Halloween and other great sporting events

Take a look at those puppy dog eyes... They tell a story! These two little ones "Own" their grandpartents.

I can't remember a better evening for Halloween over the past 100 years or so.

It was really fun to watch the little ones come around to "beg" for candy, they were so excited and thrilled to get stuff from door to door. Hunter and Marshal came over for some treats on there way to 'cruz' the cul-de-sac. Hunter is Spiderman and Marshal is a puppy.
Oh Deer!
Nola and I went for a drive up to Sundree. While on some back roads we came on this buck.
We had a nice drive, and then struggled to fuel up cuz there is a "fuel shortage" in Alberta. Give me a break! Like that makes any sense. We live in a crazy world. Some times I just shake my head, I don't get it. Too many new cars, not enough fuel, oil costs $150 bbl.... oh wait 90 days.... now oil costs $40 bbl.... I don't get it but this I know for sure, when it doesn't make sense, there's some manipulation going on somewhere.
Enough grupmin' .... Let's just hang out and grandpa will feed y'all candy when Mom isn't looking. I got busted here. Darn it I'm just not sneeky enough. The boys are sure fun, we love hanin' out with each other. Marshal is turning into a "grampa's boy". We hang out and play and eat and watch cartoons, what could be better?

This is a picture of the Navratil clan who attended the Temple with Cameron just before he left to Toronto for his mission. Lots of family and lots of support. It's nice to 'belong'. This is a great group to belong to and with.

Sunset off the back deck..... Wow that was a good one!

We live in such a nice part of the world and then to be treated with light shows like this from time to time is simply priceless.

Make a great day! mb

Family, Friends, Fun

We have a "boat load" "O" fun wth these electric skateboards. This has become a family fun time, pass time. We cruze to parks, to go get slurpees, or just cruze the neighborhood for the fun of it..... Lovin' it!

Nola and I went to Lethbridge to visit with Mom & Dad. They are in a nice lodge and are comfortable and enjoying the comradrie, and environment in their new home.

Dixie and Darrel had a feast at their place to celebrate (our nephew) Cameron's departure on his mission to Toronto. Good food a'plenty, plus family equals a great afternoon making memories.

Cameron Navratil will be "Elder Navratil" for the next 2 years, "good luck" and work hard Elder.



Family gathered around a fire cooking hotdogs and making smores = more great memories.

Hangin' out is great, thanks .... !

Great Adventure...

We started the day as a motorcycle ride/adventure to go from Calgary to Highway #40 "Kananaskis", then south to Longview and on to points beyond. Greg Wilson made the initial suggestion to ride on Saturday... I put the word out and Richard Clark said yes. So it was to be a 3 musketeers trip or is that 3 stooges? I'm not sure I guess it depends on who you ask. We planned to meet at my place and take off at 9 am, thinking that by then it would warm up a bit. Greg called at 9 and said he was running late and would meet us at Longview around 11am.

As we traveled out of Calgary on 22X, temperatures drop and it gets pretty cool. By the time we reach Brag Creek temperatures are hovering around freezing. Richard and I look over the situation and decide to continue into the Kananaskis on HWY 66 and take Powder Face trail ( a gravel pass ) that will connect with Highway #40 after it wiggles around the mountains a little. We're game for a little excitement and adventure.

As we left Bragg Creek area I said "Are you up for a little snow and gravel mixed?" We thought for a moment and of course neither one of us was about to say no to "A little Adventure".... So we're off. After a few close encounters with the local critters "deer" we got to the gravel road. Temperatures are now just below freezing and snowing lightly...

The scenery was ... as usual... tremendous. Even with the intensity of really slippery conditions it was just fantastic to be out "adventuring"...

Is it just me or does this remind you of "gorillas in the mist?"
I'm just asking! And I mean that in the nicest way!.... Bless his heart ;)

One of my auxilliary lights needs a little love after I slipped on one of the steep icy down hill sections... What's an adventure without a bruise or two?

Not super deep here, however there were places where the snow got deep and as it warmed up during the morning .... the tire tracks got ICY! Now that's sport..... a 700 lb motorcycle on snow, ice and gravel... What were we thinking.... ?

Powder Face took a lot longer than I expected! Consequently we (I) didn't make it in time to meet up with Greggy Wilson.


