The Urban Slide

Yesterday didn't look like it was going to be great...weather wise that is.  The sky was grey and looked like it was going to rain...not that we could complain really as the summer has been amazing.

It has been hot and sunny every day...the weather has pretty much been perfect.  In fact, it's been a pretty perfect summer so far.  However we have been spoiled and we were expecting perfect weather, but either way we were still going through with our plans. The Urban Slide...a
200 ft long slip and slide...how amazing is that!  It was set up down one of the side streets in Meaford.  What else do a bunch of mid-thirty-somethings do on a Saturday?

We picked up our tickets and walk in through the gates.  We were super stoked as soon as we saw it!  This was going to be great...this was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday.  But first,  the beer tent!

We had more than a few drinks and had something to eat...we of course can't do anything without a couple of drinks in us - and then headed to the line up.

The line up was brutal.   We waited for an hour...an hour without anything to drink and surrounded  by little kids.  We did everything to keep ourselves entertained and just took random photos of us posing.  We had to remind ourselves that there were children around and make sure to filter our language though it was more difficult for some than others.         

The slide itself was a lot of fun.  The guys forgot they had their phones on them so they had to go all the way down holding it in their t-shirt praying they didn't get wet. I laughed all the way down.  I am pretty light so I went fast and just bounced off the sides.  Then, it was done.

When we got to the bottom we looked back at the the line and it had doubled.  We didn't want to spend the whole day in the beer tent as we had to drive back so we left.... a bit disappointed to be honest.  We were so excited and had spent money for our tickets and it was nothing like the advertisement.

On our way back the guys decided to go to Wasaga Beach (a half hour past Collingwood.)  I was so hungry or should I say hangry  (so hungry I was angry) that I wanted to stop and get Tim Horton's but I was told wee would eat in Wasaga.  To my disappointment, when we arrived at our friends house in Wasaga the guys then decided to go back to Collingwood and eat. Ughh.  At this point I was FUNGRY - FUCKING ANGRY BECAUSE I WAS SO HUNGRY!!!  One of our buddies was going to hop in the back with me but when he opened the door and saw my mood he decided it was in his best interest to take his own car.   Hahaha, it's true though, I was not in a good mood.  I hadn't eaten all day and we drank in the beer tent....FEED ME PLEASE!!!

We finally got to a restaurant but we ordered everything to share (for 5 people) so it wasn't enough for me hahaha.  It was a blast though,  we laughed so hard because our one buddy was just on a roll.  It felt good to laugh after being so moody.

The rest of the night went as our nights usually did, music and lots to drink with me being the first one to go to bed.

All in all it was a fun day.  There is another Urban Slide next month.  I asked the guys if they wanted to go....they said NO!

An Adventurous Birthday!

This year, instead of partying for my Birthday I really wanted to change things up.  Mum and I usually go for lunch to celebrate our joint day but we go for lunch quite often so it wouldnt be special.  So I thought and thought and then I said "Mum, how do you feel about ziplining?"  So that's what we did.

We booked an Eco Tours Adventure up on the mountain.  The day included, 2 ziplines, a treetop walk, tractor ride, scenic caves,  a walk on the suspension trip and some history of the area.  I was super stoked!   I have lived here for 11 years and have never been to the scenic caves or done any of the touristy stuff.  H
aving a job where I don't have to work weekends has really allowed me to take advantage of living in the area.

We arrived at 9:30am, got dressed in all our gear and headed to the first stop on the tour, the suspension bridge.

It was high up but I was alright,  my vertigo wasn't to bad at all, even when one of our guides to decided to shake it. I wanted to tell her to stop but I sucked it up and kept walking.

We hopped in a wagon which then took us to the next stop on our tour, the tree top walk.

We were the last group to go as we wanted to move slow, and with it being high up I didn't want to feel like I was holding a big group of people up.   I was the first one in our group, which I wasn't overly keen on but for the second time that day I sucked it up and took the lead.

 It actually wasn't that bad...or so I thought in the beginning.  It didn't seem too high up and my constant argument with heights didn't seem to be happening.  "This is going to be easy and a little boring"  I thought to myself.  Right Emmie, don't count your chickens before they hatch.

It was going pretty smooth and I made it to the first platform without freaking out.  Sweet, for once in my life I can do these things and make it through without hesitation and holding every one else up.  Ha ha way wrong!!!

The next part started out just as smoothly but didnt last that way for very long.  The 10 inch wide platform started angling up at 45 degrees and there was no platform at the next change over, it was just in between two trees.  I froze.  Fuck! " Mom!" I yell back.  I don't think I can do this!!  I looked behind me.  I didn't want to hold up my group as they were getting closer.  I looked ahead of me ohhh, why do I always do this to myself! With shaking knees I slowly put one foot in front of the other and held on to the sidde ropes for dear life.  The more  the platform inclined the more I shook. Look straight ahead Em, don't look down or behind you just keep moving forward.  That's it one foot in front of the other.  That's it; that's it.  Yes.  I made it.  I let out a deep breath, I was at the change over.  I just had to switch my ropes over to the next line.  Hmmm....the first switch there was a platform but this one is in between two trees.  Me and heights is one thing but the thought of having to let go is not something I was keen on.   "Mom, can you  help me?"  She comes up behind me  "You okay?"  "Yes, I just don't want to let go to switch to the other line."



