. November 2016 .
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| There the occasional colourful sunset around here |
Hello again and welcome back!
November's been and gone. The year is almost done as well!
We didn't go far this month. Well, Michelle went a long way...around the roads and up the streets in a Triathlon, while the kids clocked up a few miles in the pool and the sea! Dave played a game of rugby...and is still suffering! And went to another one in Chicago and suffered after...
Enjoy the read...it's the last until 2017!
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| Mr. Sand Crab was being friendly at the beach one day |
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| The sunset is turning everything pink! |
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| Some nice colours |
Triathlon
So, as we said earlier, Michelle entered in the annual Cayman Tri earlier in the month. The week before she was in a relay run with her friends, called the 10-10-10 where they ran 10k each. Michelle did the last leg thinking it would be good training for the tri, given the time of the run would be around the same time as the tri, and it was the same distance. The run ended up being awful - she started off a bit too fast, trying catch a guy in front of her, then couldn't keep up the pace. The weather was really warm and she had to stop for water. Once she stopped and walked the first time, she found that she kept wanting to stop and she ended up doing quite a lot of run/walking for the last half of the race. The good thing was that when she ran it was at a reasonable pace - the bad thing was that she was walking about every 500m!! She got to the end very apologetic to her team mates - she was the slowest of the team, which was very unusual for her. This did not bode well for the tri which was the following weekend and she worried about the run all week.
She was first individual woman out of the water and managed to hold that position on the bike, although she didn't know any of that during the race as it was difficult to know who was in a team and who wasn't. It wasn't until the run that she knew she was in the lead as the Race Director announced it each time she went past during the 4 legs of the run - she knew she wasn't the fastest runner so all she had to do was run strong and hold on. Easier said than done that's for sure - it was pretty warm and she was starting to struggle in the last couple of laps - she made sure she stopped for water, which gave here a chance to get her breath back each time but she didn't want to walk too much as she knew there were others gaining on her. Just after the turn around on the last leg she was passed by a really good runner - Michelle wasn't sure if she was in a team or not but either way, there was no way she could keep up with her - she was just too strong. Michelle kept running and managed to hang on to the end - she had come in 2nd!
She wasn't taking too much notice of her time or placing cos it was all she could do not to fall over - she grabbed hold of the fence as her body started to shake and she was unable to move with help. The Red Cross ladies got her on the ground and gave her lots of water and gatorade - they thought she was a bit dehydrated. After lying there for about half and hour, she was feeling much better but as she went to get up her legs cramped up - it was so painful that she yelled out. She had to get them massaged out - unfortunately, it was so bad that every time she kept trying to get up she would cramp up - she was in a bad way - she was more dehydrated that they thought so they called an ambulance. She was mortified - "I don't need an ambulance, I just need help to get up!" but the ambulance came. They talked to her about how she was feeling and helped her get up and move around a bit - once she got moving she started to feel much better - the blood was moving and she stopped cramping. She was able to convince them that she didn't need to go to the hospital and she sent them on their way. By this time everyone had packed up, and thankfully her friends had sorted out her gear for her (Dave was away in Chicago which was another reason she didn't want to go to the hospital!). She ended up being able to go the prize giving which she was very happy about and found out her run time was faster than her leg in the 10-10-10 the previous week!!
Upon a bit if research it turns out the winner (in the middle) is a US Olympic trialist marathon runner, who had only been on island 4 days!
That afternoon she decided to go to the beach with Jake and her friends but that turned out to be a bad idea - even though she kept off the booze and tried to stay in the shade, she ended up with a headache and not feeling too well - there's only so much water you can drink! In hindsight, perhaps she should have gone to the hospital for an hour for a saline drip - talk about stubborn!
Meanwhile in Chicago....
So, you may recall that the All Blacks were playing in Chicago in early November. Dave decided to head on up there and check out the action. He was traveling with a couple of Irish fellas (Mick and Deegs), but they'd be pretty quiet, especially after the All Blacks cleaned them up as per the plan...
Anyway, we made it to Chicago unscathed and proceeded to check out the local fare with ex-Cayman-now-Chicago rugby Coach, Dave Clancy leading the way. We found a couple of bars, mixed with the locals and got into the swing of things!
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| Chicago was already in party mode after the Cubs won the World Series. This was right outside our hotel the next morning. |
After battling through the parade, we found ourselves on Navy Pier doing the tourist thing. That didn't last all that long and we found ourselves sitting in a nice little bar on the boardwalk.
The weather was perfect!
The beers were OK.
We soon realised that we needed to get to Toyota Park to watch the Maoris play USA. Toyota Park was nowhere near where we were...
We had planned to meet Dino and Dorothy there before the game, where they would put on a couple of beers for us. Dino (Wayne) is a good mate (and cousin) of Dave's and Dorothy is his lovely wife. We stayed with them in Baltimore a few years back when we had a white Xmas in the US. But that's another story.
So we headed back to the hotel to hatch a plan. Didn't want to miss the pre-match festivities!
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| Hatching the plan with Mick and Deegs. |
So, after hatching quite a number of plans, we wandered out to the street and high-jacked a taxi driven by some dude (Daweed) from Malawi, or Congo or somewhere.
Anyway, he eventually got us to the park....
Next job, find the Tail Gate party.
Across the carpark in the distance we saw a red car. That must be it! After a few minutes and as we got closer, the car drove off. Bugger...
We then spotted what we were looking for...a tall guy with beers.
