j4jax-vtEeL9OPQK2AK72v7QNTaMhWDEB7Ijgu_-SWzBH37g8s0Z2aGNJCa7jQ9cO5Aqs24qcZ5k96-WWiCrEWBY33HvqV3PNkZY4huSxtJxwpFwsQgiOmV89gJJMfD9SxGsz/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044232243479918786" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLySomnC9pO3uZ0XCU5L1rO_07-t-ceJogBdbUxBHwFIc6oDnRlttKBTRkxIeqx9zrxs92J_vZcBUZh6cVJiV3SgSHKMmNaGRCfYqrqOo-WA7h4lPRE-7ZOgyUUo7-whBf83xbocIwQX-R/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLySomnC9pO3uZ0XCU5L1rO_07-t-ceJogBdbUxBHwFIc6oDnRlttKBTRkxIeqx9zrxs92J_vZcBUZh6cVJiV3SgSHKMmNaGRCfYqrqOo-WA7h4lPRE-7ZOgyUUo7-whBf83xbocIwQX-R/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044232252069853426" /></a><br /><br />Finally, a home team gets a win. The Wild managed to hold off the Coyotes to give them a franchise record 43 games wins for a season. It was a pretty good game of hockey but not enough aggression for my liking! I thought I jinxed them as the Coyotes scored 2 goals after I had just finished telling the lady I was sitting beside how I hadn't seen a home team win in 5 games. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV1TN9ufgeg3xMxb9LHa3xkr81EC4E1V4uBplXpDM0wex9qeqZ_LY-zBnK9Wp8IopAUs2_K5w4yQNw8KfCMGhLl5dsbLMfjicf7RjAePOlQtNP-TFDHjsE6e1ux6At1Ws1_W8ifwl-5VF/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzV1TN9ufgeg3xMxb9LHa3xkr81EC4E1V4uBplXpDM0wex9qeqZ_LY-zBnK9Wp8IopAUs2_K5w4yQNw8KfCMGhLl5dsbLMfjicf7RjAePOlQtNP-TFDHjsE6e1ux6At1Ws1_W8ifwl-5VF/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044232247774886114" /></a><br /><br />It was by far the best rink I have been in - I can't really explain what set it apart. Maybe because is was so easy to get in and out of? Maybe it was all the standing room on both levels that gave it a nice open feel? Maybe it was because this was the first team that had an anthem of it's own? Maybe it was free puck everyone got after the game? The only way this rink will be topped is if I get free beer at one of the remaining games! <br /><br />Here was an interesting sign I passed in St. Paul (sorry about the reflections):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_5y-KbWFykvbTlxPxiBIGBhy4fZuKjMcqkV3o0l78or7_2BaXpr3FpuNJTKaaLmryDYi-vwW-FC3sVymcj1VJtVGGlwD1y0tMPX8WXwr0jUhaovodzpi5-4MHhasoibvqXJTvN4kmAOg/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_5y-KbWFykvbTlxPxiBIGBhy4fZuKjMcqkV3o0l78or7_2BaXpr3FpuNJTKaaLmryDYi-vwW-FC3sVymcj1VJtVGGlwD1y0tMPX8WXwr0jUhaovodzpi5-4MHhasoibvqXJTvN4kmAOg/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044232243479918802" /></a><br /><br />Well, I suppose you are sitting there, anxious to know what I had been doing up to the game tonight. Did a lot of driving, that's what, so get the maps out! The first day was pretty uneventful, I left London and drove all the way across Michigan to Muskegon...did nothing but drive...that's it!<br /><br />The most patriotic moose I have come across so far:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVKE3KkboHHx03gjAzqNNzxNwzotvChY3LXAMdo52dpqircjKNZkdl-bC593k6uxvZ3_3T_m4FjWPji1EcRGAKiDWC3cZIjWltCv6pMibfMoxV_n_H2u6lPSdxrdI0o8RxbQqBKTYg3R3/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVKE3KkboHHx03gjAzqNNzxNwzotvChY3LXAMdo52dpqircjKNZkdl-bC593k6uxvZ3_3T_m4FjWPji1EcRGAKiDWC3cZIjWltCv6pMibfMoxV_n_H2u6lPSdxrdI0o8RxbQqBKTYg3R3/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044230989349468338" /></a><br /><br />From there I drove all the way up the coast of Lake Michigan through Northport, back down to Traverse City and then back up to Petoskey...I passed the through the 45th Parallel (halfway between the Equator and the North Pole) 3 times in one day. <br /><br />I spent a couple of nights in Petoskey and went skiing for a day at Nub's Nob - where I enjoyed 2 minute lifts to the top and 15sec trips to the bottom...I reckon I got 40-50 runs in.<br /><br />Nub's Nob:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqln3CZaPUUuMoOhTQElyU9KoYqqQr3EyOEbzN1xH5DUhEifCgzw-w2XICnjY5hROAm_izM30MucfnezUF6vf2jir_Rqd59Oduhf5l94W4kTDGZ5tW5PnAwC9hRT_gvSmAz6G_y2A2YD0/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqln3CZaPUUuMoOhTQElyU9KoYqqQr3EyOEbzN1xH5DUhEifCgzw-w2XICnjY5hROAm_izM30MucfnezUF6vf2jir_Rqd59Oduhf5l94W4kTDGZ5tW5PnAwC9hRT_gvSmAz6G_y2A2YD0/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044230976464566402" /></a><br /><br />The Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Bridge (5 mile suspension bridge) linking Michigan's two peninsulas:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3a73kicnn3BtYpROEY2feUozZvD9hqUNxTEMYhIKuoJwp7CfmStVcM_ARQV3CXN7gtr-xRMF-Jla67TZeapBgb5FfvfMvlnUaUgXysqYAW559a61bWx8gxhhaTVs288RHh6kEnQYapY7/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3a73kicnn3BtYpROEY2feUozZvD9hqUNxTEMYhIKuoJwp7CfmStVcM_ARQV3CXN7gtr-xRMF-Jla67TZeapBgb5FfvfMvlnUaUgXysqYAW559a61bWx8gxhhaTVs288RHh6kEnQYapY7/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044230980759533714" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRQCue3L35ywtr4qvfARwsiKsIJbYlrzRVGyULzu9AmNZ87cr7fLK4Km77sjuC5CXa3yc8EPKKrI2IzqwgeMCISS0RDkFIrK_L1E_p40KU7a8ul62TK68SV5JsMV0HqkqiONITgDAVl3h/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRQCue3L35ywtr4qvfARwsiKsIJbYlrzRVGyULzu9AmNZ87cr7fLK4Km77sjuC5CXa3yc8EPKKrI2IzqwgeMCISS0RDkFIrK_L1E_p40KU7a8ul62TK68SV5JsMV0HqkqiONITgDAVl3h/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044230985054501026" /></a><br /><br />I then drove up through the Upper Peninsula (the U.P.) along Lake Michigan and then up to follow the Lake Superior (listened to the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald a few times) coastline to Duluth and then down to St Paul. Told you I did a lot of driving. I did manage to indulge on some $.25 beer one night along the way so I can honestly tell you one leg of the drive hurt more than any others!<br /><br />Final deer count after 3 days - 17! I was pretty happy that I didn't have to do any night driving. Next game is Chicago where some company is flying in for a couple of days...oh boy!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-75777794134481905692007-03-11T17:19:00.000-05:002007-03-15T21:26:02.582-05:00This is Hockeytown...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQICP9rTKUw4fpOpl5x6w0PE6KI4EvuAUwHgNw-tvCoDtclbEOIQPjCxSpipTxz-z_kZu4gzeIgk3tQQ2nLm6HKNeGpUX_gkribaTEpxrP1wfpbilUOfnPNNF0RAn07WxRYV_yrGVd_YU/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQICP9rTKUw4fpOpl5x6w0PE6KI4EvuAUwHgNw-tvCoDtclbEOIQPjCxSpipTxz-z_kZu4gzeIgk3tQQ2nLm6HKNeGpUX_gkribaTEpxrP1wfpbilUOfnPNNF0RAn07WxRYV_yrGVd_YU/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042338683067558514" /></a><br /><br />Oh why can't a home team win when I attend? Dang, that was the fifth loss in a row for the home teams. I was attributing to ladies being bad luck but I've got no excuse now. The Red Wings lost to the Bruins, 6 - 3. It was bad, real bad! I think everyone there was expecting the result to be completely opposite. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRonei6TMKn0zNnmnREt0f7C111E00tHe55DGGOQ-zsuldqaXMdYbVzyKHdrOpFSJZVP2J5UlLlsKYYkOe4m_R1u1iAQcOEocVNVXE1VPmyX3zRwMO64oteI08sBGc3K62maAhPEZ_XyDj/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRonei6TMKn0zNnmnREt0f7C111E00tHe55DGGOQ-zsuldqaXMdYbVzyKHdrOpFSJZVP2J5UlLlsKYYkOe4m_R1u1iAQcOEocVNVXE1VPmyX3zRwMO64oteI08sBGc3K62maAhPEZ_XyDj/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042338992305203842" /></a><br /><br />Joe Louis Arena = awesome. The history and love of hockey in Detroit was evident everywhere - from the info plaques in the concourse, to the retired numbers of some of the best hockey players ever, to the old lady sitting beside me that knew more about hockey than I did, to the 9 Stanley Cup banners that hung from the rafters. <br /><br />From Buffalo, I re-entered Canada and headed to Sarnia to stay with Darryl, Allyson, Matthew and Maeve - Darryl was the only one who wasn't sick! Darryl and some friends had some had tickets to the game but unfortunately, Darryl caught the bug and was out of commission to attend the game on Sunday. <br /><br />Darryl and Matthew: <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2ud-y5tPkL6TMaO5hzE6hk7KhnTlJrO6Jn_0AZlgULzsavHwtj2dX1_Gz1ZJOiQcd0EaorDu6_ZazPabI9B-V5ovodMZDT7uviZfigP0SaxtQ4qqMt87IUvb2MldVn7m0iZ5MEDlWxwJ/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2ud-y5tPkL6TMaO5hzE6hk7KhnTlJrO6Jn_0AZlgULzsavHwtj2dX1_Gz1ZJOiQcd0EaorDu6_ZazPabI9B-V5ovodMZDT7uviZfigP0SaxtQ4qqMt87IUvb2MldVn7m0iZ5MEDlWxwJ/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042339928608074434" /></a><br /><br />Not to worry, Allyson was kind enough to lend us her car, so Anthony, Gary, Mike and I headed to Detroit to catch the game. We left in plenty of time but the damn border crossing took over an hour and we missed the opening faceoff, as well as 3 goals and a fight! Dang!<br /><br />From Sarina I headed back to London to spend a few days with Donna and Pat and to see Steve, Kim, Luke and Jack. It was great to spend some time with relatives that I haven't seen in awhile.<br /><br />Steve, Kim, Luke and Jack:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtJ2cd0Lb3AKS6bIbS-2O52g7Oj-khoNUxGa60QDv4TCm2BS3pwe02oCmfAXPzRLllUsg78hHKUCZZa9n-IK1oXRTb1eoViUOCKZHPVT_BqS_RKfLfACnnurCrT6_g2r8NSChv4Woki4l/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtJ2cd0Lb3AKS6bIbS-2O52g7Oj-khoNUxGa60QDv4TCm2BS3pwe02oCmfAXPzRLllUsg78hHKUCZZa9n-IK1oXRTb1eoViUOCKZHPVT_BqS_RKfLfACnnurCrT6_g2r8NSChv4Woki4l/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042339396032129682" /></a><br /><br />Pat, Donna, Luke:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljVgbwzcXuO2UJSxCkvaYejClGLwbs78bl8D0oyN7cOhTH7j9NK7ThdXt9VDivzI6KKkzF9wmEMBmEpedCupJXw4QGBWpm8_hcT63gcIQvu_NfCLJ0ORhU2rOKnzIj93xYOKHS3m8hR9C/s1600-h/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljVgbwzcXuO2UJSxCkvaYejClGLwbs78bl8D0oyN7cOhTH7j9NK7ThdXt9VDivzI6KKkzF9wmEMBmEpedCupJXw4QGBWpm8_hcT63gcIQvu_NfCLJ0ORhU2rOKnzIj93xYOKHS3m8hR9C/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042339400327096994" /></a><br /><br />I was also lucky enough to spend some time with Joe and Joy (and be treated to a damn good rack of lamb followed by a birthday cake!!). <br /><br />Joy and Joe:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPjZ9uw6krC2GIh4sfN3hzHdHzj2Lcgj5nFepvZ99gT0V27xrLNB3gyMWH8KwFF4AboMzZQLkqQHoYwsZS-nqqWsKvN5JKLmdfgHRC857pB6-PrDLa8Osrn4LJpUPYGToENP447NR8FYs/s1600-h/Joe+and+Joy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPjZ9uw6krC2GIh4sfN3hzHdHzj2Lcgj5nFepvZ99gT0V27xrLNB3gyMWH8KwFF4AboMzZQLkqQHoYwsZS-nqqWsKvN5JKLmdfgHRC857pB6-PrDLa8Osrn4LJpUPYGToENP447NR8FYs/s320/Joe+and+Joy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042339404622064306" /></a><br /><br />Well, hopefully the Moore's are healthly again and I can consider myself lucky I didn't catch it as well. I'm off to my next game in St. Paul and will be taking the long way, through Northern Michigan and Wisconsin - Art was really impressed when I told him I was going to add some additional kilometres onto the Rav!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-90568203369348389082007-03-11T08:54:00.000-05:002007-03-11T17:23:27.175-05:00Do You Believe...