Canadian Buffoon's Exhausted Vacation - Update 09/01 - New TR link!

[disneyAndi14]

It’s always refreshing when you
can spend a little time alone with
your kid and not want to
murder them in their sleep.

Haha I hear you there! Andi and I travel great together but there are times!

Whoopsie! Did I say that out loud?
Sorry. That’s breaking the parent code.
Don’t tell me you haven’t thought it,
at least in passing, at least once.

At least twice!

I will say, however, that she sure knows
how to pick… and get a nice campsite.

Wow a beautiful campsite and view from your tent

Is a camping trip really a camping trip
if there’s no fire???

No way. It is one of the only reasons I will still go camping, now that I am shall I say more mature!

Hot Dogs… ketchup. Yes or no???

Yes ketchup, mustard, and onions, yummy!
I also love potato salad. My Birthday is in July and my meal request was brats on the grill, homemade potato salad, and my mom’s homemade baked beans, yum!

Is a camping trip really a camping trip
If there’s a fire, but there’s no S’mores?????

No way, we always have s’mores even put in the backyard sometimes

Albeit aided by smoke from forest fires…
which aren’t so great, even if the view is

We had so much haze and smoke from Canadian wildfires this summer and we also had some big fires in the boundary water area!

Unfortunately, they were stuck in transit
and had yet to arrive at the rental place.

Almost two weeks into July

This is a huge problem from this darn virus and the P word! Shipping and delivery is so hit or miss!

Luckily, they had one tandem kayak for us.
We both (Kay & I) like to do our own thing,
but it was better than nothing.

It looks like a fun way to enjoy the lake with your daughter, as long as you didn’t want to kill her

After working pretty much nonstop for a year,
a day of lying in the tent, reading, watching movies,
and playing cards wasn’t particularly unpalatable.

Sounds wonderful nothing like a little rain to make us relax some!

We explored a few islands,
sometimes hopping ashore,
other times, just paddling around them.

It looks very lovely!

The next day was just about perfect
weather-wise.
High of 80F (26.6C) that afternoon.

Perfect for camping and swimming

Said "Sorry" a lot.
Canadians, obviously.

Those ducks must also be from Minnesota, we are the same way, lol!

You can’t really see it here,
but the tubes were very comfortable
with a backres

This looks so nice and relaxing except I bet you will get prune butt! I just have this feeling about it…..

Don’t get me wrong, it was fun
and it was relaxing.
But it was long.
Three hours sitting with your butt
in the water… was more than enough.

I would love it for about 1 hour

Who’s thinking of wrinkled prune butts???
Anyone?
If you weren’t, you are now.

I was thinking this exactly

This wasn’t a domesticated deer, but a wild animal.
Even though it might be used to people,
I was pretty surprised when it let Kay pet it.

Wow, I am surprised she was able to pet the deer. We have them around our house all the time but you can’t get close.

wasp nest.”

Oops!

It looks pretty old.
Long abandoned for sure.
Or maybe it actually is dried seaweed.

Oh oh! Don’t poke the bear or um wasps nest buzzzzzzz….

At least that’s what went through my mind
until the first few wasps started to come out.

I would freak out, I hate wasps/hornets, no thank you! Have you heard of the new murder hornets, what a name!

Luckily, the wasps boiled and spun
in the air above their nest and didn’t
seem to connect the two idiots standing
nearby, to their home invasion.

Thank goodness this would have really ruined the rest of your night!
I’m glad you had a nice outing with your daughter! I started lurking on here when Andi was 14 now she is almost 22! Time flies. My son is 27 and next year he will have his 10th year high school class reunion I just can’t believe it!

 

[MeghanEmily]

Now I'm picturing...

"In this corner fighting out of Nova Scotia... Meghan!
In the other corner, fighting out of the fridge... Ketchup!
Let's keep it clean. No low blows or squirting in the eye."

Hah!!

I get it.
I can't eat anything that has
coconut as an ingredient.

Ooh yes, I remember this about you now! Makes me feel a little better

Had planned to jump in the car
if they came after us.

But who knows how many
would get in the car with us.

Good plan! Nasty little buggers, wasps are. I love bees, and there are certain wasps that aren't super aggressive (e.g. paper wasps) I don't really mind too too much as long as we keep our distance from each other...but most of what we have at least around here are yellow jackets, and I hate them very much.

I should edit to add, though: in this case at least I'd understand if the wasps were angry. I can almost sympathize. Nobody wants a tree rammed through the front door of their home.)

