Retired Biker

January 28, 1986

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Do you remember where you were; who you were with and what you were doing on January 28, 1986?

I was in the midst of teaching recalcitrant first and second graders that, yes, there was a better way to decode those letters on the page; and yes, those letters and words did mean something. I had been invited to a luncheon that afternoon to be inducted into the American Red Cross Twenty Year Club. In those days, there were few televisions in the elementary school, so in spite of the launching of the Challenger, the school day was business as usual.

The luncheon at the ARC site was quite nice; each of us was introduced and presented a certificate. A slide show showed our volunteer activities. I was the only water safety instructor to be honored. In the background, a television was showing, as news casts still do, the disintegration of the Challenger over and over again. There was no audio, so I thought it was a Red Cross training film. It couldn't have been the Challenger, not with the first teacher - astronaut on board.

Upon my return to school, I learned differently as I was greeted with questions of, "Did you see what happened?" "Did you hear what happened?" as my colleagues were struggling to grapple with the enormity of the event.

Do you remember where you were; who you were with and what you were doing on January 28, 1986?

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Hamilton, The City of Sculpture, hosted the fifth annual IceFest this weekend. Because of unseasonably warm temperatures Friday, 60 degrees, most of the sculptures were kept in refrigerated trucks overnight and put up early Saturday morning. Even though Saturday's temperature peaked at 40 degrees, many of the sculptures were slowly dripping.

This year's theme was 'Under the Sea'.

Penguins on Parade.

These ice carvers have four hours to carve two 350 pound blocks of ice. The carvers 'freeze' the pattern onto the block of ice before they begin to carve. Tools include small chain saws, grinders, irons and chisels.The last picture is a dog sled for the sled races later in the afternooon. Looks like fun to me!

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Although the temperatures were in the low 40's, it was chilly; especially sitting on the ice throne.

Ice carvers preparing their sculptures for the crowds. The hats of some of the ice carvers were a little more flamboyant than those you might typically see.

An area created for the younger set included a diver where children could have their pictures taken as well as a sculpted octopus for a ring toss game. There were also balloons, putt putt golf with ice sculptures and an ice skating rink.

Little 'kids' unwrapping presents.

We have some big shoes to fill this year. Noah and Kaitlyn in Grandpa's big shoes. Take note of the high chair in the left picture.