Saturday morning in Kenora Ontario

 

               Polly caught a fish in Kenora 

Our trip here was short from Manitoba, 2 hour drive. The noticable change was quick, as we went over the provincial boarder. From flat lush farm land to rocky hill's of northern Ontario, it felt like we were back on Vancouver island again, except no huge trees, and no big mountains. 

The lakes though are everywhere, small and large. The town of Kenora is surounded by water, and right now flooding has been the problem, from what I was told the dam here somewhere is holding water back as was flooded other areas if they let it go, so flood here instead. 

Still is a beautiful little town, spread out to different areas. The downtown area we managed to pull our trailer through looking for Anicinabe Park our campsite for the night. Google maps thought this the best way, we wandered through the town, at one point our trailer tires cut the corner of a curb, I was now complaining heavy, Polly as always says "it'll be ok, it's just another adventure" ha ha, I'm not sure. 

We made it to the sight, got in and picked our sight, is a beautiful park, such a nice stop, thanks to our friend Linda for the recommendation. 

 The lake fronts the park, is a city run campground. After we setup, a sandwich by Polly and a nap. Was a hot sunny day, so Polly and I took a walk about to the office first, looking for my sunglasses 😎, yep just where I left them, on the counter. 

A woman from Ontario was there, waiting for her laundry, we talked and found out she and her husband had just started their journey west, they had sold their house, and are in their RV too, but still have a rented house. They are off to Terrace, BC to a reunion with children and others. We talked a little about our adventures and she is looking forward to some the same. I gave her a card that has our Blog on it, and wished her well, safe travels as always. 

Polly & I continued our walk now to cross the field, "are there any snake's?" Is Polly's 1st question, no I say, but I don't know, just let's go towards the water 😀 As we apoach the dock where we hear people jumping in and talking, we meet 3 young boys 14 years old we find out, 2 brother's twins, and another boy. They are enjoying a swim, and one is fishing for a "Huge Pike" he tells us he saw. 

They were on a long dock that they said was much bigger before, a Marina with big long finger docks all along, but the high water and weather destroyed it. The walkway to the dock was under a foot of water, this didn't stop them from enjoying it. I asked do they have summer jobs, yep they say, at the home hardware store, in the yard, outside where it better, don't want to be inside. I told them I understood, I like it outside better too. 

We had a good yak, Polly asking just a few things and as we left Polly said, "Watch out for those girls!" They all smiled and said yeah 👍 lol. As we walked away Polly said how nice they were, she was kinda surprised. I said, small town, not the same as a bigger place, friendly and trusting, not guarded as other places are. 

Was a beautiful day, hot out so as we returned to our site I asked, you want a beer 🍺🍺 as Polly went inside, yes said, just got to get the potatoes on. You see as we walked Polly was thinking of dinner, and what she would make, and potato salad was her choice, as no lettuce. I heard her say this, even ask me if I'd like it, yes I said, but it didn't really pierce my mind. I was looking an talking and taking in the sight's here, while Polly was thinking what's next. Burgers and potato salad 😋 Mmm 😋 good.

We do think differently, but after a short time Polly did come out of the trailer and sit in the sun with me and enjoy a beer, as we watched the neighbor beside us back in and setup their trailer. Was another education, I remember when I had a trailer like that, had to screw up the Jack's, had a hitch to bend over and undoo, and windup the front Jack, take off the equalizer bars. We watched it all as we talked with him and drank our beers, so glad we have our new trailer, put blocks under the Jack's, push a button and the trailer automatically level's. What a breeze this is now. 

The phone beeps, Chis our son is up now, returns the message I sent earlier. So nice to be in contact with our families even if just a message every once in awhile. That's all part of travel, connection is however we can as we go, and when traveling it's even harder, but we do get the conversations in just the same. 

Talked with Claudette yesterday, messenger with Lyn last night, and Shayla the day before, Chris most every day, even just a Hi, how u doing! Sent Ciara a message this morning. Penny every once in awhile. All is good as we travel. 

We are planning ahead all the time, our trip to Guelph to visit with Mike & Linda, our trip back to the island, our way to Newfoundland. All in our mind's. 