 

[Tracy161]

Thank goodness I haven’t aged a day.

Phew! Thank goodness!

(Readers? Plural?
Is that being too presumptuous?)

Hot Dogs… ketchup. Yes or no???

Ketchup! And mustard! And, if I'm really living, also chopped onions

Minus the wasp nest -- yikes! -- the camping trip sounded lovely and how cool that Kay got to actually pet a deer!!! I'm super jealous.


It's pretty crazy that you should have done an update that I saw this morning as I had a dream about you last night! Cross my heart. I had a dream you were visiting and arrived on motorcycle and when you took me for a spin I made you go no faster than 15 miles an hour and you said I didn't know what I was missing

 

[pkondz]

Haha I hear you there! Andi and I travel great together but there are times!

There always are.

At least twice!

Wow a beautiful campsite and view from your tent

It wasn't too shabby!

No way. It is one of the only reasons I will still go camping, now that I am shall I say more mature!

Gotta have a fire. You gotta!

Yes ketchup, mustard, and onions, yummy!

I also love potato salad. My Birthday is in July and my meal request was brats on the grill, homemade potato salad, and my mom’s homemade baked beans, yum!

That would be just about perfect for me too!
Maybe not the baked beans.
I'm not saying no... I'm saying I've
never had any that I've really liked.
But!!! I've only had it from a can, so...
Hardly a fair evaluation.

No way, we always have s’mores even put in the backyard sometimes

Us too!

We had so much haze and smoke from Canadian wildfires this summer and we also had some big fires in the boundary water area!

Don't think I knew about your fires?
Where's the "boundary water area"?

This is a huge problem from this darn virus and the P word! Shipping and delivery is so hit or miss!

It looks like a fun way to enjoy the lake with your daughter, as long as you didn’t want to kill her

She survived.

Sometimes it's a close call...

Sounds wonderful nothing like a little rain to make us relax some!

Yup.
Nothing else to do.

It looks very lovely!

Perfect for camping and swimming

Those ducks must also be from Minnesota, we are the same way, lol!

Point of order...

Those were geese... Canada geese.

This looks so nice and relaxing except I bet you will get prune butt! I just have this feeling about it…..

A butt feeling?

I would love it for about 1 hour

It was amazing for an hour...
Really good for two hours...
Okay for two and a half hours...
After that I was really just looking for the exit.

I was thinking this exactly

Great minds!

Wow, I am surprised she was able to pet the deer. We have them around our house all the time but you can’t get close.

I was surprised too!
We have deer around our house,
but you can't get anywhere near them.

Oh oh! Don’t poke the bear or um wasps nest buzzzzzzz….

Yeah...

I would freak out, I hate wasps/hornets, no thank you! Have you heard of the new murder hornets, what a name!

I have heard of them.
They just cleared out two nests recently, I believe.

Thank goodness this would have really ruined the rest of your night!

That's for sure!

I’m glad you had a nice outing with your daughter! I started lurking on here when Andi was 14 now she is almost 22! Time flies. My son is 27 and next year he will have his 10th year high school class reunion I just can’t believe it!

Isn't it crazy?
I mean... how did they go from
little kids to adults???

 

[pkondz]

Hah!!

Could totally happen.

Good plan! Nasty little buggers, wasps are. I love bees, and there are certain wasps that aren't super aggressive (e.g. paper wasps) I don't really mind too too much as long as we keep our distance from each other...but most of what we have at least around here are yellow jackets, and I hate them very much.

Yellow jackets... not a nice bug.

I should edit to add, though: in this case at least I'd understand if the wasps were angry. I can almost sympathize. Nobody wants a tree rammed through the front door of their home.)

Very true!
I didn't blame them.

 

[pkondz]

Phew! Thank goodness!

Pretty sure I'm just getting younger.
Definitely getting better looking.


Or my eyesight is fading.


One of the two.

Ketchup! And mustard! And, if I'm really living, also chopped onions

Sounds just about perfect to me!

Minus the wasp nest -- yikes! -- the camping trip sounded lovely and how cool that Kay got to actually pet a deer!!! I'm super jealous.

I was so surprised!
And so happy for her.

It's pretty crazy that you should have done an update that I saw this morning as I had a dream about you last night!

What? No way!
Maybe you have ESP?

Cross my heart. I had a dream you were visiting and arrived on motorcycle and when you took me for a spin I made you go no faster than 15 miles an hour and you said I didn't know what I was missing

Hold on tight!
We're gonna go...
no faster than an old lady in a walker.

