We Are Expecting

Heather and I are expecting our first child which is due at the end of February.

There are going to be a lot of changes here.

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival 2012

For the second year in row we went to the festival in the company of Kim, Jolene and Robyn.  It wasn't a warm day but it also wasn't very cold.  Just as last year we had breakfast, but funnel cake instead of pancakes, saw the farm animals and took Jolene on a pony ride.  After the festival, we went to Breslau where my mom had prepared a rice and strawberry dish which Heather seems to like.

Kim and Robyn

Jolene and Heather

NASCAR Weekend in Bristol - Day 3

It was a miserable morning in Bristol.  The clouds were covering the entire sky and there was a light mist.  Lucky for us we just had purchased 88 cent ponchos the night before at Wal-Mart.  Best investment of the weekend.

Jim and Heather rocking the ponchos

As we had season tickets, we were allowed access to a function called Family Reunion which featured many activities.  A couple of drivers, Brad Keselowski and Jeff Burton, were interviewed on stage, there was pit crew challenge, a display of some vintage cars and then there was Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel.

Brad Keselowski

Twiggy

After spending a few minutes at the reunion we made our way to the tent where we started taking it down in preparation for our departure immediately after the race.

Still cloudy

We made our way into the track and up the million stairs for the last time.  As the drivers were being introduced the sky was beginning to clear and by the time green flag dropped there was not a single cloud in the sky.

The customary fly-over

The race itself was very uneventful with only one major accident a few laps into the race.  However, this being the ultimate NASCAR experience, I followed the race very attentively and learned a few things I hadn't so far by watching the races on TV.  For example, Bristol has pit boxes along both straightaways and drivers entering pits during cautions had to drive through both pit lanes before completing their stop.

Not a good day for Kasey Kahne

Another thing of note was that the attendance was very low for Bristol.  Fact or myth, but these races usually sell out and it wasn't nearly the case today.

Once Brad Keselowski crossed the finish line as the winner of the race we were on our way down to the parking lot.  We must have made good time because we hopped in the car, with Jim driving, and were on the road home without encountering any slowdowns.  It was about 4:30 when the race ended.

We headed West from Bristol towards I-75 where we arrived at 7.  We stopped there for supper at Dairy Queen and gas.  I took over the driving from there and drove from 8pm Sunday to 6am Monday with Heather only doing a short stretch of 30 minutes of so just before we hit London.  We were both tired but I was more determined to get us home.  We made our last stop for gas in Monroe, MI around 2am and then crossed the border through the tunnel in Detroit.  Throughout the whole trip I kept a pace of about 100 km/h to conserve gas which these days is my MO.  After unpacking the car Jim took off for Sudbury and Heather and I went inside the house to rest on our day off.

NASCAR Weekend in Bristol - Day 2

We started the second day at the campground with a shower.  After that we walked along the main road in Bristol and surveyed the unofficial vendors for souvenirs.  We also surveyed the official vendors where we'd purchase various items throughout the weekend.  Heather bought only Dale Earnhardt Jr items while I bought Martin Truex merchandise including a hat, lanyard and a diecast car.

Sam Hornish during his autograph session

Behind the wheel of Clint Bowyer's #15

At 10:30 in the morning we were back inside the track for Nationwide qualifying.  After that, we had lunch at the track, went down for more shopping and came back in time for the Nationwide race which started at 2pm.  Our seats were very high and it was a difficult and exhausting challenge trying to reach them.

Bristol Motor Speedway in all its glory

My favourite kind of team

Once the race ended, won by Elliott Sadler, we went out for lunch to Subway.  Unfortunately, we were too early to return to the campground as no cars were being let in so we went to Wal-Mart to kill some time.

Nationwide racing

Elliott Sadler celebrating his win

We eventually did make it back and again spent the evening taking it easy.