Jul 23 - as predicted ...

Yes, I went for a bike ride. Yes, I went to Mass.

I had yet another flat. This time I think that I had a defective tube. I mounted a new Schwalbe tire on the rear before leaving and had checked for any possible tube pinches, but that's possible too. Half-way along 522 I got a flat and luckily it was too hot for the horse/deer flies because I was rolling again without them bothering me.

Before going for a ride I stopped over to say "Hi" to Don and Claudia. Isaac was still in bed :). They are up for the weekend cleaning and prepping for a crowd for next weekend. They're both doing well ... we visited over a drink late in the day. Claudia went for a 19 day vacation in Europe with Isaac, a pre-University present. She's not ready to be kid-less !

Kylie prepared the main course for dinner, a baked tomato/feta/bread-crumb/shimp dish in the "French" oven. It was excellent -- could just as easily be done without the shrimp for a veggie dish or with chicken for those who don't eat shellfish. It's a "keeper" recipe for sure. Along with Kylie's dish we had garden beans (first time this year) and rice. I ate enough that I didn't even have my customary bowl of cereal after dinner !

There was a crowd of Thompson's at Mass -- my Aunt and Uncle, Anne and her Paul, Paul & Denise and kids. My Uncle has had prostate problems and had an operation a week ago -- don't know the details -- he's on the mend. They've got the entire family up next weekend but of course Michael will only be there for 24 hours, if that. His 100% involvement in the Bermuda operation has turned out to be 45% with 55% other travel. The longest that he's spent in Bermuda is two weeks ... all this is quite different than planned, as he described it last summer. His "wind-down" seems more wind-up !

I was going to go fishing this morning but it's blowing out there. I may yet go, perhaps I can find a quiet spot to sit. Perhaps I should go down Smith's Bay and see if anything is biting down there ... hmmm. I set the minnow traps yesterday and got 2-3 dozen by end of day; left them there overnight. Perhaps I'll get George out and we can catch our dinner for one day. He has read enough about crappie and bass, it's high time I served up this delicacy !

Today ...I'll get out Jason's string trimmer and finish up my lawn. I've been unsuccessful at getting my own running. I'm still thinking that I need to have another go at my machine, but I'll do the lawn first.

We're still unsure of the number of company this week. David and Kim and Megan are supposed to be here next weekend, but Kim has the week off and that could change. Stef called yesterday to say that they might come up Monday for the week, instead of Sunday for two days; sounds like they're not going to Philly and if they're coming up Monday, perhaps Aaron has shifted his plans to work in Sudbury on Monday.

Time is flying. I've got TOT (Toronto=>Ottawa=>Toronto) this upcoming Saturday/Sunday/Monday Ontario long weekend. At that point we'll be into August and PBP (Paris=>Brest=>Paris) looms. I don't feel ready for either but take consolation in the fact that riding those roads is easier than riding 522 and, as usual, I'll probably (hopefully) rise to the occasion.

What else ? I don't know ... but we'll go ....

... Onward ... anyway !