Chile Part II

Our last installment had week one with Ride Guide covered, here we will pick up for the photoshoot and magazine story that became week two:

Chile 2010, week one blurred into week two at an appropriate pub in downtown Santiago. One day I was saying goodbye to Josh from the Ride Guide and the next it was hello to the Magazine and Rocky Mountain Crew. The pub auspiciously enough was called the 'Phonebooth' and we sat out on the patio as it was warm and British.,?

The crew for week 2 included, Jason Sumner on the pen, Chris Christie on Camera, Peter Vallance directing, Chris Winter media support and professional guide, with Wade, Dre and Curtis on bikes. Well we were all on bikes and our guide Marteen, winner of the Trans Andes and all around awesome ripper.

Hoist ye pints and we can begin our trip - Cheers and they were off. Our mission/itinerary/schedule was quit chock a block; get the catalogue shots, get the magazine shots, get some tourism shots and oh yeah have a good time. So it was with this in mind that our adventures began.

Day 1 - we had to shake out the plane ride and get the legs back into pedaling shape, so a quick rip around Santiago

Day 2 - A couple hours out of town through the vineyards and towards the coast, half way up a mountain; today turned out to host a view of Aconcagua (the highest peak in South America), a huge meat lunch and actually turned out to be 2 shuttles, sweet.

Day 3 - a.m. - Morning shoot in the downtown area.

Day 3 - p.m. - La Parva, the ski resort located right above Santiago, 52 switch backs into the still snow covered peaks that loom ominously and permanently over the city. Our downhill began from above the ski resort and dropped nearly 5000 feet, awesome. We managed to shuttle about 1/3 of the way back up for round 2 and had the company of a 3 legged dog for the whole time, twighlight zone strange, yes.

Day 4 - Had us on the way south to Pucon, with an afternoon of riding in the resort of Cheian. This resort had recently hosted a UCI DH and XC event that had been nationally broadcast. The courses were both still intact so we had a go at them, nailing a number of the jumps and a few quick laps on the XC,  we followed our work out up with an amazing BBQ at a ghost town of a hotel called the Eco-Box.

Day 5 - We finally arrived at Pucon, the Whistler of Chile. While the driving was taking a bit longer than we thought (go figure Chile the longest country in the world)  we were still motivated to push hard and get as much riding under out belts as possible. We met out local guide and proceeded to make our way up Volcan Villarica the most  picturesque Volcano I have ever seen. The trail proved to be superb, the guides amazing and so it was an absolute ripping descent, woo hoo, lets do it again and we did.

Day 6 - Took us to the other side of Volcan Villarica, literally the other side of the Volcano, we crossed some lava fields shot some pictures and generally soaked up a great day in the sun. The afternoon was filled with another shuttle on the Pucon side and an investment in the local BBQ scene (we located, bought and had prepared - a lamb), it's another story all together.

Day 7 - finally feeling the effects of our travels and biking adventures, we all piled into the van sans ride, reconciled to our fate - one wicked long drive back to Santiago. We slept, we talked and we watched the country roll by, as bad as a long drive is, when you are in a new country it's always interesting.

Day 8 - Valparaiso, a world UNESCO site, 1. 5 hours from Santiago, where the Spanish and the sailors of all nations first set foot on ground after rounding Cape Horn. This was the premier spot on the west coast, right up until the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. After which it was just another Chilean port town, but what a town. Unique and beautiful, this was truly the perfect last day after an amazing trip - Viva Chile.

November and January are terrible months even if you are a skier, go south, go south
Dre

The Bucket List

The Bucket List “what make a successful summer season”!

Another year in the bag, was it a good one, well that’s what we must decide. Upon reflection there are a number of qualifications/must do’s to make the criteria for a ‘great year’. I’m not giving any thumbs up to anyone until you justify how and why 2010 Rocked.

In Skiing they count the number of days, why don’t we do that in mountain biking. I’m pretty sure some of the guides out there had a wicked year and logged over 200 riding days, so too did the racers, but arguably that’s not enough to qualify as a great year, but it sure ranks high.

So what are some of the ‘bucket list’ adventures that would put a summer season into orbit?

Here are a list of things I have come up with that can help define a successful bike season and separate the good from the great, cause a bad day on the bike sure beats a great day in the office.

-Dawn Patrol – I originally had this phrase introduced to me by Mark Wier, exactly what it sounds like; get your ass up early and be dropping into your favourite trail as the sun comes up. What better way to start the day, eh?

