State to State, in the States !

A pleasant hot day awaited us, as we drove to Port Kent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Kent,_New_York so as to travel across Lake Champlain on what looked like a rather old steamboat !  http://www.ferries.com/ to Vermont, another state in America ! The crossing took an hour in the late morning sunshine, on a quite smooth, but large lake, depositing us into Vermont, and the city of Burlington  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington,_Vermont. with it’s pleasant streets going up from the harbour, towards the University at the top of the hill, which we all walked up to, and around some fine old buildings, amidst gardens and parks ,with some unusual sculptures and bronzes scattered around  .

Lunch in the busy city, followed by a drive out to Nicola’s dream destination..Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury http://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/factory-tours/ – the home of the famous ice creams ! along with the ‘Flavour Graveyard’, where Cool Brittania now resides – cheeky ! Unfortunately we didn’t have time for the tour, as it was so busy and we had to catch the ferry back !

Back to Burlington , for a quick wander round the port whilst waiting for the ferry ,then across the Lake again, and back to NY state.

We popped in for views of  Ausable chasm http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11882 – another great sight before landing home, for a BBQ, and early’ish night !

Day of rest ?…not quite ! Goodnight

A Day to Rest…for everyone !

The plan was for everyone to have a lie in, to recover from the day before…not quite to be, as usual I was up and about early, closely followed by the two ‘Ironmen’, and eventually the rest of the household. A breakfast of mushroom omelettes followed, and I thought I was in for a morning to take things easy, until Joseph decided I couldn’t miss the opportunity, to test out his super dooper Time trial bike, so having adjusted it to fit me,and borrowed all the kit, I was ready (?) for the road..

Straight down the big hill, trying to get used to the quite different specifications of the bike, and soon I was lying straight out on the Aero bars, like a real time triallist ! – although I didn’t feel it !

I rode part of the Ironman cycle route, turned round at the top of a big hill, and rode back again, doing almost 20 miles, on a very hot morning, sampling the route that everyone had done before – and I was soon ‘done’ myself, but managed to get back up the hill to the house…and water and shower !

Then it really was time to take it easy, lunch in Lake Placid, wandering around the beach on Mirror lake, and back to the house for a scrumptious BBQ, and early night…

Iron….People !

We were all up at 4-30 a.m. (me at 4-20 a.m. to put the coffee on !), apart from the youngest member of the team, and his guardian.. and as the nervous athletes stocked up on last minute food and drinks, me and Julia ,Luke’s wife, nimbly darted around them, seeking to re-assure and inspire them for the day ahead – we didn’t realise that it would be pretty  for us also !

So away from the property, on schedule at 5-15 a.m., on a cool’ish morning, and driving into Lake Placid itself, where we dropped Joseph and Luke off for registration and ‘marking’, whilst we parked and made our way down to Mirror Lake for the swimming to take place – a gentle 2.4 miles, in open water ! There we found Joseph and Luke, nervously awaiting the time to put their wetsuits on, and get into the lake..there were thousands of people there, competitors and spectators, a sea of people on the beach ! Soon they were into the water, ready for the mass start, of 2,855 swimmers, and at 7 a.m. the cannon sounded and they were off ! A seething maelstrom of arms,legs and heads bobbing in the water . They had to do two laps of the lake, and at the end of the lap had to get out, and run through a timing gate – we managed to see both Joseph and Luke going through the gate, ready for their second lap, and later moved towards the Main Street, to watch them running from the Lake to the changing area (transition zone), and onto their bikes for the 112 mile ride up,over and round the roads and hills of Lake Placid . We managed to see both of them, and also Joseph starting his ride , and then dashed back to the house,which was on the bike route, to see both as they passed us (twice), along with the thousands of other riders, puffing their way up the steep hill where we were, joined by Nicola,Thomas, the Union Jack, and various hooters/bells to entertain the athletes . The day was really hot, and heavy, eventually the lady owner of the property put the sprinkler on the roadway to cool the riders as they went along ,giving them some short relief – eventually both Joseph and Luke passed our position, so it was time for a quick bite to eat, before we drove into town, to watch the road race, of a marathon length -26.2 miles  . We struggled to get into town, eventually having to walk several miles, with Thomas in his pushchair, snoozing ! We did managed to see both Joseph and Luke on the marathon course a couple of times, before they both managed to finish in the Olympic Oval, and be awarded their medals...to be called ,by the announcer,YOU ARE A IRONMAN !!!

