Travel Blog

Rafting Trip – Grand Canyon by Raft – Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek

Description – Lees Ferry

The Grand Canyon is one of the earths true natural wonders. A place with profound beauty, history, geology, and ecology. Each year, thousands of visitors from around the world gather at the Canyon’s rim to look down into its magnificent vastness. Many will also hike or ride a donkey along the trail to the canyon’s bottom. But there’s no better way to really see the Canyon than to travel through it, via the Colorado River.

Journeying through the Grand Canyon on your watery pathway, you will see dramatic changes as the canyon walls climb towards the sky, mesmerizing you with awesome beauty and untold years of geological history. There are  side hikes, crystalline creeks and waterfalls, Native American history, and breathtaking scenery that can  enrich this amazing adventure.

This is one of the longest rafting trips in the US. Covering 225 river miles, this trip offers all the scenery, side canyons and whitewater excitement of canyon trip with the glories of Marble Canyon, the mysteries of the Inner Gorge, terrific side hikes and Indian ruins, crystalline creeks and waterfalls, cactus gardens and whitewater galore. You can  explore the numerous side canyons, which crisscross this magnificent region, each having it’s own unique attractions, just waiting to be discovered.

River Rating – 42 major rapids rated 5 or above on a scale of 1 to 10

Number of Rapids – 42,  The two most noted of the Colorado’s rapids, Crystal and Lava Falls, are both rated a 10. The intensity of all rapids naturally depends on the water level, so readings for low and high water levels may vary slightly.

Minimum Age – 12 years

Departure Dates – Dates vary by year, 2011 – May 21 until October 10

Boat Type –  Varies by outfitter, most are 18 feet inflatable rafts, holding 4 passengers and a guide.

What to Bring –

• Pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals
• Grand Canyon National Park Entrance Fee
• Items of a personal nature (an equipment list will be provided)
• Rent sleeping bags and pads from your outfitter
• Insurance of any kind, including travel insurance
• Alcoholic beverages

What’s Usually Included?

• Transportation by van from meeting point to put-in at Lees Ferry and return from Diamond Creek
• Expedition equipment, including highest quality rafts, 2 person shared tent, personal flotation device (PFD, waterproof bags, camp chair as well as eating utensils, plates and cups for overnight trips
• Skilled, professional, experienced guides
• Meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on your last day

Reviews – Feel free to post a review of this trip and white water rafting adventure.

Outfitters – O.A.R.S. is one of the outfitters we have reviewed and  has been in business since 1969 . Great trips on some of the world’s best rivers, coastlines and mountains are the recipe for this success. Always focused on our clients and their vacations, it is our genuine—if not biased—belief that river trips and wilderness vacations are extremely valuable life experiences.

EXPERIENCE

• In 1969, O.A.R.S. became the first exclusively oar-powered rafting outfitter to offer river trips through the Grand Canyon. Hence the immediate success of these trips inspired founder and President George Wendt to expand his business into the largest and most geographically diverse rafting, sea kayaking, and multi-sport company in North America.

Since 1969, the family-owned and operated company has shared in the world’s waterways with more than 450,000 guests. They have more than 75 itineraries on over 35 rivers and coastlines worldwide. Also four decades of experience in the industry, and some staff members who have been with the company since nearly the beginning. O.A.R.S. is routinely recognized for serving up some of the “Best Trips on the Planet,”

For more posts about the Grand Canyon and Arizona, click here.

Fast Food meals are still unhealthy and in particular kid’s meals are also still unhealthy. Despite all of the advertising to the contrary most fast food restaurants are still loading up their fast food meals with lots of carbs, calories and salt. They tend to be filled with fat calories, fat, sugar, and sodium in kids’ meals and menu items. The salt content will give anyone high blood pressure if you eat these meals long enough.

More and more families are opting to eat out or grab something quick to feed their families. With both parents working, getting home late and with kids activities to get to many parents end up at one of the fast food restaurants for supper or even breakfast on the weekends. The choices are not great in terms of healthy meals and even if you are able to select a healthy main course, the french fries and soft drinks up the sodium and calories well beyond acceptable levels for healthy eating.

Fast Food Meals Still Unhealthy

Sodium is the silent killer in adults, elevating blood pressure and hypertension, so much so that doctors are beginning to see the same symptoms in young adults and teenagers. Imagine being in your teens and having high blood pressure! With all of the advertising these days on TV and on the internet, there are more and more ads aimed at young children and of course as parents we know what that means when we get to the restaurants.

Even if the ads are good ads, advertising healthy choices, there is the old “Bait and Switch”, approach to ordering food in fast food restaurants. You may see healthy choices advertised, however the kids meals come with a toy or some other gimmick that draws them into the less healthy choices. Some cities have gone as far as banning toys from being included with meals unless the meal fits a healthy definition.

So what can a parent do with all of this un-healthy advertising?

There is no easy answer when you are bombarded with advertising all of the time. You are short on time. The alternative is to be super organized. Have frozen meals ready for supper in advance which you prepared on the weekends. At least meals that you prepare yourself can be healthy and you can manage the amount of sodium that finds its way into both ourselves as well as our children.

It is all about choices that we make every day, what we eat, what we chose to do with our time and so on. We also have to be aware of the kinds of food that our families are eating as well.  Even fast food from the grocery store in the frozen dinner section is not a good choice. Pick up any frozen dinner, pizza or even canned food and read the ingredients.

Chances are that the sodium levels will be one third to as much as 50% of the daily intake of salt that most adults are supposed to have. With children’s smaller bodies this level will be even higher than it is for adults. Reading labels in our family has become a regular activity so that we can manage our salt intake both for ourselves and our kids.

Avoid Soft Drinks

Avoid soft drinks which is a major component of any fast food meal  to cut down on calories. Children will demand a soft drink with every meal if they can get  away with it. There are hundreds of calories in every drink. A lot of sugar which is contributing to an early onset of sugar diabetes.

When we go to a fast food outlet these days, I order a glass of water. Which not only cuts down on the calories, which is my prime objective. It also saves money as well since the drinks are really were the profit is for many of these restaurants. The kids are not so excited about drinking a glass of water. However it is better for them and they can have as much as they wish!

If you have ideas about how to avoid fast food restaurants please leave your comments on our blog. We would love to hear about our readers choices and help our readers at the same time. Spam comments will be deleted.

If you do want us to link to your web site , place a link on your page to ours. We monitor ping backs and will reciprocate once we see the incoming link!

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The Encore Hotel and Casino is located next door to the flagship Wynn Casino and Hotel. Both are located in prime locations at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Spring Mountain road. The Fashion Show Mall is across the street, TI Casino is on another corner and the Venation/ Palazzo is on the other corner. With so much in the immediate area, you will have a fun filled few days in Las Vegas at the Encore.

If you happen to golf, why not play golf at the Wynn Golf course behind the Wynn Hotel. Book your T off time early so that you will be assured of being able to play while you are in Las Vegas. The twin towers of the hotel complexes make an imposing site on the Las Vegas skyline and if you are fortunate enough to have a room on the 53rd floor as we did the view is totally spectacular!

One side of the hotel faces west with a view of the Las Vegas Strip and the mountains with the setting sun, while the over faces east so you can watch the sunrise over the mountains in the morning. The east facing side also provides a view of the Wynn golf course. Steve Wynn is one of the premiere designers in Las Vegas. He has had his hand in the Bellagio, the Mirage and Treasure Island. The Wynn and Encore hotels are equally spectacular with a forested mountain in front of the hotel and rushing mountain streams cascading off the mountain they provide a beautiful setting for many of the restaurants that surround the  small lake at the bottom. If you have an opportunity to dine in one of thees restaurants don’t hesitate. You are in for a treat!

Encore Casino Las Vegas – Slot Machines

There are over 800 slots of all types including real spinning slots, video real slots and video poker slots ranging from a penny all the way up to $5000! I cannot imagine playing a slot machine for $5000 for one pull of the handle or press of the button. Obviously the high rollers enjoy this kind of play from time to time. There are also progressive slot machines were you can win $10 million on a penny slot machine with the maximum bet wagered.

Table Games

The table games are located on the main floor of the casino and include Baccarat, Black Jack, Big6, Roulette, European Roulette, Let it Ride, Mini Baccarat, Pai Goa Poker, Three Card Poker, and Casino War. You can also wander over to the pool at the Encore or Wynn pools to play Blackjack around the pool.

Restaurants

There are a number of restaurants at the Encore, all of which are very excellent dining places catering to just about everyone’s tastes. The restaurants include Sinatra, Botero, Wazuzu, Society Cafe Encore, and Wynn Dining. We have eaten at Switch and found it to be a unique establishment with excellent food and the best steaks.

The unique thing about this restaurant is that the walls and the ceiling switch decor every 15 to 20 minutes. The walls may be sinking into the floor to be replaced by a new decor or elevating into the ceiling. Also the ceiling itself changes. One minute there is a large chandelier only to be replaced with several smaller ones with a totally different decor on the ceiling.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling served in nice glasses
• Buffet, although expensive is very good
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests in a tropical setting with a swim up blackjack table
• Hotel rates are very reasonable, especially if you have an Encore slot card
• Covered garage parking
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• You really have to visit the Encore to appreciate it
• Walk way between the Encore and Wynn hotels

What We Did Not Like

• There are no real complaints about the Encore hotel & casino
• It is a 5 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Wynn slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at the Wynn as well as the Encore hotel and casino.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a win / loss  tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Encore hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:

The Encore hotel is right next door to the Wynn Hotel and Casino.Across the street is the Fashion show mall. Access the parking garage as well as valet parking from Las Vegas boulevard. The address is 313 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Coming into Las Vegas take I15 and exit at Spring Mountain east and then turn left onto Las Vegas Blvd.

Many people travel by car every year to their vacation destinations across the US and Canada. Some trips are short, perhaps to a local camping site or to visit family, while others travel all across the country from one end to the other and back. Preparing for trips when Traveling by Car is important if you and your travel companions are going to enjoy the experience. Most people can handle a day trip easily even if it lasts a few hours, but how about the trip that lasts several weeks with travel every day? Is your car ready for the trip?

These trips can be wonderful or they can be an ordeal for the driver and the passengers.  Some drivers feel that they must get from point A to point Z as fast as possible even if that means driving through the night to get to their destination. Traveling by Car in these conditions is not fun!

Other drivers will take their time, especially on a long trip, stopping when they get tired, stopping when there is something interesting to see and taking a break when they get feel like it. This latter approach is by far the best approach, however not everyone has the time to travel in this manner.

I know of two guys who on running low on money in California, decided to drive non stop home to eastern Canada! Took them 51 hours with a few breaks to grab something to eat and use the bathroom. Traveling by car in this situation is not fun at all.

Long distance Traveling by Car

Trips like this have to be planned carefully. Not only the route you will take, the hotels you may stay at but also the maintenance of the car and planning for emergencies. Whether it is a short trip or a long trip many of the preparations are the same.

Check the tire pressure, check the fluid levels, gas up and make sure that anything needing repair is completed prior to leaving.

Planning your trip is important. The general route needs to be determined and if you will stay overnight you may need to make reservations. I like to decide around 3 pm in the afternoon were I will stay and then phone ahead. Most of the time, I have no trouble finding a suitable place, however there have been time when I had to drive an extra hour because all of the hotels are full.

Where to Stay

We try to see the sites along the way and as a result we might drive an average of 4 to 6 hours a day. The rest of the time we are looking for a good restaurant or visiting some tourist activity or stopping at a shopping mall. Traveling by Car allows a lot of flexibility.

One thing to mention is that it is a good idea to get out and walk around for a few hours to keep the circulation going in your legs. It also helps with the boredom of driving and getting drowsy as you are driving.

Some folks will book all of their hotels along the way ahead of time. They like to know where they are staying and know that they have a place to stay. Traveling by Car is a great way to travel and usually a low stress way to do it. You do not need to worry about finding a place while you are en-route.

Occasionally travelers will encounter bad weather or other problems and will be unable to get to their destination. Most hotels will cancel rooms at no charge if you cancel prior to 6pm on the same day, however after 6pm they will charge your credit card the full amount whether you get their or not.

Maintenance on Long Trips

Occasionally you will have to arrange for some maintenance on your car over a long trip. We have had flat tires, oil changes and even a cracked windshield that was needed.  The picture on the left is not the way you want to have to change a tire! All of these things can be handled easily, however we suggest that you ask the front desk at your hotel that you are staying at if you can for a recommendation on were to get the repairs or maintenance completed. We have received some really great advice over the years.