-Frozen Dirt Winter Ride – when the conditions are just right and everything just gets ‘sticky’. It’s what’s happening right now – weeee!

-A Grand Fondo – yes, get out, change bikes and enjoy a long day in the saddle. These tend to be very scenic and will contribute greatly to your fitness. Doesn’t have to be the same one every year either, turn it into a road trip?

-Road Trip - Domestic – like a tour, but without a guide, surf style, exploring getting out there.

-Multi Day Race – BC Bike Race, no excuses, this is just a must do, it includes Road Trip, Travel and Friends but lasts for multiple days and you get to ride sans extra gear, just you and the bike wizzing through the singletrack.

-A Tour – Abroad or at home –Switzerland, Peru or Rossland, hiring a guide to show you the goods, no thinking required here, just wicked biking. Only the locals know all the secret stashes, this is investing in trails and the local economy.

-A Weekend in the Alpine – a committed weekend dedicated to big miles and big smiles – there are some amazing places in BC, Europe and South America, do it- it will make your heart pump faster.

-A Heli Drop or a plane drop – usually means something awesome rare and exposed in the Alpine, pucker up.

-RedBull 5000 down - or a mega avalanche or a super/enduro D – Do it just for the fun, don’t get all serious an shit, enjoy.

-One legendary poach -that nobody needs to know about, you didn’t hear this from me.

-Exploring you backyard by extending your natural range – go farther and keep your ear to the ground for hot new trails. For me this is Powell River, Port Alberni, Pemberton, Kamloops, Nelson, yea they are out of the way, but nothing good comes easy.

-A Triple Crown - every town has one, that local backyard epic, the one you only do once a year, make sure you bag it and tag it !

-Big Group Rides– I love getting out to Victoria, Squamish and Whistler and hooking up with some legendary bro’s and having an impromptu bike-fest. This year I hit a couple notables; a Friday Chromag ride in Vancouver and a winter solstice night ride in Victoria, they each had 21 people attending, it was awesome.

-Toonie Races –mid week races, cause it’s fun and you’ll never believe the benefits and the excitement. Find a local series and jump in, it doesn’t matter how fit or not, just enjoy it.

-Cruiser bike ride – head out for an afternoon on the cruiser bikes, bring some road pops, have a picnic, it’s still a bike ride, still a workout, but changes the scenery.

Now you might say, booo we don’t have the time, the money or the resources to accomplish even half of that, but I say you do. It might not be done all in a year or a season, but setting goals that take you out of your comfort zone, putting ones ego about results aside for just a minute can allow some serious magic to happen.

When I stopped racing I didn’t lose my passion to bike, or to go fast, but that simple change brought into focus different trails, different zones and different people – essentially it enriched my whole cycling experience.

Bucket list for a year, bucket list for your life= Goals for your race season, goals for your career – now blend em up, pour em over a few cubes and liberally add alcohol, cheers to 2010 and now for 2011.

Dre

Maui training camp- being a WHEELMAN

Well it begins to feel a bit like forever when I consider how long I have been training, coaching, participating in training camps and being fully involved in this life we call the bicycle.

Recently we had inter-bike, our annual N. American trade show. Whilst at Inter-bike I happened to bump into one of my old training partners and buddies Ryder Hesjedal. We immediately tried to match up our schedules to see if and when we could grab a coffee or

a beer. We didn't match up anything for those days, but he mentioned that he would be back in Maui as usual over the winter and that he would be hosting a New training camp sometime early in December. hmmmmmm I said.

http://mauicyclingcamps.com

So I recently returned from Ryder Hesjedal and friends (Christian Vande Velde and Tyler Farrar) inauguaral commercial venture Dec 5-12 - Maui Cycling Camps. This was done in conjunction with a few other partners: Donnie Arnoult from Maui Cycling, Cody Graham fromMedia One, Victoria and the host hotel, Four Seasons Maui.

I was delayed arriving grrrrrrr Air Canada and it cost me a full day on the bike. Anyway, we arrived to find the some of the spouses lounging around the pool while the training camp was circling the west lobe of Maui some 120 k (man was I bummed). They were on day 2 of the camp, having done a pre-amble 2-3 hours on day 1. I was arriving just in time for the first rest day.

