2016 Canada... the fishing

I went to Canada, not for the fishing, I don't go on the water... inner ear troubles make me sick as a dog.  So while I was sewing the family was on the water.  Here are pictures of their fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 Canada.... Saturday walkabout

Saturday is our last day her and it is a cool sunny morning.  So, after a quick banana and peanut butter breakfast I head out for a morning walk... camera in hand.

  

Close to my turn-around point I came near a farm... There is a big white dog on the other side of the fence just staring at me, with a cow nearby.

 

There is a farmer and lady talking in the driveway just ahead and their 2 dogs come barking and running at me. I freeze...terrified!

All ends well. They were very nice... Lilly was a mutt that herds the cows and Shep is a huge I don't know what. His job is to protect the lambs from coyotes. (I didn't get a picture of Lilly... she was just a bit too rambunctious for me)

I had a nice conversation with Brian and Mandy... and they tried to hire me out to do chores for her mom Lori who happened to drive by.   I could hear sheep making a racket in the barn and asked why they were so noisy (I'm a city girl... and curious).  They asked if I wanted to see and they walked me across the field "Watch out for them soft spots!"
They open the barn door and there are oodles of soft fluffy lambs! I forget how many ewes... but there were 70! month old lambs just being weaned. Oh so cute!! Most of them were twins... but there were also 4 sets of quads! I got a lesson in animal husbandry....

They separate out 2 of the quads into a small pen and feed them milk from a bucket with nipples on it... 4 is too many for one mom to nurse. The ewes were in the center of the barn and the lambs were separated left and right by fences. there were spots in the fence that the lambs could go through depending on their size. Once they get to a certain size, no more mamas milk.... and that's why they were noisy!  There were troughs of feed for them in the side pens. I asked where all the daddys were... Brian say, "only one" (color me shocked!) Mr. ram has been one busy daddy!  Then Brian tells me has only 19 days to get the job done!!! oh my!! 

I thought I took a bunch of pictures but I think I was so busy petting and in awe that I forgot!

This cow came up to the fence to say goodbye as I was leaving.

After my Saturday morning walk I spent the afternoon sewing and completed all 30 of my yellow/gray blocks.  I'll have to arrange them when I get home before stitching into a top.

Our last meal was cooked on the grill....  chicken and vegetables.  There were some left-overs to finish up too.

 

  

We left the lodge Sunday morning after packing the car in the rain. 

Farewell Seeley's Bay

Once again, I was driving, and had no trouble getting through the border. 

We stopped at Sabarros for Kelly's favorite pizza before last hugs and dropping her at the Syacuse airport. 

2016 Canada... Wednesday-Friday

Wednesday morning is another beautiful day and after breakfast I load up the car.  A quick lesson on how to make a phone call with Stan's iPhone, written directions in hand, GPS plugged in and programmed and I head out for the 2.5 hour ride to Ottowa where I am to meet Judy at an Ikea.

We located each other with the help of our cell phones (how did we ever live without them)  and had a salmon dinner at the Ikea cafe before she led the way through Ottowa, past the construction and detours, to her home.

We set up my table and Featherweight sewing machinein her living room where I worked on cutting and piecing my yellow/gray Turning Twenty Again and she worked on her HQSixteen Quilter quilting her Paddington Bear quilt to be gifted to a lucky nephew.

 

We chatted and laughed, quilted and sewed, cooked and dined.  We walked around her neighborhood for exercise and a great long-distance view of Ottowa. 

Weather predictions called for severe storms Thursday afternoon/evening so I stayed an extra night.  After dinner and no sign of the predicted storms, she drove me into Ottowa for a night-time tour of the city.  The parliment buildings which reminded me of European churches... complete with a clock tower similar to Big Ben!

Friday

After breakfast Friday morning we loaded up my van and said our farewells.  She led me back through the city to the 417 ramp near Ikea and I was on my way back to Seeleys Bay.  But I somehow turned a 2.5 hr drive into a 5 hr scenic drive through the Canadian countryside!! 

I some how missed the exit for 416... stayed on 417 ... forever.
When it turned into a 4 lane...no middle divider... I started wondering...
When it turned into a 2 lane road and I saw signs for 17 not 417... I knew I was in trouble!

The GPS never made a sound until I hit the 2 lane.. then it wanted me to do a u-turn. I found a turnaround and drove back 30 miles before finding a gas station.
I told the attendent I was lost, but heading to Seeleys Bay.... She never heard of it! Oh OH!   A customer overheard our conversation and I ask her  "Kingston?"
The customer says, "oh yeah..your a bit out of the way".  So he pointed me back toward Ottowa...87 miles away!

Another bit down the road GPS finally pipes up and wants me to turn onto 7...and I remember there were other routes that were shorter than 416-401.. so i took a chance that she was right and followed her directions... 7 then 15.  I seemed to be driving forever so I stopped for gas because I wasn't sure how much further I had to go.  I finally made it to the lodge about 3:45. It was a beautiful day for a drive through the countryside, but I am glad to be here!