 

[Tracy161]

What? No way!
Maybe you have ESP?

It seems like the only logical explanation.


Hold on tight!
We're gonna go...
no faster than an old lady in a walker

Just my speed! Gives some credibility to my former TR title "PeopleMover is my kind of thrill ride"

 

[pkondz]

It seems like the only logical explanation.

Or maybe I knew you were
going to dream of me,
so I figured I'd better write something.

Or maybe... I can force you to dream of me!

Just my speed! Gives some credibility to my former TR title "PeopleMover is my kind of thrill ride"

I'll keep that in mind
for the inevitable (slow)
future motorcycle ride.

 

[buzzrelly]

Ugh...
I just did 12 yesterday.
I do two early day shifts today
and tomorrow, then a quick change
to a midnight shift tomorrow night...

But... I'll take that over your schedule!!

I don't know about that! At least I don't rotate t nights anymore…that's killer!

So.... you like ketchup...
but won't put it on a hot dog?

I actually love ketchup so yes, if I ate a hotdog, I would probably put it on…unless I am at Fenway Park (which I do maybe every 10 years! lol!). But I probably just wouldn't eat a hotdog on a normal day anyway. Makes sense? It's all very complicated

Made ‘em!
Soooo good!

Yum! Those look good!

 

[pkondz]

I don't know about that! At least I don't rotate t nights anymore…that's killer!

Nights are killer no matter what.

I actually love ketchup so yes, if I ate a hotdog, I would probably put it on…unless I am at Fenway Park (which I do maybe every 10 years! lol!). But I probably just wouldn't eat a hotdog on a normal day anyway. Makes sense? It's all very complicated

You're a very complicated woman!

Yum! Those look good!

They were amazing!

 

[pkondz]

Summer Days (Part II)

Something borrowed,
Something new.


So! How’s everyone enjoying
this current round of Jumanji?

What will be next?
Roll the dice and find out!
(Please. Don’t.)

Hi there and welcome to part two
of three of summertime fun.

We left off with Kay and me having
camped and risked the wrath
of hornets.

We survived.

(Meanwhile, back in Otter Falls…
“And we were just sitting down
to dinner when suddenly… CRASH!
This huge tree comes smashing
Into our house! And before we could
even blink, it was gone, leaving
a gaping hole! We ran out to see
what had happened, but…
And this is the spooky part.
There was… No. One. There.”)


So… might as well head out
Into the wilderness once again, right?

Well, yes and no.

For this portion of the summertime
update, it will be myself, Kay,
and my oldest DD, Elle.
And instead of tent camping,
we were renting a cabin.

I remember very well the last time
we rented a cabin.
Kay was a baby and Elle was
still a toddler.
We rented a cabin that had a hot tub.
I bought Elle a toy fishing pole
that had a magnet in lieu of a hook,
and it came complete with plastic
fish with metal tabs.
She spent a lot of time in that tub.
Too much.
We pulled her out and she was happy…
And beet red.

Whoops!

She was fine… just… a bit well done.
(Caught a lot of plastic fish, though.
So... a win?)

The “something borrowed” was the cabin.
The “something new”?
That was the location.

Yes I know the cabin was "new" too.
But I'm writing this, so pipe down.

Hecla island is an interesting area.
It was first settled by Icelandic
immigrants back in 1876.
The island was fairly isolated
with ferry service only beginning
after WWII.
The inhabitants survived mainly
on fishing.
Indeed, a local delicacy
is smoked Goldeye (a species of fish)
and quite good.
If you’re ever in Hecla, keep
your eyes open for signs of
“Cured fish”.
(Inside, a small fish tentatively
tests the cast on its fin. Another
takes its first steps to self-forgiveness.)

At one point during our stay,
I popped into the general store,

and noticed a box of smoked
Goldeye for sale.
Thinking I might bring some back
to the city with me, I asked how
long it might keep for.
The shop keeper stared at me
for a minute and said,
“Maybe a month? Or… a week?
A few days for sure….”
She thought for another couple seconds,
“I don’t know! They're never around
long enough for me to know!”

She meant that people eat them
faster than they could keep them.


The island eventually became
part of a larger provincial park in 1969.
A causeway linking the mainland
to the island was only built in 1975.

All that is left of the ferry terminal/dock.

We arrived in the park in the afternoon
and, without much trouble, soon
found our accommodations for
the next couple of nights.