When the entire crew came back; there being 6 participants (full time), 3 Garmin boys, 2 coaches (Seamus McGrath and Myself), 1 mechanic (Troy Woodburn from Pro City, Victoria), 1 local guide (Donnie), 1 local Four Season representative (Ed), 1 Camp Coordinator (Cody Graham), 1 Cameraman (Adam and Cody from Media One) and a couple of part-time campers (that changed every couple days). It was a big group as we all sat down for lunch, the total nearly 20.

It's always a bit tough dropping in to an already gelled group, but jumping in two feet first is the only way. What a great crew, everyone from left to right, top to bottom was a stand up person and a cycling fan through and through.

Let the activities begin:

Rest Day - Paddle board at the beach followed by an easy afternoon spin - Guest of the day Dave Kalaama teaching paddle board. Man had I known or seen the video before I met this guy, I would have dropped to my knees in admiration. Check out the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLGv5qqrAgg) with Laird Hamilton, this guy surfs the big, big, BIG waves. Beach time followed by lunch with the team again and an hour spin on the local Wailea roads.

Tour De Haiku - 3 hours 90 km - We shuttled over to the North side of the island and began in Paia. Up Baldwin ave, traversing towards Hana, down to Hookipa, back up to Haiku, the roads swooped, dove and climbed, what an awesome place to train. Took a gander at the surfers at Hookipa then we rode back to Wailea through the main valley. The main valley is how Maui gets it's name as the Valley Isle. Lunch, Beach, Hot Tub, call it a day.

East Maui Loop 150 km - Up at 6 am, breakfast of champions (buffet), meet in the 'Clubhouse' our designated meeting room 7am, pick massage times for post ride (I told you this was a pro-outfit) and into the Vans for a quick shuttle. We started at 3000 feet and descended for about 20 minutes, it was like DH mountain biking on a pump track. Then onto 30 km of dirt, bumpy, unapproved, gnarly, painful can't really call it a road. Whew, that's over and onto the 'gold' the Hana highway, built I'm sure for road bikes. I used to think Ryder was crazy training on a small island in the Pacific, now I know better. While everyone in N. America was under snow, rain or simply cold we were in HEAVEN.

A easy spin day - thank gawd I needed a day off, feet up and movies in the hotel room. I got bit of a stomach distress and didn't want to think much about tomorrow's ride up the Volcano - Haleakala 10 000 feet.

Final Day, Haleakela the Volcano, though thankfully dormant. 60 km from sea level to the top, 10 thousand feet of nicely graded, switchbacking roads. The Garmin boys started at the hotel in Wailea approx 1 hour from Paia where us mere mortals started. Ryder's record to the top from Paia is 2 hr 33 min or something crazy like that - doh, Tour de France guy! This would turn out to be a long day in the saddle with very little reprieve. Donnie our guide has done the climb something like 400 times, come-on that's like 3 a week, yup the life of a bike guide. It wasn't that bad, but it does take a more generous cog set, something like a 25 or 27 - nice to spin it out. 4.5 hours later the entire group was swigging pop at the top, the early runners, the Garmin boys had retreated down already while I sat contemplatively in the clouds thinking about home, the snow, Ryders upcoming Tour, the 2011 season and the road that brought this whole crew together - It's just a bike right, but look what happens when we all get together, good time and great things in exotic locals.

During the week, Ryder had his 30th birthday and we celebrated. On the last night with many miles and a Volcano under our belts we celebrated again. My last month had me going from Chile on a Volcano to Maui on a Volcano, I can't fathom what for me has been my 40th year- but when I reflect back on the years of riding with friends like Ryder, Seamus and meeting new people like Christian Vande Velde and our participants, it's the medium of the bike that brings our souls and our passions together. The question was raised "why are most bikers good people"? I thought about it for a bit and I concluded that they are not afraid of the work, like climbing a Volcano, in fact they look for it, embrace it and cheer loudly for more. This common thread of honest sweat equity, a small amount of an inquisitive nature all done in good humor is why we all get along - it's our code of conduct, our code of honor and represents the philosophy of our people. I guess that makes Ryder a bit of a guru these days, eh?

On another note, meeting Dave Kalaama and listening to him and Donnie talk about their respect for the 'watermen' of the islands (people who sport all sorts of ways in the water) and seeing Ryder and Cody revive the 'wheelmen' name, brought to light the absolute correctness of the term - Wheelman, because I am a WHEELMAN.