By the time we managed to locate them it was already 10 p.m., and we had to collect their gear, and bikes...and get back to the cars, so it was almost 11-30 p.m. by the time the two Ironmen,and ‘support crew’ arrived home, for a hot bath,cold beer and congratulations..

and eventually Jotown managed to get into bed at 1 a.m. ( he felt like an Ironman !!)

So, a long brilliant day for the British came to an end

Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France

Mark Cavendish sprinted to win the stage in Paris

Joseph and Luke were both awarded ‘Ironman’ status

Goodnight !

Preparing for the Ironman …

Another early start to the day on Friday, and once prepared and packed, it was into lake Placid for the start of the big event…Registration for Joseph’s Ironman competition http://ironman.com/events/ironman/lakeplacid?show=tracker&race=lakeplacid&year=2012#axzz21CiKrYpS Having finally managed to get somewhere to park, it was wandering along the streets to the local high school, for a nervous competitor to sign in, and get allocated his race number , along with collecting his bag of swag…. then back out into Lake Placid for the real preparation…Lunch and a ‘Big shop’ at the Price Chopper supermarket !

We eventually arrived back at ‘Heartsong’, via a circuitous route (we got lost !), viewing the scenic countryside of mountains,lakes,rivers and forest, alongside the ski areas of Whiteface mountain http://www.whiteface.com/summer/facilities/mountain.php . Then it was time for a training ride on some of the bike route for the race, which actually goes past ‘Heartsong’, Joseph and Luke charging away,on their race machines http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/bikes/2012/p2/ whilst I followed in the rear on my Boardman bike, which Luke had brought from new York for me (thanks !). I didn’t stay out too long, leaving the others to charge off, and returned, having also tested out the hill lower down from us.

The athlete’s went off for the pre-race briefing, whilst the rest of us prepared a giant BBQ for later, slightly delayed for their return, so BBQ ‘ing  in the dark, and an early’ish night.

Saturday morning me and Joseph were out quite early, and into Lake Placid to get the bike serviced,at the speciality mechanic areas, then out to the swim area –Mirror Lake http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/boating/mirror-lake for Joseph to have a training swim, whilst Jotown remained on ‘guard duty’ ..then that fine tradition- the Big breakfast, whilst waiting for the bike to be finished, and ready to check in , which it was eventually, and after checking  all his gear in, ready for the race, it was back to Heartsong, and watching the highlights from the Tour De France, with Bradley Wiggins, ex-village resident of Jotowns home, leading into Paris tomorrow !

So, all that was now left to do, is…some decoration of the property, now festooned in British and English flags, with the Americans joining in.. ready for the big day tomorrow

A very early start is called for – 4 a.m.!!, and probably a late finish – so I may not be in touch for a while! You can follow Joseph’s progress by putting his number into the website, starting at 7 a.m. New York time, or 12 noon UK.. 

Ready for My Travels Grandad !

I was up fairly early, greeted by Thomas who came to play with Grandad Jotown, and whilst I was re-arranging my gear, was able to find a good,safe place to leave him ! and as the day broke, I was able to watch the tour de France live..just like being at home, with the  same commentary team from Channel 4, although with lots of American adverts !, Thomas was worn out with all the excitement .