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyi5g8c3s4QddkYC6CCUqIfFo8vBiL37uE-LFpOvX4kRg6dBZHv0UJttqwkoMxk51LN7Q6Q-pmdgu54bO8SlXBcXRmpoL8CTEXtQFpYJdT3evP73__m-grWPVuimFW1bQdzx52iWkMTLK/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyi5g8c3s4QddkYC6CCUqIfFo8vBiL37uE-LFpOvX4kRg6dBZHv0UJttqwkoMxk51LN7Q6Q-pmdgu54bO8SlXBcXRmpoL8CTEXtQFpYJdT3evP73__m-grWPVuimFW1bQdzx52iWkMTLK/s320/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040793783331187266" /></a><br /><br />I did, until Buffalo got thumped! In what I was hoping (and so was the sellout crowd) would be my first home team win in 5 games turned out to be an absolute nightmare for the Sabres. The nightmare began when the the first time the whistle was blown was a goal for the Wild - 5 minutes of play from the start without a whistle! In the end it was a 5 - 1 loss for the Sabres.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPhamgLBy8iaaxxVB1wBIgwSO9R_glVTp6IfAgyLwi9WmHXvmsXqiEL5bPxUkG5FXYegnlSXw4edFHUgI8UAz9WHZJeFQHKvTyV5I4J8xjq6xvl4GglG4xd168i7flhvbk4bwLLKs2w02/s1600-h/IMG_0043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPhamgLBy8iaaxxVB1wBIgwSO9R_glVTp6IfAgyLwi9WmHXvmsXqiEL5bPxUkG5FXYegnlSXw4edFHUgI8UAz9WHZJeFQHKvTyV5I4J8xjq6xvl4GglG4xd168i7flhvbk4bwLLKs2w02/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040793791921121890" /></a><br /><br />Both teams are fast...especially Gaborik, who is very (insert expletive) fast. For those geographically challenged, Buffalo is very close to the Canadian border so I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised to see Labbatt for sale in the pub before the game but I was surprised that they sang both the Canadian and American national anthems before the game even though there was no Canadian team playing. I am told that since the Maple Leafs games are corporate events, a lot of Canadians purchase season tickets to the Sabres or come over for the games. You could tell, it was hockey, hockey, hockey...and a lot of booing and frustration when the Sabres were getting over run.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxe4AgCq3ztu4YIe9KkNQI7A5FGgwO4lYMr9HH2DpCxI_Sud52a71VIVFLKUO6-kIondMop51FdxAK6V_B8N_MEoAkVAJwLenFWk5kblqacbXQFY3_PO_D5BawKCLNTCrRkj4-wc3M_JT/s1600-h/IMG_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxe4AgCq3ztu4YIe9KkNQI7A5FGgwO4lYMr9HH2DpCxI_Sud52a71VIVFLKUO6-kIondMop51FdxAK6V_B8N_MEoAkVAJwLenFWk5kblqacbXQFY3_PO_D5BawKCLNTCrRkj4-wc3M_JT/s320/IMG_0036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040793787626154578" /></a><br /><br />Vicki travelled to Buffalo (her home town) with me so I was put up by her family friends just outside the city. Getting to meet some local Buffaloians (not sure if that is right or not??) was great. Quote of the day would have to have been when I asked her Dad what the main industry is in Buffalo and he responded,"Nothing." A comment that seemed to be true as we entered the city on the subway and I noticed how many shops were closed down in downtown of the city. Seems like Buffalo is or has been going through a rough time. <br /><br />View of mountains and tower in New Paltz: <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-951eamllxuGGKv7cjAMpLWm1uml0i7GD5TQnJXZ3m8k4jjAROU85KVoC_QfGNN6fYqWhZRurkyxRy8GeA4skRZSNM0_sWboYNI3NaFJi2TiLScaNcy4PrP8Oky0iwDVhNkPy23IZRvvn/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-951eamllxuGGKv7cjAMpLWm1uml0i7GD5TQnJXZ3m8k4jjAROU85KVoC_QfGNN6fYqWhZRurkyxRy8GeA4skRZSNM0_sWboYNI3NaFJi2TiLScaNcy4PrP8Oky0iwDVhNkPy23IZRvvn/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040793770446285346" /></a><br /><br />Enough of the depressing stats...here's something more positive - Buffalo Wings but not in Buffalo as they are only referred to as Wings and I managed to squeeze 2 lbs into my belly before the game!! I was also, forced, to eat a Ted's World Famous Charcoaled Broiled Hot Dog before I left town - I submitted more easily than you would think! I also HAD to take a Roast Beef sandwich on Kimmelweck with me - it was fantastic and would warrant another stop in Buffalo just to get another one!<br /><br />For all you bird lovers, here's a Cardinal that I saw in New Paltz:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6fUy-O2HCIoySWNRyFN5mRr78H1S9NgPpZPbXBhTfMmPtvHpi20ELDc9Rt8mHypkvkKv6zljVA8UkEffvIOuUBAxtjaN8eTtpq3JtD20CEIa3NguXq7WZOkPtKYaGWs0hlLdTiiZGgut/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6fUy-O2HCIoySWNRyFN5mRr78H1S9NgPpZPbXBhTfMmPtvHpi20ELDc9Rt8mHypkvkKv6zljVA8UkEffvIOuUBAxtjaN8eTtpq3JtD20CEIa3NguXq7WZOkPtKYaGWs0hlLdTiiZGgut/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040793774741252658" /></a>Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-51632730283320359262007-03-07T16:56:00.001-05:002007-03-07T21:30:22.293-05:00The Hub of Hockey...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34LRjUilZp27ZtR6UdVPtJgwaHnHTbhLdXljUCLbteiWFUmeQxWGceYZf3YOEu0QXhopW1ngk0lxximkr-wkIOIye336hW04VUEnOZ6aDOf7vv807yNmkB1QdcdTcJMA4l8099LpEvQ5W/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34LRjUilZp27ZtR6UdVPtJgwaHnHTbhLdXljUCLbteiWFUmeQxWGceYZf3YOEu0QXhopW1ngk0lxximkr-wkIOIye336hW04VUEnOZ6aDOf7vv807yNmkB1QdcdTcJMA4l8099LpEvQ5W/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039369373532934962" /></a><br /><br />So it wasn't the most exciting game of hockey I've seen to date - Boston didn't deserve to win and they didn't, losing 2 - 0 to Colorado (they didn't play much better). Tim Thomas (Boston goalie) played awesome though and I got to see another Nova Scotia native play - Glen Murray (and Joey MacDonald got traded to the Bruins but didn't get the start). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1pVSeWSsDk4QhKhmjVHoPDnIJE_a4cJZmNKj4_ONC0tywEfoF1bso3o8_Qdpdctwe9_PCPBPvfbpScwBSpKPJ6HVNbH_om2Fusxu_nLMzwCaZj7UMI-fkqZW2y8KYpuPfOrrx4j54DBV/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1pVSeWSsDk4QhKhmjVHoPDnIJE_a4cJZmNKj4_ONC0tywEfoF1bso3o8_Qdpdctwe9_PCPBPvfbpScwBSpKPJ6HVNbH_om2Fusxu_nLMzwCaZj7UMI-fkqZW2y8KYpuPfOrrx4j54DBV/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039369377827902274" /></a><br /><br />TD Northbank Garden is pretty easy to get to as it sits on top of the train lines (the new Garden is right beside the old Garden). I would have taken more photos but it was the colder than cold last night and I think the camera battery froze quicker than my bare hands. It wasn't so awesome waiting on the open air train platforms!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y4khgR7I3eQ08x1BcIJDx_sI3WkGRvUQlktHoNSbA9Y8VJLYFUUb8EubRGM_9mcVGjuZHZ7HZYlVIUw-Y8j94RuBvdrcWOlehzBIamc0YS8TrSV1wv0Cd86WnmJEY4ERq1V90kRZV4Ts/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y4khgR7I3eQ08x1BcIJDx_sI3WkGRvUQlktHoNSbA9Y8VJLYFUUb8EubRGM_9mcVGjuZHZ7HZYlVIUw-Y8j94RuBvdrcWOlehzBIamc0YS8TrSV1wv0Cd86WnmJEY4ERq1V90kRZV4Ts/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039369382122869586" /></a><br /><br />Boston clam chowder (didn't have any!). I travelled to Boston on game day and since I have decided not to pay any more tolls, the trip took 5.5 hours instead of 3.5 hours. It was a better drive as I travelled through the hills of Vermont and some tidy towns along the way. Plus, what would I have done if I arrived early. I've been to Boston before so I didn't need to play tourist. I would take more pictures but find it a bit dangerous when I'm driving to get the camera out and start snapping away...I'll give it try but you you might not get anymore posts!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQeek7VZChcYBUcDmW6WVpoyHJhq0HMJkNQg_5uEvZE4s6zwaQ-uU8j98QjiDuVcEBCuvkC118WGviYiRnUgTwQO6RkMvp8Mi7u7MbuYl8TD_wO5KT1EoWWfXV3rp5WoAlXDC8bjrIPy7/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQeek7VZChcYBUcDmW6WVpoyHJhq0HMJkNQg_5uEvZE4s6zwaQ-uU8j98QjiDuVcEBCuvkC118WGviYiRnUgTwQO6RkMvp8Mi7u7MbuYl8TD_wO5KT1EoWWfXV3rp5WoAlXDC8bjrIPy7/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039369386417836898" /></a><br /><br />I left Boston today and the completed a round trip back into NY - through Connecticut and no tolls...took a scenic route through Amherst, MA. I was talking to Dale and he convinced me it was nice and it was but never again!! Oh, there was a slight emergency on the return trip as I endured a very long stretch of highway with no services and a lot of traffic so it almost came down to a certain type of jug (Note: for the exact name of the jug, refer to what Ray (Ricky's dad from Trailer Park Boys) would have used when he was driving the big rigs.)Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-70028586684198753602007-03-03T00:40:00.000-05:002007-04-05T06:24:12.414-05:00Jersey turnpike traffic nightmare...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu4G-LSylFeZwkyX6CViq6XZfiHbEKLv5BQoSdz6qHFFIan2rcwdgnlhe_pu-tcFfl9cw3KiEFJ_HvxVQPUxjD8zEroTseAaQ29Ovcwl7k8_yCiSAkDSG47S4P_5sv2ve6ygvehed9WEk/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu4G-LSylFeZwkyX6CViq6XZfiHbEKLv5BQoSdz6qHFFIan2rcwdgnlhe_pu-tcFfl9cw3KiEFJ_HvxVQPUxjD8zEroTseAaQ29Ovcwl7k8_yCiSAkDSG47S4P_5sv2ve6ygvehed9WEk/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037571250466914962" /></a><br />New Jersey was not the most pleasant rink to get to and maybe even the worst place to drive around but when you are going to watch someone from the County, it always going to be worth it. Whitey got us sweet tickets and we were treated to a great game but like the night before the home team (Devils) lost in a shootout to those pesky Leafs: 4 -3. Colin had an assist on their 2nd goal and dished out some great hits but the Devils blew a 2 goal lead when the Leafs lifted their game after one of their players was stretchered off the ice. <br /><br />Colin had a fantastic hit on Sundin - here is the link to nhl.com to see it (select the 'Hits' tab when the page opens):<br /><a href="http://www.nhl.com/video/app?page=GameHighlights&service=page&gid=968>id=2&season=20062007&media=/20062007/02/0968/IH_NHL_2006_2007_968_2_700K_continuous.wmv"> <br /> Devils - Leafs Highlights <br /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqC94o0ZJZyYWHkzTsm2w8c61AgJ-8-QZ22cTmpEgSPEYyAiup7OV0cjYvoAIg1N3KrHjob0R9nUCBV3oBW-cSHC1jegsHS5fgiEvFT5faS0o0q2O9EMhnWV4K_p-pZmoa4jry8Bd-9fA/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqC94o0ZJZyYWHkzTsm2w8c61AgJ-8-QZ22cTmpEgSPEYyAiup7OV0cjYvoAIg1N3KrHjob0R9nUCBV3oBW-cSHC1jegsHS5fgiEvFT5faS0o0q2O9EMhnWV4K_p-pZmoa4jry8Bd-9fA/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037571254761882274" /></a><br /><br />Vicki drove down to meet us for the game, only took her 4.5 hours to drive 100 miles...the last 2 miles took her 2 hrs. See what I mean about traffic!! It was Laura's second shootout in as many games (not a good luck charm for the home teams though!). <br /><br />If I look a bit stunned in this photo it's due to the quick snap by the person sitting in front of us. No "smile" or "ready", just bang! and the photo was over!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFj_HM2YpHoDsoyY5DvgCwtIR3lkB_q-hqACalIfj39Wfcq6d4ZtGa0EZAv78VyDEvKKWpJbyi5tPcun7QLZuBZl_ddG6ZrarXbofYCM-DPypuqAqsAdcxyvw9mhmDN6PAVUXK_J6QEc7/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFj_HM2YpHoDsoyY5DvgCwtIR3lkB_q-hqACalIfj39Wfcq6d4ZtGa0EZAv78VyDEvKKWpJbyi5tPcun7QLZuBZl_ddG6ZrarXbofYCM-DPypuqAqsAdcxyvw9mhmDN6PAVUXK_J6QEc7/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037571512459920050" /></a><br /><br />Colin left some "back stage passes" (as Laura liked to call them) for us so we were able to have a chat with him after the game. It always nice to get a feel for what the game was like for the players.