I liked the look of it,
but was even more pleased
with the interior:

Room enough for all of us.

We quickly settled in and
I set to work getting dinner ready.
I was pretty excited about it
(as were the girls.)
I had bought a pizza stone
and some Applewood chips.
I planned to smoke a pizza
in a charcoal BBQ.

Well... the best laid plans.

I got the coals going and let
them get nice and hot.
I had the pizza stone inside
heating as well.
I added the wood chips
and set the pizza on the stone.

Well… I guess maybe I was too impatient.
1. I didn’t wait for the stone to get really hot.
Mistake number one.
2. I added the wood chips way too soon.
The pizza was cooked, but… the crust
could’ve been crisper and… it was way
too smoky! Kay said it was like she was
eating nothing but smoke.

Bummer.
We had all been highly anticipating this.

Live and learn.

(For those wondering, I bought a portion
of dough from a local pizza shop, but made
my own sauce.
The toppings are hand-shredded mozzarella
and sliced mushrooms. Because I’m a fungi and
Elle is pescatarian. So, no meat.)


After dinner, we went for a stroll
and sashayed over to the marina.

And of course, afterwards…

The next day was perfect.
Perfect for a day at the beach.
The temperature hovered
Around 86F (30C).

We hopped into the car
and made the five minute
drive to the beach.

It was a bit breezy, which had
the effect of making three
to four-foot waves.
All three of us had a lot
of fun jumping over the waves
in water up to our necks.
I don’t remember how long
we were in the water,
but it was a pretty long time.

Later in the day, we hiked out
to the lighthouse, just to check it out.

The next and last day was spent
on a guided tour of the historic
old townsite.
Our guide was very knowledgeable
and we all enjoyed the tour.

We were allowed in to various
buildings that originally had been
used either for fish processing
or as ice houses to keep fish
throughout the year and were
now basically museums.

This next photo shows a Bombardier
that was used for many purposes
including as a winter school bus.

The hatch on top was not used
as a sun roof, but rather as an
escape hatch if the bombardier
broke through the ice.

Another building was chock-full
of tools and a portable saw mill.

Lastly, we visited a one-room
schoolhouse, complete with desks
that still showed kids’ graffiti
from the 1930s.
Reminded me of Walt’s desk.

(sorry. too stupid to take a photo of the desks. )

That evening, at Kay’s urging,
we ate at the local restaurant.
You could tell that Covid was
having an impact, even here.
There were plenty of patrons…
but only 3 servers.
I could tell they were being
run off their feet.
It took a while to get service
and even longer to get our food.
I didn’t complain.

I unfortunately didn’t take a
food porn photo, though.
I ordered the fish tacos and
they were by far the best I’ve ever had.
I was shocked at how tasty they were!
I want to go back (a three-hour round
trip drive) just for those fish tacos.


We finished up our short stay
in Hecla with a nice hike
through the woods.

This time I refrained from
regaling the kids with tales
of oversized grizzly bears.

Pretty sure my omission was
appreciated when we rounded
a bend and were confronted with!!!!


A deer.


And I’ll pick that anticlimactic
moment to end this portion
of our summer adventures.

Coming up… a whole n’other summer excursion.

Bonus Chapter. Summer's Last Gasp (1)​

 

[KathyM2]

So! How’s everyone enjoying
this current round of Jumanji?

It really legit felt like some kind of alternate reality for many many months...I still don't want to accept that this is our new reality for the foreseeable future and keep hoping to wake up in the "before" times....sigh....

Thinking I might bring some back
to the city with me, I asked how
long it might keep for.
The shop keeper stared at me
for a minute and said,
“Maybe a month? Or… a week?
A few days for sure….”

This is a little bit frightening...you would think they would (should probably?) know the answer to this?

Bummer.
We had all been highly anticipating this.

Ugh that's too bad. I have had some very good BBQ pizza...but it does seem like some skillz are required to get it right, and practice...you'll get it next time!!

Lastly, we visited a one-room
schoolhouse, complete with desks
that still showed kids’ graffiti
from the 1930s.
Reminded me of Walt’s desk.

I wonder what the graffiti from 1935 was like compared to say...what you find today lol

 

[orangecats2]

So you're skipping the last winter update? Or did I miss it?

I now have a part time job. I'm exhausted all the time. My best friend is my boss so it's not too bad. Trying to save up money for Disney in February. Five nights at Riviera then two nights at SSR. Still need to buy tickets and pay for the Riviera portion. Still need plane tickets too. Looks like United airline is the winner this time. Direct flights to MCO from CLE.
Can't get park reservations until I get tickets, Can't make dining ressies till 60 days before. I'm a little confused by it all. Anyone want to help?