For a tire repair we were told to go to America’s Tire. We did and because I brought the tire in myself, they repaired it for free! I went back to them the following year and bought 4 brand new tires just because of this service. Another example was for a cracked windshield. We went to one company who replaced our windshield for half the price that it would have cost me in Canada! Excellent job and a very clean shop!

Final thoughts about Traveling by Car

Always take water with you in the form of water bottles. If you travel in the winter time, always take boots, gloves and warm clothes for emergencies. Even if they are in the back seat or in the trunk, at least you have them if you end up stuck in a ditch.

Recently a man died of hypothermia because his car ended up in the ditch in the middle of a snow storm and no one found his car until a few days later when they were clearing the road. It is always better to be prepared when travelling by car than not even if it is a hassle.

Same thing with being in the desert areas of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. If you are breaks down, you want to have water with you and also warm clothes. Believe it or not, it can get quite cold in the middle of the night in the desert!

Write in your comments about traveling by car and your own preparations. Ideas that will help our readers are appreciated.

For more thoughts about traveling on vacation by vehicle, click here.

Most car owners have had a stone fly up from a trucks tires or fall off a truck to bounce along the road striking your windshield and starting that crack that seems to have a life of its own. Windshield Stone Chips start out as a pinpoint crack and then over time with the stress of heat and cold on the glass gradually grow across your windshield.

I am not sure if there is any thing really dangerous about not fixing a crack like this, however it is unsightly and I believe it is against the law, especially if it obstructs the drivers view in any way.

You really get ticked off when it is your brand new car and your on a major driving trip. What should you do? Get it fixed now , wait until you get home again, or wait until you reach your final destination. Turns out that there are lots of pros and cons for each of these questions.

This happened to us and it actually worked out well for us in the long run. Don’t misunderstand me, I was upset when the crack occurred, but then the solution was quite reasonable in the end.

Trucks Again

We had already had one encounter with a trucks tire exploding!  Next in another state, a stone is kicked up by a truck tire and as we watched in what seemed like slow motion, it bounced along the road into the air striking our windshield in the passenger side. While it scared us due to the suddenness of the strike and the noise, the damage did not seem too bad. Just a little stone chip, which we could get fixed anytime with one of these quick pressure repair jobs they advertise.

Well the next morning it had grown and now it was a crack about 5 inches long , spreading across the window. We were in Laughlin , Nevada at the time and planning to leave in a few days. Should we get it fixed there or wait until we got to Palm Springs were we were planning to stay for a few days?

We Waited

I checked with a couple of places that repaired windshields. The prices were very reasonable, however if we had any problems, we would have to come back to Laughlin to get repairs done. Which would not be convenient. Turns out this would be a good decision.

The crack got longer, spreading across the windshield and there was no doubt that I would have to replace the windshield. Now should we wait until we got home or have the repair completed while in Palm Springs? We were going to be in Palm Springs for a couple of months so we decided to head there and deal with the windshield crack at that time

Best Deal in Town

We are from Ontario, Canada, so I called a company at home to see what price they would offer. They quoted $500 to do the job. Pretty expensive and I would have to wait until we got home. Driving around with this ever enlarging crack across our windshield. I then called a local car dealer who also quoted an expensive price, but better than Canada, at $350.

I asked him if there were other places that offered better deals. He said he was not supposed to tell me. But that I should go to a local windshield repair place that they use. Tthe dealer does not even do the actual repair themselves. They just contract it out and add a profit margin. They said I should call to see what price I could get.

Well it turns out that not only is it cheaper, at $240, but I can use my AAA card to get a discount. Which brought it down to $200 and they could fix it the next day. They would even come and do the repair at my location, however I chose to come into the shop. I wanted to see what kind of place it was. They were just what you would expect, a respectable small business, clean and neat as well as professional. What a deal!

Shop Around

The moral of the story is shop around. Follow advice you get from various people on were to find good deals and reputable companies. Also if you are Canadian, it pays to go across the border to get these kinds of repairs completed. Since the savings are significant!

Exercising When You are Overweight, how do you ever get started? Especially when you are uncomfortable and you feel that everyone is looking at you. You may already feel emotionally not up to the stairs and the lack of support, so how do you start and lose weight?

Who wants to go to a gym with lots of buff bodies looking at themselves in the mirrors? and you probably do not want to go to some sort of exercise class for the same reason. If you have you probably noticed that all the slim trim people are at the front of the class and the overweight people are at the back. There are still lots of mirrors and you cannot keep up with them anyway! It is very difficult to get started and a lot of people just give up and don’t bother, however this may be the wrong thing to do for your long-term health situation.

Exercising When You Are Overweight – A Turning Point

We all need a turning point that inspires us to lose weight and bear the pain that you know is coming. For some it is family, for others it is that final embarrassment at the office. Whatever it is you must be committed to losing weight and working hard to lose those pounds. It can be terrifying to get started, however if you have a buddy it can be a lot easier. The buddy should be someone similar to you with similar goals. Combine exercise with diet and the pounds will shed quickly with a regular intense exercise program and a controlled diet.

Small Steps Pay Off

If you cannot bear going to some sort of organized class, start by walking around the block. Each day as you get stronger, begin walking faster and further to build up your strength and stamina. Once you have lost a few pounds and have more stamina, then you can consider joining some sort of organized activity.

With a buddy and working out 3 to 4 times a week, you can lose weight and become more fit. Commit to a  year, working out three to five days a week and by then you will have lost weight and will have formed a habit of working out several times a week.

Danger: Emotional Hurdles Ahead

When it came to exercise, many obese women were more likely to say they were self-conscious, afraid of injury, daunted by the effort, and to report minor aches and pains. And they were less likely to be exercising a year later. While this is pretty common, you just have to push through all of this pain and discomfort and try to maintain that weight loss schedule.

Get Support

We have mentioned having a buddy to help support you. The closer you are in weight and commitment, the more likely a buddy system will work. If you do not have a buddy that can work with you and motivate you, meet some other people at the gym who are looking for support or work with a trainer to help motivate you while you are losing weight.

Most people can get to the gym on most days, but there is always a day or two in the week that you may just not feel up to it. This is where a buddy can really help and motivate you to do that workout.

You should always see your doctor as well to make sure the kind of exercise you are planning is suitable for someone of your age and weight.

Easy Does It

If you are prone to any of the following such as  high blood pressure, diabetes, or be prone to shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and overheating, build up slowly by pushing yourself a bit further every day. Being too aggressive can cause some of these problems above to become worse.

Even on the biggest loser, these people who are very overweight, are monitored very closely by doctors and there are medical staff around to deal with any emergencies. You will not have the same kind of support so it is important to go a bit more slowly and build up your strength gradually.

Dos and Don’ts

• Get fitted with good shoes. For instance, running store staff can analyze your gait and make recommendations.
• Wear comfortable clothing. Chafing is common in the leg and groin area.
• Include strength training eventually. But to lose weight, focus on aerobic training in the beginning.
• Consider a monitoring system to track weight, what you eat, and exercise. Many smart phones have applications or you can use online systems. Pedometers are helpful to get you moving.

But:

• Don’t do high-impact exercise in the beginning. It’s fine to build up to, but jumping in with both feet landing on a hard surface is usually going to hurt something.
• Don’t compare yourself to others in your class or gym or let feelings of self-consciousness overwhelm you.
• Don’t be impatient. Don’t look for radical change in a short time or get fixated on big weight loss results like on The Biggest Loser.  As we mentioned earlier these people are very closely monitored and they are totally dedicated to losing weight. They do not have a job or family to worry about while on the biggest loser

The key, is to get moving, move more over time and eat less!

It will be definitely worth it in the end when you shed all those pounds and feel so much better about yourself! Feel free to leave us your comments and suggestions!

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The Wynn Casino and Hotel is one of the newest hotel and casinos  on the strip and we think the Wynn Hotel & Casino is one of the most beautiful and elegant hotels in Las Vegas. Steve Wynn has definitely out done himself! As you enter the Wynn Casino and Hotel from the strip at street level you pass a waterfall and river in a mountain setting. They have recently added a new tower and a new casino to this complex.

It is called the Encore Hotel & Casino. Both locations are elegant, top-notch and one of the best places for anyone to stay at in Las Vegas . The Wynn hotel is located across the street from the Las Vegas Fashion Show Mall. The Wynn Hotel and Casino occupies one of the most important corners in Las Vegas, with Treasure Island on one corner and the Venetian on the other.

Wynn Casino and Hotel – Garden Setting

When you enter the Wynn Hotel & Casino you are immediately immersed in a garden setting with restaurants and the casino on either side. There is a small reception area and of course the elegant shops similar to the Bellagio. There is also a very high-end area for high rollers that we were unable to view

You enter the casino on the main floor from the strip. There are 20 restaurants in total in the Wynn Hotel & Casino. The Wynn Hotel & Casino provides excellent service and is a full service hotel with all of the services that anyone could require. These include of course the casino, restaurants, fine dining, coffee shops, gorgeous pool, shops, large conference facilities, and ample parking. Steve Wynn also retained the golf course from the old Desert Inn hotel that was replaced with the new Wynn Hotel & Casino. There is a very elegant looking pro-shop for golfers and a nice bar to relax in after your round of golf.

The Wynn Hotel & Casino also has several bars with entertainment. The buffet is excellent with many different types of food and very clean and well-organized. There are all types of excellent restaurants to enjoy good wine, seafood as well as excellent beef and deli restaurants.

This Wynn Hotel & Casino complex has been awarded a rating of 9.35 out of a maximum of 10, our highest rating for any of the hotels and casino’s in Las Vegas.

Major Points of Interest

If you are just passing through the Wynn Hotel & Casino, you will want to take a moment to see the following areas of the Wynn Hotel & Casino. Some are fun and the kids will enjoy them as well. Please note that children must be accompanied by adults if they are not staying in the hotel.

• Elegant shops
• Garden area’s
• Open and bright cheery casino
• On Site Golf course and pro-shop
• Great pool area

What We Liked

This is a must see hotel. There are so many areas that we cannot mention them all so here are just a couple of the outstanding areas.

• Free entertainment
• Shops
• Great Casino with good comps , use the Red Card. Free buffet with your first 250 points
• Fabulous pool
• Golf Course and pro-shop on the hotel site
• Elegance everywhere

Slot Machines

There are over 1900 slot machines with real spinning, video reel and video poker machines to choose from in denominations from one cent to $5000 per pull of the handle.

Table Games

The Wynn Las Vegas casino has all of the table games that you may be interested in including: Baccarat, Black Jack, Big 6, Caribbean Stud, Roulette, European Roulette, Let it Ride, Mini Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Casino War. You can even play Black Jack at the pool side!

Restaurants

There are many excellent restaurants at the Wynn Hotel. We have eaten at several of them and have been entertained as well as enjoying the food immensely! Choose from Alex, Wing Lei, SW Steakhouse, Bartolotta, Okada, The Country Club, Stratta, Tableau, La Cave, Lakeside Grille and several casual dining locations throughout the Casino and hotel.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Wynn Red slot players card system.

There are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Wynn hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:The hotel and casino are located at 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV. It is quite easy to get to, just drive down the strip and you cannot miss the beautiful twin gold towers of the Encore and Wynn Hotels

We have referred to White Water Rafting River Grades of a rapid in many of our posts. What we have not done is post a good definition of the grades on our blog. Please comment if you disagree with anything we provide here.

Although the grade definitions may vary from country to country or even state to state, the following are an excellent guideline for anyone considering going for a white water excursion. You should also note that the grade level of a particular river can change at a moments notice. Some will change over the season. High fast water in the spring, more tranquil water and lower river levels in the summer mean more exposed rocks. Also rivers that are controlled by the amount of water released by dam controls can change within hours. It is very important to go with someone who knows and understands the river at all levels of water flow.

White Water Rafting River Grades

Grade 1: Very small rough areas, might require slight maneuvering. (Skill Level: Very Basic)

Grade 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require some maneuvering.(Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)

Grade 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.(Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)

Grade 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)

Grade 5: Whitewater, large waves, large volume, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)

Grade 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous as to be effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of almost all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill Level: Successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of great luck or extreme skill)

Special Consideration

Grades 4,5 and 6 are not for novices, even if you have a guide with you. These are dangerous rapids. The possibility of being spilled into the water is high. If you cannot swim, then you should avoid these types of rapids.