We then all finished our packing, Joseph arrived with the rental car, and by later morning we all set off for Lake Placid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Placid,_New_York , where Joseph had entered an ‘Ironman’ race, to take place that Sunday (more another day!). We travelled on ,at first busy roads, which calmed down the further we got away from New York City, eventually arriving at our home for the next week ‘Heartsong’ http://www.adkbyowner.com/listings/VR7221.html  then after some essential shopping, and a great meal at the Butchers Block http://www.butcherblockrestaurant.com/, we arrived back home at 10-30 p.m., shortly before our other house guests Luke and Julie also arrived from New York City….with that essential for any Ironman - the bikes !!

A tired Good night from us all – but, oh, nearly forgot to mention…the stars…fantastic, so many I didn’t know which way to look !

All the way to America, for some….Rain !!

The day went pretty much like clockwork (such efficiency !)

I was up very early to shower and dress, make breakfast, and sandwiches for my journey, and just as the church clock was chiming 9 a.m. I wandered out of the house, with a smug grin (later dashed) on my face, as I thought ‘this is easy’, and after locking and alarming the house tramped up the road, with my kitbag and rucksack, to the village bus station, where shortly after 915 my first us arrived, transporting me to New Mills, where by 945 I was sat on the next bus, all the way to Manchester Airport…when it hit me – I’d forgotten to switch the water off in the house ! (since rectified by my excellent neighbour Bill –Thanks)…so I wasn’t that smart !

I arrived at Manchester Airport, with plenty of time to spare, and breezed through check-in (my kitbag weighing exactly 20kgs !) and security, then into the lounge to await my first flight to Reykjavik, which took off on time, into the afternoon sunshine of the Cheshire plains, and 2 hours later we descended into the rain sodden Iceland, looking like  a barren wasteland, with the occasional Geyser throwing steam up into the air, although I did manage to see the famous Blue Lagoon, from above http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lagoon_%28geothermal_spa%29 

2 hours later I took off again for America, landing there in a….Thunder and lightning storm !, in fact it was so bad that they had stopped all re-fuelling at JFK airport, so we had to wait for the outgoing flight to ‘fill up’ before it could leave, and we could get onto the stand, and depart. So although we landed on time, we then had to wait 30 minutes to get off !

However, I was soon re-united with my kitbag, breezed through immigration and customs, and out into the  hot and humid arrivals hall to be greeted by my son Joseph…with those immortal words …’You’ll have to carry your own bags-I’ve got a glass back,and I don’t want to risk injury !’ Charming I thought, as I strapped my kitbag on my back, and rucksack on the front, and traipsed through the airport, onto the trains and subways of New York, walking through the famous ‘Times Square’ ,and along Broadway to his apartment, where I was greeted by his wife Nicola, explaining that my Grandson Thomas was unfortunately asleep, so couldn’t greet me.. but I greeted him when no one was looking.

It was then time for an evening meal, watching the highlights of the days Tour de France,and bed.. US time 11p.m., UK time 4 a.m…. Good night !

Journeying through the British ‘Summer’..

Well it’s been a busy few weeks since my arrival back in Britain at the end of May -

Firstly Anna’s 30th Birthday party, with the fancy dress theme of …Royalty, Red/white/blue, or something like that…with the ‘Birthday Girl’ looking rather regal, along with a colourful Jotown, ready to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee also ! – although I ended up with ‘flu’ and missed all the celebrations

Mid June the ‘Americans’ hit town…and I managed to see my grandson Thomas Samuel, in the flesh  the day before the first Grandaughter to ‘Jotown’ arrived in the world Chloe Sarah, 6lb 6 ozs – so, a quick dash up and down the country to High Wycombe, to also see her in the ‘flesh’ before Joseph arrived from America, for the Baptism of Thomas Samuel in West Yorkshire, accompanied by ‘all the relatives’ (or most of them)

Lots of other things have been happening in this dismal weather, with people coming and going – and  youngsters showing their American cousin how to climb…..

So, now that everyone’s gone back home, and some semblance of normality has returned…..I’m off !

New York tomorrow, with some epic things to happen, before I return to England in September – Come,join me !