Well, I must say, I am getting some slack on this blogging racket. Actually, we haven't had a storm day in so long and that WAS the only opportunity that I had to do a bit of blogging. Now, I figure I must get more done before the rain washes our ski season clean clip away. (not sure if I spelled that correctly, but it's something my father always said,,,,clean clip)....
So I was just browsing through my ebooks,,,,,I mean my email from Graham and decided to pick out some stories, comments, questions that would be great to keep in cyberspace for future reference. The first one I came upon was the BOOT story. Now I know we have all read the boot story....I'm sure it was even in the Globe and Mail and on LiveIreland radio just the other day......but you know what,,,,it's a keeper....so here it is again. I just wish I had a picture of those boots....


Alas ... I Must Replace My Boots! Maybe!

Tens of thousands of kilometres have passed under my Salomon skating boots since I first laced them up in 1987. My dear old ski boots have been the instruments that have delivered the power to my skis for more than twenty years. They've skied a multitude of events during those years from the "Around the Whaleback" marathons of the '80s, to the Gatineau 55 of the '90s, to the almost biannual provincial marathons hosted by Whaleback in recent years. They've supervised 12 years of Jackrabbit skating lessons; endured five 7-11 Marathon Ski Tours from Stephenville to Corner Brook and made enough circuitous routes of the Whaleback Nordic Ski Park to launch the average skier into a constant state of dizziness. To say that they are well-used would be understating the obvious.
Now many of my friends have looked at my old duct-taped boots and pleaded with me to buy a new pair. My wife being the most ardent subscriber of that plea has often said, "Graham, it's embarrassing to see you wearing those old things! I'm buying you a new pair for Christmas!" Others have looked at me and said, "How cheap are you anyway? You're boots are gone b'ye ... get a new pair!" No doubt, I have many character flaws, but cheap I'm not! Just ask my three daughters who are certainly well financially fortified as they weave their way through what seems to be an endless series of post graduate degrees. And I can assure you, that more than once I've dug deeply into my pocket and bought a round for my friends in need at a Friday evening happy hour. So no, I'm not cheap. I just love my boots!
There are many at Whaleback who are downright embarrassed to even ski with me claiming that they don't want to be associated with a homeless Whalebacker. Bert Young for one, heads in the opposite direction whenever I stop on the trail for a chat because he's afraid that I might ask him to ski a few laps with me. Don't get me wrong ... I have enough character to handle the rejection and buddy Dan Rumbolt has supported me every dilapidating kilometre along the way and has never once denied me the privilege of a tour of the trails because of my shoddy footwear. However on several occasions Dan did tell me that skiers seem to be whispering in our wake and they often point downward in the direction of my boots.
On Sunday Cycle Solutions set up a demonstration of the latest ski gear at the chalet and while lacing up my trusty old skaters I noticed a fancy new pair of Madshus skating boots perched on the display table. And oh ... were they attractive! Shiny and new, workable zippers, new age insulation and festooned with the latest colourful graphics. They were dandies in the true stylish sense of the word. And furthermore, they could be mine for a mere $400. plus tax. What more could a retro-skier like myself ask for? As I caressed the "new and improved" skaters, I could feel a sobbing coming from the "soul"of my feet, the sort of sobbing that a parent hears as they stand outside a child's bedroom when the child has been barred up for being naughty. My boots seemed to be pleading with me and saying, "Master, can I have just one more year to prove my worthiness?"
Immediately, I placed the "new and Improved" Madshus S5 677s back on the table and proceeded out the door to the ski rack and as I snapped into my bindings the mournful sobbing vibrations in my feet subsided. As I skated Herringbone Hill I started humming "Rise Again .... Rise Again", the lively lyrics from the Stan Rogers' tune "The Mary Ellen Carter". You know, the tune about the ship resting on the bottom and hoping that it will one day rise up to the surface and be given another chance to ply its native waters. Was it coincidental, or were the lyrics symbolic .... "Rise Again! Rise Again!" ... Ah what a sweet ski it was ... boots that fitted like an extremely well-worn glove .. well-ventilated but a little drafty at times .... damp when wet snow penetrated the porous side panels ... But oh so comfortable!
Cycle Solutions called today. "Graham, you know those boots you were looking at on Sunday? We have a pair in your size. When would you like to pick them up, or would you like me to send them out to you." said Pete, the Cycle Solutions man. " Well Pete, thanks for the call, but I've changed my mind .... my old boots are just fine for now .... maybe next year."
I just found a new roll of silver duct tape. and as Red Green would say, "the colour sort of matches the boots." GO