An amazing end to an an amazing race!

Today we raced one of the fastest crits of the season averaging 41 kph. Once again, Laura proved she truly is the fastest woman in this race by taking the win. Our team worked incredibly well for this hard fought win and left with a great feeling of success. Contrary to the negative quotes in Cycling News by a director who wasn't even IN the race, the women in this year's Tour de Toona raced one of the most aggressive races in it's 21 year history - congratulations to everyone!

It's all in the team

Yesterday was an awesome team day! Unfortunately Laura had many flats (4 to be exact)...with help from everyone, we made sure she finished the day with the peleton. Meanwhile, Betina, Chrissy and Cath represented us in the break off the front - with Cath finishing 2nd in the stage. And to top it off, we moved into 2nd overall Team GC! :)

Yahoo!!!!

Yes that's our Laura in the middle of the podium...in 1st place today :)

Team Time Trial

Yesterday was the first stage of the Tour de Toona. It was unique in that we started with a team time trial...the first many of us had ever done. We learned a lot today and really enjoyed the team dimension of this event...it's definately one of the most tactical races we do! We finished in 6th overall, further down than we had wanted to be at the start of this race, but ready to race hard over the next few days!

What a cool book...

Jeff and I went to Long Point Provincial Park for a couple of days before I head off to Altoona. We found this book at a store close by. (Long Point isn't actually in Northern Ontario, it's on a sand spit off of Lake Erie - almost as south as you can get in Ontario). But it was fun to read about the history of one of the most beautiful places in Canada, written in such an entertaining fashion...knowing one day we're going to move up to North Bay :).

If you could read his mind...

...he'd be telling you how utterly happy he is that I finally took that "psycho" kitten away :). Oby went to the vet to get neutered the other day and Dougy was his old happy self again...unfortunately it didn't last long. Oby's back and ready to play!

Nationals 2007 - Saint-Georges, Quebec

For the second year in a row Jeff has been my team support at Nationals...from working in the feed zone to following me in the time trial. I really couldn't do it without you Buddy! :)

The start of the road race...3pm, 30 degrees, 127km. A challenging course both physically and tactically! Gina Grain took the win, I was 7th and Betina was 11th.

A Bronze medal in the National ITT :). It was nice to share the podium with Anne and Lynne.

Dinner with Betina and Dan at Maison Vinot, our B&B.

A fond farewell to our hosts and new found friends Raymonde and Philippe...I'm already looking forward to our evening chats next year when we return for the 2008 National Championships!

Rain at last...

My dad has the most beautiful garden in the WORLD :) Here are some pictures of the plants that are loving the weather today.

This is Sophie enjoying the garden.

The fish and frog pond (just behind the flowers)

The rose garden

And more beautiful flowers that I don't know the names of :)

Our Wedding Venue

Jeff and I are gettting married under this maple tree in Mike and Val's backyard. If you look on Google Earth at 31 Irvin St. in Kitchener that's all you'll see...a HUGE maple tree :).

This weekend we did some major backyard renovations while Alex and Maddie were checking out the fossils in the rocks.

Nini was a little bored.

"Just a little to the left Honey....no maybe over there instead" :)

Now THIS is more like it!