Out of the dark...

6 month ago, this day, this hour the world was still in order - or so we thought. A small operation, a somewhat longer healing and rehab process, and we would climb again the mountains of the world. No one knew about the time bomb ticking on Mike's body - it was to explode only hours away, 6 month ago. And everything changed.

I am hanging onto memories, writing, crying, smiling....

Mike playing with his new camera, Bayview Escarpment, Jan 2010

After tobbaganing in Ottawa with Mike's friends Eliza + kids, Ottawa, Jan 2010

Successful 14 pitch climb in Arco, Italy, May 2009

The next Uri Geller? Maybe not...Leipzig, Germany, Jan 2009

Posing after climbing at Sierra de Montsec, somewhere between 6-8 pitches, in between rapelling and traversing....I don't know if we were ever on route, Catalunia, Spain, May 2008

Jamon! At Javi's place in Vitoria, Spain, May 2008

Making strawberry-rhubarb pie - delicious! at Annastraat, Groningen, spring 2008

Staatsoper in Vienna - standing tickets for 3 Euros! Vienna, February 2008

Mike shows me his home: the Rockies, Moraine Lake, august 2007

Hiking up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, 2200m up, a beer and sausage on top and train down. Grainau, September 2007.

Mike in his canoe - a great trip in the Gatineau park...and yes, it is warm enough in Canada to swim. Gatienau Park, July 2007

Regional German food and a half liter of wine for lunch - visiting Christoph in the Pfalz, Germany, May 2007.

Sorting out single socks....Groningen, winter 2007

Trip to Amsterdam, walking around the Grachten, fall 2006.

Homer! Halloween at Inga's, Germany, october 2006.

Canoe and cycling trip to zuidlaren, Holland, july 2006

On Schiermonnikoog, Holland, may 2006

Always trying something new and interesting - African food and coconut beer, Amsterdam, april 2006

On top of St. Peter, Vatikan, during our trip to Rome, February 2006.

1m of German sausage! Christmas Market, Heidelberg, november 2005

First picture together, Landschaftspark Nord, Duisburg, Germany, november 2005.

Mike, you live on in our memories

Algonquin weekend

Last weekend, I joined the Lautens' group annual camping trip going to Algonquin Provincial Park northeast of Toronto. Our campsite was booked at Rock like, ca 48km inside the park. What I didn't expect that we could actually drive onto the campsite, so it was luxury camping (only we didn't quite bring that luxurious food than our neighbours). Due to organizational difficulties (the Canadians have a lot to learn!), it was all a bit chaotic. At least we got a mini-van for the us 6 german-french folks - or so we thought....I went to pick up the car at around noon on friday, and it wasn't there...Well, so we got two regular cars, and after some debate we did not pay more, but lost at least on hour of time. In the end, Clem and I missed the turn off to highway 400, got into traffic, were scared by the rest that the registration office closes at 7pm (it closed at 9, grrr), went over several speed limits to make it there by 7:15....At least putting up my new tent with two people took less 10 min, we got a fire started, BBQed sausages, peppers and onions, and enjoyed some beers at the campsite.

I can never sleep in when I am outside, so waking up at 7:30am was already late for my standards. I could still take some pictures at the empty and steamy beach.

Then, we spend the morning drinking lots of coffee and waiting for the rented canoes to be delivered by 10am. They arrived by 1pm, so we only had an afternoon canoeing. It was the best thing of the trip, getting away, stopping, swimming, canoeing, swimming, canoeing....it was beautiful! At the end, we all got a bit tired when the wind picked up. Then back on the camp site, Irina changed the tire of our care, it had an almost flat tire....and that meant driving with 50 km/h to Huntsville (95km) on the next day. This evening, we all cooked pasta, had more beers, and watched the stars at the beach. I actually tried sleeping at the beach, but it got so windy that I went back into the heat of the tent. Definitely, a 4-season tent and down sleeping bag is too warm....

The next morning, I got up early again, and went swimming at 7am. It was awesome! The water was surprisingly warm, just getting out again was hard. Then again drinking more and more coffee with Mathieu until the others woke - and we couldn't canoe any more as the canoes were picked up early... The drive to Huntsville was slow. And instead of thanking us, that we drove as much on the right side as we could, those Canadian SUV drivers honked at us while overtaking. As if we chose to have a flat tire....Luckily it all got fixed within 10min and for free at Canadian Tire! But it rained cats and dogs, so that we just had some all-day breakfast and drove towards Toronto. It took us 5 more hours for around 220km to arrive there. Guess everyone left cottage country due to rain at the same time. I have hardly ever been that tired, and was almost not capable of working the next day (actually, I fell asleep over the polymer chemistry book I was reading).

It was a weird weekend, kind of a disaster regarding driving, cars and organization, but beautiful for the canoeing (once we got them). Next time, one day longer, then traffic might be less bad....We didn't see wildlife at all (squirrels at the campsite don't count, I assume). That's what you get for car camping. I really would like to go backcountry camping, with the canoe from one camp site to the other. There are supposed to be lots of moose in the park.

craft beer festival

First of all for all those Europeans who think North American beer is bad - it's not true. The microbreweries make pretty decent stuff, which now actually ranks among my favourites!

Two weeks ago, I went with some folks to the Craft Beer Festival at Hart House, a beautiful 'old' building on campus. They served BBQed meats and tofu, and a huge veggie and fruit buffet in the patio. We managed to make a good basis for our eight beer tastings. There were 20 breweries, with in total 58 beers to select from....Luckily, some were well known (Mill Street Tankhouse and Organic and Creemore I got at home, Steamwhistle, Wellington, Big Rock, Wellington), so I went for some unkown ones.

Here's the list of my favorites: 1) FestivAle from Beau's All Natural Brewing (organic, it has something of Altbier, but is only seasonal and not sold at LCBO :( ), 2) Lu-Tread Lagered Ale (same brewery, got it in the fridge), 3) Pale Ale (Black Oak Brewing), 4) Equinox du Printemps Maple Scotch (Microbrasserie Dieu Du Ciel, strong stuff, Belgian style but has a nice sweeter flavor at the end). I would absolutely recommend to avoid Nickel Brook Green Apple pilsener: tastes like artificial apple flavoured chewing gum....The canadians still have to learn from the Germans (and Austrians), which combinations of pop is mixable with beer (for the record I love Stiegl Grapefruit Radler - there's nothing more refreshing on a summer day....if you can get hold of it outside of Austria, get it!). I tasted Mill Streets Lemon Tea beer the other day, gotta say an old fashioned Radler or Russe is better...

Quebequois beers are generally similar to Belgian beer, strong and yeasty. In general, I prefer flavourful ales. Now, I am trying to get some of my favourites in the store. Not so easy, at least got some Beau's Lager in my fridge right now - guess what I will get now :)