Use common sense when you are planning to embark on a white water rafting trip. Make sure you have all of the proper equipment. You should have an excellent guide who knows the river. Also that all of your companions can handle the level of rapids that you are planning on traversing. Remember your raft team is only as good as the weakest among you. If you are depending on someone who will panic easily, then you cannot depend on them to help steer the raft or rescue you if you should end up in the water.

Good luck and enjoy your next white water rafting trip !

Have you ever been near a tire when it explodes? How about a truck tire? We have and it is not fun at all. We really do not like being near big trucks at any time, unless they are well behind us and I guess this is one of the reasons why. The tire truck explodes right beside us.

We were on the Queen Elizabeth Way, just South West  of Toronto, Ontario in the middle lane passing a tractor trailer on the right. As we were traveling past the truck, we  pulled along side the rear wheels of the tractor, and one of the tires on the tractor, literally exploded within 3 feet of the passenger side of our car.

It is like a bomb going off, the sound is so loud and there was rubber from the tire flying everywhere. The tire just falls apart and the rubber starts flying. I am not sure if anyone was behind us or not, however the truck quickly pulled off the road and made repairs.

Tire Truck Explodes – Lucky

Fortunately for us, the rubber went behind us and missed our car completely. My wife was freaked out and I have to admit it shook me a bit as well.There were no cars behind the truck so they did not get hit by flying debris.

What a surprise start to our first day driving to California. We continued along our way to Niagara Falls which fortunately was only another hours drive. We were visiting the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

The only other time we have had something similar was actually in a car. I was not driving. A friend was driving in Los Angeles on one of the expressways. This guy was a little crazy and I think one of the tires was a bit low on pressure. If a tire is not properly pressurized it will heat up at high speeds and can explode.

This is exactly what happened to us at one hundred miles an hour. I told you this guy was crazy. Anyway we were able to pull off ok and make it to a garage. We were able to change the tire and get a new tire from the rental company. I don’t think they were too pleased. After all how often do you think this happens?

Anyway the moral of the story is to stay well away from tractor trailers. When you do pass them, do it quickly. This will reduce danger from flying debris from exploding tires or even stones that might be kicked up from the tires. Also keep your tires at the proper tire pressure and do not drive significantly over the speed limit.

Comments appreciated about your travel stories.

We love to travel across the USA and Canada. We travel by car and meet many people doing the same thing as well as folks in RV’s and even on motorcycles. You can follow our travels via this blog as well as learn about places that we have been. Traveling is such an enriching experience. You learn how other people live, varying views as well as see exciting vistas, museums, parks and entertainment venues.

We are fortunate that we can take the time to travel and we love driving. For us this is the best way to really see the country and visit many places. Many of our friends think we are crazy, taking on these long driving trips. We think this is because many of them do not like to drive . Or they are the type that must get to their destination as fast as possible.

Travel Blog – Driving Styles

Consider that it takes about 50 hours of straight driving by car to get to California from eastern Ontario. This is assuming multiple drivers, with no storms or car breakdowns to cause delays and no major traffic snarls. Some people we know would do exactly this and not stop until they got there. If you do this type of trip it is going to be grueling and very exhausting.

Now if you spread your trip over ten days, you only need to drive and average of 5 hours a day which is not too bad and you have time then to sight see at places you stop, have a good meal, go for a walk and enjoy yourself. Some times you might drive 10 hours in one day and then stay at one location for a few days. We often do this, particularly when we are crossing the prairies.

Schedules

Avoid setting an aggressive schedule and allow for delays either by nature, man made or mechanical breakdowns. You might need to make reservations at some locations that are busy , however for the most part just stop when you feel like it. Even during the busy summer months you can do this, however it is a good idea to call ahead and make a reservations so that you do not have to search for a place to stay. This has happened to us on several occasions, so we try to decide by 2pm were we want to stay, and then call ahead to reserve a room. Works well for us.

Flexibility

Flexibility and compromise are the key words when you are traveling with a companion, whether it is a long time spouse or a good friend. Be ready to pull over if one or the other wants to stop for any reason, whether it is a bathroom break, time to stretch or they saw something that looks interesting and would like to spend a few hours sight seeing.

Safety

This is important for many reasons. Take your time , stop if the weather is bad, avoid traffic jams and heavy traffic by leaving late or starting early. Don’t leave anything in your car at night to attract thieves. Stay in a good part of town. If it looks sketchy, move on. When going into major cities, make sure you know were you are going, rely on maps and GPS devices.

Have a destination in mind. Be careful were you stop for gas or ask for directions. Always carry water with your, especially in desert areas of Arizona or California and west Texas. It can get pretty hot and if you are stopped for any reason , it can get pretty hot and dry. Carry something to eat with you as well, even if it is just granola bars.  they will not fill you up but they will keep you from being hungry.

There are lots more suggestions for traveling by car and we will add them from time to time. Feel free to add your own via comments that you have from your own travel experiences.

For more travel suggestions, click here.

This was a post By Madison Park, CNN on November 12, 2010, which we wanted to repeat on our blog with full acknowledgment, since it incorporates many of the things we have been saying over the past months on our blog. We used the terms Energy In must be less than Energy Out in order to lose weight. Tony Posnanski put it much simpler, ” Eat Less – Move More”. this mantra is useful for everyone who is trying to lose weight or maintain their current weight.

Eat Less – Move More

Here is the post, repeated verbatim!

(CNN) — There were no diet pills, shakes or detoxes. And no, it wasn’t caveman food, grapefruit, Twinkies, Taco Bell or Subway sandwiches.

Tony Posnanski’s 200-pound weight loss was straightforward, almost dull.

“He changed the way I ate,” wrote Posnanski, 34, who went from consuming 10,000 calories a day to 2,400. “I got rid of processed foods. I ate fruits, vegetables, lean meats. It is pretty boring, but the results aren’t boring.”

The basics of weight loss are simple: Eat less. Move more. But consumers still flock to the newest best-seller diets, hormone injections, alleged hunger-controlling cookies, enthralled by glowing testimonials about sumo-to-svelte slim downs.

“There’s nothing sexy about ‘eat your fruits and vegetables,’ ” said Keri Gans, a registered dietitian. “We want to hear something else.”

“Consumers need to understand that health and the ideal body weight are not found from a gimmick. It takes hard work. The end result is long-lasting success.”

This week, a CNN.com story about a professor’s diet experiment went viral, drawing more than 125,000 Facebook shares and more than 1,200 viewer comments. Some blamed portion control for the obesity epidemic in the United States: “People in France have fattening food but are thinner than Americans because they eat moderate portions. It’s how much you eat that matters”

Humor About Slimming Down

Others found humor: “Well, it’s not like Twinkies are food, so no wonder he is losing weight.”

People are attracted to these types of stories for one simple reason, Gans said.

“Most people think if they can eat junk and still lose weight, they’re going to sign up for that,” said Gans, author of the upcoming book “The Small Change Diet.” They don’t realize that losing weight can happen without deprivation or gimmicks.

It’s a lesson that Posnanski learned after trying a slew of diet products. Over-the-counter diet pills made his heart race. Weight-loss shakes left him hungry.

At 400 pounds, Posnanski learned he might never be healthy enough to have children with his wife, Rebecca. His doctor said he needed bariatric surgery. In February 2008, he vowed to change.

Posnanski, an iReport contributor in Orlando, Florida, stopped spending $30 during 3 a.m. drive-thru binges at Taco Bell. He stopped polishing off boxes of pizza and buckets of chicken.

Reduce Portion Sizes

He practiced what he had always heard — he reduced portion sizes and ate healthy.

There was no immediate difference, he said. “My pants were still large after that first day. But I felt like I could do this. It was different.

“Before, I would tell myself I’m going to do this for a little while. That day, I was like, ‘You know what — I’m done. This is the rest of my life.’ ”

That’s the key to weight loss, experts say. It can’t be a temporary fix; the changes have to be lifelong.

“It’s like the tortoise and the hare,” said Dr. Sam Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. “You need to be the tortoise here. Rapid, short-term weight loss is not the way to go. It’s the slow, steady approach. Small changes you stick to forever is key.”

A drastic diet of snack cakes helped nutrition professor Mark Haub tried lose 27 pounds in 10 weeks because he reduced his caloric intake.

Critics warned that his over consumption of Twinkies would have long-term consequences and questioned whether such a diet could be sustained.

“Please bear in mind this was a class exercise to illustrate issues and concerns that occur during weight loss,” Haub said. “This project is not to promote a diet.”

The basic premise is that people can lose weight eating anything from Twinkies, apples or baby food, as long as they reduce calories.

“Most people find out on their own. They do the cookie diet or cabbage diet for a week or two, then inevitably, maintaining something that eliminates major food groups [is] just such an unrealistic lifestyle change, it doesn’t work,” said Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

That initial weight loss isn’t likely to last.

There are successful plans such as the low-fat diet and the Mediterranean diet that improve cardiovascular and metabolic health while also encouraging a range of healthy foods, Klein said. And programs that bring awareness to portion size such as Weight Watchers can help, because they essentially direct people to reduce calories.

“It’s not taking a single cookie to make you lose weight, a pill or product,” said Gans, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “Eat your whole grains to lower cholesterol, fruits and vegetables to prevent cancer. The key to weight loss is about eating and creating a healthy relationship with food.”

For people who hope for shortcuts, Klein said: “There’s no magic bullet to lose weight and keep it off.”

Smaller portion sizes (no fewer than 1,200 calories) and daily physical activity can lower cardiovascular disease risks, he said.

Posnanski, is a former yo-yo dieter and restaurant manager, who gave up what he called “gimmicky” diets. He shared how he has managed to sustain his weight loss:

• Monitor portions and keep track of food intake
• Stay away from processed foods, and eat mostly vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains
• Work out one to two hours a day

“I don’t believe in quick weight-loss diets,” Posnanski said. “I believe in the rest of my life.”

What a great good news story that should motivate all of us. Feel free to leave comments on our blog.

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The following is the third and last  in a three part series of  an excerpt from an article written by Chris Joosse on the subject of White Water Right of Way Etiquette! This particular article is all about folks who love to Kayak. However these rules can equally apply to people who are part of a White Water Tour group. Lots can be learned from this article and that is why we wanted to post it on this web site. Hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

Chris Joossee’s thoughts go something like this:

Right of way is traditionally determined by necessity if you’re unable to deviate from your course, by necessity that course should be yours and nobody should get into your way. Hence, the paddler moving downriver, committed to their course, is granted right of way.

White Water Right of Way Etiquette

But what of situations where the upstream paddler deliberately places themselves in a position where someone else must avoid them? Say, for example, that I’m sitting in an eddy upstream of the hole and Joe Playboater has just entered the hole for a ride. Should I feel entitled to peel out of the eddy, proceed downstream into the hole, and expect him to yield the hole to me? (I would argue that this is a flagrant abuse of the traditional ‘right’ of way… after all. I was not compelled to go there out of necessity. We could have picked a line that skirted the hole. If I wanted to run down into the hole, I could have waited until Joe finished his ride, and then taken my turn.)

Avoiding collisions, and therefore avoiding potential injuries, is a priority of a higher order than concerns about Right of Way.

Given this, I would argue that my hypothetical decision to pick a collision course with Joe is reckless and irresponsible. After all, it’s not safe for me to assume that Joe has enough control in the hole to avoid me. For that matter, Joe doesn’t know if I can (or want to) miss him. In picking a collision course, I’m imposing on his sense of responsibility for our mutual well-being. In brief, both paddlers should be responsible for avoiding collisions. Because hey, people make mistakes – but if it’s not a mistake, you’re abusing the system. Whether you’re coming in from upstream or slipping in from the eddy and frustration about this kind of abuse is the reason this discussion came up in the first place.

Getting along with each other is a very important consideration – so respect and courtesy should not be undervalued as part of our paddling experience.

Sharing

Sharing, taking turns, and simple line etiquette are all about respecting other people. Their right to a turn at time in the hole, and without that respect things can turn ugly. These are things we learned how to do in kindergarten, they’re not complicated, and are just as important in Kayaking as they are in real life.

Other reality – In our less-than-ideal world, the 300-lb Gorilla makes the rules. Because cops don’t generally paddle and when they do, usually they’re not on duty. There is no law on the water, even if it can catch up with us on land, so we’re all on the hook to get along. Even in the face of another paddler who’s not making the effort. In reality, might shouldn’t make right, but in practice, it means let them have their way for now and you can sort it out later.

