Latin (tem-pu̇s-ˈfü-git): Time Flies
All in one day we went from a rainy morning to 1° with snow at 11,000 ft to 21° and a sunny afternoon to sitting around a camp fire in t-shirts at 9pm. What a day!
We’ve crossed the Rockies, seen the Colorado National Monument and driven Scenic Route 128 along the Colorado River into Moab Utah. The scenery has been breath taking.
The most common phrase heard today was “Oh My!” followed by “Look at that!”.
Sleeping under the stars tonight.
Not that my blog posts have any frequency or pattern at the best of times but, for the next week or two I might be a little more frequent as we’re on a road trip in the south western USA.
The order might be a little jumbled as well as the upload is dependent on sporadic wi-fi availability. Hey, our campground doesn’t even have running water, unless you count the Colorado River.
It seems like such a short time ago that we were opening the cottage for the season and here we are, putting it to bed for the winter. Hardly seems right when we’re enjoying a breezy +25° on the deck. I’ve put some of the boats away and Shirley has done some packing and year-end cleaning. We’re hoping to get another run in the kayaks tomorrow morning before putting them away. After that we’ll shut down the water and call it a season. It has been one of the best summers weather wise in many years and we enjoyed a considerable amount of time on Lake of the Woods. Thanks for the memories.
I was on a hike with Shirley and some friends on the Tunnel Island trails which is a beautiful hiking area between Keewatin and Kenora. The trails are well used, especially by folks walking their dogs. It’s been a while since we’ve been out on the trails, and now they are very well signed with directions, distances, and including a full trail head route map. A short distance into the trail and we come across the sign makers sense of humor. It’s interesting that most of the dogs we encountered on our hike were off leash, which seems to be the main benefit of bringing your dog here, given the fact that the trails are virtually downtown, yet surprisingly remote after only hiking few minutes from the parking area.
This shot was an excellent opportunity to try out my 1/3 owned, new Canon EFS 10-22mm lens. I like the way the wide angle puts the sign in the foreground while still showing the full expanse of this section of the Winnipeg River system as it leaves Lake of the Woods. (Full size photo)
This struck me as a little strange. Perhaps it’s the result of too many law suits, but do we really need to be warned that there may be “two-way traffic” on a door to the Mens Room? Seemed a little self evident to me. What do you think?
We’re making the most of this awesome fall weather and taking Friday off and hanging out at The Lake. We got away a little late on Thursday night and arrived Friday morning at 2:30 a.m. so this required some mandatory sleeping in. Up at about 10:30 and after a couple of cups of coffee and a nice breakfast, we head out on the lake.
The skies are clear and it’s near calm, in other words a perfect day for boating. We wander around the neighborhood heading in the general direction of Kenora checking out the fall colours, and some very nice cottages. Once we arrive in Kenora, breakfast has worn off and the Chip Truck is calling. We share some fries with each other and some hungry locals and then do some window shopping. Well, Shirley does the window shopping while I make some photographs of the new “Harbourdome”.
Back on the boat for a cruise up Safety Bay and then it’s time to turn homeward. But on the way there is a quick stop at the boat up Starbucks (Safeway) for a couple of lattes and then we’re booking it for home. Along the way we see five eagles together flying around one of the island. The water is calm and the Merc is running steady with a reassuring steady drone. The fall colours are outstanding and I’m feeling very peaceful. I could cruise on for hours, but before we know it, we’re at the dock. A great afternoon on the lake.
Yesterday’s ride with the FOG crew was the 1st in a number of weeks as I’ve been at the lake on most weekends, and did the Muddy Waters Grand Forno on one of the weekends that I was in town. The weather looked very nice early in the morning, with a little coolness in the air that comes at this time of year, hinting at the waning of summer.
By ride time at 9 a.m. however it was a little blustery with some very dark clouds on the western horizon. Sure enough, 20 minutes or so into the ride, we encountered light showers for a short time, and then it cleared off for a very pleasant morning.
The ride was quick with a +35km/h to Lockport, a no stop roll through, and the usual sprint to the Selkirk town line. After a brief stop in Selkirk it was on to the “Big Bridge” and again a brief slowdown and re-group after the bridge and then back on pace to rejoining Hwy 44. Here there is some discussion about going to Cooks Creek vs the usual Birds Hill Park via Hwy 206. No clear decision, so we move on. At the 206 junction 4 of the 22 rides opt for Cooks Creak and for some crazy reason I’m one of them. The distance is not that much further as it adds about 8-10km to the ride but with just 4 riders, you’re on the front a lot and have to work a lot harder. We quickly settle into a nice pace line taking short pulls at the front and keeping a 36-38km/h speed. Shortly before we re-join 206, I’m “cooked” and need to slow down. Thankfully, the guys wait for me and once back on 206 I’m feeling better and able to keep with the group.
