Friday, June 18, 2010

the view from my tent


the view from my tent, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

what a terrific long weekend it was. May 2010.

birds, clouds, ocean


sunday tide birds, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

an inviting space to camp


a-series camp site, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

walking on clouds


walking on clouds, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

tracy in low tide with clouds

guardian


guardian, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

a lovely snowshoe with Jen in May, at Artist Point.

lake chelan from hanes point


lake chelan 051, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

Lady of the Lake boating travelers from the town of Chelan to Stehekin, about 50 miles north. We were close to the Northern end of the lake. It takes about 3 hours end-to-end with many stops along the way.

relaxing by Lake Chelan


lake chelan 065, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

beautiful weather by Lake Chelan, but oh was it ever windy and cold. April 2010.

Trail Maintenance with the Washington Trails Association


wta volunteer vacation 51, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

In late April I spent a week by lake Chelan, doing trail maintenance with saws, loppers, pulaskis and shovels on the beautiful Lakeshore Trail near Moore Point.

It was hard physical work, but freeing for the soul. A week in the wilderness, listening to great stories, eating good food, meeting interesting new people, doing good for the environment. What could be better? I am signing up again next year!

arc of infinity


arc of infinity, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

in April I converted my lesser-used Rebel XT into an infrared camera.

ruby return


ruby return, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

after all the craziness and the several months of seven-day weeks, I had to get away to a place that I love.

Back to Ruby, relax and recharge with good friends.

waiting


waiting, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

I saw two hockey games during the Olympics (men's hockey, women's hockey) but this game... this game... blew me away. Men's sledge hockey, US versus S Korea. What spirit! what force! and what humility. At the end of the game, there was a standing ovation, and not a dry eye in the house. The most spirited competition I had seen during any of the Games.

S Korea vs USA on Saturday March 13. The USA won against the Koreans, but oh did the Koreans ever put up a great defense. Over 85% of US shots were stopped.

Ice Sledge Hockey is the Paralympic version of Ice Hockey and, since its debut on the Paralympic Programme in the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games, it is quickly becoming one of the biggest attractions for spectators. It is fast-paced, highly physical and played by male athletes with a physical disability. Ice Sledge Hockey is practiced by athletes in about ten countries and is managed by the IPC through the International Paralympic Ice Hockey Committee.

It follows the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) with a few modifications. Instead of skates, players use two-blade sledges that allow the puck to pass beneath. They also use hockey sticks modified with a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting.

Opening Ceremony - Paralympic Games


opening ceremony 47, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

a beautiful, joyous and tremendously inspiring event at BC Place.

Today is the Day!


Today is the Day!, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

happy marching canadians


happy marching canadians, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

the Olympic Games ended on a fevered pitch, Canada won Olympic gold at hockey. The joy and elation in the streets was palpable. *everyone* descended on Dunsmuir street, and marched towards the corner of Robson and Granville. It was a peaceful, boisterously happy crowd, everyone wearing red hockey jerseys.

trading pins


trading pins, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

Olympic silliness, photo 2: trading pins. People went *crazy* for pins (ask me about my own collection!!) there were pins for various pavilions, supporting partners, even from previous Olympics. An innocent hobby that connected visitors to us, and to one another.

waiting for The Bay


waiting for The Bay, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

Olympic silliness, photo 1: waiting in line to buy Olympic shwag at the Bay. Some days, the line would go around the city block.

four host first nations


four host first nations, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

the Four Host Nations Pavilion was near the Power Smart Village. I spent a few hours there, a beautiful building and great programming.

Royal Canadian Mint


Royal Canadian Mint, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

one last one from the Mint... seen in the Royal Mint Pavilion during the Vancouver Winter Olympics earlier this year.

Royal Canadian Mint


Royal Canadian Mint, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

the famous $1,000,000 coin at the Royal Mint Pavilion during the Winter Olympics.

Royal Canadian Mint


Royal Canadian Mint, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

One fine evening during the Winter Olympics, Doug and I got into the Royal Mint pavilion without waiting in line. Beautiful sights to see.

final day of the cauldron


final day of the cauldron, originally uploaded by Vida Morkunas.

posting some favourite images from the Winter Olympics... Lots more on my Flickr site.