If someone, say a raft or a kayaker cuts you off or makes a decision resulting in danger or discourtesy to you. It’s best to pursue the matter in a way that’s both safe and diplomatic- that is, by getting out of their way, *then* pursuing the matter, hopefully in a diplomatic manner. It’s possible, after all, that they just hadn’t considered that they were being rude or unsafe, or that their actions would bother you- give them at least the benefit of that doubt.

By the same token, don’t forget that if someone injures you, whether through deliberate action or through the consequences of deliberate action, there are laws that address this sort of thing. You are entitled to file a criminal report, press charges, and to recover damages if applicable. You are not, however, entitled to reciprocate their behavior, unless somehow that would constitute self-defense.

General best practices, and some rationale behind them:

For paddlers coming downriver:

If there’s a line for a feature and the feature is occupied, wait your turn if there’s an opportunity (like an eddy) to do so.- This is an exercise in simple respect. Respect can only be given. Folks who try to take it… obviously don’t understand it, and generally never get it. If you honestly can’t wait (there’s no eddy, no way to stop) ideally someone else should have seen you coming and will be taking steps to get out of your way, but you are still responsible to avoid collisions, even if the other guy cannot.

It’s important to recognize that a busy playspot is shared on a turn-taking basis, and that the playboater’s mindset about respect is based on taking turns and honoring a fair system where everybody gets to take turns fairly and equally. As the saying goes, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’- it’s the best way to avoid misunderstandings. Bonus: as a courtesy to you, as the upstream paddler, you’ve got an honorary position at the head of the line.

For paddlers at the playspot:

If you’re in an eddy, yield to the person not in the eddy. If you’re in the eddy, you’ve got time- nothing is going to happen to you if you wait. The same is not true of the person in moving water. They have a limited time window in which to catch an eddy, catch a wave, or pass through. Because they are committed and you are not, common sense dictates that you yield to them.

Do your best to let the upstream paddler through- The less you make other people wait, the more everyone will be able to play and the less friction there’ll be all ’round. Downriver boaters aren’t especially interested in taking turns, nor do they want to interrupt yours- they just want through- do your best to avoid making them wait. This is especially important if there isn’t a place for upstream paddlers to stop.

For all paddlers:

If you’re in control, yield to the craft that is not in control, or which has less control than you. Both craft are responsible for avoiding collisions. So if you’re more capable of doing so than the other craft, your responsibility to yield increases. Whether you’re going downriver or not. If you’re surfing, do your best to get out of the upstream boater’s way. It’s the polite thing to do, do it. If you’re coming from upstream, don’t commit to the feature until you’ve got a clear route.

Before committing to the feature, check for traffic- If there’s someone already there, or headed there, yield to them. If you’re prepared to yield, you’re prepared to do the responsible thing. Avoid a collision, even if the other guy isn’t.

Avoid paddling over your head. If you’re not in control, all of this talk about courtesy is moot. If you can’t avoid the other guy, you’re relying on the other guy to avoid you. While we all do this on occasion, if it’s a regular or predictable thing, you’re imposing on everyone else.

The root of success is in common sense, courtesy and respect, rather than in dogma or tradition.

Flash Points

The commonest flash-points on rivers are between paddlers who are surfing and paddlers who want to run downriver in the places where the former are surfing. I feel strongly that if you want to use the hole and there’s a line, you should wait. Take your turn like anyone else if it’s at all possible. Common sense and courtesy (to say nothing of safety) should come first. Before any assertion of the traditional ‘right’ of downstream boaters to claim a particular spot. Regardless of who might be there or whether they’re in control enough to avoid them. As has been repeatedly stated, this discussion is about courtesy and safety first, and entitlement last. Nobody is entitled to any place on the river if the act of going there endangers another person.

Tradition holds that ‘the downriver boater has right of way’. This is a simple way of stating everything I’ve said above. But it does not entitle the upstream boater to force the issue and never has.

Respect is something you give, not take… and this is about courtesy and respect just as much as it is about safety and common sense.

Hope you found these three posts useful. Comments are welcome. For more posts about white water etiquette, click here.

Red Rock is a high-end, boutique-style property. From its flowing design and unique architecture to its flawless incorporation of state-of-the-art technology, this AAA Four Diamond Award-winning resort rivals many of the major resorts on the Strip, while also maintaining its local appeal. They have all the amenities of a Station Casino, but in a luxury setting.

LCD screens scattered throughout Red Rock display ads and restaurant menus, while modern light fixtures brighten the 87,000-square-foot casino floor. Tiled pathways surrounding the gaming areas provide a clear cut route to the many hot spots within this red-hot spot.

The design also reflects the natural beauty of the area, incorporating materials like marble, onyx, wood, red patent crocodile leather and red sandstone indigenous to Red Rock Canyon. There are more than 3.1 million Swarovski and Preciosa crystals (measuring 99 miles) throughout the resort.

The property features more than 800 guest rooms and suites, as well as seven penthouse-level suites. Even the standard guest room at Red Rock is anything but. Every room boasts breathtaking views through floor-to-ceiling windows, either of the Las Vegas Strip or of Red Rock Canyon. Luxury linens, two flat screen televisions, wireless internet access and an iPod docking station are among the conveniences available to guests, while the marble bathrooms include both a deep soaking tub and a separate shower.

Red Rock Casino – Slot Machines

There are over 3,000 slot and video poker machines in a 87,000-square-foot casino with 60 gaming tables offering blackjack, roulette, craps, , a 15-table poker room and 600-seat bingo room.

Table Games

There are 60 gaming tables offering blackjack, roulette, craps, , a 15-table poker room and 600-seat bingo room.

Restaurants

Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa has the following dining options:

• Grand Café,
• Feast Buffet,
• The Bagel Cafe,
• T-Bones Chophouse & Lounge,
• Terra Rossa Italian Restaurant,
• Hachi, LBS: A Burger Joint,
• Cabo Cantina,
• Turf Grill, Yard House,
• a food court and
• the seasonal Sandbar Poolside Café.

What We Liked

Since we have not visited this hotel, we cannot offer any comments about what we liked and disliked about the Red Rock Casino & Spa- Las Vegas. Based on their web site we do like the following:

• Over 3000 slots
• Great restaurants
• 3 acre pool
• No pets allowed
• In room internet access via wireless connection
• Parking garage and RV parking
• Shuttle service to strip, fashion show mall and the airport
• Close to I215 and Charleston exits

What We Did Not Like

Since we have not visited this hotel, we cannot offer any comments about what we liked and disliked about the Red Rock Casino & Spa- Las Vegas. Based on their web site we do like the following:

• Far from the strip

Red Rock Casino Slot Player Card

They have a  slot players card system as do many of the hotels and casinos. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Red Rock Casino Parking

There is ample parking at the Red Rock Casino & Spa  in a large parking garage beside the hotel. There is surface parking for RV’s however you should book ahead. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels.

Directions:The Red Rock Casino & Spa is located on West Charleston and I215, so it is quite easy to get to from the airport or just about anywhere in Las Vegas. However it is not close to the strip and visitors should be aware of this fact. The hotel offers a free shuttle service from the hotel to the strip, Fashion Show Mall and the airport. Check the schedules.

The following is the second in a three part series of  an excerpt from an article written by Chris Joosse on the subject of River Etiquette!  We decided to focus on white water right of way.This particular article is all about folks who love to Kayak, however these rules can equally apply to people who are part of a White Water Tour group. Lots can be learned from this article about white water rafting and that is why we wanted to post it on this web site.

White Water Right of Way

Often it’s argued that by convention the downstream boater always has right of way, but there are courtesy, common sense, and safety considerations that, to my way of thinking, require clarification this long-held tradition. ‘Right of Way’ is a commonly misunderstood doctrine, and these misunderstandings often create as many problems as RoW is meant to solve.

The biggest problem with stating that one paddler has ‘right of way’ is that the word ‘right’ is in it, and this seems to confuse everybody. The commonest misunderstanding of this rule is in the notion that somehow while one paddler should give way, that the other paddler should TAKE it, as if their prerogative was sanctioned by holy writ. In reality, both boaters should be prepared to yield, and each should yield to a place where the other isn’t. This requires communication- if it is impossible to establish eye contact or communication of intent (I’ll go this way, you’ll go that way) then it’s the responsibility of the party in control to avoid a collision.

White Water Right of Way – Maritime Law

Right of way is an operational doctrine derived from its utility, and from the demands imposed upon us by the realities of the river. In maritime law, (which is not applicable to the river in the context of kayakers and rafters- the coast guard doesn’t know, doesn’t want to know, wants no part of regulating, policing, or enforcing the rules of the road on waterways it doesn’t consider to be a road in the first place, and among craft it doesn’t deem necessary to register or regulate for that matter.) it is full of rules and exceptions for example, craft under power are responsible to give right of way to craft not under power.

Shallow Drafting Vessels

At the same time, however, shallow-drafting vessels must yield a navigable channel to deep-drafting vessels. Even if the deep-drafting vessel is under power and the shallow-drafting vessel is not. Why? It’s done that way because it makes sense. In other words, there’s nothing holy or important about being the one going downstream. There never has been- the important consideration is whether you’re committed to going where you’re going. Still, too many people behave as though simply being the upstream paddler is the only valid consideration worth mentioning.

On the river, among kayakers, where there are no codified regulations in effect. We must also conduct ourselves in a sensible manner, in accord with the realities we face. The reality is that we have no inalienable right to go anywhere we want if there’s a chance that exercising our prerogative to do so will result in harming (or arguably even disrespecting) another paddler. In this sense, a paddler’s ‘right of way’ is more a courtesy granted to one by the other guy than it is an actual ‘Right’ to be exercised. Let me repeat that last bit- we’re not talking about rights, here- this is an exercise in courtesy.

White Water Right of Way – Respect

Like respect, Right of Way cannot be taken- it can only be given. As it is with all such things, it can be taken for granted, abused, or flouted. Some paddlers routinely steer themselves into collision courses. They are expecting the other paddler to take responsibility for getting out of their way. They don’t consider that this is not only rude and unsafe. But violates one of the prime tenets of fairness in our culture (and for that matter, most cultures): do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

For clarity, I suggest that we let go of the notion that ‘the upstream boater has right of way’. Instead focus on the equally shared responsibility that each paddler has to avoid the other. In other words, instead of one paddler being responsible for yielding to another. Both paddlers should make an equal effort to do so. If you’re in the hole surfing, keep an eye out for upstream boaters. Head for the shoulder to let them through downriver paddlers just want to run through. The less they have to wait, the better. If you’re coming downstream, don’t commit to the hole until there’s an opening. Or until the paddler who’s there has acknowledged you.

At the same time, if you’re a play boater, you’ve got all day in this hole. Do your best to let people who want to come through do so. Get out of their way as quickly as possible, it’s the courteous thing to do.

White Water Right of Way – Paddlers

This is the system by which most play spots I’ve seen tend to operate. Everyone shares, everyone respects everyone else’s right to have time in the hole, everyone takes turns. But there are exceptions. Rafts are less maneuverable and generally big enough that nobody wants to get run over. They tend to claim their line regardless of whether someone happens to be there.

Some paddlers who mistake being yielded to for being respected, force the issue in unsafe ways. Some paddlers who believe that their right of way is more important than your mutual safety do the same. It’s true, not so long ago (before play boating became popular) it was popularly held that the downriver boater always has right of way. But in situations where exercising that prerogative is unsafe, common sense, courtesy, and respect dictate what makes sense.  Nobody really has any ‘rights’ on the water in this regard. Save for the basic rights we all enjoy on land. Such as the right not to be injured by other peoples actions or negligence, for example.

Example

We all seem to agree that Joe play boater who zips out into the hole in front of Jim downriver boater is in the wrong. We seem to disagree, however, about why we agree on this point and by extension. Also we disagree on another point- on whether it’s appropriate for Jim Down river boater to expect Joe Play boater to exit the hole. If he was there before Jim put himself in the position of being committed to the hole.

Is this reasonable?

Watch for the next post in the last of this 3 part series. Comments welcome! For more posts about white water etiquette, click here.

