Jul 28/29 - ups and downs

We had a great time on the 30,000 islands cruise out of Parry Sound yesterday. It was warm and the scenery is wonderful. There's always new construction and some of the "cottages" are beautiful, as much glass as structurally possible and definitely see-through ! There's no running around in those houses in the buff !

Stef et al opted not to come and reported that the weather here was the same as there, cloudy and warm. Today is quite different -- sunny and hot. In the shade the outside thermometer was reading over 90F a little while ago, but that's not a precise measurement.

Before the cruise, we stopped at Rona to investigate stain for our cottage. I was looking for semi-solid, new redwood, Cabot stain. The fellow was chasing it down with Cabot and we left him at it, returning after our cruise. The bad news is that the water based product isn't available in Canada; the good news is that after doing a test strip with the oil based product that we brought back, it's definitely going to be easier to use, provide better coverage and better durability. Oil it is ! Being outside, we won't have to smell it, which is a very good thing.

Also before the cruise we had lunch. Rona had taken too long so we were rushed, but we did manage to eat at a cafe across the street from the pier where the Island Queen docks.

After the cruise, while I was back at Rona (which is a building centre, by the way), George found a 12v switch that he needed at Canadian Tire and Sandy and Geri picked up some groceries at Sobeys. Everything is pretty close in Parry Sound, and I walked over to Sobeys to meet them.

Back home, David, Kim and Megan had arrived. We celebrated their purchase of a dry cleaning business -- closing date sometime in August -- that David is going to run. The Normerica job paid ok, but it was a very bad working environment ... we hope that will be the end of his career at Normerica.

We broke out the champagne ... well, not really champagne since it wasn't a product of France ... and since Jason and Lorraine were over, all had a glass. George and Geri were there too of course and enjoyed being part of our extended family.

Said family now up to 11 (Jason and Lorraine went home for their supper), I brought out the table leaves but of course I only needed one so the table was a bit hodge-podge in its setup. Life is tough. I was sitting by myself ! Sandy's sense of balance was off :).

Steak, mushrooms etc. ... we ate well yet again. We did a compare and a contrast between two ice-wines over desert along with some 70% dark chocolate ... it's hard to complain, so I won't !

Today our numbers are vastly decreased. George and Geri, Merlin and Maya hit the road a little after 9am and I see from Facebook that they are already in Sault Ste. Marie MI. They took (and left) many memories and also left a huge block of parmesan cheese ... we'll find a use for it somehow ! George also left us another ice-wine to taste. That too won't go to waste.

Donnie's driveway worked out well for their coach. I'll have to get over there to extend our thanks. George did see Donnie as he was prepping the coach for travel and was able to than him personally.

Before they left, David and I got out fishing, pulling in a good sized bass and two crappie. They'll make a meal for Sandy and me next week.

After they left, the action moved to the waterfront, where Stef's family played for a couple of hours and then packed to leave, getting away around noon. With their departure the house is quiet ... only five of us + Abby.

I'll be hitting the road myself shortly, driving to Barrie to overnight before my 1000k ride starts tomorrow a.m. at 6a.m. I don't feel prepared for it, since the last few days haven't been at all about biking. I expect to be back either late Monday night or early (like before dawn) on Tuesday morning.

Blogs for the next three days ? Probably not ... I don't have data service turned on with my Blackberry here in Canada and I doubt if the Perth Colonial Inn or the Picton Harbour Inn have WIFI. These are very small inns in very small towns.

There were eight riders signed up for the ride, at last count. Most of them I know but do not know if I'll be riding with anyone in particular. I have not planned my overnights with anyone, so this could be a solo ride after some point ... we'll see. It's hard to predict these things.

The ride starts at the Ontario Parliament Buildings, Queens Park and Wellesley in Toronto, runs to the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa and then back to Queens Park. It should be interesting. It includes the same ferry ride that was part of the Lake Ontario ride two years ago ... hopefully it won't include all the bugs plastered all over me at sundown. That was one of the worst parts of that ride !

Onward indeed !