Judy Reid is a generous hostess and fun to be with. I only hope that she will come visit me in TN some day and that I can return the favor.

2016 Canada... Tuesday

I spent Tuesday sewing while they fished.  With windows open, ceiling fans running... it got up to 78 during the day, but the moving air helped and it wasn't too dreadful.  I think the heat made me sluggish and sleepy as I didnt get much done during the day... only the first row... six blocks for a quilt I'm hoping to get it done and gift to a special friend this Christmas...this year.

They came back empty handed late in the afternoon, but happy. They actually they caught lots of bass, which are not in season and had to be released. Pike are in season, and they haven't gotten any. I think Stan said the pike are in deeper water... out farther than the little boat they are renting can go.  

We were invited by neighboring campers to join in for a fish fry.  Stan and Kelly opted to eat the ribs I had cooking in the crockpot.  But  Matthew and I are the big fish eaters and we opted to bring some ribs and join in.  The fish was delicious... as was the golumbki (polish stuffed cabbage) pierogi, keilbassa, meatballs, lasagna and tenderloin. Attendees contributed a variety of dishes and it was a lot of fun.

After dinner it cooled down a bit and I sewed into the night and pieced the next six blocks.... two rows done... five to go!

2016 Canada... Monday

Monday morning and it is 71deg and a beautiful sunny day. 
I know I sounded bitchy last post.  I'm sorry,  but I wasn't expecting totally rustic living for the week.  I'm doing better this morning...except for the cracked glass coffee pot....we'll get another from James later.  Meanwhile I can boil water in a pot for instant coffee and cook eggs and toast for breakfast.

After breakfast, Stan goes down to talk with James when he arrives about the water situation and wi-fi.  It turns out that we are the first to stay here this season and all the circuit breakers were not turned on. Got that fixed and everything works.  YAY!

With the wi-fi now working Kelly does some research and finds a salvage yard for a used rim and a repair shop in Kingston (40min drive)  Also.. I didnt tell stan... and he didnt notice until the border... that the check engine light came on when the car hesitated and started roughly for me Sunday morning.  There was nothing we could do about it anyway, so I kept quiet.   It's happened to me before and it had something to do with the computer and pollution control sensors.  So, hopefully, it will be nothing again.

Stan and matthew will stay and get the boat and fishing gear ready and start fishing while we are gone.  Kelly and I head to Kingston for car repairs and groceries for the week.  The auto salvage yard had a rim for $35can. Then in town, we found a Firestone and bought a new tire to put on the good used rim, added air to the broken rim tire and bagged it to keep for spare. Checked, pumped and mounted the donut spare back under the van. They said the check engine light indicated a misfire and trouble in the fuel line. They think that was because the van was lopsided for the flat and a bit of air may have gotten in and messed things up. 4hrs $225can

While waiting for the van to be repaired, we got lunch next door at Harvey's. Tried poutine...meh.

I love french fries *drizzled* with brown gravy... this was drowned.. and I didnt think those curds did anything for taste. After eating, we walked up then down the road for an hour to kill time and got some steps in, it was nice just spending time and chatting with Kelly... I miss that.

The van is "fixed" and its now 430 and we head to Walmart for groceries. Didn't get even one block and the check engine light goes back on. GGRRRRRR! Around the block and back in. Now the computer says the AFR.. air-fuel ratio is running lean. He says.. its not a problem I can make it home and it wont cause any damage. No need to mess with it. Huh??? OK.. I guess HE doesn't want to mess with it at the end of the day.

We bought groceries for the week and get back to the lodge with no problems. I Googled AFR and it said that the carbeurator needed tweeking to enrich the ratio. low AFR might cause the engine to run hotter.

I talked with Stan about it and he said it would be good to give the van a test run and go visit my online quilting friend in Ottowa, Quebec.  I first met her in person at a retreat in Virginia Beach last year and really enjoyed her company.   Hopefully there will be no problems driving. I will have the the GPS which worked yesterday when it was sunny... but if its overcast it doesn't work... so we'll see what the skies look like in the morning. Iv'e got the written directions so i should be ok. l'll take Stan's iphone ... which does work in Canada... I don't know why... in case I have a problem.  Not sure who I will call, but I'll figure that out if I need to.

The guys had a great day of fishing while we were gone and matthew caught two 17in+ bass and they both caught several other smaller fish. kelly went out with them for an hour or so until it got dark and caught 1 small something...so they are all happy.

2016 Canada... the drive continues

we get up at 7am and have a quick hotel lobby breakfast.  We go out to the car to discover that the tire has a slow leak and is low. Now this is Sunday of the holiday weekend... there is no help!! and we need to be at the Syracuse airport by 1:30 to pick up Kelly.