Once in Birds Hill we learn that the main group is about 10 minutes ahead of us and come to the conclusion that we won’t be catching them. I think prior to this we’d thought we might be able to do the extra distance and a pace that would allow us to catch them, but it’s clear now that it’s not happening. We follow the usual route back to town and my ride is 106km with an average speed of just over 33km/hr. Another good ride is in the log book.
The May long weekend is the traditional weekend to open the cottage at beautiful Lake of the Woods and this year was no exception. After driving down Friday night we a relaxed and enjoyed the quiteness of the lake compared to the city and the sounds of the waves on the lake. Saturday mornings first order of business was to get the water running. Things went fairly smoothly except a part that I bought to repair the water line from a mishap last fall was the wrong size. No problem however, because there is always a way given the number of spare parts the cottage has acquired over almost 30 years. But the intake line did look a littel funny with a 90° elbow in the normally straight line. Oh well, something to fix another day. the pump primed the first time and there were no leaks or breaks in the system, so we were up and running. Time for a coffee break and some breakfast. It rained off and on most of the day but even a rainy day at the lake is better that any day in the city. The rest of the day was spent completing a multitude of opening activities like getting the septic system operational, hooking up all the outside hoses, taking 2 kayaks down to the dock, rolling over the aluminium boat an putting on the outboard as well as launching the swim platform out to its anchorage. All that and a bunch of other miscellaneous stuff and we’re open for the season!
Sunday was a little more relaxed, at least in the morning with a little sleeping in, and several cups of coffee before entertaining any additional work projects. Shirley’s brother Roy & wife Meryl are coming over for a visit and I’m sure I can tackle a something before they arrive. The project is to replace the retaining wall at the top of the driveway. We’d used untreated timber just about 30 years go and nature had reclaimed her own. All of the timbers had disintegrated and many roots had grown along the path of the timbers, and some even inside the timbers, so they all had to go.
During the dig I made the Tic Tac discovery. Probably doesn’t seem like much to you but it brought back memories for me. My Dad had been a smoker for a lot of years. He’d tried a couple of time to stop, but relapsed. When he finally was successful in stopping, a major part of the success was Tic Tacs. Instead of reaching for the cigarette pack, he’d reach for the Tic Tacs. Only person I’ve ever know who bought them by the case. The Grandkids benefited as well, as there were always a handy treat that he’d dole out on a moments notice. My Dad and I spent a lot of time together building the cottage, so when my shovel unearthed the empty Tic Tac container, it was a bit of a “moment”.
After the visit with company, it was back to some more little projects that always seem to be waiting for some attention. This one was fixing the umbrella for the patio set we have at the dock. Late last year the string that cranks it up & down snapped and I’d bought some nice nylon cord for the repair a while back so into the shop it goes. I’m sure that when they put these things together in the factory it’s way easier to get that rope threaded up the tube etc. but it took a little creativity to get the old stuff out an the new one in but I got it in there and all back together. While I was working on the repair the umbrella was open so I could get access the the various parts, so to get it out the door and down to the dock I’d need to wind it down to close it up. So cranking away, I was very satisfied with my repair as the umbrella began to close, and then, to my horror, when it was half way down, it started to open again! The proverbial lightbulb goes on and I realize I’ve made the rope too short! Not to mention that when I cut it to length with the umbrella open, the remaining piece was now also too short. After taking the thing apart again, and tying the two pieces together, something I hated to do, and reassembling the whole thing again, we have an operational umbrella. I think I’ll be replacing that cord again in the near future.
Monday involves even more sleeping it. It’s a little cloudy and I’m thinking about going cycling, but at 7am after assessing the weather, I decide another few minutes in bed are in order. Well at about 10:30, it seems like the weather is a little better and I roll out of bed and my lovely wife has prepared an awesome breakfast. Eventually, the biking gear gets put on and I’m out for the first Ride Around Kenora of the year.
My route is counter clockwise around Kenora on the Hwy 17A Bypass and back on Hwy 17 with a stop at 57km for the Starbucks where I meet up with my duck buddies playing by the docks. After the Grande, it’s off for the final leg othe ride back to the cottage all the while looming in the back of my head is the Col du Branch Road #3. This Hors Catégorie climb assents from the bottom of the swamp the the pinacle of Branch road #3 complete with a brief reprieve half way up that lulls you into a false sense of security. As it approaches I summon my “inner Lance” and begin the climb. I’m feeling burn but I’m not letting this mountain get the better of me. Even after a brief wheel spin on some leftover winter sand, I forge on up, victorious! Actually, by the time I’m back at the cottage after 75km, I’m a little spent so a shower and a snack are in order.
After putting stuff away at the dock and loading the truck, the weekend is over and we’re on our way back to Winnipeg, but not without the traditional stop at DQ for a little reward. Good weekend, thanks cottage.
Somebody has a birthday and we’re celebrating tonight.The BBQ is fired up and ready to go! Guests are on the way and a fabulous dinner awaits. Mmmm, the dessert will be some awesome frozen chocolate goodness.