<br /><br />Laura, Colin and I after the game:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsHZwQijY2pnv_qTiBAXHURWF3ZtjAMFxe2IjFEa4QYEdF5GdZmL4lp4LZa6dlnNZPiyCqXrpLy_l1MONgJ7fI5_EkSobSJZ5B9k_bqEN8c42ikjbjFwI_WBvkEP90DFsOOlfpMuy1B-d/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsHZwQijY2pnv_qTiBAXHURWF3ZtjAMFxe2IjFEa4QYEdF5GdZmL4lp4LZa6dlnNZPiyCqXrpLy_l1MONgJ7fI5_EkSobSJZ5B9k_bqEN8c42ikjbjFwI_WBvkEP90DFsOOlfpMuy1B-d/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037571512459920066" /></a><br /><br />I'm back staying/free loading at Vicki's until the Bruins game on March 6th. I can't believe that I only have 8 games left! Oh about March 6th, a special day for one of the previous members of the trip (hint: he was also the oldest member of the trip!!).Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-68743373315643116952007-03-02T11:16:00.001-05:002007-03-02T12:07:57.261-05:00I'm just saying...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmHaH_iStBtMMT9-pnQSFH_y1cjkmm9M7n-zeiljaIv79iOWvxYicO4Qf9_vSjvipsQgJEz7hSa_gBHFJjvLIxNDlSZV2ac7nK4E2dpU5E5XoQVw0egCp9L1PiPL2XvQ1hPsSvxCqzabm/s1600-h/IMG_0066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmHaH_iStBtMMT9-pnQSFH_y1cjkmm9M7n-zeiljaIv79iOWvxYicO4Qf9_vSjvipsQgJEz7hSa_gBHFJjvLIxNDlSZV2ac7nK4E2dpU5E5XoQVw0egCp9L1PiPL2XvQ1hPsSvxCqzabm/s320/IMG_0066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037371981164249666" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi5aqlHxjrhwjcmYst0atmZ3pZQefCP8TJ-QAVMbkHYjlOH2DX6JK-nFunJQr8TkRjHXMzCFqQhVV0bmqAVYR5XJxBgNPZYiUsOS89WFCgSgHniHer1-xEhLoIuGRtEs23qJ_EZZXC-Wj/s1600-h/IMG_0067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi5aqlHxjrhwjcmYst0atmZ3pZQefCP8TJ-QAVMbkHYjlOH2DX6JK-nFunJQr8TkRjHXMzCFqQhVV0bmqAVYR5XJxBgNPZYiUsOS89WFCgSgHniHer1-xEhLoIuGRtEs23qJ_EZZXC-Wj/s320/IMG_0067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037371989754184274" /></a><br /><br />This could possible be the greatest city in the world! That's based on the fact that everything in the city is the best/greatest/most famous in the world. Best detectives in the world, most famous arena in the world... Speaking of arenas..Madison Square Gardens isn't all that nice. It's pretty old and I'd have to say way behind the standard for quality sporting venues (compared to the other rinks I've been in). Besides that New Yorkers love their hockey and the love to hate any other team or opposing player. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOefW4CQ4MpJAl6Kcc3NINRRBFE_Us6GGTBUMj_w0LkNSpvLEIFFyL63JPIHfMd-Ak7WBMja0EcWNlAccOwZUv99wiqKBWw-hexzq3rhYHXYX7WF_b871tUcHxZFd2xuSGtBOfHWSKFtP/s1600-h/IMG_0071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOefW4CQ4MpJAl6Kcc3NINRRBFE_Us6GGTBUMj_w0LkNSpvLEIFFyL63JPIHfMd-Ak7WBMja0EcWNlAccOwZUv99wiqKBWw-hexzq3rhYHXYX7WF_b871tUcHxZFd2xuSGtBOfHWSKFtP/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037371994049151586" /></a><br /><br />Laura and Heather were treated to overtime and a shootout and what an anti climax when the home team loses in the shootout. Sid the Kid scored the only goal in the shootout and the Penguins won 4 - 3. It was a pretty slow game until the 2nd and it looked like the Rangers were going to run away with it until the Pens scored 2 shorthanded goals and the tied it up again in the 3rd to force overtime. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBF6zF6ZHFD9xUSjrRpCa_FB4vveD3Q_8kRZhWjUJoJg7FN1gKJZnkwHDwckUFJeLIjE1kvo0cT8ltZfNOsZP4A7aFeCIOiioQqtLUGst2Rv-V_wF56am13Udza3zdFUNoyPpQDqbRuLs/s1600-h/IMG_0078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBF6zF6ZHFD9xUSjrRpCa_FB4vveD3Q_8kRZhWjUJoJg7FN1gKJZnkwHDwckUFJeLIjE1kvo0cT8ltZfNOsZP4A7aFeCIOiioQqtLUGst2Rv-V_wF56am13Udza3zdFUNoyPpQDqbRuLs/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037372286106927730" /></a><br /><br />The fans were vocal and we had one dude sitting near us that treated everyone with some great shouts (albiet, pretty harsh) at Crosby:<br />1. "Crosby, you little cry baby prick."<br />2. "Yo Sidney, DIE."<br /><br />Everytime Crosby touched the puck they wanted to see him get levelled...he took plenty, gave some back and then really didn't endear himself to the New York crowd when he scored in the shootout. I was cheering for the Rangers but was silently happy for the Nova Scotian boy to silence the crowd. Oh, this was the first game that I've watched in the company of women...can't have quite the hockey conversations as with the guys but they were pretty keen and were dissapointed that they're weren't any fights! <br /><br />Empire State Building:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv4gcLCDQRyCrD-SJj_e1L159Ftmksdq1W6K4AdOIbCM1a8-SKhKFSCpiftNXXF2XcG726-7TIqfnr0qISOuQq7f9hU8hCpJi8DYifnsR2_Z0LhPy0peLtXRcjt4wO0JhTUbqocM-Nz1P/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv4gcLCDQRyCrD-SJj_e1L159Ftmksdq1W6K4AdOIbCM1a8-SKhKFSCpiftNXXF2XcG726-7TIqfnr0qISOuQq7f9hU8hCpJi8DYifnsR2_Z0LhPy0peLtXRcjt4wO0JhTUbqocM-Nz1P/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037370563825041906" /></a><br /><br />I've realised that a couple of days in Manhattan are just not enough. We're staying in Times Square and dang, there is just sooo much to take in and do. <br /><br />Chrysler Building near Bryant Park:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc3f8DuMXN8wz5ceZersq4NnsQmmwbdpyvXOXYx5h5I8yam_rmEGHS-Hq1GYUoceSDamN-JZ6Xm4GxOsL9bxKtctXVFgmR3KPa_hmHfClRym9BLSbIaGuwqjt-nJBgl-NX7Ex4S4quQQ5/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc3f8DuMXN8wz5ceZersq4NnsQmmwbdpyvXOXYx5h5I8yam_rmEGHS-Hq1GYUoceSDamN-JZ6Xm4GxOsL9bxKtctXVFgmR3KPa_hmHfClRym9BLSbIaGuwqjt-nJBgl-NX7Ex4S4quQQ5/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037370555235107298" /></a><br /><br />I arrived 5 hours before Heather and Laura on Wednesday so I wandered around trying not to look too much like a tourist and then spent a few hours in MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) - it was warm and there were places to sit!! <br /><br />Central Station/Chrysler Building:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeUXKlUhco4ILdNmcu1xmwG-bByhq3KK-0fq5HHmhOvKi25Mi44lTMbgYQ9oM1D3DBhl6EMbYZiKc1kuFlDBP4KpiwO-19QF3hC5JdxYAnPevIIa6mPIixuqQfxh_cZlUt6g3sMLtUfpu/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeUXKlUhco4ILdNmcu1xmwG-bByhq3KK-0fq5HHmhOvKi25Mi44lTMbgYQ9oM1D3DBhl6EMbYZiKc1kuFlDBP4KpiwO-19QF3hC5JdxYAnPevIIa6mPIixuqQfxh_cZlUt6g3sMLtUfpu/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037370572414976514" /></a><br /><br />Times Square (at night):<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuunFdTkqajJ78aOb0dVycoYKQVFdQrzyXfIJNQGtNVVDYIevxb-m49ZFkwU1XNoO1K3t8XVlpNoJ_0ZdhWhf1PXJnEP7QPCKz9sGBuk9cPZiHgXu42NsYvaV7ukGGc2QsJx50kqsh1Pt/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuunFdTkqajJ78aOb0dVycoYKQVFdQrzyXfIJNQGtNVVDYIevxb-m49ZFkwU1XNoO1K3t8XVlpNoJ_0ZdhWhf1PXJnEP7QPCKz9sGBuk9cPZiHgXu42NsYvaV7ukGGc2QsJx50kqsh1Pt/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037370907422425618" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfPNhgwOVJdWhDgSt2Qy7ZYTq4_qyT9Qyb3RX4oT0-U1UFARsrto_ETFxDtCBpnR7pD2XOGjH3cZnjR5RyfqVrR0BDa9XcpkuBzu6dYz4wU6pQm0Kv8UBmTXLeyBKliluPXmzLtZPu2xJ/s1600-h/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfPNhgwOVJdWhDgSt2Qy7ZYTq4_qyT9Qyb3RX4oT0-U1UFARsrto_ETFxDtCBpnR7pD2XOGjH3cZnjR5RyfqVrR0BDa9XcpkuBzu6dYz4wU6pQm0Kv8UBmTXLeyBKliluPXmzLtZPu2xJ/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037370916012360226" /></a><br /><br />On Thursday, someone had a great idea to take a tour bus around the city (who came up the idea is not very clear as it was decided over a few ales at a Scottish pub the night before) and that's exactly what we did. It didn't start off too great when the ticket hawkers started to fight with each other over the commission they were supposed to get for our tickets and after having paid, they refused to hand a ticket over to Heather. The bus was waiting, supervisors were called in, at least 6 ticket guys were yelling at each other but all was settled when Laura stepped in and, with an ever rising voice, demanded the ticket be handed over!! With all the mayhem going on around us, the tour guide calmly looks at me and says, "Welcome to New York City." <br /><br />After the game:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P2yWHXmg0GpyX5rFX6N5ZKQd5H2MZAD21-0_m2QpkjxJ7QjK-LERzjNNb_GrBdBsM7Uu3pcXXHBd1hsAcxHt71HPYk1vCImNmSMCeSmM3YU-qoQWjseEhVjbp009fdbgRR-ew-JMLAzq/s1600-h/IMG_0084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9P2yWHXmg0GpyX5rFX6N5ZKQd5H2MZAD21-0_m2QpkjxJ7QjK-LERzjNNb_GrBdBsM7Uu3pcXXHBd1hsAcxHt71HPYk1vCImNmSMCeSmM3YU-qoQWjseEhVjbp009fdbgRR-ew-JMLAzq/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037372290401895042" /></a><br /><br />The Devils are the next game on the list and I'm really looking forward to seeing Colin play. Back to back games are hard on the head!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-25248913952794146622007-02-27T23:20:00.000-05:002007-02-28T00:42:19.495-05:00We're all Islanders...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-GX-YYs98xYV_G2SlCbncdBW6mUKnNtfMEOO1etORhvfl00vXbibqEWi3NfCtfkHcgOXyQHtMt4UI1ZA_o0J411t8aJpHnbSIfumJO86VOXAfFEUS_OK2Bm5mdYCKujFGsiKmBbFyJ7Z/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-GX-YYs98xYV_G2SlCbncdBW6mUKnNtfMEOO1etORhvfl00vXbibqEWi3NfCtfkHcgOXyQHtMt4UI1ZA_o0J411t8aJpHnbSIfumJO86VOXAfFEUS_OK2Bm5mdYCKujFGsiKmBbFyJ7Z/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036450011993137874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CxSAI0Hl-A_cHPdmaqAdTeMfp5xMo8BoGAkuzA-ybcahD7cV8xaCOrRVUcDDGWBmgGATM7Zuob5QrtwGW7zDBvPBE_ufRRNU2QEftG7fWoWIhgm05DprBu6lvVJk5b6M11wrFWyGpW1j/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CxSAI0Hl-A_cHPdmaqAdTeMfp5xMo8BoGAkuzA-ybcahD7cV8xaCOrRVUcDDGWBmgGATM7Zuob5QrtwGW7zDBvPBE_ufRRNU2QEftG7fWoWIhgm05DprBu6lvVJk5b6M11wrFWyGpW1j/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036454611903111938" /></a><br /><br />What a day and what a night! The hockey game was a beauty - Islander's won in overtime, beating the Flyers 6 - 5 after successfully blowing a 4 - 1 lead. Witnessed the first hatrick of the trip and saw 2 fantastic fights (back to back). The only downside would have been the first intermission entertainment, which consisted of figure skating. Let me just say, figure skating has no place as hockey intermission entertainment. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLKrgEe9jinh4szt_AkJ2exUUSGT7KVT8pj8P9cSWzK1hRuBsgQL4lY-yIB0kf6JGcbWz0b5YNKyegRDi9X54lAlDDhVVfJLnGV9F0cZiifMB5wtJutjjfFE3eZ9-p3fDo89D6uGErplw/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLKrgEe9jinh4szt_AkJ2exUUSGT7KVT8pj8P9cSWzK1hRuBsgQL4lY-yIB0kf6JGcbWz0b5YNKyegRDi9X54lAlDDhVVfJLnGV9F0cZiifMB5wtJutjjfFE3eZ9-p3fDo89D6uGErplw/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036450535979148018" /></a><br /><br />They also had a karaoke competition and I loved the fact that didn't show any Flyers highlights when they showed the 'game so far' highlights. A small home crowd was in attendance but they didn't stop jeering and cheering all night and I had a good laugh when they started to boo their team when the Flyers tied it up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7egLJnZ6SXzXPHTN7T02M5fY19gVJIksx8t965uFiREfmFVsRVK-n6b4dyY9vsee4m4uTxxigvtn7Bs-JLz2A_mWDSpBUQYLcovz5_fVlffje7yr38ZFlRSOWz3rQzt9t2inEHvgIZy2/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7egLJnZ6SXzXPHTN7T02M5fY19gVJIksx8t965uFiREfmFVsRVK-n6b4dyY9vsee4m4uTxxigvtn7Bs-JLz2A_mWDSpBUQYLcovz5_fVlffje7yr38ZFlRSOWz3rQzt9t2inEHvgIZy2/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036450535979148002" /></a><br /><br />I guess I was just happy to be at the game. How's this for great planning:<br /><br />I decided to walk to the rink tonight from the hotel and thought I had it all worked out, except, I ended up walking 45 minutes then stopping at a pharmacy only to be told I was about 2 miles in the wrong direction. I started out again but it was dark, the game started in 50 minutes and I was sweating so I stopped at a beauty salon and had someone call me a taxi. Bloody $20 cab ride (maybe 5 minutes in the cab) and I was at the rink. I was a bit disappointed in myself but felt much better when I started talking to the family (of 5) that was sitting beside me. They were Swedes who had decided to come to NYC and bought tickets specifically to see Forsberg...a week after they purchased everthing, Forsberg gets traded! I know how they feel, he got traded a few games before I was due to see the Flyers and I don't see the Predators again. Dang! <br /><br />The RAV has been left behind for my 5 day tour of Long Island and NYC. Don't worry, it's safe - my friend Vicki, who lives northwest of NYC, put me up for a couple of days and was kind enough to watch over it until I get back there on Saturday. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEJUsz3XfevtDafrXTIBp7-ZGmcOeHxMnIQqST6SJlepxHzi8Q0G_monYKorIm-QBnTTxjyOWlm5VwzN2XREA0HIVvWdXGt7_bfj_1M1oPnuKVsmurNUCDtl_26DGTDBsinkrt-rIiBx2/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEJUsz3XfevtDafrXTIBp7-ZGmcOeHxMnIQqST6SJlepxHzi8Q0G_monYKorIm-QBnTTxjyOWlm5VwzN2XREA0HIVvWdXGt7_bfj_1M1oPnuKVsmurNUCDtl_26DGTDBsinkrt-rIiBx2/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036450003403203250" /></a><br /><br />I am now taking advantage of the public transport and had great fun with it today. An hour and a half train into Central Station, transfer to Penn Station, another hour on a train and then a cab ride all just to get to the hotel on Long Island! <br /><br />Central Station (not a great photo, maybe next time):<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFC54KjpRf30hIjAFG8iVsLXNnkjd28-pMtbRdrReipiCygDYhm73UhC5Xnt9ybOqVuTtcULi0aLfxsdQKp1Bb8OULKmdt63nuYX_uylID89SNIq6uPDIlBKqSWTD-yExmr1VW4Sr-WDgO/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFC54KjpRf30hIjAFG8iVsLXNnkjd28-pMtbRdrReipiCygDYhm73UhC5Xnt9ybOqVuTtcULi0aLfxsdQKp1Bb8OULKmdt63nuYX_uylID89SNIq6uPDIlBKqSWTD-yExmr1VW4Sr-WDgO/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036450007698170562" /></a><br /><br />I'm heading back into NYC tomorrow - 2 more friends, Heather and Laura, are flying in to meet me for a few days. Can't wait to wander the streets and take it all in.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-60256963713285725252007-02-24T22:44:00.000-05:002007-02-24T23:43:19.019-05:00It means more here...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyoJu5uLXcKYOvLEYFTUKYVTUJF1MtwRvKvRs6yexDAcNH4HjOYt907B3pEAV4keOD2I19XyynR7qA3JMUF6s6l6J7CaZSr-ND_1aZpJ41qIwTIVxvsgzSQZVaRoId9U-zwlRUkP9rBLv/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyoJu5uLXcKYOvLEYFTUKYVTUJF1MtwRvKvRs6yexDAcNH4HjOYt907B3pEAV4keOD2I19XyynR7qA3JMUF6s6l6J7CaZSr-ND_1aZpJ41qIwTIVxvsgzSQZVaRoId9U-zwlRUkP9rBLv/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035320046595277826" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxs3F2nkNlwkosiHEXCEVLU4xjVaIpXntZpAFeCJ8yGsuBCxBKkKXz_g_Wbf8qteGEL4ypgAwKeJrFoWHXkP4nmzmG4hM-QKSdXhvTey3qDAvN4FaexULpcnxl1WCWz0W_hZxnVCjA_Sl/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxs3F2nkNlwkosiHEXCEVLU4xjVaIpXntZpAFeCJ8yGsuBCxBKkKXz_g_Wbf8qteGEL4ypgAwKeJrFoWHXkP4nmzmG4hM-QKSdXhvTey3qDAvN4FaexULpcnxl1WCWz0W_hZxnVCjA_Sl/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035320038005343218" /></a><br /><br />I was tossing up between that title (which I saw a few places around the arena) or Mmmmm..Philly Cheese Steak (damn they're good!). So the Flyers lost to the Leafs 5 - 2. The Leafs looked pretty good...what am I saying. I mean the Flyers just played bad!! Great rink, great fans and boy do they hate to lose - they targeted one Flyer defenseman in particular (anyone want to guess who it was??).<br /><br />Centre ice seats but only one row from the top:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOPIkv4RuHS_SqHJNURskdxh5fWwbrx30HANhTVRUaRt_B3PKCQjM_BckYmVKpvjm91-QuuM3Ul4udQ-OfgDNfYAODXMEKtDA3NJ0UYztPoPruDA6vHw9NahW1XXROJWDktRxdvd8tlqz/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOPIkv4RuHS_SqHJNURskdxh5fWwbrx30HANhTVRUaRt_B3PKCQjM_BckYmVKpvjm91-QuuM3Ul4udQ-OfgDNfYAODXMEKtDA3NJ0UYztPoPruDA6vHw9NahW1XXROJWDktRxdvd8tlqz/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035326755334194226" /></a><br /><br />Since Mark and Ed departed, I have been down and out with a cold but I managed to drag my sorry butt out of the hotel room to have a look around Philadelphia today and I was glad I did. After not enough researching, I hopped in the car and drove to the rink, parked there and took the train downtown. Got off at City Hall:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tt7dz74ZpKo1Gvwb_8WBEH5Ah52ORToFGkSBpbZWUl9G6Qr0JR7hpibbFAduYFsHMkqtRrMaav21bpHpOkuilA8RiFOoZZzsdg4rBAl1AeB-m_P4RFTj0e3z7upJguVKFy_djk2MX1rf/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tt7dz74ZpKo1Gvwb_8WBEH5Ah52ORToFGkSBpbZWUl9G6Qr0JR7hpibbFAduYFsHMkqtRrMaav21bpHpOkuilA8RiFOoZZzsdg4rBAl1AeB-m_P4RFTj0e3z7upJguVKFy_djk2MX1rf/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035324616440480802" /></a><br /><br />and then commenced to wander...first in circles as I had no idea where I wanted to go, then I remembered the Liberty Bell and worked my way in that direction. <br /><br />I walked around for a few hours - down Market St into the Old City and a brief visit at the Independence Visitor Center. I was going to see the Liberty Bell but there was a massive queue and as I have no patience, I just kept on walking. What's the big deal about a bell with a crack anyway?? Only kidding - check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bell for more information.<br /><br />Some old building??:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEnm6rGM4rHMHZA2un7LpMdncTrOneJHsQ8nCpAa6m2VHkvSu__M5DwPis3MbCtrB9qwf-666GHa8IOcmFKhYuTVFQxfovT7znQMlfJ_BkRtCEnWbgmU2b6MPlSSVjXHksEY5Ykebw5Z1/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEnm6rGM4rHMHZA2un7LpMdncTrOneJHsQ8nCpAa6m2VHkvSu__M5DwPis3MbCtrB9qwf-666GHa8IOcmFKhYuTVFQxfovT7znQMlfJ_BkRtCEnWbgmU2b6MPlSSVjXHksEY5Ykebw5Z1/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035324612145513490" /></a><br /><br />Off to New York tomorrow - if I can make it into and out of Philly alive, bring on the Big Apple!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-79735788652008697982007-02-22T14:31:00.000-05:002007-02-22T17:54:50.649-05:00Capital City hockey..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5b9VcMNhFBDRoqY3mbilIigwSoHXN2J6LLy06IEUAnOvScMUd1ttQse5g8FUrCh-QAYy3Qg6xxZPqAMYXIqNqvNKjZxc8utSXKD9ekkMWkc859i9vv_gvb5NPX5xbi1WXvKi0Ik5mZ__/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5b9VcMNhFBDRoqY3mbilIigwSoHXN2J6LLy06IEUAnOvScMUd1ttQse5g8FUrCh-QAYy3Qg6xxZPqAMYXIqNqvNKjZxc8utSXKD9ekkMWkc859i9vv_gvb5NPX5xbi1WXvKi0Ik5mZ__/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034489820827026306" /></a><br /><br />For a team that is struggling to get fans in the stands, the crowd last night was small in numbers but loud in voice. A great atmosphere and a great end to end game of hockey. Unfortunately for the Caps, they blew a 2 goals to none lead to lose 3 - 2 in a shootout. I think Mark and Ed were happy to see the shootout but it would have been better if the home team had won it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z_VEkf5_SElCBQAu3lK0iTB9tPcWavOHP7CNFm1HDD7MbZxnkanOStjrm12rK1bMnJL68V5WsA74jLREUU75P2E-V1SzncOj5f67cvWSu2LWgPO2TfcOqe3OwGKZwP9_DjDRZvqTf65d/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z_VEkf5_SElCBQAu3lK0iTB9tPcWavOHP7CNFm1HDD7MbZxnkanOStjrm12rK1bMnJL68V5WsA74jLREUU75P2E-V1SzncOj5f67cvWSu2LWgPO2TfcOqe3OwGKZwP9_DjDRZvqTf65d/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034490632575845282" /></a><br /><br />As it was the lads last night on the trip we decided to hang around after the game for a few beers and a farewell eat fest. The rink in Washington is right downtown and built into other office buildings...you wouldn't really know it was there and it doesn't look like a rink from the street. The good thing is that the train (metro) takes you right there and there are also plenty of shops, pubs, resturants close by.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaVzCPvLcQOYHk_FX2l_H-UVpvKyd7EcKM3xFTcckUuja6jDVsloe-6lJUOwBqUbHeg7xJNrRfIdNWaP_eT-nepWvTmPc8Sf9_T_BUhDmRkB115NLL5ThJk_H2d7tdU-yryLjAi9rMFir/s1600-h/DSC00048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaVzCPvLcQOYHk_FX2l_H-UVpvKyd7EcKM3xFTcckUuja6jDVsloe-6lJUOwBqUbHeg7xJNrRfIdNWaP_eT-nepWvTmPc8Sf9_T_BUhDmRkB115NLL5ThJk_H2d7tdU-yryLjAi9rMFir/s320/DSC00048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034490628280877970" /></a><br /><br />The trip to Washington was pretty good...we got some good advice from a fella in Pittsburgh to stop at a ski resort on the way to break up the days before the game last night. We stayed in Seven Springs, right on the slopes but for some reason we didn't make it out skiiing??? Those guys are a bad influence on me!!<br /><br />Once we figured out where we were:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJpZqmvzB7umm3z_omvQXc7TwFpcyf7vbBrUH4aKblbwSaY2mG1J0-h-vnyl16SOuIbsU7V-7LlxcA2YbPXkqkoWgcpUZk_PsWBIi1C3JWbq4ljrbFICw4ifS9CNs1i7ci9tZxZeaLCyv/s1600-h/DSC00030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJpZqmvzB7umm3z_omvQXc7TwFpcyf7vbBrUH4aKblbwSaY2mG1J0-h-vnyl16SOuIbsU7V-7LlxcA2YbPXkqkoWgcpUZk_PsWBIi1C3JWbq4ljrbFICw4ifS9CNs1i7ci9tZxZeaLCyv/s320/DSC00030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034492913203479506" /></a><br /><br />Game day was spent touring around Washington...nice city and of course we took in all the well known monuments and sights:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4dq0h8uOBRJ3Ais9OeRkEv7L_N7_ZQe2PxFLc8rA70axUsB0LgaDyAJQc4Pu4cb4WsCxMxCbdwvnBcrPBUNU7a9dZfKgrusCeN78sEhCjE5Vvkbq_XTMGr6_p8lDEQ1p3wBjRIxBP9m1/s1600-h/DSC00036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4dq0h8uOBRJ3Ais9OeRkEv7L_N7_ZQe2PxFLc8rA70axUsB0LgaDyAJQc4Pu4cb4WsCxMxCbdwvnBcrPBUNU7a9dZfKgrusCeN78sEhCjE5Vvkbq_XTMGr6_p8lDEQ1p3wBjRIxBP9m1/s320/DSC00036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034492561016161202" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAxND2RAEmyKDZHB7U4SIQQqri-BbPvWjJVzj8mmZEjVZQsM4uTG-Ha2IZ53_Ibn7WhgUQyjy00LLbIOPaB63ZjhIUZACJjstrHx-LeWZ-V-zDqyiRedUu1deFxDO_schrZB4pjT2aNut/s1600-h/DSC00039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAxND2RAEmyKDZHB7U4SIQQqri-BbPvWjJVzj8mmZEjVZQsM4uTG-Ha2IZ53_Ibn7WhgUQyjy00LLbIOPaB63ZjhIUZACJjstrHx-LeWZ-V-zDqyiRedUu1deFxDO_schrZB4pjT2aNut/s320/DSC00039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034492569606095810" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2m8VeFc90G753NePUE_UTxxUx3fnxzM8S31WTj3EWsYNotncONXgdzgr9QilCtke7zWLenoFrMe9O36G5XUbBmd5LYVbxXJ7rrM81ItvfJd3wbQU9ZjzROGLOXlKbeAZvEBdqUcDUHN9/s1600-h/DSC00034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2m8VeFc90G753NePUE_UTxxUx3fnxzM8S31WTj3EWsYNotncONXgdzgr9QilCtke7zWLenoFrMe9O36G5XUbBmd5LYVbxXJ7rrM81ItvfJd3wbQU9ZjzROGLOXlKbeAZvEBdqUcDUHN9/s320/DSC00034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034493883866088418" /></a><br /><br />Had a lot of laughs and a great time with Mark and Ed...I'm not sure how much they enjoyed the flight home but I know I enjoyed the sleep in!! Now for some more lonely time before hitting New York.