 

[pkondz]

It really legit felt like some kind of alternate reality for many many months...I still don't want to accept that this is our new reality for the foreseeable future and keep hoping to wake up in the "before" times....sigh....

I suspect we'll see the "before" times again...
Just might be a while until it happens.

This is a little bit frightening...you would think they would (should probably?) know the answer to this?

I guess... they don't have to?
A quick Google says 3 weeks.

Ugh that's too bad. I have had some very good BBQ pizza...but it does seem like some skillz are required to get it right, and practice...you'll get it next time!!

I do plan on trying again.

I wonder what the graffiti from 1935 was like compared to say...what you find today lol

Mostly "LOL" and Youtube references.

 

[pkondz]

So you're skipping the last winter update? Or did I miss it?

Temporarily putting it on
the back-burner.
I'm pumping out the summer
trips while they're still fresh.

I now have a part time job. I'm exhausted all the time.

Welcome to the work force...
And my condolences!

Trying to save up money for Disney in February. Five nights at Riviera then two nights at SSR.

Nice!

Looks like United airline is the winner this time. Direct flights to MCO from CLE.

Direct and non-stop I presume.
Only way to go.

Can't get park reservations until I get tickets, Can't make dining ressies till 60 days before. I'm a little confused by it all. Anyone want to help?

Don't look at me!
All of that has happened
since the last time I was there.
I have no idea!

 

[rdkeim]

It's fun reading about your summer adventures! Nice bonding times with your DD's. I would prefer the cabin to camping but that's just me. Thanks for sharing - a fun read!

 

[pkondz]

It's fun reading about your summer adventures!

Thanks!

Nice bonding times with your DD's.

That's definitely the best part
of the whole thing.
Otherwise... I probably wouldn't do it.

I would prefer the cabin to camping but that's just me.

Heh. Well... so would I.

Thanks for sharing - a fun read!

Glad you're enjoy it!
Two more updates to go.
One summer.
One winter.

 

[Steppesister]

So how was your summer?

Busy!! At times stressful, but filled with many good things.

When I first wrote a TR here,
back in 2012…

2012!!?!?!?!!?

I know! I was thinking about the years I've been here too not long ago. Was shocked that I've been on the DIS since 2007 or so (first writing) as a different screen name. Andrew was only 16 and now he's 30!!!

Not the worst view you can wake up to.

There are certainly worse for sure!

Hot Dogs… ketchup. Yes or no???

Yes!

Is a camping trip really a camping trip
If there’s a fire, but there’s no S’mores?????

Yeah, I can live without those.

Nicely done!

Three hours sitting with your butt
in the water… was more than enough.

I actually WAS thinking of prune butts. We think alike!

Very pretty!

 

[Steppesister]

I forgot to quote as I read chapter 2, but that cabin sure looked nice!! Glamping!!

Bummer about the pizza; hate when you plan for and look forward to something tasty and it's a flop.

The weather was perfect and the tour looked REALLY interesting! The roof escape hatch was a total surprise and I would NEVER have guessed its use.

Mmm! Fish tacos. Make them on occasion and am never sad. Glad you got some father/daughter time in even during this crazy time.

 

[pkondz]

Busy!! At times stressful, but filled with many good things.

I certainly understand that with your summer!

I know! I was thinking about the years I've been here too not long ago. Was shocked that I've been on the DIS since 2007 or so (first writing) as a different screen name. Andrew was only 16 and now he's 30!!!

I knew you had a different screen name at one point.
You've been writing for a long time!

Yes!

You is wise.

Yeah, I can live without those.

What?!?!?
Maybe you is not wise!

I actually WAS thinking of prune butts. We think alike!

I forgot to quote as I read chapter 2, but that cabin sure looked nice!! Glamping!!

It was a definite upgrade from my pup tent!

Bummer about the pizza; hate when you plan for and look forward to something tasty and it's a flop.

Was very disappointing.
But the fish tacos made up for it.

The weather was perfect and the tour looked REALLY interesting!

It really was!
Surprisingly so.

The roof escape hatch was a total surprise and I would NEVER have guessed its use.

Mmm! Fish tacos. Make them on occasion and am never sad.

Never made them,
but I might, some day.

Glad you got some father/daughter time in even during this crazy time.

That's always the best part.