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| Our awesome Tailgate! |
We were impressed. They had beach chairs, a gas barbecue, a cooler full of interesting yet wholesome beers, food cooking and even beer coozies! And these guys don't even live in Chicago!
They had gone to some camping store and bought all of the kit. True!
But we learned that the store has a fairly open interpretation of their return policy, and they take everything back! (except the empty beers I'm picking). Awesome! Cheaper than renting!
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| Dino and Dave - pre-Maori Game. |
So, after a few beers, some hot bbq food and a few more beers, we headed across to the game.
Made it just in time for the Haka. Perfect!
The AB's management and hangers-on were in the box just behind us. See anyone you know?
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| OK, so our finger pointing isn't quite up to scratch.... |
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| Maori Haka |
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| Those beers are a decent size! |
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| A win to the good guys! |
After game, we came out and Daweed had ditched us, but we managed to thumb a ride back to town with another Taxi Driver (complete with Navigator - OK four navigators really...and a mini bar).
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| It's around here somewhere! |
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| The Limo was well stocked |
After a fun ride back to town, we found ourselves back at our hotel, which suddenly seemed to be over run by Kiwis. So, the evening carried on...
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| A real mix of NZ shirts |
The next morning we were up at sparrow-fart - actually that was probably Mick. But we were up and ready to go. After a quick tomato juice served by Helga the barmaid, we headed over to soldier field for another Tailgate party. This one was put on by the local rugby club and our contacts got us in for that.
Free beer, cider, food and gin?
Stayed away from the gin...
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| Deegs, Mick and Dave pre-game at Soldier Field (Mick's antennae is a bit askew) |
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| The Venue |
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| AB Haka and Irish '8' |
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| Dino and Dorothy were in amongst it! |
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| Why are those Irish eejits smiling so much.... |
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| At least one Waimo was at the game! |
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| Post game...mobbed by Irish fanatics....I'm just seeing if there are any flights available.... |
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| In the Black Corner |
So, we made our escape from the carnage that was Soldier Field and met up at a bar not to far away.
The evening was just beginning. The Irish were happy (and there was a lot of them!).
They were also happy to buy the odd Kiwi a beer or a shot or two...
We went to a few Irish bars around town, and a few others as well. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.
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| Even the Bride took time to come and mingle with the Rugby crowd |
We even found a restaurant that was happy to take some rugby supporters in for some dinner. That was nice of them!
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| Ooh look, that looks flash! |
So, after some dinner and a few more quiet palate-cleansing ales, it was time to mosey on home.
We had a great time catching up with Dino and Dorothy. A very cool couple.
Lets do it again sometime!
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| Cheers Guys! |
Sunday morning was a slightly slower start. Mick and Dave headed out for a wander about town.
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| Found Mick's favourite street |
We also found the bean!
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| The Bean |
And after some more wandering about, and failed attempts to find what we were looking for, we ended up back at our hotel, hatching quite a few plans and then finally, off to...another Irish bar...
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| As luck would have it, Dave got to spend his last night in Chicago with another bunch of Irish lunatics. |
Monday...travel day...not much said.
About 15 folk from Cayman traveled back together...hardly saying a word. Sunnies on the whole way.
But we made it back (just!) despite the Airline actually losing our plane.
A great trip. Rumour has it the AB's might go to New York next year...
More pics from Chicago - Click Here!
Dave did play in an oldies game back here in Cayman the week after Chicago. There was a visiting team from California in town.
The game went well, and the locals ended up beating the visitors. Unfortunately Dave got a hit in the ribs late in the game, and has been suffering a bit ever since! Slowly coming right though. He started running again the other day...
Randoms
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| Jake studying hard for exams |
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| Girls night out for Michelle's birthday |
Dave and the kids took Michelle out for dinner on her birthday to a lovely Italian restaurant. Then the girls went out on the Friday for a few Margaritas and then on to Boogie nights...pretty sure they all agreed to wear wigs or hats but not sure what happened to that! They had fun and Michelle enjoyed standing out in the purple wig!
Swim Meet
The annual Pirate's week swim meet is held in November at the Lion's Pool.
It was a four session event (Thurs & Fri night and then Sat and Sun mornings). Unfortunately Michelle had to work as meet Referee for all sessions dues to other Referees being unavailable, so she was pretty shattered by the end of the weekend.
Both Sam and Jake showed some improvements in their times and had some good races.
Monday was a holiday...but not for the swimmers! The Pirate's 5k Sea Swim was on. Dave took the kids so that Michelle got to have a sleep in for a change
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| And look who turned up on the beach! |
Russ was down for the week working, but we managed to catch up a few times, and have a quiet beer or two!
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| Start of the 5 k. |
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| And the finish! |
The pics during the race aren't that exciting...
Both kids swam well with Sam coming in 10th overall (3rd female) and Jake 11th!
Sam won her age group and Jake came 2nd in his.
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| "I wasn't far behind you!" |
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| Sam receiving her trophy from Lara (one of Cayman's recent Olympians). |
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| The top 10 - the girl who won it is one of the top open water swimmers in the US. |
After this, they all went across the road and gorged them selves on bacon and eggs and pancakes and all that good stuff!
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| Busy day in George Town! |
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| Anniversary Brunch |
December Happnins...
- Michelle does the Half Marathon
- The kids swim in the Coconut Cup
- We head to a secret location in the US for a Xmas holiday (before Xmas). But apparently Cajun food is popular, as is a bit of Jazz...
- Some visitors pop in for Xmas and some time at the beach
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