The Bentleyville Lights in Duluth

In Duluth we were lucky enough to see the Nutcracker ballet at the Duluth Entertainment Centre, before walking across to view these beautiful lights. The most amazing part is that these are a FREE spectacle for all and you can get free hot chocolate and marshmallows to toast as you walk around taking in the scenes. 

Of course it is winter here in the north, so the temperatures were a tad cold at a about -18C (before wind chill). 

The kids were so cold that they were in tears, as dad casually wondered around the paths of lights and photographed and videoed.
So, even though these are not the best photos and video of the lights, they will be shown - if only to justify freezing my poor little kiddly-pinks!!

Tunnel of lights at Bentleyville

Megan and Ash at Bentleyville

Kids at gateway to Bentleyville

My favourite spot - the free cookie hut

Coloured ship displays

Music linked Christmas tree

To better get into the mood and understand what this walk was like - open your freezer, strip naked and view the blog from INSIDE the freezer for half an hour, don't worry the freezer will be warmer!

Cycling to school

You're mad! That's crazy! You're what...!?
These are the usual responses from people at school when they hear or see that I am riding to school. The reason? Well the temperature has dropped a little over the past month and there was a cold snap the other week which subtracted a few more degrees from the daily temperature. More on that later, but for now let me describe my cycling attire. The picture below begins to give you some idea.

My riding kit BEFORE it got cold.

As you can see, riding conditions here don't lend themselves to t-shirts and short cycling knicks. The hat is windproof, (I usually wear ski goggles instead of sunglasses), the headphones keep my ears warm and I wear a face wrap and the dominatrix style mask over it. To keep my upper body warm I wear a thermal shirt under my long sleeve cycling top, under a windproof, lined outer layer. On my legs I wear both winter long legged cycling knix and 3/4 length cycling shorts. My hands are encased in two sets of  mittens, and my feet in two pairs of woolen socks inside goretex shoes (but still freeze by the time I get to school).
So why all the rig? For the better part of a week the temperatures were about -15C to -25C air temperature, but add in wind chill and the that drops about another 10C.
My current record riding temperature has been - 26C and with wind chill it made - 35C. By the time I get to school after a half an hour of riding, my mask is frozen, the headphones have major ice build up and my toes are stinging like crazy. It is just great fun!

Mum and Dad's visit

Recently mum and dad left Canada and returned to sunny Australia.They had been here soaking up the cold and sights for the past month. It was a great time for all of us. The kids absolutely LOVED having grandma and grandpa around and the feelings were reciprocated. Jill and I loved having them here as we were able to have a couple of nights out!
In the time that they were in Canada, mum and dad managed to fit in a  lot.; Vancouver, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They even hung around long enough to see the first snowfall for the season and enjoy some snow activities.
Below are some pictures from the time that they spent here.

Wedding Anniversary at Buschart Gardens, Vancouver

Sugar maple leaf In Vancouver.

Ash with grandma and grandpa at Niagara Falls.

After a ride on Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls.

Mum and dad laying on glass floor of CN Tower, Toronto.

Toronto zoo surroundings, October 2010.

Ian and dad at miners house, Silver Inlet.

Jill and mum in costume for Halloween.

Ash and Megan with grandparents at Casacade Falls, Mn.

The kids and grandparents at Gooseberry Falls, Mn.

Grandpa with his girls.

Grandma with the unnamed cat.

The proud first snow snowman builders.
 

Dressed to chill?

Snow bunnies enjoying the first day of snow.

An icy afternoon walk in Thunder Bay.

Talking about travel