never say never …

Elaine was quite sure she’d not return to coaching Gymnastics.

But here she is. It could be 1990 all over again. :-).

ET coaching

Elaine coaching

related – Sandy was just as sure she’d never be a cycle commuter. 🙂

Sandy

farewell Port Townsend

I’ve been hanging around for WEEKS, seems. Gymming, hiking, biking

But today at 5am I’m off to Coeur d’Alene on a Tumbl Trak Ambassador visit.

Last night in town we celebrated my departure at Dos Okies Barbecue and the Pour House.

pork

THANKS once again to Doug and Diana for their kind hospitality. James stays on for another week or more.

doug diana Rick James

more LAST NIGHT photos

Gymnasts at Emma Lake

Warren and Sandra hosted Warren’s group of gymnasts from Taiso up at their Emma Lake cabin this weekend.

The highlight was time spent trying not to drown. 🙂

wind surfer

catamara

Spring has sprung at Emma.

Spring Emma

Millions of dragonflies. Millions of mosquitoes.

dragonfly

Food was GREAT. Thanks Sandy.

dinner

bonfire

See a few more photos.

Colin Lorback gone walkabout

My old friend Colin, many years at University of Winnipeg, returned to his burned or burnt country of Australia for retirement.

March 4th, 2013 he said goodbye to his 93yr-old Mom and jumped into his used 19 foot pop top Caravan. It has a 3-burner gas cooktop and gas gorilla, built-in fridge, a roof mounted air conditioner

He (and friends at times) are on the road in Aussie for a year.

Colin L

Follow Colin on his blog

ColStrip

departing Abuja, Nigeria

The new, planned city of Abuja is impressive.

“… the best purpose-built city in Africa as well as being one of the wealthiest and most expensive … “

Last day we made a driving tour of the modern city center. The National Cathedral is close to the National Mosque.

Nat Cathedral

Nat Mosque

The highlight for me was a children’s park and small zoo at the foot of Zuma Rock.

giraffe

P1170563

P1170581

My last night, some of the expat parents took me out to a new, gorgeous Club and restaurant. They had plenty of stories describing the challenges of living in Nigeria. But have no worries about their children living in Abuja. It’s safer than Las Vegas, Chicago or Toronto.

more interesting photos tagged Abuja, Nigeria

I’m off to see my friends in Senegal. Another week long Gymnastics Camp.

Abuja … first impressions

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. …

… a planned city, … built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria’s capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos …

Similar to Brazil’s planned capital, Brasília.

… the unofficial metropolitan area of Abuja is well over three million …

In light of the ethnic and religious divisions of Nigeria, plans had been devised since Nigeria’s independence to have its capital in a location deemed neutral to all parties. …

Abuja is known for being the best purpose-built city in Africa as well as being one of the wealthiest and most expensive

I arrived one day prior to the start of my gymnastics coaching course. Have not yet had much time to see the city.

First impressions: Churches, buses, chickens, music, relaxed, smiling people. Touts all tried to wave me on to the various different night buses to Lagos.

Abuja bus

One rat in the trash, looking quite relaxed, too.

The rainy season is just starting.

more interesting photos tagged “Abuja”

Rick at Great West Gym Fest

I’m proud to have been a part of Dave Adlard’s Great West Gym Fest, easily the best gymnastics competition I know.

Again for 2013 I was responsible for website – GreatWestGymFest.com – and social media.

Most of each day you’d find me wandering the gym with cameras.

Rick at GWGF

Our Facebook page was very active. But our Twitter feed nearly dead. It’s not caught on yet amongst gymnasts in the Pacific N.W.

Our best photos are posted on flickr. Most were taken by Victoria.

march in

double back Bars

Photographer Victoria with triple Olympian John Roethlisberger
Photographer Victoria with triple Olympian John Roethlisberger

I posted a number of videos, the best of which is my entry into a new contest.

The Great West Gym Fest is AWESOME.

Click PLAY or watch a promo video on YouTube.

If that video on Facebook gets the most LIKES by midnight March 24th, 2013, I’ll win $500. … And if yours is the deciding LIKE, I’ll split half with YOU.

Promise. 🙂

Hola Panama, El Salvador

Saturday I’m headed to Panama City for a week.

800px-Panama_city

And then San Salvador.

Catedral_de_San_Salvador

Volunteering in both nations for the International Gymnastics Federation. 5-day coaching courses.

The reason? … It’s freezin’

From there I’ll join my parents, brother Rob, dog Pete and entourage in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Havasu

Weep for me.