Rain again now, might have to stay another day here if too ugly, but I think going to quit again. Then we pack up, hook up, and off we go again.

 I met another woman in the office that was doing laundry too, she said she was from North Dakota. Was a really cold spring she said, looking to get some warm here. Her hubby and sons were out fishing. I see this is a good lake for that, saw a couple nice fish come in yesterday, Pickerel (Walleye) & Pike.  I'm not going fishing here, but was fun looking in at the fish cleaning station. 

The Crow that I woke to is still crowing outside, talking to his family I'm thinking, hmm not much different than me 😄

Oh, and Deer, I saw a few deer here on one of my walks, they were so close, not afraid it seemed. 

Rain stopped again, Polly's still sleeping, I'm going to go for a walk about now. Enough writing. Is such a beautiful place. 

Oops waited too long, Polly is moving about now 😊

Loving this life, a holiday every day 🤗🤗❤️❤️

Family fun in Manitoba has been great 👍

Right from the first moment we arrived we were greated with such love as we rolled into John & Juliette's driveway. Hugs, laughter, joking, & as I setup the trailer Polly visited with her family, John says "we were waiting for you guys & I told Julie I know how to get them to show up, I'll crack a beer! 🍺 and then you came around the corner" he said.

"wanna beer 🍺" "no thanks, I'm off the beers now" I say,  I keep on with the setup, and I hear Julie say, hey there, hurry up, I wanna see insided that! Lol she is especially demanding in a fun way. So as the setup happens John asking if he can help, we get plugged in, and leveled, slides out, then the tour begins, Polly's always proud to show off our home. The WOW is a good feeling, the comments always good. 

John and Julie have a very nice home in a subdivision with a farmers field right behind them, and family all close around the area. They are both imersed in family, young grandchildren, and older ones, always something going on. Tomorrow is the house warming we were told about at their son Robert & Daughter-in-law Jodey's place, we came just in time for this. 

Looking back on the weekend now it all happened so fast, the first night here we just yak yak yak, so much information to exchange, so much laughing, joking, John always a joker. Julie had dinner all prepared, John cooking on bbq, was Mmm 😋 good. We had a great evening. 

Next day the party 🥳 was to start at 2-3 and Gin and her kids Finnegan and Elle came over in the morning full of energy, and ready to play with there RAM electric truck,

 

this was a fun time, they loved the puddles, Finn was going through them looking to see the tracks he was leaving after. Finn and I got to be good friends, Elle is so cute, hopping around on her bum, and watching everything, very aware of everything. Was nice to meet her, and get to know them all better, we had met Finn before, but he was really young. Now they both have personalitys, so fun. 

Louise and Helen, Polly's Cousins, John's sister's came over and I finally got to meet Helen, we had been communicating for a few years now, but never met. Was nice to finally meet, and then the planing who's riding with who? Have we got everything, chairs, food, beer, what else? Extra clothes in case of cold, and bugs. Hats, glasses, geezz 😄

All set let's go, Polly had a little more cupcake 🧁 decorating to do before we left, so the others went ahead. We took our time, there's no late today.

 What a great gathering it was, we drove in to the property, motorhomes and trailers parked for the night, pig was on the bbq, and brisket was in the smoker, Rob&Jody had it all aranged Jody's Mom buzzing around busy, and friends helping with everything, I felt kinda like I should be doing something, but all was getting done, so meeting others and touring there new to them home, talking with the BBQ specialist was great. Photos, always get a few photos 📸

 Kids on gocarts, and people in quads driving around, all kinda controlled, no haywire driving. Was so much happening was a little overwhelming. The day was perfect too, sunny warm, even looking for shade. Bugs left us alone really till the late evening, sundown. 

Dinner was great, so many different foods, all was good, very good 😋👍 served in the shop, with netting over the doorway to keep bugs off. 

Met many people that asked, how you related here, Rob's business were some of the people, but most were just friends and family, I heard yesterday there were 120 people over the course of the evening, was a success for sure. There were a few honking as they went by, some people didn't make it, but all in all a real good time. 