We visited the Vernon Downs Casino Resort Hotel one day for a few hours only. We would definitely go back if we were in the area. Unfortunately it is a bit out of the way as most racetrack style casinos are. They have done a good job of combining a racetrack with a casino and adding a hotel for guests who are staying over.  The Vernon Downs Casino also must compete with the nearby Turning Stone casino which is only a few miles away and much more elegant. Competition is a good thing and we think that the odds of winning might be slightly better at this casino as a result. Let us know what your thoughts are in this regard and any comments you might have regarding this property.

Vernon Downs Casino Resort Hotel is 100% smoke-free with spacious guest rooms and suite accommodations. It is conveniently beside the casino with inside access to the adjoining 750-game casino, with live entertainment delicious fare, and only a short walk away to enjoy exciting racing action. There is also and Indoor Heated Pool.

If you plan to stay at the hotel, book early. We tried a last minute reservation and found the hotel was full. Rates on the weekends are expensive, however on weekdays they are much more reasonable.

Vernon Downs Casino Resort Hotel Business Meetings

Meeting Space & Business Center For Business & Social Events: with business-friendly amenities such as spacious suite accommodations, complimentary WiFi in the lobby area and computer with 24-hour Internet access.

Vernon Downs Casino has 761 gaming machines featuring some of the hottest games around including in house progressives and Video Poker, they range from 1¢ to $5.00 in denomination. Vernon Downs Casino has a  Wide Area Progressive link with other NYS Lottery Casinos making Vernon Downs Casino the home of one of the largest  Wide Area Progressive Jackpot Winners to date .

This is one of the typical racetrack style casinos and an ok place to visit.

Hours of Operation: Sunday – Thursday: 9 AM – 2 AM, Friday and Saturday: 9 AM – 3 AM

Slot Machines

There are over  761 gaming machines featuring some of the hottest games around including in house progressives and Video Poker, they range from 1¢ to $5.00 in denomination at Vernon Downs Casino

Table Games

There are no table games at the Vernon Downs Casino.

Restaurants

Restaurants at the Vernon Downs Casino Resort Hotel include Champions Buffet For Great Food: Savor our signature Champions Buffet, Triple 7 Cafe, Ring Eyed Pete’s Sports Bar and Lucky’s Bar & Grill. Kids under 5 eat free.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Hotel rates are very reasonable on weekdays
• lots of surface parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Enjoy the horse races as well as the casino

What We Did Not Like

• There are no real complaints about the Vernon Downs Casino Resort Hotel
• It is a 3 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

Vernon Downs Casino has a Player’s Club which you can sign up for a “Your Club” rewards card. It’s FREE! New members receive 3x’s the points earned on the day you sign up and as a member of “Your Club”. You can become eligible to receive rewards such as invitations to special VIP concerts, Lesley Gore, Joan Jett and Clint Black just to name a few as well as invitations to VIP tournaments and VIP parties.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Vernon Downs Casino Resort Hotel. There is a large parking lot in front of  the hotel and casino. This casino does not provide garage parking.

Directions: 4229 Stuhlman Rd., Vernon, New York 13476

Click here for another posts about Verona Downs.

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We really enjoy watching the biggest loser. It is an inspirational show, we actually learn a few things about diet and about how to manage our food intake. This past week we also learned that we already do some of the things that they discussed on the biggest loser which helps us control our weight and also save money ! We also learned that there are a few more things we should be doing to further manage our weight loss. One of the big items is portion control at all meals including buffets and when eating out. Control the size of your meal and you will control the number of calories you are taking in.

Portion control!

Portion control is really the biggest thing to help you control your weight, lose weight and manage your diet.  It is the old adage, energy in must be less than the energy you burn if you are going to lose weight. So one way to manage this is to control the size of the portions you are eating.

If you are at home, use a small plate. I know for myself if I use a large plate, I have a tendency to fill it up, while I do the same thing with a small plate, there is only so much food I can put on the plate. BY the time you have finished the food on the small plate you are starting to feel full and if you can wait 5 minutes, you will definitely feel full. Sure you might go back for a second helping, but again you are using a small plate and it will only hold a small amount of food. Sure you are tricking your mind and your stomach, but if it works why not use every trick you can to lose weight.

When you are out of the home dining in a restaurant, it is a bit more difficult, so we have another suggestion that will also help to save some money as well.

Share meals when dining out!

As we travel around the country, one thing we notices is that the size of the meals served at restaurants are huge. Portion sizes at restaurants have gotten out of hand. Many restaurants and I guess their patrons as well feel that they must serve large portions to attract their guests.

We have found that for many meals if we split the meal it is more than enough for each of us and we save money at the same time. The restaurants for the most part are ok with this, and sometimes will even split the meal for us, serving it on two separate plates. Sometimes they will bring us a second plate and let us split the meal our selves. Either way we eat less and we save money. What a deal!

There are some places that want to charge a fee for splitting the meal. We just do not go back to them and we tell people as well. They end up losing business as a result. So when you go out to eat split your meals.

Portion Control and Buffets

Buffets are really difficult. If you have a problem controlling how much you eat, it is probably best if you avoid going to a buffet. With all of the excellent food it is usually best to just not go, because it is human nature to overeat when all of that food is just sitting there. Use the small plate approach and eat slowly, but we are pretty confident that you will still over eat in this situation.

Eat slow, Weight 20 Minutes So your  Stomach Feels Full!

This is one of the best ways to manage the portion size and how much you eat. Apparently it takes a little time for your stomach to register that it is full and let your brain know that you have eaten enough. Some people say wait 10 to 20 minutes and then decide if you are going back for second helpings.

Fast eaters tend to over eat, so if you wait even 5 minutes before getting that second helping you may find that you have eaten enough. We find that discussing topics over the dinner table is a great way to slow down your eating and also get that full feeling. Let’s face it you cannot eat when you are talking, at least you should not, just for good manners. Talking slows you down and forces you to enjoy the food more and provides time for your stomach to register the fact that you are full. maybe you will realize that you are full and will avoid going for that second helping!

Use Every Trick in the Book

Aside from just deciding to not eat as much, we are suggesting that you use every trick you can to control how much you eat. If you use a couple of little tricks to manage your eating, so what. At least you are losing weight, or controlling your weight.

Bottom line, you need to deal with the long term reason regarding why you have over eaten. Using these tricks will help you get going, but to maintain your weight or lose weight you do have to deal with the reasons why you over eat.

There are probably a lot more tha can be used as well. If you know some of these tricks to control the portion size, why not leave us a comment and let our readers know about it. Spam comments will be auto deleted!

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We recently visited the Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack while on a shopping trip to the Syracuse area. We had finished shopping at the Waterloo premium outlets. I entered casino into our GPS to find out if any were near and it turns out the Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack was only 30 miles away. Since we had not been there before we decided to give it a try before heading back to our hotel in Syracuse.

It is easy to get to, just off I90 and there is also a Comfort Inn close by if you decide you want to stay overnight, however I would suggest that you make a reservation, since it look like it is pretty busy on the weekends.

The Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack was better than most racetrack casinos that we have visited. It has a definite Las Vegas flair to it with high ceilings and lots of machines. Beer prices are reasonable at $3 per glass of draft beer, and there are lots of machines to choose from. There are a few too many penny slot machines for our taste, however penny machines seem to be the trend for many casinos. They also use ticket in and ticket out machines making it easy to move from machine to machine.

I had a hamburger at the deli and found it to be better than many I have had in similar casino deli’s. We did not try the buffet, however pretty much all buffets at these casinos are great. I am sure this one is as well.

Overall we found this to be a nice casino to visit and will definitely go back sometime to visit. Probably combine a shopping trip with a little gambling as well. Note that there are no table games at this casino, however you can also play the horses if you prefer.

Finger Lakes Casino – Slot Machines

Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack offers nearly 1,200 slot machines for your enjoyment. With a spacious, 30,000 square foot gaming floor there is enough room for you to move around in comfort even during the busiest times. Open from 10am – 4am daily, you can play all of your favorite games, including video poker, progressive jackpots, penny machines, and more!

Customer-friendly features include comfortable seating, touch screen play, cash/ticket in – ticket out machines, and free beverage service while playing.

They also feature seasonal coat check, valet parking, and ample safe and free parking. The Cashier Cage provides personal check cashing and credit card advance services. They also have four ATM machines.

Table Games

There are no table games at the Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack.

Restaurants

Enjoy the Tuscan atmosphere at their 10,000 square-foot “All You Can Eat” Vineyard Buffet! Mediterranean and Southwest cuisines, All American and regional favorites, fresh carved selections, and tempting salad and dessert bars. The Vineyard Buffet is open daily from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. for lunch and 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. for dinner featuring prime rib.

They also offer a variety of dining options to suit your tastes. From fine dining at our buffet, to “grab-n-go” sandwiches and snacks at the Platinum Grille, there is something for everyone! They also have casual dining overlooking the racetrack in the Terrace Dining Room.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Drinks are not free while gambling, however at $3.00 for a draft beer they are reasonable
• Buffet
• Easy access from all highways including I90
• Safe environment in the casino and parking areas
• Great stopover point on your way to Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse or points west

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Finger Lakes casino & racetrack

This a typical racetrack style casino with a touch of Vegas . We are not fond of racetrack casinos so would not rate this one very high, however compared to other racetrack casinos, it is near the top of tat sub list.

Slot Player Card

The Finger Lakes casino & racetrack has their own slot card which provides you with cash discounts on meals as well as cash in the form of free slot play.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Finger Lakes casino & racetrack  in a large  surface parking area, which is ample for all casino and racetrack patrons.

Directions:

From Rochester:

I-490 East to the end

NYS Thruway (I-90) east to exit 44 (Route 332, Canandaigua)

South on Route 332 approximately 1 mile to Route 96

Left on Route 96 , ½ mile on the right

From the West (Buffalo)

NYS Thruway (I-90) east to exit 44 (Route 332, Canandaigua)

South on Route 332 approximately 1 mile to Route 96

Left on Route 96, ½ mile on the right

Note: They are about 1/2 hour from Rochester International Airport. From the airport, just travel south on 390 to I-90, and you can take I-90 East from there.

From the East (Syracuse, Utica, Albany, etc.)

NYS Thruway (I-90) west to exit 43 (Route 21, Manchester)

South on Route 21 a short distance to Route 96

Right on Route 96, 5 miles on the left

OR

NYS Thruway (I-90) west to exit 44 (Route 332, Canandaigua)

South on Route 332 approximately 1 mile to Route 96

Left on Route 96,½ mile on the right

The following is the first in a three part series of  an excerpt from an article written by Chris Joosse on the subject of White Water River Etiquette! This particular article is all about folks who love to Kayak, however these rules can equally apply to people who are part of a White Water Tour group. Lots can be learned from this article and that is why we wanted to post it on this web site. Hope you enjoy reading this post and can learn from it. Your comments are welcome.

As kayaking has become more popular and as river traffic has increased over time, it has become necessary to evolve conventions of etiquette and right of way to minimize the otherwise inevitable friction that arises as a result of crowding around play spots.

White Water River Etiquette

The first order of business is to understand that courtesy, safety, and common sense are the basis from which white water river etiquette are derived.

Meeting Strangers at the Put-in

Nearly everyone’s heard stories about nightmare days on the river. Where a friend met up with some stranger at the put-in who overstated their abilities. Then proceeded to swim nineteen times. Didn’t have float bags in their boat. Scammed a bit of everyone’s lunch. Didn’t have a rope, a clue, or any common sense. While these stories are mercifully rare, they do happen. They can make for a frustrating day for everyone involved.

It’s expected, if you’re looking to attach yourself to a group at the put-in, or if you’re arranging to paddle with someone you don’t know. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions about your abilities, familiarity with the run, what gear you’re carrying, your experience, etc. Be honest.

If someone asks to join your group, don’t be shy about asking for credentials. Whether they’ve done this stretch of river before. Whether they’re carrying appropriate safety equipment. Also whether they’ve got float bags in their boat. Don’t be afraid to refuse their request if you think they’ll be a problem.

Paddling over your head

Unless you’ve got an understanding with your party to the contrary, it’s not just unsafe to put yourself in a position where you’ll regularly require rescue. It’s a fairly serious imposition upon their generosity. We all get into trouble and need help from time to time. But if your ‘time to time’ is on a regular basis, you may have a problem. Not only are you making decisions that endanger you and your group, you’re putting them in a precarious position.

It’s sensible, not only out of your own interest in remaining healthy and alive, to avoid putting people in your party in a position where they might have to choose to save themselves over saving you- that is the stuff of nightmares. Paddle responsibly.