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-23404985196037099602007-02-19T03:17:00.000-05:002007-02-19T11:10:32.223-05:00We definitley experienced the evolution...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq-bwM_IkJWL-G3PHrDyO2MugaJIPbOv8F0GWvcilvo9n_UZA4Ep92vYJDoKVKzSU4L758xweP-Mwvyrd4H4B_ztGz-Hfs4gBoxws4l3lrenhgCib2EHTNcBCH9FKEPziOgXiljWQc_Ox/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxq-bwM_IkJWL-G3PHrDyO2MugaJIPbOv8F0GWvcilvo9n_UZA4Ep92vYJDoKVKzSU4L758xweP-Mwvyrd4H4B_ztGz-Hfs4gBoxws4l3lrenhgCib2EHTNcBCH9FKEPziOgXiljWQc_Ox/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033166747561558754" /></a><br /><br />Man oh man, Sid the Kid is the show about town. We also saw the best goal of the trip so far, Malkin ripped a shot from near the goal line, bottom of the circle into the top corner...the direhard Penguin's fan that I was sitting beside was loving it. Penguins 3 - 2, and it was never a contest for the Pens. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzezhVD7UVtXe00FE_TzZjYZdBZCQtAPBSyTzmy5nvI4lL5hIxCqdpPs2USf-AMzM8clNLxtuv4DqSgOIjMI-v9SFMtqOoHodWGoOfqWlvrL_vfhXE7DSc2fVMt73tKU-8qiQFldjYKcru/s1600-h/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzezhVD7UVtXe00FE_TzZjYZdBZCQtAPBSyTzmy5nvI4lL5hIxCqdpPs2USf-AMzM8clNLxtuv4DqSgOIjMI-v9SFMtqOoHodWGoOfqWlvrL_vfhXE7DSc2fVMt73tKU-8qiQFldjYKcru/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033169062548931362" /></a><br /><br />It's all "Experience the Evolution"...which we all hope they get to realise, there's no doubt in their minds that the Penguins are here to stay:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqhxgax6PlCfceUs81hO56TRosIEBL7l5xr8bd6Cb0HVzfRiHcBD3vuMoerywcqTE28zjSyWFkb2qysV6jEYZ56n2XvezJg3AsrkPdX9a1YqU_ZiKGtYzY0aJ-yBXG5WHoOzXV8KHoM3k/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqhxgax6PlCfceUs81hO56TRosIEBL7l5xr8bd6Cb0HVzfRiHcBD3vuMoerywcqTE28zjSyWFkb2qysV6jEYZ56n2XvezJg3AsrkPdX9a1YqU_ZiKGtYzY0aJ-yBXG5WHoOzXV8KHoM3k/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033165536380781250" /></a><br /><br />Here's a stat - Penguins haven't lost in regular time since Jan 10th! Oh boy, Staal, Malkin, Crosby, Whitney, Armstrong, Talbot..Recchi...the list goes on and on...definitley the most exciting team to watch. Here's the 4th line:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDrA-XnBTENXY7Vz58zzpbUpJs6FrhQixyjKGlaxn2rJTc94jAjJTeCCbVaY6n3L2mtpuIAbr966TtQxSf4ph9cbIHYomkRHa1XP5KFTH2ohVm8pnU3Pj4wJnbIdx3qJZQC-63eSaZoB1/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDrA-XnBTENXY7Vz58zzpbUpJs6FrhQixyjKGlaxn2rJTc94jAjJTeCCbVaY6n3L2mtpuIAbr966TtQxSf4ph9cbIHYomkRHa1XP5KFTH2ohVm8pnU3Pj4wJnbIdx3qJZQC-63eSaZoB1/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033173881502237522" /></a><br /><br />Perhaps I am caught in the Penguins fever but dang, they are soooo fun to watch! Ovechin worked hard but he needs a lot more support!!<br /><br />Now what do I have to say about Pittsburgh, or as I have politely heard it termed...Shittsburgh! That's pretty rough, I reckon! This city has been great to Ed, Mark and I since we arrived and besides the fact that there is nowhere to get a breakfast on Sunday morning it turned out to be an awesome hockey town. <br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_3S0jIzWtPVA/RdlmfHO3AtI/AAAAAAAAWE/lxvrpj_3D6M/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitJo_wJUb7UV5RF4gBtlCSP1ppcdEdjGnm3iQTz9fSi1vwEJxDK5t25jj19kftSqN98I9_6FSa373kC4vJuuzOiZR6Oh7NTpynodFNkaL8-XpKIPEYncxfIyczwDRBP8yp6sgYRLtH6pm/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033166743266591442" /></a><br /><br />Mario the Magnificient stilll rules the hockey world here and we met soooo many hockey fans...it's great to talk hockey with fans that love the game. Keep in mind that Ed's conculsion of the city is that everything is old!! If you drive into this city from the airport or from Columbus, you drive through a tunnel that shoots you out right onto a bridge across the river into town...not bad!<br /><br />Wonderful scenic trip from Columbus to Pittsburgh:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSC8SkP8RUI-ilbnDqadxjJZs_0CGzNW0294YVgeDWuzQj0vwOh7FSg-hTOcUtupqPvi1wzbSooLoGhgLU6AKMY5cf8RZbkDhKJkVND9LfOEPq3KnERmrmiGJ7jsDVTUcW3lZWH5ElQaj/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSC8SkP8RUI-ilbnDqadxjJZs_0CGzNW0294YVgeDWuzQj0vwOh7FSg-hTOcUtupqPvi1wzbSooLoGhgLU6AKMY5cf8RZbkDhKJkVND9LfOEPq3KnERmrmiGJ7jsDVTUcW3lZWH5ElQaj/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033277471818449778" /></a>Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-24762055348519327502007-02-16T23:12:00.000-05:002007-02-17T00:08:02.554-05:00First shutout...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUiF1wx2uVGyzw9GmhWbrpGoMH4lOqXTOLMwoZOWu2BHUv9olDNjqWd5xpZcVSR4NJ9Y-Dm-Xu2aP8h6v9ay5o_A9Rhjc6pxnwzeBncf3454Ctva2MMPDunE7qwiJ4tx_QALhYVbGiNjC/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUiF1wx2uVGyzw9GmhWbrpGoMH4lOqXTOLMwoZOWu2BHUv9olDNjqWd5xpZcVSR4NJ9Y-Dm-Xu2aP8h6v9ay5o_A9Rhjc6pxnwzeBncf3454Ctva2MMPDunE7qwiJ4tx_QALhYVbGiNjC/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032362849942831762" /></a><br /><br />Had to put the first photo in of the guys standing by the truck staring at the ice they were supposed to be breaking up, but here is one that does them justice!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvskRPVJFOkUYLK6Hgjx0zDHSxc6wZpoTgOMccGCo4fdZ3v1RQs8kwnmMX86iPNbAXrK5tug_caq_L5sNX2cnRPpDKKwzzK5VaLPBhTE0g3eYufyP3J30QQ99EI9Mv7wrO2piBHYHDk_b/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvskRPVJFOkUYLK6Hgjx0zDHSxc6wZpoTgOMccGCo4fdZ3v1RQs8kwnmMX86iPNbAXrK5tug_caq_L5sNX2cnRPpDKKwzzK5VaLPBhTE0g3eYufyP3J30QQ99EI9Mv7wrO2piBHYHDk_b/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032363567202370226" /></a><br /><br />Well this was the first game that I had to sit through on my own and I'm glad no one else had to suffer with me. I shouldn't be that harsh but it was quieter than the Panthers game until the Columbus scored their first goal in the 2nd period. They get big crowds though so I'll assume if they were in a position to make the playoffs the fans would have been a lot more excitable (or if they were playing a closer rival). The end result was a win for the Blue Jackets 3 - 0, which as the title alludes, is the first shutout in 16 games. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRLY1Qz9KbI__nzb_F0Zdo5BvvHFdAEvjkLdPkJ2C59WOcmkgUw-Ys423QzhKlt7iPCpzCqMgOT4_Hc0TWGqnGLT7Re7DhwJm0R7CynAnwUZMpbdiaM2YhTYLCoNdcTniDJ0IL9o3d_rw/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRLY1Qz9KbI__nzb_F0Zdo5BvvHFdAEvjkLdPkJ2C59WOcmkgUw-Ys423QzhKlt7iPCpzCqMgOT4_Hc0TWGqnGLT7Re7DhwJm0R7CynAnwUZMpbdiaM2YhTYLCoNdcTniDJ0IL9o3d_rw/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032362854237799074" /></a><br /><br />As not much has been going on since I left Greensboro (beisdes enjoying the silence!!) but here is somthing terrifying that happened to me. I went for the traditional 1st intermission beer and was asked for id (not uncommon in the US). I presented my Australian driver's licence and was informed that unless I could produce an American or Canadian licence then I couldn't buy beer. So I asked, "Could I use my passport as proof of age?" and the dude says,"Nope, only Canadian or American driver's licenses are allowed." Whaaa??? Anyway, in the interest of not meeting my newly established goal to have a beer in every rink, I walked down to the next vendor, handed them my id, and got myself a beer. Phew...<br /><br />Metting up with Mark and Ed in Pittsburgh tomottow so get ready for some good tales. Oh, check out Brad's comment on the "Half way there" post - pretty good for an Aussie!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-60493512701543835662007-02-12T09:57:00.000-05:002007-02-16T23:55:18.612-05:00Half way there...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjfrzzRlNwgZM-gTHxia7OuN36us_m94WpoKk3BaYI4Q33kcu35GRI4gqqXHtxWinT_BAPNeNc57ZQkhRWAYRW3eQJ_m5vcvH2O8sKzFhJdi8XJdpVbomMUjvz7TrawcJ_3dyO6GAhST9/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031261852256371234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjfrzzRlNwgZM-gTHxia7OuN36us_m94WpoKk3BaYI4Q33kcu35GRI4gqqXHtxWinT_BAPNeNc57ZQkhRWAYRW3eQJ_m5vcvH2O8sKzFhJdi8XJdpVbomMUjvz7TrawcJ_3dyO6GAhST9/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So after a five day layover in sunny Greensboro we finally got to watch the Hurricanes. They won (2 - 1 over the Kings), in what I thought, was a hard hitting, fast paced game of hockey. Some disagreed, some don't remember!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc6ecHkNXZ5s3XUuRGpP9yMr6EvNp5IsngM-kpF3g2Wezh_8xyFZnjVjSnO20ePbJUUCc807W_lqwakULDMCIVMYNtcUjyJksCSH9IXoK4Z9W-lqGEdDVY30FxxEFZSXZvOxA9xEIGvWq/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031261856551338546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc6ecHkNXZ5s3XUuRGpP9yMr6EvNp5IsngM-kpF3g2Wezh_8xyFZnjVjSnO20ePbJUUCc807W_lqwakULDMCIVMYNtcUjyJksCSH9IXoK4Z9W-lqGEdDVY30FxxEFZSXZvOxA9xEIGvWq/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jason organised a big crew for the Hurricane's game - Robbie, Chad, Josh, Eric, Pat, Art, James, and I all journeyed the hour to Raleigh and were going to set up for a tailgate party prior to the game. Tailgate party never happened as it was pouring rain so we headed to a local pub to pass the time.<br /><br />Here are all the lads, prior to the game in Greensboro:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie80ZNmXq2wE9bhGzY5BUQ2hsXZUqnHyM1taljr_MA2qbWYmc_Kg0SuFDxQzV0cHKrw7nKlGjwB2PjtBuv8b1iD-yHfzqtMWOsHz0h9bDC-N2k8UCUM6l8BYShv9rTNfzwCb41JJxsLZIl/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031262505091400258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie80ZNmXq2wE9bhGzY5BUQ2hsXZUqnHyM1taljr_MA2qbWYmc_Kg0SuFDxQzV0cHKrw7nKlGjwB2PjtBuv8b1iD-yHfzqtMWOsHz0h9bDC-N2k8UCUM6l8BYShv9rTNfzwCb41JJxsLZIl/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here are all the lads, prior to the game in Raleigh (see any differences):<br />**If this video doesn't work, try to copy and paste this into your address bar:<br />http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1002481161264682205<br /><br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-1002481161264682205&hl=en" quality="best" bgcolor="#ffffff" scale="noScale" salign="TL" FlashVars="playerMode=embedded"> </embed><br /><br />Steaks for dinner, fire on the deck, a trip to Pinehurst and a round of golf (not at Pinehurst!) all highlighted a great stay in Greensboro with Jason, Missy and Riley. Throw in some great local beers, live music and a trip to Biscuitville and it gets even better!