My day ends well. Hwy 40 is mostly clear, so I wick up the throtle, and rip it to Longview. Greg had called me 2 minutes before I arrived in Longview so I called him back but he was no longer available on his phone. So we missed eachother. Greg "I'm really sorry we didn't get to rip it today, I was looking forward to hangin' with you."

Marks Musings.... Today, I'm just plain grateful. Nature is amazing... We were able to stay warm... We were safe... on the edge a little but safe. We had a great adventure, saw some amazing scenery. Had some "yikes" experiences where your heart skipps and unusual language automatically comes into your mind and sneeks past your lips before you can say "Bob's your uncle". Gotta work on that. The equipment we had worked flawlessly, bikes were amazing as usual, layers of quality gear kept us warm and cozy. As they say in the Raymond news paper, "A good time was had by all."

Fall time in Calgary

End of the summer ..... time to squeeze in a few more adventures...

Nola and I took off for the weekend. We ended up logging in over 2,000 km around and through the interior of BC... Nieeece. Great time

Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful! Luckee...

Here we are ready to take off.

Nola is a really great motorcycle riding buddy. We really have a great time hangin' out.

Mom and Dad have moved into a lodge in Lethbridge, this picture was taken outside of the eatery where we had a family dinner after the move in. Mom and Dad are doing great, they have tons of issues but comment and complain rarely, and they do their best to look at the positive side of everything. They are shining examples to all who know them.

A trip to the 7-11 with Grandma & pa. The world is a good place, we enjoy each others company, and have a lot of fun and laughs together.

Marshal & Grandpa.... the 'midget' really likes to skateboard. When we ask him if he wants to go he will give a 'full body' nod of the head. Very cute, we like hangin' out together.

We went for a short ride early in the afternoon and ended up covering 300 km of beautiful fall colors, warm nice fall weather, even got up in the foothills on some great gravel roads. We ended the day @ Phoenix Grill and had a nice meal, before retiring. Great day with my bride.
Isn't she beautiful.....
The evidence of Fall is everywhere.

Even in our own backyard... Nieeeece!

It's been a wonderful Fall, Nola and I have been empty nesters for the past month or so. We have loved our time together unmolested by much of the stress and tension of the world. Austin is in Utah as an assistant to the director (read...... Go-fer) for a movie shoot that is taking place in SLC area as we speak. Carter is in SLC at LDS (every one knows your) Business College. We talk with the boys often and they tell us they are doing great. Girls are doing very well also. Holly is here in Calgary and Dylan is in the Atlanta area. The world moves along at an astonishing pace. Kids grow up and leave home, grandkids spring up .......and we still feel like we are newly weds (one of us even acts like they are 21). Odd isn't it? Maybe this is my que to "grow up".... I don't think I'd make a very good grownup ... so ...... Sorry to break it to ya, but I'm not ready to be a grownup yet. Maybe one day, but not any time in the foreseeable future. So in the mean time yer just gunna have to deal with it..... mark
Oh and "Happy Birthday Dear" luv mark...

Summer....

No blogging 'cuz ...

We bin' bizi'....

Bin "Bikin'"
Bin "Boardin'"
"Tandem"
Rock Bandin'

Jumpin' bikes

& Swimin'

Bin a great summer. We were all bizi doin' what we do, and havin' fun.
I am a blessed man. Wonderful wife, strong family, love and plenty right here in our own home... How cool is that?

Ready? Set? GO!

Carter and I are finally ready to go about noon Saturday July 12.

Our plan is to go south into the US and make it to Osoyoos BC, for Monday morning. ( I have a meeting at 9:00 am), then come home to Calgary.

This is in front of Holly and Jared's place. We are really ready to go here.

We push pretty good and get to Sandpoint Idaho, stop for fuel and check out the Bugs, this buggy mess is after about 40 minutes of riding. But what a great ride!

Whoosh! What did I get myself into? I should know better than to hang with that "Old Guy"... It's late and we need to sleep.

After we fuled up we found the LDS Church in Sandpoint and camped on the grass. Great sleep! We're up about 7 am go to get a Scottish breakfast at McDonalds. We clean up a bit and get ready to go to 9am Church.

On the way to church we stop and visit with this feller who chopped and rodded his 2 door chevy 150 waggon. Cool Kar.