We packed up before the bugs got too hungry, and home we went. A bit of yak at the table, then bedtime for us. John and his sisters stayed up a little longer, was nice to see them all together, been awhile since they were all together. 

Next morning was a yak session while Julie fixed breakfast, she brought some of the pig home, and beans, Mmm 😋 some awesome brown beans, so we had what was left from yesterday for breakfast, beans on pork on toast, couldn't be any better 😋 Mmm. 

 Later Helen & Louise left for home, and Gin put the kids to bed for a nap 😴 so the cards came out, and we played cards till the kids woke, and dinner was going to happen. Julie never sat much that day, cooking something all day, made breakfast then soup for lunch, and dinner, was a very relaxed day for us, Julie not so much. She did join in in the card game once she had her food all arranged, and we laughed and joked and played till John won. Was a fun time.

Pavel came home from work, had to work Father's day so as soon as he came in dinner was ready, the text to let Gin know he was on his way is one thing, but tracking him is another that they have, people keep track of each other different now, even baby monitors that you can watch them from your phone. I was surprised to see this. New to me technology 🤔

After another great dinner, the kids went home and we played another game of cards, then bed. We tired, and the day was smoking hot, 35° so we were sleeping in the house tonight, no ac when plugged in to a regular socket. Was good, Cool in the house. 

Next day no big plans, dinner at Gin & Pavel's place, so relaxed morning later we drove to town, a few groceries and flowers for Gin. We drove over with John& Julie for dinner, Gin had it all under control, then we got there and kids were happy to see us, was a fun time with them, always something to keep us busy. Finn saw a recycling truck come before he went for his nap and when we came he wanted to show me out the window, but the truck was gone now. He really likes the trucks, he loves the machines, excavator's, dump trucks, all the machines. John is a big influence on him, always his Pepere, such a great bond. Julie his other Mom, is a loving family 🤗❤️

birthday card in Finn's room was well done 👍

This morning writing I think how great timing we had, note en knowing what was happening, we arrived to a housewarming shindig, get some visiting with family, and tomorrow John and Julie go for a visit with there son and daughter son-in-law in Edmonton, timing couldn't be better. I shake my head, can't believe how perfect this timed, but not timed visit is. 

I hear the garage door open, I know John's up now, I'ma going to visit with him at the table inside now, and listen and talk, and plan our last day with them. Sure has been a fun time. 🤗❤️ 

Sunday morning Sun 🌞😎

 Sunny warm evening as we walked around the lake by Chris & Ciara's house with Taylor, our "see ya later" visit. Taylor leaves for Calgary today, has been nice to visit with her while we were here. Walking around the lake in the Sunny weather, never know it would pour with rain and hour later. Weather here is predictablely unpredictable 😆 🌞🌧️🌞🌧️ springtime is beautiful though. 

All the fields are green, and the sky is blue 💙  as we begin our trip east this week, off to Moose Jaw next, we leave Tuesday morning. Many great times here this last month, thanks Jack & Wendy for the great place to stay while we were here, made our lives so much easier. Building was fun for me, and useful for you, Polly's cooking was great too, same she loves doing this too, and we came in handy as your travels and schedule changed. Has been wonderful 🤗❤️

Visiting with Chris, Ciara, Chase, & Colton has been such a pleasure 🤗♥️ feeling like "our cup runeth" over as the saying goes. So much fun, enjoy the sound's & sight's of Colton learning and growing daily has been a pleasure.

Coltons bike we got him for his birthday was

      a hit, will be a go to for the lake walks

Planning ahead we hope to do same next year, maybe even spend a little more time, or split it up spring then fall. Who knows, we play it as it comes. 

Alberta has been good to us this year, almost don't want to go, but the lure of the east and friends and family along the way has us yearning to travel again. Polly said to me the other day she was looking forward to traveling again, as I am too. We are loving living as we do, learning along the way, and enjoying every moment. This time here will live in our memories forever 🤗♥️ thanks Grande Prairie been a blast!

Sunday morning again, WOW 😳 that was a fast week.