The desk clerk gives us directions to the nearest WalMart (30 miles away) where we were able to purchase several cans of  fix-a-flat and a tire pump.  We're on the road again and driving under the speed limit instead of flying down the road praying it doesn't blow again.  We know we are late but still trying to make it to Syracuse airport. Kelly calls when she lands and is just gonna hang out until we get there... (about 1.5hours)   Just as we enter Syracuse we hit HAIL!!! and blinding MONSOON rains! couldn't see a thing in front of me!....everyone put flashers on and just followed the barely visible lights in front...praying! We find Kelly and load her in.  Luckily the rain subsided and we are on the way again. We stop at a grocery store in Watertown to p/u supplies for dinner and breakfast. 

This is my first time driving into Canada and Kelly and Stan are warning me about all the questions we are going to be asked, and what we have to declare.  We are about fifth in line and they are making me a bit nervous.  I pull up, hand over our passports, the guard asks me where we were going and how long we were staying and we are through!  They are amazed!  When they went through last year they grilled and the guard was astonished that they were from Tennesse and had no firearms!.... like it was totally unheard of!  LOL

We made it across with only 5 min to spare at the money exchange but too late to get fishing licenses. 

We have to drive across this small draw-bridge to get to the lodge.

We were "lucky" on the way out to get stopped and have to wait for the bridge to open and let a boat to go through.

We finally arrive at the lodge around 8pm, exhausted and hungry.

This is not the cabin i was expecting.  I was led to believe it was like the cabin we stay at in KY....NOT.  I am freaking out "inside"... they are thrilled to be here. This is a big old house split into 3 "apartments"... ours was upstairs on the right. **15** creeky and worn wooden porch-type steps up... there is a landing half way up...but oh my knees! nothing was locked.... ok locks are important to me...I'm from NYC.. Iv'e been robbed.. locks are important to at least "feel" safe... but they assure me all will be well... O..kay.
Only two windows are open and the place was hotter 'n hades. NO AC.... this was not going to be my comfortably sewing away while they fish!  I'm freaking out even more...but i was good.  I kept my cool and kept my mouth shut.

  

 

l opened the rest of the windows. They carried everything up the stairs while I sorted belongings between the 3 BR and put sheets on the beds.  We sat out on the steps and landing until 10pm while the place cooled down to a balmy 78deg... i am now REALLY sorry that we forgot the wine.... kelly and matthew cooked the spaghetti and sauce and we ate. stan did dishes.

I head for a hot relaxing shower... NOT.... NO HOT WATER....its barely not cold.   Kelly says it will warm up if I let it run a bit.... it didn't. Sigh...I took a cold shower.  I am the queen of long hot showers... this was not going to be good. 

The wi-fi wasn't working and my Verizon phone doesn't work in Canada either. Kelly and Stan played games on their tablets... they had service.  

We played a couple games of gin rummy before I head for bed listening to the loons on the lake. 

Kelly goes for her hot shower and said i was right.. no hot water.. it should be warmer... we'll talk to management (i.e. james) in the morning. 

Welcome to Canada.

2016-06 Canada... the drive... day 1

We have had an exciting 2-day drive to Canada...NOT!... complete with a totally blown-to-pieces tire, flat spare... even tho i asked the guy at home to check it when i had the oil changed... and no Fix-a-flat ... I gave my can to Stan when he needed it and forgot to replace (it is now 3pm on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and we are stuck between exits on I81) 

Removing the tire only to discover that the spare was flat too!

The tire blew so hard it ripped the bumper/side panel off the screw that holds it together.  Luckily we had some duct tape in the car!

This is the biggest piece of the hubcap remaining after the blow out!

This is what the tire looked like.  It totally split apart!  We left a scattered trail of pieces of the tread along the highway behind us.

Stan put the flat tire back on and the spare in the back of the van.  I had to drive 3 miles on the side of the road at <10mph to get to rest area. There was a sign saying dial #77 for roadside assistance, so I called and explained the situation and the woman said help was on the way.   I'm thinking a tow truck.... but no... a very nice cop arrived and spent 2+hrs trying to find someone on his list of wreckers willing and able to come help. the biggest problem is a bent rim (now its after 5pm saturday-holiday weekend) 

Finally,  730pm a wrecker arrrives with his flattbed to tow us 3mi to the next exit. ... picture a guy from the movie Deliverence!!!! OMG!!!   He loads up the van and the 3 of us squeeze into the front seat w him...he's on the phone to his guy at his "shop". He drives to the next exit, turns off the main road and proceeds to take us down a series of dirt roads through fields and woods... its dark..... its late..... we have no idea where we are..... and we are in the hands of a guy straight out of Deliverence!...we're gonna die!

His shop was a huge metal building full of "junk" and equipment. His guy pulled a worn tire out of the mess .. they banged the heck out of the rim and got it straight enough to mount the tire, filled the spare...and we were back on the road at 10pm for $300. I believe we got hosed, but we really had no choice.

We drove an hour to our previously scheduled (missed) meet-up with friends for "dinner" .  Grabbed dinner at Waffle House and drove  another couple hours to our hotel in PA at 2am!..asleep by 201am :)