Grandchild week - part 2

 

Monday it was pack up and head to the Long Point Cottage. Much is the same as when I moved 6 years ago but there are some changes. The huge modern house next door over powers it and makes it look more "cottage like". George and I always intended for it to fit in to the community, not stand out. There is also a second story on the garage, with another dormer and a balcony. Also things we had planned to do.

The beach is a constant, even though it changes from year to year, it cycles back.

As you can see from the postures in the foreground, it was a coolish day

but the geese didn't mind and neither did the kids.

Everyone was in and out of the water

all week.

Nic and Dave came one day, as did Fiona.

Aimee ran in the morning and Mike ran, biked and swam (training for a "sprint triathlon"). Mike also came back to Dover to sail with us on Wednesday night.

Maya acted as bartender

with apprentices, River and Cigi.

We did some cooking but also had food from the Chip Ship, Pizza and Belgian Waffles from the Old Cut dairy bar and ice cream from Udderly Cool.

Maya, Cigi and I completed a puzzle I had picked up at a garage sale

 

and the one we had left last year. There were also games of Settlers and Uno.

We walked on the beach and took turns in the hammock

which was where I went

when I needed some peace

and quiet.

It was a week of wet towels, handstands in the water, running to get off the hot sand, wave jumping, sugary cereal, strawberry milk, reading at bedtime, sand everywhere, pillows and cushions in the secret room (master bedroom closet), hosing off on the back deck and sleeping in (well not Cigi, or Chris, or Aimee, or me) (actually only Mike, Avery and Maya slept in).

Sadly Jason got bad news and had to leave. His mother had suddenly passed away while his parents were on a camping trip up north and he left to help his Dad with the drive home.

Mike and River left on Friday, for an early morning flight back to Edmonton. The rest of us packed up Saturday morning and Aimee's sister and her family came that afternoon and stayed over at my place. I drove Aimee, Maya and Avery to her brothers in Toronto on Sunday. They flew home on Tuesday.

I needed a few quiet days to recover, remake all the beds, put the toys away and generally put the house to rights.

Grandchild week, Part 1

 Mike bought Avery, Maya and River, on the "red eye" (Edmonton to K-W) for a visit.

 

Almost immediately we were at the Port Dover beach and into the water,

 

playing in the sand

and sunbathing.

I alternated between swimming, wave jumping with River and just sitting on the beach enjoying the entertainment.

Back home the garage sale dollhouse was a hit with these 2 and later in the week with their cousins too. We also played Labyrinth and Skip-Bo.

Avery and Maya had the sense to retire to their beds to play on their devices, so fell asleep there.

Mike and River tried to push through. Epic fail.

Next day was a trip to the library (with a side of Leggo building)

The only one of these 5 books to get cracked was Charlotte's Web ("A classic" according to Maya whose teacher had read it to her class) which I read every night to Cigi and River.

Then we took 2 borrowed kayaks and a borrowed paddleboard on to Black Creek (Had to ferry them all there in my car and while I watched the kids Mike managed to get lost twice on a five minute route)

Avery and Maya had little kayaking experience but caught on fast. We looked for turtles. While Mike was trying to get a picture of one he dropped his phone in the river. You can see that this is not clear water. He jumped off the paddleboard and tried to feel around with his toes. Finally dove down and picked it up on the first try. So lucky! And his watertight case actually was watertight!

River found it very relaxing.

Took about an hour and a half to get to the museum docks. Walked to the Arbour for a hot dog and golden glow then back up the river.

We saw turtles, ducks with ducklings, geese, a heron, muskrats and River (awake now) spotted a young fox (we saw 2). Then of course the whole ferrying system to get all the equipment back home. Exhausting but a great day.

Sunday Mike and the kids went to Pickards. This is one of the Port Dover visit traditions along with the beach,  Arbour Dogs, Perch Dinner and Ice Cream. Aimees brother picked her up at the airport and he and his family arrived for the day. More beach time for the kids, this time with their cousins.

Interclub and Canada Day

After our experience at Tillsonberg  Airport we returned home just in time to see the earliest boats sailing into Long Point Bay on the first leg of the Interclub Race, Erie to Port Dover.

The next day, Sunday, we watched them, from the Edge, getting ready to start the Long Point Bay race.

 

They headed up towards Turkey Point, some with spinnakers flying.

While watching I was entertained by a very vocal Song Sparrow and

a tug, fishing unusually close

to the shore.

Rick and I took Spellbound out to try and see the fleets but the wind dropped so they ended the race at Nanticoke buoy.

All we managed to see were the first couple of boats (Sledge Hammer and Muse) motoring back to party at the yacht club.

Rick and I had planned to head to the club later for a drink and to listen to the band but I twisted my knee walking off the dock and just stayed at home and iced it. Sometimes the Interclub is a time of activity, photos and social activities - not this year, a bit of a dud. On Monday I again watched for the race to Port Colborne to start but, no wind, so they started motoring eastward and would start further up the lake.

A couple of days later and it was Canada Day. Very hot, humid and my knee still wasn't happy so I didn't go to watch the boat parade but settled down, on a chair, in the shade, to watch the dog show.

A very informal event - each dog was bought into the ring, 

to do a circuit, at a run,

a strut

or a waddle. 

One was carried.

Handlers of all ages. Each one stopped at the judge to be stroked and made a fuss of and some performed their tricks there too.

I'm not 100% sure but it looked as if every entrant won a ribbon in one of the categories which ranged from "best groomed", through "longest ears", "best puppy", "best tricks", to "best mixed breed" and "best purebred".

Prior to the boat parade there had been a soap box derby, later in the afternoon a parade through town. Then live music in the evening at Lions Park followed by fireworks. Port Dover knows how to celebrate Canada Day!