Now back at home we head into Christmas, I am feeling pretty good about my fitness these days and think I've earned a few butter tarts - I hope you all have a merry christmas, get some good turns in, on the bike or on the skiis and we'll see you in the New Year.

Dre

Maui Cycling Camps

Well it begins to feel a bit like forever when I consider how long I have been training, coaching, hosting camps and being fully involved in this life we call the bicycle.

Recently we had inter-bike our annual N. American trade show. Whilst at Inter-bike I happened to bump into one of my old training partners and buddies Ryder Hesjedal. We immediately tried to match up our schedules to see if and when we could grab a coffee or a beer. We didn't match up anything for those days, but he mentioned that he would be back in Maui as usual over the winter and that he would be hosting a training camp sometime early in December. hmmmmmm

http://mauicyclingcamps.com

So I recently returned from Ryder Hesjedal and friends (Christian Vande Velde and Tyler Farrar) inauguaral commercial venture Dec 5-12 - Maui Cycling Camps. This was done in conjunction with a few other partners: Donnie Arnoult from Maui Cycling, Cody Graham from Media One, Victoria and our host hotel the Four Seasons, Maui.

I was delayed arriving grrr Air Canada and it cost me a full day on the bike. Anyway, we arrived to find the ladies (spouses) lounging around the pool while the training camp was circling the west lobe of Maui some 120 k (man was I bummed). They were on day 2 of the camp, having done a pre-amble 2-3 hours on day 1, I was coming in looking at their first rest day as day 1, ugh.

As the campers came back; there being 6 participants (full time), 3 Garmin boys, 2 coaches (Seamus McGrath and Myself), 1 mechanic (Troy Woodburn from Pro City, Victoria), 1 local guide (Donnie), 1 local Four Season representative (Ed), 2 Camp Coordinator and Cameraman (Cody and Adam from Media One) and a couple of part-time campers that changed every couple days, we sat down for lunch, the total nearly 20.

It's always a bit tough dropping in to an already gelled group, but jumping in two feet first is the only way. What a great crew, everyone from left to right, top to bottom was a stand up person and a cycling fan through and through.

Rest Day - Paddle board at the beach followed by an easy afternoon spin - Guest of the day Dave Kalaama teaching paddle board. Man had I known or seen the video before I met this guy, I would have dropped to my knees, check out the video with Laird Hamilton, this guy surfs the big, big, BIG waves. Anyway, what a day - resting my rested body for the future abuse.

Tour De Haiku - 3 hours 90 km - We shuttled over to the North side of the island and began in Paia. Up Baldwin ave, traversing towards Hana, down to Hookipa, back up to Haiku, the roads swooped, dove and climbed, what an awesome place to train. Then we rode back to Wailea through the main valley, how Maui gets it's name as the Valley Isle. Lunch, Beach, Hot Tub, call it a day.

East Maui Loop 150 km - Up at 6 am, breakfast of champions (buffet), meet in the 'Clubhouse' , our designated meeting room, 7am, pick massage times for post ride (I told you this was a pro-outfit) and into the Vans for a quick shuttle. We started at 3000 feet and descended for about 20 minutes, it was like DH mountain biking on a pump track. Then onto the 30 km of dirt, bumpy, unapproved, gnarly, painful can't really call it road. Whew, that's over and onto the 'gold' the Hana highway, built I'm sure for road bikes. I used to think Ryder was crazy training on a small island in the Pacific, now I know better. While everyone in N. America was under snow, rain or simply cold we were in HEAVEN.

A day off - thank gawd I needed a day off, feet up and movies in the hotel room. I got bit of a stomach distress and didn't want to think much about tomorrow's ride up the Volcano - Haleakala 10 100 feet.

Volcano, up the dormant Volcano, 60 km from sea level to the top, 10 G of nicely graded, switchbacking roads. The Garmin boys started at the hotel in Wailea approx 1 hour from Paia where us mere mortals started. Ryders record to the top from Paia is 2 hr 34 min or something crazy like that - doh, Tour de France guy! This would turn out to be a long day in the saddle with very little reprieve. Donnie has done the climb something like 400 times, come-on that's like 3 a week, yup the life of a bike guide. It's wasn't that bad, but it does take a more generous cog set, something like a 25 or 27 would be nice, spin it out. 4.5 hours later the entire group was swigging pop at the top, the early runners, the Garmin boys had retreated down already while I sat contemplatively in the clouds thinking about home, the snow, Ryders upcoming Tour, the 2011 season and the road that brought this whole crew together - It's just a bike right, but look what happens when we all get together, great things happen.

