Past Few days

Sorry my blog viewers that I have fallen a few days behind on you all! I will try and squeeze in the last few days on all the exciting things we have done.

So the new photo headline on the blog is Chateau De Foix. It is a beautiful castle and from the top towers , it has an even more exquisite, three-hundred and sixty degree view of all the surrounding valleys. Apparently the castle has been there for more then one-thousand years. Obviously, the castle that currently stands is not the original. The castle itself has jumped between a roof for a king and queen all the way down to a prison, and is now a museum. Inside the castle there is small displays and plaques that explain the significance of that part of the castle. Their is even a display with some old weapons and keys that would have been used around the 11th-16th centuries. I will attempt to get some photo's up ASAP! This time I will actually attempt!

The other day the Americans came over for a Canada day bbq. It was a good time had by all! We played ping pong, enjoyed titanic amounts of food and then cooled down in the pool! It was a great success for a great country. We were supposed to go celebrate the 4th of July today with the Americans but apparently it got cancelled last second as the Americans managed to partially burn down their cabin with fireworks. Silly Yanks. Hopefully they still have a great time tonight and no one gets in to much trouble!

Today we had the day off and we managed to get a lot down! We went to a village called Niaux which is just outside of Garrabet, which is just outside of Foix where we are staying. In this village is two interesting historical sites. One is Chateau De Migilo and the Prehistoric Cave drawing site of Niaux. The chateau was not quite as magnificent as Foix's but we still managed to capture some great shots and good times. The cave was quiet something else as well! Some of the paintings date back to 11,000 BC!!! Thats old! And some looked like they were drawn yesterday. We were not allowed to take photo's inside the cave but again we still got soem great shots of the view. Then after the caves we had lunch a sandwich bar then went to the GO KARTS!!!!! They were awesome! It was so much fun! The Kart's we were in could go 60 k's an hour! But the faster ones could go 90...Thats a bit much. Inbetween times that we went we could watch the pro's that were training for Formula 3 racing. WHAT AN ENTHRALLING THING TO DO EVERYDAY! Yeah right. I was getting bored after our second 8 minute time slot.

But it was a great day! We are now just relaxin and enjoying the last bit of the day.

Anyways I must dash off. I hope everyone in Canada has a great day like I did.

Aj

Chateau De Foix!

Yesterday after training we went to Ponte De Diable! This is one of the very first bridges ever built in this area. It crosses the river and gave the surrounding villages the ability to travel back and forth to sell goods.

I dont know when it dates back to but its pretty old! I will get the castle photo's onto my computer tonight and try to get another post on!

Overnight Rain = Way better course!

We woke up in the morning feeling refreshed, charged, and prepared for anything to hit us at the course this morning. What we hadn't thought of was all the rain the night before! When we got the course it looked like a whole different beast. But with some reassurance from Connor and Marian we got on and all had a relatively okay morning and afternoon. The water level dropped about 6 inches in 10 seconds towards the end of our afternoon session though, making the moves we were doing before completely different.

But even with all our crazy run ins, it was a good day. The girls made a pretty good dinner. The boys and I were impressed. We rated it a high 7! We are shootin' for a 9!

With a good meal and good moods, Connor is going to lead us through some stretching. This will turn into a regular evening activity. Then they boys and I are hittin the pool!

All in all, a pretty unreal day.

I am excited to see what is in store for us for the rest of the trip.

Aj

Foix

Well France is everything I was told, and imagined it would be plus more. Delicious cappuccino's, wonderful croissants, and of course the architecture. I have not even been in France for a full day yet and I have come to the conclusion that Foix is easily the most beautiful place I have been to in my life, besides Canada of course. Sitting in a valley bottom, we are surrounded by green lush forests with an old cathedral, and two castles in the surrounding area. We are staying in a small village just five minutes outside of Foix. The name of this small village escapes me right now but I know that I will definitely live here one day.

There's a funny feeling I get whenever I arrive in a new country. My surroundings feel so peculiar and foreign until I allow myself to take it all in, then I hardly feel like I am away at all.

With Max-Émile helping me out with my French, integrating into the culture and lifestyle for the next two weeks will become that much easier. I have already sworn to myself that I would only be allowed one cappuccino a day and one chocolate filled croissant every three days. Gotta save some money!

It still has not sunk in yet that I am here for Junior World Championships. Maybe this is a good sign and I won't become a nervous wreck right before the race, or it's a bad thing and I am underestimating the whole thing and I will totally muck up!

Well whatever it is I gotta figure it out quickly.

Hope everyone is well!

Oh by the way, if anyone wants to talk to me over the phone get a hold of my mom and she can send you a number to call and you'll get my new international phone!

Aj

Last Day

Well today is the last day I will be in the mother land for a few weeks. I shall miss her vast square kilometres of awesomeness. BUT FRANCE IS GONNA KICK SOME BUTT. With only a few last minute packing jobs to do, I am getting pretty physiqued up for this!

I saw Sheri yesterday and she fixed me up really good! Needled me, pushed, and pulled until it all felt better. I have two excercises I need to work on so I can get some rotation back as my body has developed some bad habits, thus endangering some joints.

Sheri Audet, you are an angel! Thank you so much :)

Hope home is well, I will miss you all!

Aj

Rough

The first few days have been a little crazy with baby Cierra being born and with current injuries on the time, it has made for a bit of a rough start. Max keeps getting a dull pain in his elbow bicep area, my shoulder's acting up, and Michael's elbow seems to be bothering him. Marian arrived this morning and we were able to sneak in a technique session this morning and gettin half lengths done this afternoon. I still am having difficulties finding a place to stay after Worlds though. Its becoming a bit of a nagging stress for me! Will no one but up with little Aj for a week? :(

It'll get figured out though!

The weather has been treating us well but a bit of rain would be nice! ITS SO HOT. I know, its crazy. I thought that after that mini winter we had before I left I thought I'd never say it.

Hope no one has caught that nasty 4 day sickness like me!

Stay healthy!

Aj

Ottawa

Well I am back in our nations lovely capital. This time around I am staying with the Tayler family and Max will be joining us at some time today. Michael and I did some Technique this morning with James but it seems like I am the first person from out of town to arrive. It is absolutely gorgeous in Ottawa. At 8:30 this morning it had already got to plus 18 and was hot. Then when we got onto the water it hit 28. It is boilin out and we are ready to paddle hard!

The world cup in Prague started today and our three senior k1 killed their first runs by the looks of results! They are all on the bubble for making semi's but hopefully they kill their second runs. It looks to be a short, and fast. the time between first place and 20th place is around 3 seconds. No space for touches! Let's cheer our boys on guys!

But don't forget about you're three younger boys :D

Hope all is well

Aj