Rescues

Believe it or not, there are do’s and don’ts involved in rescues.

Don’t wait for a rescue if you can safely work on self-rescuing. When your buddies get there, they’ll appreciate your effort.

If you’re on the receiving end of a rescue, do your best to help. That means kick when your rescuer says ‘kick’, let go of your boat if your rescuer tells you to let go of your boat, and let go of your rescuer if that’s what they say. In a rescue situation, the rescuer is boss and their word is law. Your job is to cooperate with your rescuer to the best of your ability, and to endanger them as little as you can. It’s best to make their job easy- make eye contact with them, talk to them, let them know you’re not going to climb up on their boat (and them) in a crazed panic. If you don’t tell them, they’ll have to find out somehow.

Avoid Endangering Yourself

As a rescuer, your job is to avoid endangering yourself first, and help the other guy if you can second. Before you collect a swimmer, talk to them- ascertain that they’re copus mentis, (do not come in contact with a swimmer who’s panicking) establish a plan to get them to safety, and execute on that plan. If they’re not cooperating, bark orders. If they put you in danger by not cooperating, no holds are barred.

Also If you’re not involved in the rescue, you’ve got two things to do: 1) make sure you’re safe, the rescuers can’t deal with more people to save, and 2) if you’re capable of helping somehow without endangering yourself or others, help out.

After the rescue, remember to thank everyone involved in it. It is considered good etiquette to offer beverages at the end of the day to anyone who either recovered gear or you, at a rate of one beverage per item/incident.

Know your access rights

We abuse the word ‘navigable’ when it comes to water on a regular basis. The word ‘navigable’ means different things in different contexts. In different principalities because one meaning of the word refers to whether said water can be navigated in fact. While the legal usage of the word means something different rules vary from state to state. But generally in the US for a body of water to be deemed ‘navigable’ in the legal sense, it must have a history or current demonstrated use for hauling commerce. Or be specifically declared ‘navigable’ by a state (which normally uses the prior test).

It’s been wrangled to and fro. But according to precedent in every state that I’m aware of, “the ability to float it in a canoe” does not satisfy the law’s definition of navigability, despite our ability to actually navigate it.

Property Law

The reason for the more stringent test is one of property law- ‘navigable’ water is always held by the state or principality as a public trust. While ‘non-navigable’ water is subject, depending on specific states’ laws, to private ownership. One of the fundamental principles in the US constitution is that private property is more or less holy.

What this means to you and me is that very often we don’t actually have the iron-clad right to be on a given reach of water. It may be common practice to run a stretch of river not deemed officially ‘navigable’ in your principality. However it still pays to curry good will with the locals and adjacent landowners. Be discreet about changing, courteous about parking, and invisible in all other respects if at all possible.

Watch for our next article in this series regarding Right of Way.

Comments are welcome. Spam will be deleted. For more posts about white water etiquette, click here.

Well the third place finishers are not back yet, but they keep showing hints that they may be joining the show. They probably will need to compete for a place in the biggest loser house, so not all of them will be able to rejoin. But it will be interesting to see how they have progressed in the weeks since they tried out for the show. Have they lost weight? Will they qualify to be on the show and replace someone on the ranch? This is the best biggest loser season so far.

Biggest Loser Season 10-Their Coming Back

Watch for our next update to see what happens. Meanwhile they grunt and grown, sweat and puke their way to losing weight. Not a pretty site, but they get pushed pretty hard so I guess we have to allow them some down time. Bob and Jillian frequently talk about some of the things we can do to control weight and to avoid putting on more pounds. We decided to include a few of these ideas on this post.

Cupcakes- 100 calorie, whole wheat flour, honey- no sugar

Can you believe that a cupcake made with whole wheat and honey instead of white flour and sugar is only 100 calories! Most cupcakes can have up to 700 calories and I do not know about you, but I can easily put away a couple of them. Far better to partake of 100 calorie cupcakes vs. those 700 babies!
Need to experience success, push through

Broccoli  loaded with nutrients

I love broccoli and apparently it is loaded with nutrients as long as you do not boil it and leach out all of the good stuff. I also like to smother it in cheese soup, which is not so good. Combined with the salt and the calories, this is not such a good idea. Try broccoli on its own or with a little butter!
Sophia, red line, 2 pounds

Subway breakfast 300 calories, egg white, vegetables

I have tried subway for breakfast and they really do make an excellent breakfast sub. Just try not to add the mayonnaise or some of the other sauces. That is were the calories are. If you can avoid the sauces, you will have a great low calorie breakfast. And don’t forget you can have a complete breakfast for less than $5, now that is a good deal.

Create failures to be comfortable, have to get outside of this, need to have some wins.

This seems odd, but according to the trainers, some people will create failures so they can avoid the limelight and attention that they might gather if they won something.  They have to get used to being the center of attention and to enjoy it. No more, poor as me.

Eat cheap get fat 5$ pizza, 5$ pasta, eat well instead

Many families in a rush when they get home from work , have to feed the lids, and then get them out to an activity. A $5 dollar pizza or some other kind of pasta is easy, but there is lots of calories and loads of salt, neither of which is very good for you. With a little extra effort and planning, you can eat healthy and avoid the salt and calories.

Rolling 900pounds of carpet , is it fair

They had to compete by rolling a 900 pound carpet down a field. Now the guys had a tough time with it, yet they managed to do it. The women on the other hand found it very difficult and could barely get the thing going. Could it be that this season is geared towards the men?

Make your life what you want it to be, you just need to decide to do it

Sounds easy doesn’t it. Deciding to do something and actually carrying it out are two different things altogether. But it really comes down to making choices for yourself that will help you lose weight. Also be the type of person you want to me. Stay focused and transform yourself into the person you want to be.

The White Water rafting season is nearing the end in many areas of the country. It is time to put away all of your gear for another season. Before you store all of your gear it just might be a good time to complete any repairs and take advantage of White Water gear on  sale! We know that the outfitters do not want to get stuck with a lot of unsold product over the winter and they want to also replace it with the next years newest and latest gear. Consumers want the very best equipment and if they are going to pay top dollar they want the best. This is the time to get the best deals.

Still a deal is a deal and if you can get some White Water rafting gear on sale, why not save yourself some money. In fact maybe you can buy some things that you were thinking about, but previously held back because of the price. Now is the time to buy as well as complete any needed repairs.

We checked a few web sites and they all have deals on right now for this years White Water rafting gear! Rafts, repair material, bags, clothing, paddles, oars, storage, transport, rescue equipment, safety equipment, camping and cooking gear. Even if you are looking for Christmas / Birthday gifts, this is a great time to buy and give that special piece that your friends have been looking for. If you need to replace something that is worn out or beyond repair, ship now for your replacements.

White Water Gear on Sale

The following is a short list of things that you might consider as gifts or for repairs. With all of these ideas you will have no problem picking something. Don’t wait to long, since sale items are likely to go quickly

Clothing

• Bags & Clothing
• Bags
• Footwear
• Hats & Gloves
• Paddling Clothing
• Men’s & Women’s Casuals
• Rainwear
• Drysuits and Wetsuits
• Insulation & Underwear
• Kid’s Clothing
• Plastic Cases & Boxes
• Sunglasses
• Swimsuits

Rescue/Safety:

• First Aid
• Helmets
• PFD’s
• Rescue Hardware
• River Knives
• Throw Bags and Rescue Ropes
• Satellite Phones

Camping & Cooking:

• Tables
• Cooking Equipment
• Sleeping
• Shelters
• Showers, Toilets
• Washing Supplies
• Water Purifiers & Containers
• Chairs

Rafts, Cats, IK’s & Frames:

• Catarafts
• Cat Frames
• Inflatable Kayaks & Accessories
• Rafts
• Raft Frames
• Raft & Frame Accessories

The biggest loser weight loss show was on again this week and they still have not brought back the contestants that did not make the show. I think they are going to introduce these people at some point. Maybe they are a shadow team that is working out with Bob and Jillian at another ranch somewhere. I hope so because those people really need the help. They were in worse shape than the people who made it onto the show. They really need to lose weight under a doctors care as well to make sure that they lose weight in a healthy manner and eat the right foods..

The show itself is sticking to the same old formula with one exception. People are still working out, puking their guts out, yelling and crying as they get into shape and try to lose weight. Can you imagine the pain they must be in. Every muscle in their bodies must hurt! There have been a couple times during my life when I have started to exercise after a prolonged period of no exercise. I was in pain for several days. Almost every muscle in my body ached for a week until I got over this period.

These are people on the biggest loser weight loss show who are overweight, have not exercised in a long time and suddenly they are doing aggressive exercise in an effort to burn calories. They have to be in extreme pain for at least a week. I cannot imagine how much. Anytime you use muscles that have not been stretched in awhile, they are going to hurt for several days after. This is going to be almost continuous pain for these people.

The Biggest Loser weight loss Weigh In

The variant so far this season seems to be focused around the weigh-in. Instead of the two bottom people being considered for removal from the show, there are 8 people that fall below the yellow line. In effect they are getting a second chance if they have a bad week and do not lose many pounds. If they do fall below the yellow line, the person who lost the most gets to pick one person to save from the group below the yellow line.

The remaining contestants then participate in some sort of competition and the two people who are the last to complete the competition are then voted on to see who is the person to go home. They are not the biggest loser.

I like this change since it gives everyone a second chance. Let’s face it you could have a bad week for some reason and not lose the amount that you need to stay safe. Getting a second chance can be a life saver for some and it focuses on who is the best shape and the person who has exercised the most.

When do the Extra Contestants Come Back?

I still think that the people eliminated in the first show are going to come into the biggest loser house. They obviously need to lose weight and this could be a huge twist in the game of biggest loser.

Let’s face it. while the show is focused on helping people lose weight, it is also a game of strategy. You need to work out and lose weight. But you can form alliances, you can win immunity and you can game the show. There is always a faction within the biggest loser house that is trying to control the game. They protect each other when it comes to the elimination phase.

The show does try to avoid portraying this, for obvious reasons, however you can rest assured that these people are playing the game, while trying to lose as much weight as they can.

We will keep blogging about this show. The biggest loser show tries to balance diet, exercise, health management and create a support network to help people lose weight and keep it off. If you would like to add your comments, please do so. We would love to hear your opinions as well. Spam comments will be deleted.

Many governments all over the United States and Canada have started up casinos as a means to raise much needed tax revenue. Also to provide jobs in areas that could use a boost.  Casinos In Ontario are run by the OLG, which is an arm of the provincial government.

We have traveled a great deal across the US and also across Canada and without a doubt we find that the casinos in Ontario provide the worst service, the worst food and although we do not have a scientific study to back us up, we also feel the they have the worst odd’s. The OLG casinos are busy with lots of people going to visit them on the weekends and even through the night when they stay open 24 hours. The reason they are so busy is that they really have no competition. People all over love to gamble, and if you are the only game in town, well that is where they will go.

Casinos In Ontario

Why do I feel that Ontario casinos are the worst in the industry? There are many reasons:

• Variety of Machines – Generally small casinos, no room for more
• Cost of Drinks – full price drinks compared to inexpensive or even free
• Pay Out from the Machines – walking around the casino you quickly see there are not many winners
• Quality of food in the Casino – sandwiches wrapped in saran wrap, limited variety, not even a deli
• Quality of food in the Restaurants – very large quantities of poor quality food seems to satisfy many people
• Intimidation at the entrance – have to pass by uniformed guards at the entrance. All casinos have guards, but most are dressed in civilian clothes. They do not make you feel welcome.
• Location – never in a central area, you generally have to take a long drive to get to the casino
• Employee Attitude – They do not know the meaning of customer service and have their hands out for a tip when you win a jackpot!
• Places to Sit – there is no were to sit and relax away from the tables or slots, not customer friendly
• Entertainment – limited to touring old timer bands that sign off key and play too loudly to mask their mistakes.
• Comp’s – it is almost a joke when we talk comp’s. A few dollars is not going to entice us to keep coming back.

Compare to Other Locations

Admittedly I am comparing the casinos in Ontario with those in Vegas, however even if you go over to the province of Quebec, you quickly see that the Quebec casinos are high class entertainment venues compared to any thing the Ontario government can offer.

We just do not have anything good to say about these casinos. The first marketing mistake they made was to locate the casino with racetracks around the province. The tracks were loosing money and going out of business. Adding a casino made them profitable again although racetracks are no were close to tourist areas or to downtown.