During the week, Ryder had his 30th birthday and we celebrated. On the last night with many miles and a Volcano under our belts we celebrated again. From Chile on a Volcano to Maui on a Volcano, I can't fathom what for me has been my 40th year- but when I reflect back on the years of riding with friends like Ryder, Seamus and meeting new people, it's the medium of the bike that brings our souls and our passions together and it burns like a 'Volcano'.

On another note, meeting Dave Kalaama and listening to him and Donnie talk about their respect for the 'watermen' of the islands (people who sport all sorts of ways in the water) and seeing Ryder and Cody revive the 'wheelmen' name, brought to light the absolute correctness of the term - Wheelman, because I am a WHEELMAN.

Chile, Patagonia and the Trans Andes

Chile

A land strange and unknown to me at least; what do I know about this remote South American -end of the world country. Long thin, it's border defined by the Andes, water falling on the west is Chilean water falling on the east is Argentinian. Easter Island, Patagonia, the Allendes and Pinoche, some vague concepts of travel, writing, politics and many conflicting views. What I really know is that I didn't know anything. Some rumours abounded; they had mountains and ski resorts so all the ingrediants for a mountain bike adventure were there.

This trip is a multi-part story that will not see a conclusion until after the Trans Andes on January 24-29th. But for the first part and the common theme, the Trans Andes, the route, the area and the culture are all to be captured in a Ride Guide segment.

Some time earlier this year, Juan Pablo Santiagos the director of the TA had dialed me up and invited me down to Chile. Naturally I figured if going all that way, lets crank up the excitement and make the most of it, so I contaced RideGuide and put together a team.

Viola, Chile in November - actually not so chilleee, actually quit warm about 25 degrees. Our goal, segment 1- to get the lay of the land for Ride Guide and secondarily a Rocky Magazine Road trip, segment 2-would be to follow up with the race in January. For the second part of the initial November trip I figured there must be some other people looking to explore and create some adventures. I threw out some invites, contacted some guiding companies and mixed in a little flavour I call Chile, ha. But lets put that pot on the back burner for a bit and get on with shooting the Ride Guide segment.

Josh the cameraman for Ride Guide and I met in LA, flew LAN Chile via Lima to Santiago. Piece of pie, easy, and only a 5 hour time change to deal with. We met Juan Pablo in Santiago, who by the way is an x-World Cup DH racer and grabbed a domestic flight south to Tecum on the northern edge of Patagonia. Patagonia is an undefined geographical region in Chile, not to be confused with their states, provinces or as they call them regions (12). We were in the Araucania region considered to be the middle south of the country. While the majority of the wine growing takes place in the arid Santiago area (800 K north), here it was lush rainforest, logging and mucho Volacanic activity.

As usual the rideguide.ca is about culture as much as wicked riding, so

we ventured out to visit a traditional Mapuche Indian village. They are very representative of global aboriginal struggles to maintain traditional ways in the maelstrom of moderm conveniences. The particular Senhorita that we conversed with was very sharp and very tourism savvy, she expressed some concern with the governments involvement, but let us know she was open to sharing her ways with us and finding some mutualy agreeable ground with the officials. This was on a whole the shocking example of Chile; advanced, calm and reasonable; from the Mapuche natives to the not stressed out airline people, Chile is a first class nation of warm hosting people.

Juan took us out to the sponsor hotel, the start of day 1, in a land reserve and area know as Huilo Huilo. This alone is enought to consider your holiday goals achieved; a full eco-resort in a rainforest built like the ewok village of Star Wars. The next day it was out to explore the course and the land, we were in the middle of a lush rain forrest with Volcanos rising in every direction- we only saw 3 from our vantage point, but apparantly there were a possible 13 to be seen on a clear day above the green canopy.

We spent a number of days exploring the resort and the first few days of the route before our time ran out and it was time to exit stage one of Chile. We had met Louis the director of operations, we had met the local course designers and we had a much better deeper understanding of what Chile is all about. Much of the philosophy of the Trans Andes is similar to that of the BC Bike Race, not to mention Juan was riding a Rocky Mountain Bike, it was very comfortable and reminded me of home.

As we headed back to Santiago we stopped at Stage 3's finish, a natural Volcanic hot spring with a resort built around it, then a night in Pucon, checking out the lay of the land of this Whistler type village the host of the final stage and party.

