Eid Camping (UAE) - November 16-17, 2010

Off we go for another adventure.  There were more caches on the agenda for this morning.  Again we saw some neat landscapes.  The first picture reminded Wayne and I of place called Goblin State Park in the US due to the mounds of hard packed mud and silt (first picture).  We ended up in a quarry so obviously they were somewhat man-made but still neat looking.  The other neat thing they did at the quarry (just realized I forgot to take a picture) was that they mined the surface gravel but left mounds around all of the trees.  So there are solitary trees standing on platforms / islands of gravel about ten feet above the mined ground level; the entire area covered many square km.  In the second picture we are off on a hike and hunting for a TravelBug Hotel (it's a geocaching thing).

One of our adventures took us to a cool cave.  It wasn't very big but it had an opening out the top.  Patrick thought he would try to climb out it.  He was very close to making it too!

Patrick has taken up surfing in the Omani desert.  He should be a champion, look at that balance :)  Once again Wayne takes a rest while Patrick finds the geocache hiding spot!

We were planning on staying in Oman for both nights, but plans change.  We weren't too happy with what we saw for camping spots so headed to one of our favourite nearby spots in the UAE; Fossil Rock.  One good thing about being super early risers in the morning we are able to get our exploring done early and still have our camp ready for an evening hike and some play time on the dunes.

We were close to some rock outcrops (about 1.5 km away) that had a cache.  We didn't have the coordinates but had tried last year and remembered the general area so thought we would give it a go.  Besides it was a nice hike.  Our goal was to be there by sunset.  We were successful on all fronts (cache found, sunset recorded)!

On the return hike we picked up some more big pieces of firewood that we dragged back.  The campsite and fire were awesome!

The next morning it was actually quite cold for us these days (<15 degrees?).  Wayne had the kids bundled up while I got the fire going, I think he just wanted the snuggles.  The middle shot was through the heat waves of the fire - I so totally took it that way on purpose ;)

After breakfast we tore down and went for a walk.  We found all kinds of bug tracks, some bird tracks that snatched the bugs, and some bigger tracks; Wayne thinks they were from a fox.  The kids had fun following them and speculating what the animals were doing.  While we were loading the truck the kids got playing in the sand making tunnels.  They decided that they would like to do that for a while so Wayne and I actually got some chillaxing and quiet reading done.

A very lovely three days / two nights of camping.  It was a nice week off, relaxing at the end and time to get caught up on the blog :)

Eid Camping (Oman) - November 15-16, 2010

We started our camping trip with a First to Find (FTF) Geocache before we left the city.  It was our first FTF in the UAE and there was a prize for the first one to it.  So now we have a new addition to the family who lives on our antenna.  The kids have nicknamed him Geo!

It didn't take long to get to Oman and the border crossing was easy; they just asked if we had passports and didn't even want to see them.  We drove to our planned campsite and then realized that it was not what we were looking for (rocky and exposed).  We ended up exploring for a better campsite and doing our planned geocaches.  Off in the distance we watched a thunderstorm role through.  You could see the rain coming down and even a bit of lightening. 

In the area we were in, you could see that people just drove wherever they wanted.  There were faint roads but tracks crisscrossed all over the place which made it fun for Dad.  There was some really neat scenery but pretty rocky and sparse for camping.

We decided to have lunch and check out our handy dandy UAE off-roading book for other potential camping spots.  I found one that looked like it could be really good (pools by Shuwayhah), so we set off for going deeper into Oman.

Here is where we actually crossed the boarder (figured it out that the other was just a police checkpoint).  It was still pretty easy, this time they just asked if we had Oman insurance.  It was neat to watch the terrain change from really angular and sharp edged hills to more rounded landforms.   Since it was now getting on in the afternoon we hurried to our proposed campsite....and what a site it turned out to be!  I think it is one of the best we have seen so far.   It was near the start of a wadi and I think it must have been a farm at one time because it seemed the palms were all terraced with low rock walls.  It made for a great camp site - shaded under the palms and sandy.  Wayne and Samantha both seem to think it is fun to sweep a campsite yet not so much at home. :)

Set up was easy because the kids headed off to explore the palms and we could back the truck right up to our site.  Below is where we set up and the view from our tent.

After everything was ready we set off for a hike to the pools.  The pools were not as deep as they used to be because the water is used for irrigation these days but it was cool nonetheless. 

After exploring the pools, we decided to climb higher up to a plataeu.  From up high we could see the whole valley and other campers coming in for the night.

It was coming on to supper time so we headed back to get the fire going.  Tonight's supper was chicken burgers!  Man do I love the new grill. :)  The following pictures are of our site from the firepit, Patrick and Dad having a cuddle, and then everyone getting ready for marshmallows.  The fire was different because we were using palm fronds and the woody base of the fronds.  The fire seems to burn brightly for a bit and then dye down quite quickly. 