After Church we push west and north and get to Winthrop, Twisp and North Cascade Pass. Great roads except for a freshly oiled section, it was nasty. Here's Carter on the Boxer Cup.

On the GO! Carter is a very good rider. It's great to hang with him.
We pulled over to get this picture. Very nice spot. Having a great time.
Me and the "Tractor".... What a great Tractor. Love this machine.
Hangin' out in the North Cascades... Niiieeeece!
We stop in Osoyoos and head north to Kelowna. We think we've outsmarted the "Construction Devils"... the joke's on us. Look at the traffic behind us, it goes as far as you can see.
Here we are Monday afternoon waiting for the Ferry, very nice spot.

Here are some fellow riders. They are out for a week or so Cruzin on their Harleys, Campin', and hangin' out. There is no such thing as a "Bad" motorcycle. The adventure is Great.

When I took this picture on Mcleod Trail after midnight, Carter thought he had just recieved a Multi-Nova (camera) ticket. I laughed hard. Great ride, nice ending.

Mark's Musings: I wanna ramble for a minute. We (Carter and I / Father and Son) spent 3 long days together riding hard going fast, and lovin' life. We are really fortunate to be able to have / make these adventures together. Carter, Thank You for taking the time and effort to hang out with yer DAD! I am a blessed man. "mark"

The Quick Trip Home...

I started to come home (Calgary) at about 8:00 am Sunday July 6th. As I was riding through Phoenix heading North I made the executive decision to go through Prescott, Jerome, and Sedona, then on to Flagstaff and points North. This is by no means the shortest route but definitly a fun and scenic way to head North on highway 93 and turning right on 89.

This is a shot of the narrow winding road into Jerome AZ, an old mining town, turned to be a tourist attraction. The town is built on a steep hill side with the main highway (89) switchbacking and acting as the main street to town. Cool spot.

At about 2:00 am, about 20 miles south of Sun Valley Idaho, I was so tired I began to halucinate animals on the road. Time for a power nap. I came on a rest stop and pulled in. I then set up camp on a picknick table, therma rest, sleeping bag and all. Boots off .... I estimate that about 45 minutes into my power nap ......... the automatic sprinklers came on, being really tired I didn't wake up right away.... thouroughly soaked and now not needing a shower, (already had a sleeping bag shower) I got up tried to get back to sleep on the asphalt parking lot, no luck so continue on. Stopped for fuel in Hailey and gulped a redbull... Good to go ... Kinda.
It is a good idea to pay attention to the signs. Or else be ready for a short nap.

As you get into the town of Ketchum / Sunvalley there is a road that goes North (Trail Creek) and hooks up to the Challis Road (highway 93) in about 80 miles of an amazing gravel road. This was early morning about 5:30.

I stopped when I spotted Lorne Arfman standing on a ladder in front of his clothing store in Salmon Idaho. Lorne is a great individual that I am honored to know. When I stopped Lorne let me know that his Brother in law, Bill Studebaker drowned in a kyaking accident on the 4th of July. We spoke of Bill and his accomplishments for a while ..... I left Lorne to work and I pushed North, on 93.

As I continued North out of Salmon, I reflected on Bill's fate. Bill Studebaker, who played the roll of professor, author, poet, activist, extreme adventurist, mentor, friend, example, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and many other rolls not mentioned here. A wonderful man who lived his life fully. Wide full open. He died while partaking in one of his lifes passions, Kyaking the Salmon river. He pushed hard and enjoyed much. Bill positivly influenced every one who spent enough time with him to know him. Even those of us who know Bill casually knew that when you were around Bill you were in the presence of a great individual. Thank You Bill. We will miss you. Thank You for setting the bar high, and for giving us the drive to live every day... Completely. A big hug and thank you to Judy, for sharing Bill with so many of us interlopers. We wish you well, and are sincerely sorry for your loss, Bill will be sorely missed by all who knew him. May God bless you and your entire family in this difficult time. Mark

I continued to push North and made it home around 10 pm Monday July 7, 38 hours after leaving Phoenix. A strong push. I was able to pack a lot of travel, distance, experience, and living into a pretty short time. Lovin' it. mb

Next: Father and Son go on "Rideabout"