I was sad to leave having only spent 6 days ripping around such a big country, but knowing this was only the first part of an overlapping trip and that once back in Santiago I would be picking up part 2, I cheered up, grabbed a beer with Juan and promised to be wayyy fit by the time TA arrived in January.

It was only a matter of one night before the boys arrived and the gong show would ensue again. The snow was flying at home in BC and we were in shorts and jerseys down in South America, maybe the old adage "snow birds" is taking a new direction -Chile anyone?

Cheers

Dre

A Friday Ride

Not often, but should happen more, yes? A Friday Ride.

So once in awhile you hear about these massive group rides that go on in Squamish, Whistler, Pemby and this time North Vancouver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBmTyUtVZg

It wasn't the nicest day to host the Sea to Sky here in Van-Groovy, but hey at least we can ride year round. Not like we are waiting for wind or waves or snow, it's just a little rain.

Anyway this is the second year of this particular event here on the Shore, put together by a notorious gangsta who will remain anonymous for now. Last year it was Seymour, this year Fromme and looking ahead we can see that the plan for an extended Triple Crown will see us riding Cypress, likely in the snow next year.

The cast of characters was large and full of life from all different locals they came with one goal, show us the 'Goods'. As a guide, a host and a rider I too wanted to impress. These rippers were mostly once a year riders to the shore, that in itself is a mystery, anyway always the question, what route, what trail etc etc? Not like I'm gonna tell you but it was epic, awesome and rad, so watch the video, look at the pics and get out for a Friday ride whenever you can.

“Let Us then be Up and Doing Still Achieving and Still Pursuing” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Later Dre

Deadlines harumph

Nothing like a deadline, eh!

(nothing like a party deadline, gotta get there before it's over, Halloween at Ryder's Eyewear with Marc Cambell, Dave Howells and Chris Christie)

Funny thing is, just as Grant Lamont and I finished some reconisaince on Whistler yesterday we got around to mentioning those exact words. Somehow, you set or they set or a deadline is set and things get done, somehow the mortgage gets paid on time, the course gets mapped on time and the race starts on time. I don't think I've missed very many planes in my life, for that matter.

(Sunset while out digging and photo shooting)

Some people have looked into the wording 'deadline' and have attempted to shift the lexiconic nuance of limit/border/reaching a term, but to date nothing quit highlights the importance of getting it done on time like - dead(I don't want to die) and- line(draw a line in the sand) go ahead and cross it!

(Riding with Bike Mag, now those guys have a ton of publishing deadlines, whooosh)

In the recent few months winter has been a deadline, the rain the snow and the coming of the cold weather. We are told this will be the worst stormy winter in a long while. Well, that coupled with my recent re-invigoration for 'railing trail' had me pushing hard mini-epics right into November. Now that deadline seems to have passed and it's still a balmy 10-17 degrees here in Vancouver with some inversions, beautiful yellow and orange leaves and fog madly drifting around like a sci-fi movie set. Really quit glad that that deadline has not yet manifested.

(Grant Lamont on Yummy Numby)

Every morning my kid wakes up at 6:50 am, that is a deadline that generally I dread. I have never been a morning person, nor do I think I ever will be, but that doesn't change what he does or how loud he is in the morning. So I think I am adjusting and it's fun being in a whole new world, the morning world it's just a non-negotiable deadline that has me spend more time with my family ok, sounds good to me.

(Peter V at Rocky Mountain Bikes, working on deadlines, while I drink Redbull and slow down his productivity)

We have set some deadlines at BC Bike Race and we have now set our 2011 route. It's a good feeling to know as we tick things off towards our goal that the deadlines we are meeting are all moving us towards the bigger goal. Many of the deadlines we self-impose don't happen, that's why we get consultants in business to help us and coaches in other parts of our life. Each hour of every day is a deadline and the other big one; Christmas is coming and so is 2011.

Video of New BCBR Stage in Campbell River -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIuODerfIfs

But, while one deadline does not arrive on time there are many others that will. I and a few guys are heading to Chile on Nov 15ht and that is one flight I don't want to miss. It means though, that I have to get a lot of things tied up and sorted before that plane leaves with me on it. So it would seem that deadlines abound, good, bad and those flakey or those carved in stone, but I think it's more of a philosophical question - how do you deal with 'deadlines'?

Dre