We were hoping for a bit of a sleep in because we were protected in the palms from the early sunrise but our kids seem to have the same internal clock set at a riduculous time that Wayne has.  So a morning hike was in order.  The kids and Wayne had gone for a bit of a wander in the dark with flashlights the night before so they showed me where they had gone.  Some nice views!  Our campsite is under those palm trees somewhere!

After our hike we tore down and had breakfast before heading off to a new spot with more caching and exploring to do.

First Camping Trip of the Season - November 12 & 13, 2010

We are so excited - it is finally cool enough that we can go camping!  Stuart, a colleague of Wayne's from the UK office was here for a week and before he flew out we took him for a one-night camping trip to Liwa.  What better place to experience camping in the desert than on the edge of the Empty Quarter by Moreeb dune.  On the way out to Liwa we did a few geocaches and some sightseeing along the way.  Below is a picture of a freestanding sand castle :)  We tried to get a closer look but started to sink (Stuart got stuck) so thought we should back up a bit.  Lesson learned - never follow a 5-yr old over quicksand.

We stopped for lunch at a beach and then were on our way again.  We got to our camp-site (same one as last year because we liked it so much) in the early afternoon.  Stuart and Wayne set up camp while the kids and I got the firewood.  Patrick is making a pit for the fire and I think Samantha is just playing.

Once everyhting was done we had some fun.  The kids and the boyz played with the aerobee while I scouted for some good pictures.  I was able to catch Samantha's wonderful form as she threw the aerobee.

The kids had been to the top of the huge sand dune a few times already and had decided that it was time that the grown ups tackled it.  So once again I found my out of shape self climbing this MASSIVE sand dune.  Stuart is giving us his victory sign for making it to the top.  While at the top (but not really the top if you remember the photos from last year) we did a bit of exploring.  The kids went higher while we walked along the ridge.  When it was time to head down, Stuart and Wayne decided to have a race down.

Once down we checked to make sure eveything was ready for supper (for when we got back) and then headed out for a sunset walk on the dunes.  We had walked about a km (Wayne's estimate, mine would be that the tent and truck were seen as specs) we decided it was time to head back and have some supper - hot dogs on an open camp fire.  YUMMY!!

After listening to the four wheelers come close several times through the night the sun had arrived.  Patrick got the fire back up for coffee and toast.  Wayne found a grill to go over the fire which makes food time that much more enjoyable while camping; at least now we can have some variety and not just cheesy buns for lunch and supper and a PB sandwitch for breakfast. :)

Once we were all packed up we went to Moreeb dune where they race their trucks, dune buggies, bikes up the slip face (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moreeb_dunes).  The kids thought that they would give climbing it a try.  We were smart this time and let them have a go on their own!  You can just make them out about a third of the way up the hill.  Overall a wonderful camping trip was had, can't wait until Monday when we are going to Oman for a couple of nights of Wadi and Mountain camping.

Saying Good Bye to friends - November 5, 2010

Friends of Patrick and Samantha are leaving Abu Dhabi and moving to Doha, Qatar during Eid.  They had a get together of friends to have one last goodbye.  We decided to do a few geocaches on the way out to the hotel where the party was.  This one below was with a different view of the Grand Mosque.

Here is Patrick with his friends Luca and Calissa.  Calissa and her brother Noah (Sam's friend) are the ones moving.  The kids had a wonderful time playing together while the grown-ups chatted.  Why is it that you just start making friends and then someone has to leave?  Our kids were very sad to their friends go; they will be missed.

Character Parade - November 4, 2010

Here are a few pictures of the kids at the school "Character Parade" (read Hallowe'en).  Samantha's class were the black sheep from Baa Baa Black Sheep.  With her in this picture is her best friend Skye.

The Grade 2's were doing seasons and Patrick's class was winter.  Patrick decided to be a blizzard at night.

Foggy Morning in Abu Dhabi - October, 2010

A foggy morning view from our apartment....

Hallowe'en - October 31,2010

This was a doublely exciting day becasue not only could the kids get dressed up and go ask for free candy but Dad was coming home.  He had been in Guelph for a week for work.

During the week the sign up sheet had gone up in the lobby.  Patrick decided to go as a construction worker and Samantha was a ladybug.  Patrick even has a 5 o'clock shadow and the attitude to go with it.  You can't see them, but Samantha has some lovely red wings with black sparkly dots, to complete her outfit.

We decided to go trick or treating for an hour and then the last hour the kids wanted to hand out candy.  We were able to do our whole building in the hour and they got LOTS of loot.  I might even have to help them eat it. :D

Once candy handouts were done we were on our way to the airport to surprise Dad and pick him up.  What a busy day - will have some tired kids in the morning but worth it for the smiles they had for Wayne.