Gulls didn't move as Taylor and I walked across the bridge over Muskoseepi creek in Muskoseepi Park

I had great fun building a shed of pallets, taking care of Charlie and Gracie, Jack & Wendy's dogs, enjoying their house 🏡 visiting with Chris & Family, Taylor too, such a great week. 

     Charlie got a wild rose stuck to his neck

           Polly helped him out though

Always good to take a look back at the week on Sunday, this last week was so darn fast, woosh, that's how it feels now. Busy I was, shed took alot of it, also visiting with Chris, been so great being with him and his family, so busy, so much going on, I can remember when that was my life when the kids were young, LoL 😆 and so was I. 

l LoL 😆 to myself now, that time seems a short time ago too. Ahh dam, now I got myself all weepy. Hmm, I guess I'm just relating how similar our lives are, we have watched 6 of our grandchildren grow up, and still growing. Here we are watching another young one starting out. Each child is different, everyone a pleasure 🤗♥️ so important to take the time to really enjoy the moments as we pass through this life. 

Watching is just one part, participating in their lives is even better, not just a hug, and go, but doing things with them, things they like, and things we like too. Makes for fun times, and great memories 👍

I know I take way to many photos, and thinking of this I say that helps me cement the moment in my mind, and there is alot of great memories cemented up there LoL 😆

Yesterday was another, we had a wienny roast by the fire 🔥, with Ciara Taylor & Colton, was a great time, took a few photos, some I didn't get, but was a very nice time to enjoy our family. 

Now I'm writing on Monday morning as got busy early morning walking with Taylor, then empty trailer tanks, then pool with Ciara and kids, another busy day. Jack & Wendy came home, got to show them the shed, and listen to some of how there weeks were.

Polly made another great dinner, we all sat at the table ate dicused our week, and laughed, so nice to have them back. 🤗

Full life, that's how I see our week, a very full life we are living, and we just love it♥️🤗

Dawson creek BC on a sunny day 🤗❤️

             Jade's big cheesey smile 

Went to Dawson creek yesterday, had to be in BC to get our trailer and truck insurance, and apply to MSP for more than 6 months away from our province as we plan to be gone from BC till next spring. Going to be our last big trip we are thinking.

 Stopped to see Aunty Eve & Uncle Doug's grave, 

we were both a little sad. We also stopped in at Marg Gibson's, Bernard, her son told us she passed last October. WOW, a surprise, we saw her last July, good we did. Nothing stays the same it seems.

Got in a visit with Sassy, 🤗 Natasha Dame was a very good visit in the park, Jordy was at play school so missed her, but Jade was a pleasure, so different from Jordy. The park we went to you could drive off the road, and be beside the play area with your car, made easy to have a picnic. 

Only one table there, but after a 1/2 hour or so on the ground the people using it moved so we got to sit there for awhile, not so easy on the ground anymore. Getting down not so bad, getting up a different story 😆

We had a real good visit with Sassy, and Jade, lunch was from the co-op, and was just right. The day was warm, and the park had many people come and go, busy little park it is.

 

Was nice to catch-up in person, our group of friends in Dawson creek just got smaller this last year. Made a plan to stop in again next year again and visit with Sassy and her kids, always a pleasure. 🤗❤️

Now to book flights for a visit to BC from Ontario, our next adventure as we head East. We have arranged Dr appointments in BC, got have that stamp of good health. We have a  wedding to enjoy while there, and a visit with everyone we can, then after 10 days we fly back, to Ontario. 

Camping with friends when we get back is our plan, but never know, they busy too. Then next Newfoundland in August, hope the ferry isn't too busy for us. Never know now covid is over, how the travel will be this summer. 

We are looking forward to travel, even though we will miss our family here and in BC. I call it our last kick at the can, off we go to enjoy the east and see what we want now, before we get a little more decrepit LoL 😆, I laugh, but not really kidding🤨

I met a guy in Mexico that told me of a nice place in Florida, looking for some of our winter there this year. Every year interesting, every trip fun. Soon travel again, next stop Moose Jaw, looking to visit the tunnels, and take a look around the town we passed through last time. 

Love this life🤗❤️