I would rather go to Akwesasne Mohawk Casino than go to the race track in Ottawa, even though it is an hours drive, you have to cross the border and pay tolls.

A beer costs $1 dollar, an excellent buffet is only $10, it is a much larger casino with a comparably larger number of slot machines as well as table games as well. They also offer better comp’s to entice you to come to their casino and the staff are very friendly and treat patrons as customers! What a concept!

If you do not believe what we are saying here, try going to a few of the casinos outside the province and you will quickly see how great they are compared to the OLG casinos.

Well I have done enough griping for now. We would love to hear your comments and also whether you agree with us or not. Maybe the OLG will take note.

We are watching the reality show “Biggest Loser” tonight. This is the first show in the season and they are taking a different approach this year, showing us how they are selecting contestants from cities all over the US. We really love this show and watch it every chance we get. In fact, we also record the show if we happened to be out for the evening. This can be a hard show to watch. No one wants to see somebody suffering because of their weight.  You have to remember that the end result is really the objective.

We have watched the biggest loser show over the past 8 seasons and really admire the many contestants, their work ethic and the difficulties that they overcome. I certainly do not want to take anything away from them. However this years show is starting out on a less than positive note in our opinion.

The biggest loser show selects three contestants from among thousands of applicants in each city and then they run a contest involving some sort of physical fitness activity. In some cities, the contestants had to do 500 steps on a step machine. In other towns and cities they had to run a mile. The first two contestants to finish the physical fitness test are the ones to get on the show.

Biggest Loser – Outcome

Well you can guess the outcome. The person who is the least physical fit is the last to finish and as a result does not get on the show. One guy even fainted within 20 yards of the finish line! And they are the ones that need the most help! One guy weighed 468 pounds and guess what, he was the last to finish. Don’t you think that he should be on the show!

He had the guts to get on the this part of the biggest loser show, take his shirt off to show how over weight he is and weigh in publicly.  This has to count for something.

We have to remember that this is a show after all and while they are trying to help people on the show, they are also trying to motivate people in general to get out there and get moving. Even if means walking around the block to get started, everyone needs to move more and exercise more while improving their eating habits.

The show is still running and maybe there is hope for the show yet. Maybe they will provide the 3rd place finishers a place as well at the ranch. We can hope that these people get the help they need. Let’s see what the end of the biggest loser show brings!

Well it ended but not without controversy. People had to be taken to the hospital. One of these days someone is going to die on the show or qualifying for the show and if this is not a turn off for many over weight people, then I do not know what is. I like the idea of motivating people but this is absolutely the wrong way to go about it.

They Always have a Hook

At the end of the show, they alluded to the fact that some people who came in third may come back later in the show. At least there is hope for these people and maybe they will still be able to take advantage of the program that the Biggest loser offers.

It really takes a lot of hard work and determination to lose weight. This show really demonstrates how difficult it is to combine exercise, eating habit changes, and personal self worth changes to make the change to lose weight. Unless you have a partner or a trainer, someone to push you and motivate you there is a good chance that you cannot do it by yourself. Everyone needs help and encouragement. Perhaps this is what the show is trying to achieve through getting out into the community to motivate people.

We will blog about this next week as well, so stay tuned. Comments are welcome also and we appreciate any and all opinions as long as they are in good taste. Spam comments will be deleted.

Often diet is linked to various cancers, however in many cases there are far less significant issues that may be causing your symptoms. There are a variety of diet and cancer symptoms that are related. Regardless you should have them checked out and assessed by a doctor. If they are disregarded by your doctor and still the symptoms continue or get worse you may even want to get a second assessment from another doctor. Don’t wait or delay following up on symptoms that could be the cause of future cancer.

We recently read an article about possible diet and cancer symptoms and we felt that it would be important to repeat them here in an abbreviated version. Like we said get a doctor’s opinion if you experience any of these symptoms. You may need a biopsy which the doctor will order to properly assess the situation.

Diet and Cancer Symptoms

Cancer Symptom . 1: Breast Mass

Any new mass in the breast area of a man needs to be checked out by a physician,”

Here are several other worrisome signs involving the breast that men as well as women should take note of. They include:

• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Nipple retraction
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge

The doctor may order a mammogram, a biopsy, or other tests.

Cancer Symptom  No. 2: Pain

Persistent pain should be checked out by your physician.  If it’s not cancer, you will still benefit from the visit to the office.

Cancer Symptom  No. 3: Changes in the Testicles

Testicular cancer occurs most often in men aged 20 to 39. Men should get a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related checkup and everyone should learn how to do a monthly self-exam.

Cancer Symptom No. 3: Changes in the Testicles continued…

Change in the size of the testicles, such as growth or shrinkage, swelling or a lump should be checked out. A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum should also be addressed. Early detection is especially crucial to ensure your continued good health.

Cancer Symptom  No. 4: Changes in the Lymph Nodes

If you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your neck — or anywhere else –have it checked out by a doctor. There are lymph nodes all over your body and any that become swollen and painful need to be assessed.

Cancer Symptom  No. 5: Fever

An unexplained fever, could also be a sign of pneumonia or some other illness that needs treatment or it can also indicate cancer. Infections will cause a fever as will some cancers.

Cancer Symptom  No. 6: Weight Loss Without Trying

Most of us would like to lose weight, however id you lose weight without trying, over a short period, you may want to have a physical. It is unusual for any man or women to lose weight that fast without trying.

Cancer Symptom  No. 7: Gnawing Abdominal Pain and Depression

Any time you have a pain in the abdomen and are feeling depressed you needs to have a checkup. Experts have found a link between depression and pancreatic cancer. Other symptoms can include jaundice or a change in the stool color, often a gray color.

Cancer Symptom  No. 8: Fatigue

Fatigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer in men or  a host of other problems could cause it as well. Fatigue may occur early in cancers such as leukemia or with some colon or stomach cancers.

If you often feel extremely tired and it doesn’t get better with rest, check with your doctor.

Cancer Symptom  No. 9: Persistent Cough

Coughs are expected, of course, with colds, the flu, and allergies or even sometimes as a side effect of a medication. A very prolonged cough — defined as lasting more than three or four weeks — should not be ignored, and warrants a visit to the doctor. It could be a symptom of cancer, or it could indicate some other problem such as chronic bronchitis or acid reflux.

Cancer Symptom  No. 10: Difficulty Swallowing

Any time you have trouble swallowing it could be a sign of a GI cancer, such as cancer of the esophagus. If this continues over several weeks visit your doctor.

Cancer Symptom No. 11: Changes in the Skin

Changes in moles — a well-known sign of potential skin cancer — changes in skin pigmentation,  or suddenly developing bleeding on your skin or excessive scaling are reasons to check with your doctor after  several weeks.

Cancer Symptom  No. 12: Blood Where It Shouldn’t Be

Anytime you see blood coming from a body part where you’ve never seen it before, such as coughing or spitting up blood, have blood in the bowel, or blood in the urine, it’s time for a doctor visit.”

Cancer Symptom  No. 13: Mouth Changes

You need to be especially alert for any white patches inside your mouth or white spots on your tongue may indicate leukoplakia, a precancerous area that can occur with ongoing irritation. The condition can progress to oral cancer.

Cancer Symptom  No. 14: Urinary Problems

As men age, urinary problems become more frequent, the urge to urinate more often, a sense of urgency, and a feeling of not completely emptying the bladder.  If this condition persists, have it checked out.

Cancer Symptom No. 15: Indigestion

Persistent indigestion could point to cancer of the esophagus, throat, or stomach and should be reported to your doctor.

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Anyone who has had to deal with wet gear will appreciate this post about dry boxes for white water rafting. There is nothing worse than arriving at your camp for the night and everything is wet. I mean everything is wet from a day’s rafting through white water. It is starting to get cool. The sun is setting. You cannot even light a fire because your matches got wet as well during the days outing. It can be a very cold night if you have to spend it at a cold camp site with no heat and wet gear.

Fortunately there are lots of solutions to deal with this problem. In an earlier post we discussed Dry Bags and you might want to take a few minutes to read that post as well before you decide that buying a dry box is the solution for you. They both have their advantages, however depending on your situation and your raft one solution can be better than another.

White Water Rafting Dry Boxes

A typical dry box is shown on the right. This particular one measures 13.5 inches wide by 15 inches  deep by 26 inches long. It is not a large box. However it can store all of your essentials that you need to get your camp site going at night. Even if everything else is wet. Matches, flashlights a quick change of clothes can be stored in this box to get you going. Once that fire is going, you can quickly dry out. More importantly get something hot to eat and dry your clothes out. It can be extremely important to have a warm fire at night to avoid hypothermia setting in.

These dry boxes come in a variety of sizes to meet all of your needs. They can be tailored to the size of raft and the number of people who you have in your group. Even if you have several small boxes, they will be extremely appreciated at the end of the day.

Keep Your Lunch Dry

Forgot about lunch! You may be only on a day trip with a pick up at the end of the day and lunch along the river somewhere. If it gets wet, it is going to be a long day and everyone hungry at the end. A dry box packed with your lunch and snacks is the answer for many rafting enthusiasts.   There is nothing better after a mornings rafting than pulling up along a beach in a bit of calm water  and arranging for a picnic along the river. Make sure that you enjoy yours by being prepared and using a dry box to pack your lunch and other things in such as electronics, matches and an extra set of clothes.

White water rafting can be a lot of fun, however like many sports, they can easily be ruined if you are not properly prepared and have the right equipment. In this post we have focused on dry boxes, while in an early one we focused on dry bags. Which ever you use, make sure that you have all of the right gear to make your trip enjoyable. Plan your trip in advance including the raft you will use as well as the gear you take along to be comfortable both on and off the river.

In future posts we will add additional information about other pieces of gear that are must haves while white water rafting. If you have a piece of white water gear that you find particularly useful, why not let our readers know about it. We will even write a post about it if it is something you feel pretty strong about. Note that Spam comments will be deleted.

The Turning Stone Casino and Resort Hotel is not one of our favorite places to visit. The grounds and the hotel as well as the casino are immaculate, well designed, nicely laid out and on par with even some of the smaller Las Vegas hotels and casinos. There is a hotel, in both a tower format as well as a lodge format along with a professional looking business center. On the surface it really looks great!

The problem for us came down to 3 issues. We went to a really nice bar and ordered a drink with the intent of also grabbing something to eat. We expected bar food, which would have been ok.  However when we ordered we were told it would be similar to what you would get if you ordered food to your room. We thought well this should be ok. Instead it was delivered in a plastic bag and everything was crushed at the bottom of the bag. To make matters worse, the delivery girl plopped it on the bar and walked off. Talk about bad service.

Your Slot Card Works Like a Debit Card

The other issue that bothered us was that you must add money to your slot card, place your slot card in a machine, punch in your pin number and play. No ticket in , ticket out and the only way to get your money is to go to the cashier. We do not favor this concept at all.

Lastly the machines are not the popular ones and we did not see a single winner while we were there including ourselves. We got the impression that this casino does not pay well.

We will not be back to the Turning Stone Casino Resort Hotel, however in case you want to go, here is a summary of the hotel etc in our usual format.

Slot Machines

There are over 2,400 Instant Multi-Games machines including Keno. poker slots, and many penny and nickle slots. Enjoy the thrill of competition on today’s most popular Multi-Game machines (similar to slot machines and video poker machines) or at your favorite gaming table.

Table Games

There are   over 80 table games and also buy-in to win tournaments and walk away with a fabulous cash payout!

Restaurants

There are 10 restaurants including Wildflowers; Forest Grill, Peach Blossom; Pino Blanco; Rodizio; Emerald; Season’s Harvest; Delata Cafe; The Corner Market;  and Opals.

What We Liked

• Pool area and spa area
• Grounds very neat and well kept
• Very Clean every
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking as well as surface parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Starbucks Coffee shop

What We Did Not Like

• No Free drinks while gambling
• Not a good mix of slot machines
• Poor bar service
• No ticket in , ticket out slot service
• Cannot deposit cash or bills into a slot machine

It is probably a 4 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for your needs as long as you over look some of the issues we identified

Slot Player Card

The slot card will provide you with benefits, however this is the first time we have encountered this type of slot card and we have been to a lot of casinos across the US and Canada. Basically you must go to the cashier or to a special machine were you insert your slot card, enter your pin and deposit your money into the machine. Your slot card really becomes a debit card at this point and the only way to play a machine is to insert your slot card. Also if you want to move from machine to machine, all you need to do is remove your slot card and re-insert it into the next machine.