100th cache - Septmember 17, 2010

Not much to do here in the heat.  It will be another two months at least before we can get out and really do things.  The kids are already asking when we can go camping.  So it was another hot weekend and not a lot to do so we thought to do some GeoCaching in the morning close to home.  The final one of the day was our 100th and it happened to be a TB hotel.  It was very exciting.

First day of school - September 4, 2010

Today is the first day of school.  So of course they have to stand for the manditory first day photos.

Here they are getting silly, I wonder what Wayne is doing behind my back...

Of course, silly faces.  You'd think I would know that by now.

The kids and I had a wonderful first day of school.  It should be a good year for everyone.

Last Week in Canada (NOTL- August 16-24, 2010

We are in our last week of summer vacation and I can't believe how the time has flown.  Wayne was able to get in the use of some power tools since he had gone into withdrawal in Abu Dhabi.  Afterwards there was also a lot of playing going on in the lake with Grandad, Dad, and the kids.  Look out Patrick and Dad here comes Samantha and Grandad to knock you over!

We also got in a great sail.  I think Grandad was getting us wet on purpose! The kids loved it - the more waves the better.

We had a family & friends party weekend with lots of yummy food to eat (thanks to the talented Chef Patrice).  There were also lots of shinagins going on in the lake and plenty of laughs and chit chatting as well.  There may have even been a bit of  "partying" taking place as well.  Kristen are you really drinking scotch; or maybe just holding it for Jhenn?! :)

Kids of all sizes were in on the action at the raft.  I think the bigger ones had the upper hand at one time but the smaller ones were able to hold their own when they managed to knock off Andrew.

At one point we convinced the kids to go play in the field so that we could even get in a bit of "grown-up time".  I think Rob even got a few ZZZ's (as usual).

There is twinkle toes Kinnear!  Once again there was too much food but it was all sooooo good.

It was a long day so some downtime for the kids with a movie was in order.  Wait is that the buzzy bee I see - look out Grandad!  That thing just keeps on going....

For those that were able to stay overnight, there was a morning boat ride up the river.  What a nice way to end a lovely weekend with your family and friends.

Well that ends our time in Canada and it is back to Abu Dhabi to start Year 2.  We all had an awesome time with everyone in NOTL, Dacre, Ottawa, New Hamburg, Oshawa, Guelph, and Salem, and will be counting the days until we are back for more visits.

Hillibilly Colterman Reunion - (Dacreville - July 29 to August 8, 2010)

Well we arrived back at Mom and Dad C's place for the week.  We picked up Wayne and had lots of visiting, geocaching, and getting ready for the big Hillbilly Colterman Reunion!  We also celebrated Gram turning 90 this year!

Uncle Peter and Aunt Karen did a wonderful job on the welcome gateway! 

There was fun had by all big and small.  Of course Gram was supervising and kept us all in-line :)

There were games and of course the big fishing derby.  Marie, Lori and I decided not to go fishing but to head out for a canoe ride.  Marie thought to start a water fight but as you can see I had a paddle so won that round!  :)  Samantha came with us as we explored Gram's lake and did an aweful lot of zig zagging around the place.  Wayne took the kids out fishing in a paddle boat but they had to come back in when Patrick actually caught something and they didn't have anything to put it in.

There were a lot of cheers going around!!  *hiccup*

As with all Colterman get togethers there has to be food and tonnes of it!  We had to borrow an army mess hall tent to hold it all!  ...and there is Gram in the thick of things. 

It has been a very long time since all the "kids" were home at the same time, so of course we had to get lots of family group shots. :)  The third picture is of Gram with almost all of the great-grandkids.  I think the great-grandkids out number the grandkids now.

Some more random shots of the hillbillies!

This year it was Aunt Diana and Uncle Stan's 25th anniversery so we celebrated that as well.  See the common theme here.... Anything for a party!!  :D  What is a wedding without the kissing shot during supper?

And this concluded our lovely visit in Dacreville for the summer.  It was great seeing everyone for the reunion to catch up, play games, enjoy each other's company and to do lots and lots of laughing.  The campfires and songs were awesome.  Samantha still wants to sing the "unicorn song" whenever we have fires during our camping trips.

This was not the last time we got to see Mom and Dad though.  We meet up with them again at Aunt Dot and Uncle Doug's while Wayne was gayming with his buddies.  Here we got to enjoy their relaxing island, pool and company.  As par for the course at Uncle Doug's pool there has to be some kind of water fight going down!  Patrick was the smart one and took cover in the pool house!

We had a wonderful time this summer up in Dacreville.  Until next year when we can do it all over again! :)