Selfie moment ....







































It went on like this for about an hour, though it leveled off at one point and didn't get any higher thank goodness; and when my heart started to slow down and my knees stopped shaking I took a look around.   It was beautiful.   We were up in the trees,  green all around us.  It was quiet, and peacful with little bits of light trying to make it's way through the trees.   It's always worth pushing myself, even when I am scared shitless it is always worth it and I never regret it.

We both made it through  the walk in one piece....Mom did amazing.  I think that is why I pushed myself and didn't freak out as much a I normally would.  I mean I did but it was more internal...I wasn't as vocal.  I wanted to be brave for her as she is not used to doing this stuff and I wanted her to feel safe.  She didn't even hesitate when the treetop walk finished with a small zipline!!!

The next part of the tour we had a bit of a background on the natives that lived in Collingwood and then from there we went over to the scenic caves.   I was pretty stoked to see the scenic caves as I have never been to them.   We didn't spend much time there as it was just a small tour through them but I was pretty impressed.  It really amazes me sometimes that I travel all over the world and some of the coolest most beautiful things are in my own country or in the case my own backyard.   I definitely want to go back to the caves and do a full tour.

The last part of our excursion ended with a zip line though this one was quite a bit bigger than the first one.

Surprisingly I wasn't nervous...I was actually pretty stoked!  Mom was pretty calm.  "

You okay mom?"  

"yup"  

"Are you nervous?" 

 "No,  I'm actually pretty excited!"

I couldn't believe this was my mom.   This is so out of her element yet she was such a team player and was more relaxed than i expected!   I was super proud of her.

Now it's my turn.  They strapped me in.  Instead of waiting and holding my breath and saying "oh no, I don't think I can do this"  I hoped off the platform and let myself go.

Woohoo it was awesome and so not scary.   I was above the trees and able to see everything around me.   I was even brave enough to let go and take a selfie while racing along.  

I was disappointed it had to end...what a ride.  I unlatched myself and waited as I knew mom wouldn't be far behind me.  I thought I could see her, a little speck just through the trees...and then...very faint off in the distance and then louder and louder I could hear "woooooohoooooooo!"  She broke through the trees!
"That was so much fun."  She said.
It sure was.  Thanks for a great adventure.  Happy Birthday Momma Bear!

 Maybe next year we can go sky diving!!!

                                                                                                           - My Beautiful Life -

The Slopes

                                           (me enjoying a sunny day on the slopes)


I can't believe I have been home over a year....it's crazy.   You know what else is crazy?  This winter season.   Seriously...I think Mother Nature has gotten a little confused.   We didn't get snow till basically New Years Eve...it was pretty much fall up until then....we were still hiking in running shoes and hoodies,  but the snow did come....late...but it arrived and then left just as quickly.

I'm not saying we didn't have a winter season...we totally did...and I was stoked!   I had totally missed having a snowy winter last year in Peru - not complaining about spending my days around the pool - especially spending the winter before at Big White.

I had some pretty awesome days out on the slopes.  The first day was a lot of fun.  I met up with a friend from work and we ended up running into heaps of people from work.  Every time more and more joined our group we were like "is there actually anyone working today?"


We were out all day!  We rode from one side of the mountain to the other...it was great.  It felt so good to ride, get my muscles working and clear my head.  I rode mostly the green hills and didnt go through the glades or anything....it was my first day back out in about two seasons (last year was only end of season when I got back) so I wanted to take it easy and get used to my boarding legs.  Plus ...my board was freshly waxed and I was flying down the hills....man it felt awesome!  No one was in a rush and got upset when they had to wait for someone to catch up (usually me), everyone was chill and rode leisurely...we honestly had no cares in the world that day.   We went for drinks and burgers at one of the bars at the bottom of North side -  its Blue Mountains' first/original bar and one of my favourites.  The live music in there is always awesome,  the service is good,  the food and the drinks are cheap and the vibe is always the best.  We ate,  drank a pint, did a shot, drank another pint, drank two more shots, ordered a pitcher, did a few more shots....you get the picture. Definitely not the best idea when we still had to get back out on the hill and make our way to central....we all made it in one piece.   It was a great day!



I got one night of night riding in which was pretty sweet and not busy at all.   I pretty much only rode The Orchard this season.   Its the newer runs that opened two seasons ago and they are awesome and hardly as busy as everywhere else.  I don't know why....to me it's the best part to ride yet its never packed. Except Friday mornings when they have ski school.

Anyways the one night I got out was really nice - I again went with a friend from work.   It was f@#%ing cold though....obviously we are super warm in our gear but it doesnt mean that you dont get a chill....and it's always colder on the chair lift.   It was bearable as long as I didnt have to take my gloves off for an extended amount of time - 30 seconds.   Night boarding seems more relaxed and the surroundings just seem more....oh I dont know...its hard to explain but its a different feel.

There was this one area of trees that is right next to the snowblower so the trees get a blanket of snow that hangs and and droops the tree....it reminded me of a fresh powder fall at Big White - and the moon was a big ball of bright white sitting perfectly centred over the trees...I felt like I was in a different world and not in my backyard at Blue Mountain.


                                                                                                         - My Beautiful Life -