<br /><br />Had a few friends over for a fire and beers on Saturday:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5KT54yuXtl10jwnG2OTVyIa8hzQcvrfZ_xDQ1UKgqHKHmggqk_pnkcLoDfzzXZxn8Njv01eiDPk3VSXpXhvkyHxVcV_IFsL6HQOJx19OMI_MqZ0P0zkFQeVyrfoHzBEhEkUYXW582hXF/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031263402739565138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5KT54yuXtl10jwnG2OTVyIa8hzQcvrfZ_xDQ1UKgqHKHmggqk_pnkcLoDfzzXZxn8Njv01eiDPk3VSXpXhvkyHxVcV_IFsL6HQOJx19OMI_MqZ0P0zkFQeVyrfoHzBEhEkUYXW582hXF/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Treated to a trip to Pinehurst on Sunday:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3rhy9OjfNCHhZFUfA3bRterOtjJUxraIaI2AUrat_x487JuYJ1gJ6eTFRR6fKjoBvuoF0nsCRXDt8udc8jQY5uQden1SxTm85geh3RZ2IQ0Tzq3tHyIilIvl6zBTxzFiukOfOxs4905m/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031263402739565154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3rhy9OjfNCHhZFUfA3bRterOtjJUxraIaI2AUrat_x487JuYJ1gJ6eTFRR6fKjoBvuoF0nsCRXDt8udc8jQY5uQden1SxTm85geh3RZ2IQ0Tzq3tHyIilIvl6zBTxzFiukOfOxs4905m/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dinner at Harper's on Monday:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi364ONvDMKfsgpSv4G5WlBRAlghjSCmPr9IQykIdyBUPdJQd_6u_TJ0U4BwJLMKgDoYR2IwRf8yDvXQh-wWhj22AHAijoOtQpZhyurdJQCd8Azw7xuE-p4_cKNws11SdsJ9jlhBzzqpIx9/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031263407034532466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi364ONvDMKfsgpSv4G5WlBRAlghjSCmPr9IQykIdyBUPdJQd_6u_TJ0U4BwJLMKgDoYR2IwRf8yDvXQh-wWhj22AHAijoOtQpZhyurdJQCd8Azw7xuE-p4_cKNws11SdsJ9jlhBzzqpIx9/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Game day attire (check out Jason going old school):<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypvmb_uyh2Lx_meoznBaKyWnqdOt-UuAZxnT3tH0iUUToH3e6D_ZbpHadTAcKPsiphQmggjNDqpKpbgIA2eHo9ar8TV4B1NIq4GRKgeuTOsmi8ZuJfYB-0cEFpfwhNdB9AcbCjHXuTk24/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypvmb_uyh2Lx_meoznBaKyWnqdOt-UuAZxnT3tH0iUUToH3e6D_ZbpHadTAcKPsiphQmggjNDqpKpbgIA2eHo9ar8TV4B1NIq4GRKgeuTOsmi8ZuJfYB-0cEFpfwhNdB9AcbCjHXuTk24/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031263961085313666" /></a><br /><br />Art and James flew out from Raleigh on Wednesday and I now continue on the trip, solo, for the first time. I'll miss you Tubs and Lard Ass. The chirping and constant bickering won't be missed though!! James saw 5 games in all and I'm sure he would have loved to watch a lot more. Art's final stats: 14 games, approx. 22,000km, 23 states and provinces visited all completed in 48 days. What an awesome Road Dog!!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-14607923812539002132007-02-09T02:53:00.000-05:002007-02-09T04:40:07.180-05:00Fang Fingers...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL2mmCXEk1qaW_reexKi-i_NPhDhGieGK6vdkgZUEb2b-qe88FjgnwaqH7ayIFo8JGYmVXEETQ8NUpDAjdDgF6NayGsYaCIDVlySuUhprA97Tk3cA-OjqKEJ81ZXUWMRNJFikf4jFfM-h/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL2mmCXEk1qaW_reexKi-i_NPhDhGieGK6vdkgZUEb2b-qe88FjgnwaqH7ayIFo8JGYmVXEETQ8NUpDAjdDgF6NayGsYaCIDVlySuUhprA97Tk3cA-OjqKEJ81ZXUWMRNJFikf4jFfM-h/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029458017531658722" /></a><br /><br />We sang Oh Canada for the first time since San Jose and were treated to a wonderful display of the Predators beating the Leafs: 4 - 2. As I am a Canadiens fan, watching the Leafs lose is one of life's great pleasures. I feel for you Park.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA21D5P1p3Nyy_-EKv-QhHnVHEYWETAEbIh0MuB2hWlUwU37uD4ZGtxjG3Fk126YE51Tmu8dA7XX7y0kuTkZIca2RtjQrxowd2W7ThB4Rt8jCVCrPRKUwyuiObZXL01HzmaJJlZOhM36fk/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA21D5P1p3Nyy_-EKv-QhHnVHEYWETAEbIh0MuB2hWlUwU37uD4ZGtxjG3Fk126YE51Tmu8dA7XX7y0kuTkZIca2RtjQrxowd2W7ThB4Rt8jCVCrPRKUwyuiObZXL01HzmaJJlZOhM36fk/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029460491432821266" /></a><br /><br />If you were around when I was in San Jose, I wrote about the Shark Attack...well, the title to this blog is what the fans do when the Preds go "ON THE POWERPLAY!!!" You can take what you want from "fang fingers" but I'd have to say that it looked like most people were more embarrassed that proud to "fang" it up!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8loq6drupImVjfiv0A8AP6RNVz8NDvNN8cGAVN8xs7Y1YeJnafQXBA75mprny_nQe2IQCiE7giawSRIj4MnRD-ZEC208uH8u6FiqWt0GIVEv1vYm-5qwTa4_mqMNt3iuZWhwl3h2lSGR/s1600-h/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8loq6drupImVjfiv0A8AP6RNVz8NDvNN8cGAVN8xs7Y1YeJnafQXBA75mprny_nQe2IQCiE7giawSRIj4MnRD-ZEC208uH8u6FiqWt0GIVEv1vYm-5qwTa4_mqMNt3iuZWhwl3h2lSGR/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029458605942178290" /></a><br /><br />After the poor display by the old guys on Wednesday night (you have to visit Tootsies when you visit Nashville), Doug was given the ultimatium by Karla to "not show his age" on game night and he didn't disappoint. There is so much going on around the Gaylord Entertaiment Center that we had to enjoy a couple of beers after the game while listening to the live music that never seems to stop. <br /><br />James and Doug...if only they were really that sexy:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Uay_Tkeha3e3yY02DrVNE50c5jhCbZQuTQJ881SEqfP2e3kVY0zpyfTcXGUZH0v5gSskG-DaBppsvhTRxkkZ7HZEpIeHopsqtO1ARFdQ_FM8NGCiSwBpPhkjIafdyREnwJmWIvPN1JFz/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Uay_Tkeha3e3yY02DrVNE50c5jhCbZQuTQJ881SEqfP2e3kVY0zpyfTcXGUZH0v5gSskG-DaBppsvhTRxkkZ7HZEpIeHopsqtO1ARFdQ_FM8NGCiSwBpPhkjIafdyREnwJmWIvPN1JFz/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029458769150935554" /></a><br /><br />The Ryman Auditorium (or the Grand Ole Oprey). For the Neil Young fans, this is where the Heart of Gold concert was recorded...definitley a huge highlight of my trip:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98QwRo-aqXT0LDhBqB_bREzUaS9aILfPrB5BztPqoCg7PiXCF2bnAB4A9TIxCqD6RLeOXMLmAKrIrkT7FuwNLlXUcP3QLTU46GssOCVAC3MqTPqlFJITJucGYBkMbM-HR2FIfE_AP_Md8/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98QwRo-aqXT0LDhBqB_bREzUaS9aILfPrB5BztPqoCg7PiXCF2bnAB4A9TIxCqD6RLeOXMLmAKrIrkT7FuwNLlXUcP3QLTU46GssOCVAC3MqTPqlFJITJucGYBkMbM-HR2FIfE_AP_Md8/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029458013236691410" /></a><br /><br />Doug is heading back to Upper C tomorrow and the rest of us start the road trip to Greensboro. I've been trying to convince Doug to carry on with us but it seems he has to go...responsibilities really tie you down. Art and James only have one game left and then I'll be travelling on my own for a time. Hopefully the Blogs don't get wierd as I slowly go crazy after too much time alone!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-15966550029294388622007-02-07T01:07:00.000-05:002007-02-07T18:14:16.073-05:00Welcome to Blueland...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo_fgSwf8G1gJflbJlS8ZEliGvf8-WdIHcYy7RCiM_mTE1ztdjVPYvcicH1faM8yElPw2p-8Qcf_1ea2jQGGDbVzKkgDOOM1qRMtA9te54rEAKkrYf-dPs08bkpW7bw-YyMlG6IXls2rJ/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo_fgSwf8G1gJflbJlS8ZEliGvf8-WdIHcYy7RCiM_mTE1ztdjVPYvcicH1faM8yElPw2p-8Qcf_1ea2jQGGDbVzKkgDOOM1qRMtA9te54rEAKkrYf-dPs08bkpW7bw-YyMlG6IXls2rJ/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028926817111312082" /></a><br /><br />So it was down Peachtree St onto Peachtree Circle and then over to Peachtree...blah blah blah. Apparently, there are peaches in Georgia?? What the hell am I going on about...<br /><br />Anyways...What can be said about the game in Atlanta? This was the first rink that had all seats on one side and ends and had all corporate boxes on the other side. Pretty nice place and the JD's were fantastic. Getting to watch Simmer play was great and it made the game that much more excting when he was on the ice. He scored the go ahead goal in the 2nd but some late penalties allow Buffalo to lead 3-2 going into the 3rd. All 3 of Buffalo's goals were on the powerplay. Unfortunatley for us and the Thrashers they lost 4 - 3 in a shootout. More shootouts than fights, dang! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnf4iMs5I6Fl6A94yjqQs7sDb4t3C3R8dLBLQyKic1tx0XsIPC5SyOlFlDhsfjaKXkChtv8_cEgcguJ4iU7ugIBqBk2VsLpusFx821U68chSplnQVt5SZRL18ifw723owL_6Zax-UPI6k/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnf4iMs5I6Fl6A94yjqQs7sDb4t3C3R8dLBLQyKic1tx0XsIPC5SyOlFlDhsfjaKXkChtv8_cEgcguJ4iU7ugIBqBk2VsLpusFx821U68chSplnQVt5SZRL18ifw723owL_6Zax-UPI6k/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028926817111312098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr4urhG1MfQl3ANrYhpSI-IfPPcK9aGoLA1cdwO3Ba_NkJOZDDKlPYIoI4-5_1YwCOsUrnZV7fJHMYk1G7CjJc9R3IsBc3gFP-ahZJPC2vGuEw2JY5Hotd2ZvwZG21_xr2V3-ApJavsJW/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr4urhG1MfQl3ANrYhpSI-IfPPcK9aGoLA1cdwO3Ba_NkJOZDDKlPYIoI4-5_1YwCOsUrnZV7fJHMYk1G7CjJc9R3IsBc3gFP-ahZJPC2vGuEw2JY5Hotd2ZvwZG21_xr2V3-ApJavsJW/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028926821406279410" /></a><br /><br />James, Art and I took a look through the Georgia Aquarium before the game and I'd have to say it was very impressive. Those cute little otters, Art and James couldn't get enough of them. <br /><br />Doug joined us for the game and will be coming to Nashvlle. We picked him up before the game and got to enjoy a few beers at our own tail gate party in the rink parking lot as we waited for the gates to open. <br /><br />Jon and Marla have been fanstastic to put us up, feed us and to organise the tickets for the game...more of that Nova Scotia hopitality, which just can't be beat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkb_HMtjCpqwEjt4b2bSEHeR4UsQ8Yqc9OmNh5baLtHROQmBPqA_0pPVNcTT50P3GaZsPpSzDS4_3mLF4kS1_GHRFx_rGkQOIm28swuORU8xvnoum1EEkVcV9i58iUNg69lPWNZzGRgu3/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkb_HMtjCpqwEjt4b2bSEHeR4UsQ8Yqc9OmNh5baLtHROQmBPqA_0pPVNcTT50P3GaZsPpSzDS4_3mLF4kS1_GHRFx_rGkQOIm28swuORU8xvnoum1EEkVcV9i58iUNg69lPWNZzGRgu3/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028930240200247058" /></a><br /><br />Hit the Jack Daniels distillery* today - bet you didn't know that the distillery is in a dry county. I'm thinking they tell you that so they don't have to deal with the nightmare of people getting loaded on free samples. <br /><br />Mr Daniels:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjP1uw7YSudSNw7Wy7qNpLFa6pwSm03NcVBirsP2DlYhVUoTdZPNI6S56XTp8L1YkDHNjFJ5QGVvhW_MNzbBu8TcpRRgxhrHFj7h7ao_PUc_pC7xpR4hrEcF8zmjzOb5IpUSvJnO2J6Ux/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjP1uw7YSudSNw7Wy7qNpLFa6pwSm03NcVBirsP2DlYhVUoTdZPNI6S56XTp8L1YkDHNjFJ5QGVvhW_MNzbBu8TcpRRgxhrHFj7h7ao_PUc_pC7xpR4hrEcF8zmjzOb5IpUSvJnO2J6Ux/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028930244495214370" /></a><br /><br />Mmmm...whiskey:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquReXUQoevLT7zJQAMwX8XlQRjQo-qkTbOQ1guWB0lUdeCk_mqoPqqW03_PsKMUZgwMnLKG73DbTH8odqfPkRgsivbULOA69ZWlAMRZe7mPZgMrKebtXuwyp3yQhxXIFRUMbHCQLdY-4V/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquReXUQoevLT7zJQAMwX8XlQRjQo-qkTbOQ1guWB0lUdeCk_mqoPqqW03_PsKMUZgwMnLKG73DbTH8odqfPkRgsivbULOA69ZWlAMRZe7mPZgMrKebtXuwyp3yQhxXIFRUMbHCQLdY-4V/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028930248790181682" /></a><br /><br />*Free TourChris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-51838335946108535212007-02-04T14:42:00.000-05:002007-02-04T15:21:29.645-05:00Hockey Bay, USA...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSWVI3f8dJcoagAExGTzUGR5u6uo5Zytf3dkScAcnWugOXdJ_xoowcBiHpUaA-innpb_lbkezVkIPF4lb0Z2IhySmA7F7Qc7S6dDMwQioukEBs7aYoSATWbDDJhWhggujVmSEw0fCT0a-/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSWVI3f8dJcoagAExGTzUGR5u6uo5Zytf3dkScAcnWugOXdJ_xoowcBiHpUaA-innpb_lbkezVkIPF4lb0Z2IhySmA7F7Qc7S6dDMwQioukEBs7aYoSATWbDDJhWhggujVmSEw0fCT0a-/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027767257545770626" /></a><br /><br />So it’s Hockey Bay, USA (that's Tampa Bay's slogan not mine and pretty clever I thought). Let me tell you, what a difference from the Panthers game. The crowd was rambunctious (they gave out the blow up plastic tubes that you bang together and the majority were loving it), they seemed to know what was going on and they won a close game against the Rangers 3 – 2. It got a double C&T thumbs up! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-gfihUW3vdv2RvP0utStsz09CL4NmxCc_ya1KBYQ2CxUUC-uqjjoK2AWnqPH3_qjKdqu6SmoE8svLj-aYR5g3gbO8wCOC8R_Vi_cICH8NP4plEvOzqId5RyYjGn0BdIVV5qakgrXzQ-Y/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-gfihUW3vdv2RvP0utStsz09CL4NmxCc_ya1KBYQ2CxUUC-uqjjoK2AWnqPH3_qjKdqu6SmoE8svLj-aYR5g3gbO8wCOC8R_Vi_cICH8NP4plEvOzqId5RyYjGn0BdIVV5qakgrXzQ-Y/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027769963375167170" /></a><br /><br />It was the first rink we have been to where there was live music and bars set up outside the entrance before and after the game…a great atmosphere. Something that I would like to point out at this stage of the trip is the image that hockey has of being all fighting and violence. Please take note of the Road Trip Stats and you will see that we have hardly seen a fight. What the hell! Trust me, I'm just as disappointed as the rest of you! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV1oa8poi-8gs-_AV0jwwWuDe8MMuQ-SS_JOiLlK6SSgd2lqZ1sGMAcRSuMIaSBW7aS_q3fqVsiSh3AALP0rsqGvyYKLxRfEtCfZHgwiUXT3by0dB6GaIFCkGFRvj91nDbaiJhBK7vHzN/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV1oa8poi-8gs-_AV0jwwWuDe8MMuQ-SS_JOiLlK6SSgd2lqZ1sGMAcRSuMIaSBW7aS_q3fqVsiSh3AALP0rsqGvyYKLxRfEtCfZHgwiUXT3by0dB6GaIFCkGFRvj91nDbaiJhBK7vHzN/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027767261840737938" /></a><br /><br />We have been staying with Kendall and Arlene in Sarasota for the last couple of days. Sarasota - where the not so young meet the sea. It’s been nice to have a few days to not drive for 5 hours to 8 hours!! Of course, that all begins again on Monday! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZnRqpY0LMUErRsEbQwGmlO5p9OnHbbydQOyNH7Q2mWzgrZ02-fzdjcJwoJEff_8I9h2hJJaylG6U8xznhzuK63UBm_taSKY69Yd79Pq_1I7qoel6xOnfTwY9LinLehp-ve1nXQ5veaNW/s1600-h/Kendall_Arlene+place.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZnRqpY0LMUErRsEbQwGmlO5p9OnHbbydQOyNH7Q2mWzgrZ02-fzdjcJwoJEff_8I9h2hJJaylG6U8xznhzuK63UBm_taSKY69Yd79Pq_1I7qoel6xOnfTwY9LinLehp-ve1nXQ5veaNW/s320/Kendall_Arlene+place.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027769353489811122" /></a><br /><br />I suppose our southern tour is over and we’re off to Atlanta to visit Jon, Marla and Landon. We also pick up James and Doug. James is with us for Atlanta, Nashville and Carolina. A formal request was made to the trip executive for Doug to join the tour for the Atlanta and Nashville games...a unanimous decision was reached, in his favour! Art and I aren't entirely sure if it's the hockey Doug wants to see or the chance to see Dolly in Nashville??? I'm pretty sure we'll also be taking a side trip to the Jack Daniel’s distillery...look out! <br /><br />Finally someone else to talk to besides Art!Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-48554159453505053912007-02-02T00:01:00.000-05:002007-02-02T09:12:51.097-05:00Hockey in Florida...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYiaf5xV7K1FnjtxywNHHRfQfpUOcTFb9oHkoQPj3JCP_OrUCkOgKNTZSaH2rc9ZvYApN2MH3OlF3iZP1CTKOYaY7b76uUj_kpqJ-XPR8rj6lajJJ7NrVTfrnhk3MdaqxMsUqdyxY-wTX/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYiaf5xV7K1FnjtxywNHHRfQfpUOcTFb9oHkoQPj3JCP_OrUCkOgKNTZSaH2rc9ZvYApN2MH3OlF3iZP1CTKOYaY7b76uUj_kpqJ-XPR8rj6lajJJ7NrVTfrnhk3MdaqxMsUqdyxY-wTX/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026801418185147890" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtwGCZqMVWT2qU6_x5yamyT3cQ7zCsD5YvVu-xl1g6WJiJGQGDjVUo_br9e3rL22YcQuQ8NJspmrOGYAh5NNhxBh1Vyt5svgM2Dko2jvMmGza-HwbchMK_G8dcRwRHPPnjQkuupXTW89U/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtwGCZqMVWT2qU6_x5yamyT3cQ7zCsD5YvVu-xl1g6WJiJGQGDjVUo_br9e3rL22YcQuQ8NJspmrOGYAh5NNhxBh1Vyt5svgM2Dko2jvMmGza-HwbchMK_G8dcRwRHPPnjQkuupXTW89U/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026801929286256146" /></a><br /><br />So it's been awhile since I last sent out a post and I hopefully I don't bore you with all the details of the long drives that were endured between St. Louis to Miami. We watched the Panthers beat the heck out of the Capitals tonight. 6 - 3 was the final result and it wasn't much of a game. Maybe it was the lack lustre, silent crowd or the fact that it was 80 F outside the rink that made it feel so different than most of the other games we've seen. Got to see Ovechkin play for the first time - whoo hoo!!! Definitely the hottest game to date...people we going in wearing shorts and I bet they froze their "first time watching hockey" butts off. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvw1HxfJ8qp_8BO09KhFm5moEWEcNoXFf0RHKDLco9iIE-MckPQ5oPx-69WUIy2FrPwLsVj5S_u2v5BGUbxu0D3fOq5k8Ycw9BIlfGRP4vpW1ngjqxuhGnZftgU-LEfCBrpzHwNCWgbo3/s1600-h/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvw1HxfJ8qp_8BO09KhFm5moEWEcNoXFf0RHKDLco9iIE-MckPQ5oPx-69WUIy2FrPwLsVj5S_u2v5BGUbxu0D3fOq5k8Ycw9BIlfGRP4vpW1ngjqxuhGnZftgU-LEfCBrpzHwNCWgbo3/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026801933581223458" /></a><br /><br />We stayed in Ruskin, FL last night and drove to Miami today for the game. It seemed like we hadn't been out of the Rav for a week - I think by the time we got there we had covered over 2000km in 3 days...dang! We stayed with some friends from the County (again) - Jack and Isabel. Since we arrived at their place in the early afternoon we were treated to some guitar playing, a tour on Tampa Bay in their boat and Isabel cooked up some excellent moose meat for dinner...how good is that!! First time I had tired moose and it was fantastic.<br /><br />Let me fill you in on the events prior to arriving in Ruskin:<br />After the Blues game (Sunday), we managed to drive to Memphis and had a great feed of ribs at the Blues City Café on Beale St! Mmmmm…ribs. And as it was a Sunday night there was a surprisingly large amount of people out and about and live music at a few blues joints. We ate and then went straight back to the hotel to sleep, the excuse being a big day on Monday. There's always an excuse!<br /><br />Monday morning we did a drive by, shot a couple photos of Sun Studios and then had a quick look at the Gibson guitar factory (urge to buy was massive but the buyer’s remorse would have been crippling).<br /><br />Sun Studios:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiKdj3SSYtaZWxCiFkVqdTyfgA_t4FQ2ic9F743UcdrPN1TX-FmrKrOwz6zq0bXqS05kJQZn4SMtuFEuo-yLFJGfjjUaGa57jhc01CLILKKtXCWD7MFJO4qGgBy89y84rD0d4HpcSqw9e/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiKdj3SSYtaZWxCiFkVqdTyfgA_t4FQ2ic9F743UcdrPN1TX-FmrKrOwz6zq0bXqS05kJQZn4SMtuFEuo-yLFJGfjjUaGa57jhc01CLILKKtXCWD7MFJO4qGgBy89y84rD0d4HpcSqw9e/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026802955783439938" /></a><br /><br />Next stop was Graceland, couldn't visit Memphis and pass on that! We signed up (meaning we paid for learnin’!!) for the tour of the property and it was a good couple of hours of listening, reading about Elvis and his career and family and I was also lucky enough to experience what Art is like during one of these self guided tours. I reckon he would have been finished and back on the highway in 20 minutes had I obliged to his requests to hurry up! <br /><br />Outside of Graceland:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEaeJcf-RSK-W1PlTyaqeapWD3kya6_-AW9e-ViQxjIGi9bAQM0dG0sstkL0rCCaVi-PE5tDg7HP6xDaja-_6Ah4_VFulL-B8CAI8L44_3iijAK289-HMQlf9gSq5STiE5bFfa3g_h60K/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEaeJcf-RSK-W1PlTyaqeapWD3kya6_-AW9e-ViQxjIGi9bAQM0dG0sstkL0rCCaVi-PE5tDg7HP6xDaja-_6Ah4_VFulL-B8CAI8L44_3iijAK289-HMQlf9gSq5STiE5bFfa3g_h60K/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026802960078407250" /></a><br /><br />Once that was over, it was a mad dash to put some miles behind us and we managed to drive to just outside of New Orleans. Mississippi (can you spell it backwards?) - what can I say, we took a side road (61) and it was a huge mistake – hint: don’t take this if you drive through Mississippi south. <br /><br />The only highlight from a long day of driving:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycTKXQYUmT7Ke9DWXSDXfUlKebCoIbEkCI4akkhLdaXYG0bwTOURyD79vrUscZYsBfveDBtw3a36uuBR6f7d4xNJpoKHGjCGk5IB4Tft1VOeT7DQnv5SATm9LGLgKp_b6PDGVXmCYP6Ky/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycTKXQYUmT7Ke9DWXSDXfUlKebCoIbEkCI4akkhLdaXYG0bwTOURyD79vrUscZYsBfveDBtw3a36uuBR6f7d4xNJpoKHGjCGk5IB4Tft1VOeT7DQnv5SATm9LGLgKp_b6PDGVXmCYP6Ky/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026802951488472626" /></a><br /><br />There is still a lot of work to be done in New Orleans - we didn't get into the city but just driving along the interstate we saw areas where whole blocks of houses and complete shopping centres were boarded up and vacant. Not a pretty site. Since I have no photos you'll have to take my word for it.<br /><br />Some of the pelicans where Jack puts his boat in:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFeyHnvV2oia9AWU50B9AVLMuy5yZwc3fLLQHpRX_awUCv9ZvTBtofUVtDjVtRTLlq6GMM78vDw7MlOQFGVr1_hRwpWLlIOKTYbYPRkbIhspT6nYSpuobSpWf_69pdlinTKHpoi2oVleZ/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFeyHnvV2oia9AWU50B9AVLMuy5yZwc3fLLQHpRX_awUCv9ZvTBtofUVtDjVtRTLlq6GMM78vDw7MlOQFGVr1_hRwpWLlIOKTYbYPRkbIhspT6nYSpuobSpWf_69pdlinTKHpoi2oVleZ/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026939084771886690" /></a><br /><br />I’m not sure if it’s the big gaps between games, the long drives, the staring contests that Art and I are having, the extreme lack of exercise or the beer and chips but something is severely impacting my creativity. Art suggested today that we rename the blog the C&T Road Show (C for Chubs and T for Tubs) - I wonder who's who??<br /><br />We're heading back to Sarasota tomorrow and will hopefully enjoy a couple of quiet days before the Tampa game.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-34429995862070280392007-01-28T19:10:00.000-05:002007-01-28T19:25:02.498-05:00Let's go Blues...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-liyslK5Jt8ZXjMWVHsQCqIgNsDvHd4ZvLKsOjOQ7mvvLB5rJU19MjiWQdyNAEF9HVQ6uSygRcr0QJLu1wy81WRltvb5Z04BZJaztxrP2bl_fszxh1OClCag8EUElxxw2p55lSmKPUBgM/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-liyslK5Jt8ZXjMWVHsQCqIgNsDvHd4ZvLKsOjOQ7mvvLB5rJU19MjiWQdyNAEF9HVQ6uSygRcr0QJLu1wy81WRltvb5Z04BZJaztxrP2bl_fszxh1OClCag8EUElxxw2p55lSmKPUBgM/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025238810178097266" /></a><br /><br />I guess the Predators have every right to be the top team in the NHL with a comprehensive 6 – 3 win over the Blues last night. Both teams are pretty hot at the moment with the Blues going 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and the Predators 9-1-0. The Blues had no response for the awesome speed of the Predators. I look forward to seeing them play, and hopefully smash, the Leafs in a couple of weeks. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyTFMFfQyI0SZ_mgTSsxfOsyOXHOV8ITQMKgjUsYCHDgsW1-d45_tTCTcAuYilLvw2cSkzkakehqd-W_WDyjwZ789ppPJWArOFt2sMoG5qC8Jd_lIEnr1Vr70DKN8uAZYKXNYT3R8Se8X/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyTFMFfQyI0SZ_mgTSsxfOsyOXHOV8ITQMKgjUsYCHDgsW1-d45_tTCTcAuYilLvw2cSkzkakehqd-W_WDyjwZ789ppPJWArOFt2sMoG5qC8Jd_lIEnr1Vr70DKN8uAZYKXNYT3R8Se8X/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025238818768031874" /></a><br /><br />A couple of good notes for the Blues - Bill Guerin notched up his 700 career point, and it was the 3rd game in a row where they had more than 16,000 attend (I think they have been struggling of late to get bodies into the rink). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9Zh3yilkLjzAmZkhurOSxb7xt4edZpQCKs0kPOzG-zLP089EcrQXcbsFYajQGpl_ghmUMd0Wwz1fqa6POm5Zzs7y0XkwhVyDCJIQK28Klq3zQc6dBiMgfqjy3wOXt6w7kcVvmDreZrQa/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9Zh3yilkLjzAmZkhurOSxb7xt4edZpQCKs0kPOzG-zLP089EcrQXcbsFYajQGpl_ghmUMd0Wwz1fqa6POm5Zzs7y0XkwhVyDCJIQK28Klq3zQc6dBiMgfqjy3wOXt6w7kcVvmDreZrQa/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025239347049009298" /></a><br /><br />It was a great rink and the fans are very dedicated to their team. There was a dude sitting behind us that was just a bit too enthusiastic, with shouts of, “Let ‘em play stripes (referring to the referee)” and every time a Predators player had the puck he would scream “Hit ‘em, hit ‘em” – I think Art was pretty close to hitting 'em! <br /><br />It was a pretty long day yesterday so it was straight back to the hotel room - Art was too tired, the poor guy, getting old and can’t take the long hauls!! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mr62ibW8CjDwGMxgwdJBW7-zRsPsRb559wtCkCEUAnCB6USp-jN4LV2RQk4hOwUkadIbwzwBrMsMd36hMMLerVn78EtAtmtzUWXE77-V95MPhZdZoaPP_RJq_0SudDlDcWYkkr65n4s5/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mr62ibW8CjDwGMxgwdJBW7-zRsPsRb559wtCkCEUAnCB6USp-jN4LV2RQk4hOwUkadIbwzwBrMsMd36hMMLerVn78EtAtmtzUWXE77-V95MPhZdZoaPP_RJq_0SudDlDcWYkkr65n4s5/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025239351343976610" /></a><br /><br />The morning was the coldest day of the trip so far…about 0 (F) with the wind chill. A great day to check out downtown St Louis!! We went for visit to Arch and then hit the road for Memphis...Elvis here we come! <br /><br />This arch is huge...never thought it was so big:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8huR-e4862gi18oe9TO6E664fydhnD-G0VvW6Wb0_NVWgq6k3yUgJNhArq9hrbXcZimiECM6ckustz0jvpilGnSrotxJXedYE7fj86Cz5TjUR7D6jPhXfao6r_oqMV2PWxe_JB0is0Pi/s1600-h/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8huR-e4862gi18oe9TO6E664fydhnD-G0VvW6Wb0_NVWgq6k3yUgJNhArq9hrbXcZimiECM6ckustz0jvpilGnSrotxJXedYE7fj86Cz5TjUR7D6jPhXfao6r_oqMV2PWxe_JB0is0Pi/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025239694941360306" /></a>Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-46988138577564603912007-01-26T17:47:00.000-05:002007-01-27T18:12:48.819-05:00Finally another hockey game...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ie-fdU9sdHjEOVG8_BmP3pzWUzWYq3RZsGQkWX5JxQprIplKUThjiPGBU3HRnWP5y1YW66dw3u_5wKeinfEL4GO9JeKkHMBBdi_i-ziaFSbpUxZFjupLi0eDs5yCd5DtOU0cYK-ZMVNU/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ie-fdU9sdHjEOVG8_BmP3pzWUzWYq3RZsGQkWX5JxQprIplKUThjiPGBU3HRnWP5y1YW66dw3u_5wKeinfEL4GO9JeKkHMBBdi_i-ziaFSbpUxZFjupLi0eDs5yCd5DtOU0cYK-ZMVNU/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024846950246912034" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3BgVhh_XR7uhDPEHUubZ_QFOsiuKpX679J3kwo5ZLYXtJo8pMM1G9O1v7CExL0wT5xBszo_kUN0GXlm1eof1WBgpoG_hdrBsirHI1XOP9_QnIPdheh5c-9ApwGaqLje-vYocKWGN7Hyu/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3BgVhh_XR7uhDPEHUubZ_QFOsiuKpX679J3kwo5ZLYXtJo8pMM1G9O1v7CExL0wT5xBszo_kUN0GXlm1eof1WBgpoG_hdrBsirHI1XOP9_QnIPdheh5c-9ApwGaqLje-vYocKWGN7Hyu/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024846958836846642" /></a><br /><br />What’s with all the shootouts?? Yet another game we attend that can’t be decided in regular or overtime – boy, we sure are gettin’ our money’s worth. End result 4 -3 for the Penguins. According to our inside source at Dallas, we were privy to an unusual display of Dallas offensive play. A great game to attend as the Crosby Show was in town. It’s quite amazing to see a 19 year old dominate the game whenever he’s on the ice. <br /><br />We were a bit eary for the game:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjji1KSRjHrCLRjZN7FMRCQxaPjcNlkLcvkWiQwoD2Uw5ZO4XFtfz14OtL7r92D9aEFY5bKD5zN-8a9R7lgizlWpvhISCDao8dycxk5lluxZ4S7wleJSoOBoFIlY0YW7DVkPf_NDJe6Ka1/s1600-h/IMG_3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjji1KSRjHrCLRjZN7FMRCQxaPjcNlkLcvkWiQwoD2Uw5ZO4XFtfz14OtL7r92D9aEFY5bKD5zN-8a9R7lgizlWpvhISCDao8dycxk5lluxZ4S7wleJSoOBoFIlY0YW7DVkPf_NDJe6Ka1/s320/IMG_3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024849552997093458" /></a><br /><br />One interesting event was during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner – the crowd would all shout “Stars” whenever it was mentioned in the anthem…scared the shite out of me the first time they did it. <br /><br />In a city where the football and basketball reign supreme, we found hockey has a special place in the hearts of many. Thanks to another Nova Scotian and fellow Pictonian, Derek (who works for the Stars), we were invited into the rink to watch both teams have their morning skate (plus got some free parking beside the rink...sweet). Dallas was up first and then the Penquins came on. It was fantastic, the three of us sat in the stands and chatted - it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Derek and Marie were also kind enough to get us down by the dressing rooms after the game to see some of the players – we left before Crosby came out to the throngs of people waiting for autographs. <br /><br />Had to take one photo of Crosby:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIIn9bqA4hBJarbmDXlweai5fh1UDBAPaauEA69icNjCSONxpMSpEn3-VCG7Y8RU54mNgvLn6s4fdcmYQc4ATN_5y-VEXr4nh3nSanM8u976Wg-vHElVHZFHy73uTSg5rYM7SfxHPiWz1/s1600-h/IMG_5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIIn9bqA4hBJarbmDXlweai5fh1UDBAPaauEA69icNjCSONxpMSpEn3-VCG7Y8RU54mNgvLn6s4fdcmYQc4ATN_5y-VEXr4nh3nSanM8u976Wg-vHElVHZFHy73uTSg5rYM7SfxHPiWz1/s320/IMG_5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024849557292060770" /></a><br /><br />Prior to the game we wandered around the area close to the rink, which was where JFK was shot. We were going to go through the Book Depository where the shots ‘supposedly’ came from but there was a fee and as you should know by now, Art and I don’t pay for no learnin’. <br /><br />The JFK Memorial:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48lf6-vDbA5dZjP7bfAthCpfw8IaUCMBhRAliL7w0KLGqs4lN3IpsRHsiQ2HvHm5knixs2iKfiUQKCd4yHZ6SpbRWxplzRfFfiQhNimvS8XrqMT5g0pYNqVUUbhjkGlLhWYSj9-WdGVqG/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48lf6-vDbA5dZjP7bfAthCpfw8IaUCMBhRAliL7w0KLGqs4lN3IpsRHsiQ2HvHm5knixs2iKfiUQKCd4yHZ6SpbRWxplzRfFfiQhNimvS8XrqMT5g0pYNqVUUbhjkGlLhWYSj9-WdGVqG/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024847216534884418" /></a><br /><br />So were supposed to fly to St. Louis - I purchased flights ages ago in Australia as the game was on the day after the Dallas game and it appeared way too far to drive in one day - but upon Art’s detailed inspection of the map, realised that we could easily drive it. By easily drive it, I mean get up at 5am, hit the by 5:30 and drive straight (minus fill ups and pee breaks) for 10 hours.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2364902701296909581.post-53282531383442860792007-01-25T19:57:00.000-05:002007-01-26T10:19:16.472-05:00Remember the Alamo...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRMEdKOF9JZzWUHLxYrCVKeh-lS0bupFGYtJbBXmmdtq3rzvIwR3f7yUlYWFOqbHostIo775AB4I6A8Gv-4-9DaVHQG-77vpSBIp-43SWXZhkYIxbZZIDLUJdh8vJWLH8EYtxpKKTMSJA/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRMEdKOF9JZzWUHLxYrCVKeh-lS0bupFGYtJbBXmmdtq3rzvIwR3f7yUlYWFOqbHostIo775AB4I6A8Gv-4-9DaVHQG-77vpSBIp-43SWXZhkYIxbZZIDLUJdh8vJWLH8EYtxpKKTMSJA/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024151599336656898" /></a><br /><br />Can you believe that we woke up to about 4 inches of snow cover in Pecos, Texas? The interstates were closed East and West bound but we were headed south so had no touble getting out of town. Plus we have the studded snow tires so no worries in the Rav. Quote of the day was from the Pecos radio announcer: "Do we even have snowplows in western Texas?"<br /><br />There is a car under there:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1lHfai0tjMZr0chm93iy0-mNmRfJYVVZgjqopApW-4KPufhqi8Dhybp9APi0NhAu7ZZyIR9Pqo5jSxbLCZCbJ6nQqE-UwC3ZlC18UikTL43B_7f7P1GV_rIzZ5xSHyjquub6LdvPKXGw/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1lHfai0tjMZr0chm93iy0-mNmRfJYVVZgjqopApW-4KPufhqi8Dhybp9APi0NhAu7ZZyIR9Pqo5jSxbLCZCbJ6nQqE-UwC3ZlC18UikTL43B_7f7P1GV_rIzZ5xSHyjquub6LdvPKXGw/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024149134025428914" /></a><br /><br />Not sure where the coyote is:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH-tZgV8_5b8y2yrrBTFUhyphenhyphenG17IIOc53wS8aNFeuvGvP9RgeYtbssb4FuO4N0i0nkFjsTqHXtGD6AMJUsWfuTuzwsj9Db3MryTAwN89KK-AGjZ7ZJMC0t7X0eWJxiHmKDhFQ0ooqMMf9k/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH-tZgV8_5b8y2yrrBTFUhyphenhyphenG17IIOc53wS8aNFeuvGvP9RgeYtbssb4FuO4N0i0nkFjsTqHXtGD6AMJUsWfuTuzwsj9Db3MryTAwN89KK-AGjZ7ZJMC0t7X0eWJxiHmKDhFQ0ooqMMf9k/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024150443990454242" /></a><br /><br />Left Pecos on the 285 and made our way to San Antonio - apparently, the 8th largest city in the US (according to the Lonely Planet). We spent 2 nights in San Antonio, which is a really nice city. Heaps of old buildings, the Alamo, and a great river walk that runs through most of the downtown. I could see it as a romantic place to come with your partner, but when you're with your Dad - not so romantic. <br /><br />Tower of the Americas:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWDuttPqHw-do0gNFEqA8vuwi78ASGF6_7IrJXzkAie2Z0H3JHDjR-lA_uoVhU2jJWjeRM9m78hQ5UNcFzj1N-t6GEeNeY-76PlSXDoYBa0auzcNCmw4OpgptLSWtKs40_cw0J3ORX61D/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWDuttPqHw-do0gNFEqA8vuwi78ASGF6_7IrJXzkAie2Z0H3JHDjR-lA_uoVhU2jJWjeRM9m78hQ5UNcFzj1N-t6GEeNeY-76PlSXDoYBa0auzcNCmw4OpgptLSWtKs40_cw0J3ORX61D/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024152376725737490" /></a><br /><br />The shrine at the Alamo:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhmmUJUC9XO1sfmpVvcmJRxJT_tyzZHJKb8fy-nbKPHNTJFBKwWsbKI73Qqkvu4H2Cc0oMheIru9rF9HKAn6OK7z9lhBJY9ASx3ODIvuq8K84nldtJ0gxMSMVvzcqVSJcROrJV8a5f5rt/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhmmUJUC9XO1sfmpVvcmJRxJT_tyzZHJKb8fy-nbKPHNTJFBKwWsbKI73Qqkvu4H2Cc0oMheIru9rF9HKAn6OK7z9lhBJY9ASx3ODIvuq8K84nldtJ0gxMSMVvzcqVSJcROrJV8a5f5rt/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024149846990000082" /></a><br /><br /><br />From San Antonio we dropped in to see Austin (state capital) and went straight to the parliment building to see the portraits of George W Bush. Couldnt' help ourselves. Apparently, there is a great night life in Austin but as we were there and had walked around the entire city by 1pm, we decided to finish the drive to Dallas. <br /><br />So here we are, in Dallas. Pretty excited about getting to see Crosby tomorrow night but will cheer cheer cheer for the home team.Chris MacLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05104428931967948407noreply@blogger.com4