If you want to cash in, you must go to the cashier to collect any balance that may be left on the slot card. It seems to us that this is a sure way to lose all of your money!

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Turning Stone hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel and casino. There is also lots of surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:

From Syracuse Hancock International Airport: Take I-90 (NYS Thruway) East to Exit 33 (Verona); through the tollbooth, travel straight to the stoplight. Take a left onto Route 365 and the next left into the Resort.

From Albany, NY and points East: Take I-90 (NYS Thruway) West to Exit 33 (Verona); through the tollbooth, travel straight to the stoplight. Turn left onto Route 365 and the next left into the Resort.

I did not know if I should file this one under the general title of slot cards or whether I should file it under the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. This post is really about slot cards. However the example I want to use involves the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. Although it could be any casino in the country. All casinos offer special events and other special activities to attract their customers to their casino.  Some will use free slot play. Others will offer free meals and some will offer special draws. They all offer these specials to their slot club members. So it is really important that you have a slot card from each casino that you play at. If they do not know about you, there is no way they can offer specials to you or give you deals.

Slot Cards – Hot Seat Awards

The following is an example of what I am talking about and it happened to me while playing at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino a few months ago. We often go to this casino and although it is about an hours drive for us to get to it, we enjoy the atmosphere and the buffet. Let me digress for just a moment. If you have not been there, go just for the buffet. Although the decor is not outstanding, the buffet is excellent quality and priced right. It is definitely worth the trip!

Anyway, I am sitting at one of the slot machines playing the machine. My slot card is inserted into the card reader so the casino is tracking my play and will give me comp’s as usual based on my play. If you are knew to this, check out our post on slot cards to get the full details and learn why you always want to have a slot card. There are many benefits, however in this case I want to describe a special award to emphasize the why you should always have a slot card.

Slot Cards – Turbo Car race

Each slot machine has a little screen that displays how many points you have, advertising and special events. This is a great way for the casino to advertise restaurants and shows that they have at their casino show rooms. Anyway, the sound of a car race suddenly comes from the speakers on my slot machine. Llittle race cars are running around a track. All of this is show on this little screen I mentioned. Next thing I know the race is over and the race umpire is waving a flag and a message comes on my screen showing that I had won the turbo race.

I had no idea what a turbo race was, nor did I know how I even was entered in the race. Turns out that anyone with their slot card inserted in a slot machine is eligible to be in the race ( remember no card no race, no reward) and by random draw, I won the race. This is a progressive slot jackpot that gradually increases until it reaches $1000. It must be won before it gets to $1000.  I won $647 just for having my slot card inserted into a machine!

The Casino management came over to the machine a few minutes later, check out the machine and said congratulations. Next thing I know I have $647 in my hand.

What a great deal? The moral of the story, always have a slot card. Always have it inserted into the slot machine, just in case there is a mystery draw!

No Longer offered

The Mohawk TURBO is guaranteed to hit before it reaches $1,000. There is a second slot award, The Mohawk NITRO which is guaranteed to hit before it reaches $2,500! They also have the Mohawk SUPER Jackpot guaranteed to go out before it reaches a whopping $100,000!  Always use your slot card when you are playing the slots and get rated if you play on the tables.

If you have experienced something similar, we invite you to post a comment. We would love to hear about your stories and what you won. Spam comments will be deleted.

For more details about slot cards, click here.

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White water rafting is a lot more than just running the rapids when it comes to considering what rafting gear you need to have to be properly prepared.  Often you will experience multiple environments. For sure you will get wet when you go down the river and are splashed by the spray from running the white water rapids. But what about while you are waiting on shore to be picked up, what about stopping for lunch, or camping on a multi day trip? Multiple changes of clothing are necessary as are pen and paper to record some notes for your trip along with cameras that must be kept dry.

Each of these conditions require a variety of gear and temperature variation will also change the need for the layers of clothing that you may bring along with you.

Hot, sunny days won’t feel uncomfortable if you wear light, protective, and quick drying clothing. Cool days or rain can produce spectacular river images with swirling shades of color and light. If you have enough warm, waterproof gear, you won’t feel cold. You will feel alive! Having the right clothing can make the difference between enjoying a wonderful trip in the outdoors and being cold and miserable while others are enjoying the scenery and camaraderie of their white water rafting trip.

White Water Rafting Gear – List

Here is a quick list of items that you may want to consider for your next trip. If you are unsure of what you will need, speak to the organizer or guide for your white water trip. Always make sure that you are well prepared.

• Bags
• Padding and clothing
• Dry suits and wet suits
• Plastic Cases & Boxes
• Footwear
• Mens & womens casuals
• Insulation and Underwear
• Sunglasses
• Hats & Gloves
• Rainwear
• Kid’s Clothing
• Swimsuits

You may not need all of this gear for each trip, so plan accordingly to take along only what you need. Having too much gear can also be a problem as well since now you have to load and carry all of this gear. Finding that middle ground were you have everything that you need without being over prepared is a tall order if you have not been down a particular set of rapids before. The best idea is to speak to your guide or talk to people who have gone on the trip before you to find out the conditions and what white water gear you may need. Remember too that the conditions can change very rapidly due to the time of year as well as local storms that can cause rivers to rise rapidly.

Rafting Gear – Multi Day Trip

If you are planning a multi day trip, then camping and cooking gear is also something that you will need to consider. We put together a quick list of camping gear for your consideration.

• Tables
• Shelters
• Water purifiers & containers
• Cooking equipment
• Showers & toilets
• Chairs
• Sleeping gear
• Washing Supplies

Finally safety gear and repair equipment for your raft should be considered. Take a moment to consider who you want to notify about your trip. Especially about your location and expected return date. This is important since it will tell people when and were to start looking for you if you are late returning.

• Repair equipment includes:
• Adhesives & materials
• Repair parts & tools
• Cleaner and protectant
• Valves
• Pumps and inflators

Enjoy your trip and have fun. Be well prepared and you will have one of the best trips you can ever expect. Feel free to leave comments on our post about your experiences. Also about any special gear that you believe would be valuable to our readers.

The following article was published on the internet, author unknown, about Heavy Drinkers Outliving Non Drinkers. We all drink or at least many of us drink. This study is pointing out that moderate drinkers benefit by enjoying life longer. We have heard about the benefits of red wine for your heart. Now this article seems to point out that any alcohol in moderation will also help your overall health.

The bottom line and key word in all of this is to remember the word ” moderate”! Too much drinking can damage the liver, cause family problems and even land you in jail.

We hope you enjoy the following article and don’t forget to post your comments on our blog. If you know the author of this article, please send us a link to the original post and we will be happy to attribute this article to you.

Heavy Drinkers Outliving Non Drinkers

One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don’t drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.

But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear — abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one’s risk of dying. Even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers’ mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers.

Moderate drinking, which is defined as one to three drinks per day, is associated with the lowest mortality rates in alcohol studies. Moderate alcohol use (especially when the beverage of choice is red wine) is thought to improve heart health, circulation and sociability. Which can be important because people who are isolated don’t have as many family members and friends who can notice and help treat health problems.

A Shorter Life

But why would abstaining from alcohol lead to a shorter life? It’s true that those who abstain from alcohol tend to be from lower socioeconomic classes, since drinking can be expensive. And people of lower socioeconomic status have more life stressors. For example job and child-care worries that might not only keep them from the bottle. But also cause stress-related illnesses over long periods. (They also don’t get the stress-reducing benefits of a drink or two after work.)

But even after controlling for nearly all imaginable variables — socioeconomic status, level of physical activity, number of close friends, quality of social support and so on. The researchers (a six-member team led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin) found that over a 20-year period, mortality rates were highest for those who had never been drinkers. Second-highest for heavy drinkers and lowest for moderate drinkers.

The sample of those who were studied included individuals between ages 55 and 65. Who had any kind of outpatient care in the previous three years. The 1,824 participants were followed for 20 years. One drawback of the sample: a disproportionate number, 63%, were men. Just over 69% of the never-drinkers died during the 20 years, 60% of the heavy drinkers died and only 41% of moderate drinkers died.

Amazing Statistics

These are remarkable statistics. Heavy drinking is associated with higher risk for cirrhosis and several types of cancer (particularly cancers in the mouth and esophagus). Heavy drinkers are less likely to die than people who have never drank. One important reason is that alcohol lubricates so many social interactions. Social interactions are vital for maintaining mental and physical health. Nondrinkers show greater signs of depression than those who allow themselves to join the party.

It can impair your memory severely. It can lead to nonlethal falls. Also other mishaps (like, say, cheating on your spouse in a drunken haze) that can screw up your life. There’s also the dependency issue. If you become addicted to alcohol, you may spend a long time trying to get off the bottle.

That said, the new study provides the strongest evidence yet that moderate drinking is not only fun but good for you. So make mine a double.

White Water safety gear is mandatory for all rafting expeditions for your group to remain safe. That 3,000 cfs of flowing water you are on appears to be gentle when you start, but it provides a hefty ride once the rapids begin. Each cubic foot weighs 62.4 pounds, so 3,000 of them add up to 187,200 pounds flowing by every second past rocks and falls. That’s the same as 20 or so elephants rumbling along. As long as you stay on their back you are ok, but don’t try stopping in their midst! When this flow of water is squeezed through a small area, it becomes much more violent and there is lots of whitewater as it tumbles over underground rocks.

Always be prepared with white water safety gear such as a good PFD, safety ropes, glue, patches and pumps – all the things you need to put it back together if your plan goes wrong in the middle of a trip. Ensure that your white water rafting company has all of these things as well. It is a good measure of just how professional they are and how well prepared they are to make sure that you and your buds remain safe in any situation.

White Water Safety Gear

Here are a few things you need to think about.

• Glue and Patches
• Pumps
• First Aid
• Helmets
• PFD’s
• Rescue Hardware
• River Knives
• Throw Bags and Rescue Ropes
• Satellite Phones

Glue and Patches
Glue and patches suitable for doing repairs to your inflatable raft which is no longer inflated. Don’t forget a pump to help you re-inflate the raft once you have completed the patch. This can mean the difference between a long walk or having to wait until someone notices that you are not back in time.
First Aid

A Comprehensive Medical Kit contains everything you’ll need to deal with reasonable emergencies. Included in a zippered nylon bag are sections dealing with Wound Management, Trauma and Infectious Control, plus a selection of medical instruments. A kit should also have advanced versions of blister and burn treatments, oral re-hydration salts and diarrhea medication, plus a tube of Glucose paste, a liquid sugar gel for cases of low blood sugar. A medical guide book tells you what to do.
Helmets

A high-density ABS shell for durability, and dual density EVA foam lining for multiple-impact protection should always be included.

PFD’s – Personal flotation Device

On any river on any boat or raft your best friend is your Personal Flotation Device (PFD). A human PFD must be Coast Guard approved – snug so it can’t be ripped off or ride up and interfere with vision when in the water. Type III PFD’s, favorites for whitewater, are comfortable, stylish, and colorful. Flotation is a minimum of 15.5 pounds. Type V PFD’s are rated for commercial use, have a minimum of 22 pounds of flotation, use straps with buckles instead of zippers, have a flotation collar behind the head and adjustments to fit a wide range of wearers. And don’t forget your dog’s PFD. Although natural swimmers, dogs find it hard to swim in whitewater and need extra flotation, too.

Rescue Hardware

Pullies for making it easier to haul things over rocks and through the water, a whistle for communicating, oval carabiner’s and water proof bags to keep things like matches and flares dry.
River Knives

There are a variety of knives to choose from. Choose a rugged, strong knife that can be used to cut rope and shave shavings to help start fires.
Throw Bags and Rescue Ropes

An easy lifeline that will do triple duty is a 100′ length of 1/2″ Blue Water Rescue Rope. A waterproof bag has a sealed opening and closing system for easy access and re-packing.
Satellite Phones

Everyone figures their cell phone will work every where. Unfortunately there are many places in the wilderness were cell phones do not work. Rent a satellite phone for the trip to make sure you have a lifeline back to civilization in case you need help!

Golden Rule for White Water Rafting

Always tell someone were you are going and when you expect to be back. Stick to the plan, because if you do have an accident and need rescue, the first place they will look is on the river you planned to go on. If you end up somewhere else, no one will know were to look.

Feel free to leave comments on our blog.