Aug 7/8 - 19=>18=>12=>3

Abby is depressed. She hates to see everyone go. She wouldn't even move to go to Sara this morning. She'll be very happy to see that Kylie is still here, once she gets up. With Arlene's departure on Friday our numbers were momentarily at 14 and then Wayne, Mary, Willie and Mark arrived. Now all the cousins & aunts and uncles are together in the Hawkins / Thompson / Paul gang -- our once-upon-a-time family gatherings in Hemmingford always a topic of conversation among the "kids". Kids, in this case, being almost as old as we were at the time.

Plans change -- I think that originally Wayne et al were going to leave on Saturday and Sheryl on Monday, but both planned to leave on Sunday now -- great.

Sandy went into Sudbury at some point in there (I'm losing track of days) and did some grocery shopping. I got a bike ride in on Saturday -- David and Kim drove to Parry Sound with the X5 and picked up their rental while I biked down. Stef and Aaron left after I did, passing me along the way although I did not see them. It's just over 63 miles and it was into a headwind the entire way so I got some exercise. There was only one stretch that I didn't like (other than the wind that is, which is inevitable) -- from the Killbear turnoff to Nobel -- no shoulder at all on a busy highway. It's a short stretch though and cars gave me lots of room. The new section just north of that has a nice smooth 3-4 foot shoulder so that was a treat. I wasn't sure if there was a shoulder at all so I was pleasantly surprised. It's not something to which you pay a lot of attention in a car.

On Friday night, with all gathered, we took a couple of family pictures -- one with Wayne and Sheryl etc. in the picture and one without. It's been eons since we've all been together -- no, I take that back -- since Kim and Sara "hit the scene" this is the first time that everyone in our immediate family has been together, including the kids. Meagan was not here 2 years ago when we last gathered.

Meagan and Lauren had a blast, setting up a "marine zoo" around the aquarium and charging $1 for a tour. Mary and Kim obliged, good sports that they are.

Not long after I got back from Parry Sound I headed into town for Mass. Back from Mass we had dinner -- pike, bass, catfish and crappie -- sound familiar ? I think that we went through about 6 pounds of fillets. We ate it all. After dinner Mark and I went out fishing -- down to my usual place. We were a little early for crappie so we only caught six of those, but we did catch eight catfish -- 2 pounds 4 ounces of fillets soon were in the fridge. Mark had gone trolling during the day but caught nothing more than a couple of bites. The good thing about bites though is that they are always huge fish and they don't need cleaning !

Sandy was cooking, entertaining and cleaning constantly. She's exhausted. I'm ... well ... yes ... me too. I'll likely snooze this afternoon. I did a little work with the vacuum just a bit ago getting at the high traffic areas picking up dog hair and obvious sand and other dirt. It's pouring rain outside so it's relatively dark inside -- not the best time to vacuum ... or perhaps it is ?

We had a great time but it's over. The place is quiet. The water systems -- in and out -- can take a break. The caretakers / hosts can take a break.

I did take a few minutes before heading to Mass yesterday to check on my bat holes. Three out of four were clear, i.e. the cotton still in place, so I plugged them with sponge. I put some cotton in the fourth hole -- I have not checked it today since it's wet out. It may be clear -- here's hoping. I next need to get up and check the high spots, but there has been progress !

The other thing that I did before Mass was pull up the Bayliner. It has been sitting by the dock for the last few days and since it's been relatively dry, and the major spring pollen season is over, it stayed clean. It will come out again when we have more guests -- perhaps Nancy and Ron in a couple of weeks.

Before Nancy and Ron get here I have a bike ride. I may start organizing my drop bags today, although I also need to do some laundry and pouring rain is not exactly conducive to drying.

This is a wandering blog -- it's hard to remember everything that went on.

Oh -- David got out water skiing and got up from the dock the first time. He did fall about 3/4 of the way through the trip -- he as looking backwards checking his spray ?!?! -- what can I say ! Willie and Mark were along as spotters so David got to show his cousins that he still had "it" -- and he did. I hesitate to say this, but perhaps after my bike ride ... perhaps if we get a nice day ... perhaps if it's calm ... (I'm building up lots of excuses) ... I'll get Jason to take me out.

We went through a "bit" of wine and beer. Ha. I'd guesstimate 5 cases of beer and at least a couple of cases of wine. Good. I needed to make a dent in the wine stock -- there are another six cases of wine awaiting me at the LCBO in Parry Sound by the 11th of August.

Ok. Enough.