Yep, saw the “Bath and Body Works Coming Soon” sign at the mall today. I’m still a little sad that it is coming as it is always a treat to go in the States and see what you can find that round. Ah well, I’m sure I will get used to it.
I don’t like Knapps. They’re a greenhouse/berry farm/country store just around the corner from us in the town of Eramosa. I really wanted to like them because of their convenience, but their products (ready picked strawberries, u-pick strawberries, jams, pies, etc.) are overpriced, and in 2 days we’ve had 2 bad experiences with them. They have a big sign saying that picking conditions are “excellent”, so we drove in at 5:30 (berry places are typically open till 8 on weeknights) and they said, sorry we closed for the day - come back tomorrow morning, we’re open at 8. So we show up at 8:30 and the sign still says picking conditions are “excellent” and they say, sorry we’re closed because it rained. Huh? Other places at least put a sign up at the end of the driveway with updates, but not Knapps - you need to drive up and walk in to see if they’ll allow it.
If you’re looking for an alternative provider (not of all the same stuff, but enough of an overlap), we highly recommend The Marketplace on Jones Baseline south of 24, north of 7. They’re super friendly, have great stock, host a Veggie Market of local produce, and have a broad selection of delicious meats. Go there instead!
We’re in the market for U-Pick - specifically for strawberries at this time of the year, but also raspberries and blueberries and other fruits and veggies. Suggestions within 1/2 hour of Guelph?
It has been a weird end to school. I think the fact that there hasn’t been a heat wave leading up the end, has made the end come so fast!! I still can’t believe that after today, I will be on summer holidays!! Where did the time go? I go into today for the end of year PD and clean up but then I’m free!! I have about 10 lists floating around (that mostly say the same things) of things I want to do over the summer and people I want to see. I feel a little behind in school work (having stuff ready for September). My classroom is getting cleaned and painted so not sure when I’ll be able to get back into the school to get stuff ready but I’ll take the break while I can. I would like to have some organizing done before we go to Newfoundland, but we’ll see what happens!
I truly believe that teachers don’t need end of year gifts, but it has been interesting reading the articles and listening to the radio on the topic. The things they say never to get teachers are some of the things I love! There is one parent who always gives us all in my room, a jar of homemade strawberry jam!! We all look forward to it and we opening at the start of the holiday. The radio was going on about how homemade food isn’t good… Hmm.. Stuff for the classroom is always great too!
Anyway, happy summer!!!!
As part of our summer initiatives to ‘do stuff’, and in celebration of the first (full) day of summer, Jenn and I went to African Lion Safari. It was so much better than we expected! We had prepared ourselves for the hefty price ($24 per adult) when a lady walked up and offered us two extra free tickets from their work party. Thanks ServiceX, or was it PlanX, or maybe ManageX - anyways, it was something-X, and we thank you profusely! So, we embarked on the safari (the free safari!) and saw amazing things and had a wonderful time. I broke the rules and opened my windows for the harmless animals (Jenn freaked), but there were a few incidences that made us almost poop our pants (ahem - lions and ostriches). See flickr for our adventure. Great times - highly recommended, even if it’s not free!
Doug and I always feel summer passes us by, so we have been planning ahead! Last weekend was Niagara and today’s adventure was the African Lion Safari. I was a little worried as it was raining on our way there… but by the time we got there the rain had stopped and it was cloudy. We were two cars away from paying when this lady knocked on our window… and GAVE US TWO FREE TICKETS!!! She was there for a company work party and her family hadn’t come so was looking for two people to give them to! A Smart car is an obvious choice as you know there are no more than two in the car! So… we saved $50!! WOohoo! The safari was GREAT!! I have vague memories of the safari and just figured there were a few animals, and you would be lucky to see them. Well, they were all out, and they are all close enough to see. Umm… we had one fearful moment when this one lion locked eyes with us and just kept walking right up to our car. He had been sleeping far away and then came right at us! It was freaky!!!! Umm… we survived the baboon area but had fun watching them poop on other people’s cars. They seemed to know which cars were junk as that is the one that was worst hit! We watched the elephants take a bath, went on a train ride, and had a hoot watching this 3 year old trying to go through the ball play area. Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday party - so yet another fun day ahead!
** Side note: Hey Cousin Christine! My Mom was talking about Nana and how upset she was that you only remembered the monkey peeing on the window! So I thought of you as we drove through them!
Why is the back to school stuff already in stores…. School isn’t even out yet!!!
Okay, so the official start of summer isn’t until next weekend… and school isn’t out yet… but we always feel like we don’t take advantage of summer enough. We have started a ‘things to do’ list and started it today!! We spent the day in Niagara and Niagara on the Lake. First stop was the bakery, followed by Cows ice cream, then freshly picked strawberries and we finished off with the Rainforest Cafe! Yummm!!! I tried on a few hats… I don’t think I’m a hat person but am thinking with my skin, I really need to invest in one! We walked along the falls - hard to imagine the wonder of them when they are so close and I go every summer… but I think the place just reminds me of my childhood!
Oh, speaking of summer, we are off to Newfoundland for our holidays this summer. Any travel tips or suggestions on where to stay or visit would be appreciated. We are flying in and out of St. John’s… and plan to go up the east coast.
Well, it’s about time I post something. I’ve been having a hankering to go for a longer ride. Though I was away for 2 weeks, and spent a day exploring Vancouver Island (did I mention that? I guess I forgot - I was in Victoria for 2 weeks, and rented a car for a day and crossed the island, seeing lots) but it wasn’t equivalent to my spring canoe trips, so I still had the emptiness. I wanted to a) go for a long ride b) test out my bivy sack c) do it alone d) try stealth camping. This week I figured that this weekend would be just fine, so I made a rough plan to head out Saturday morning for the Bancroft area, find somewhere to camp, and then come home Sunday morning. So, here’s my route (the red dot is where I slept): 
Check out the pics on flickr for full size (and more pictures).
My worthy steed, all farkled for the trip:
I was too excited to sleep, so I deserted Jenn (felt a bit bad). The morning was fresh and perfect.
Sunrise of Guelph Lake at 5:30 - what a great way to start:
My first gravel road - almost at Hwy 9 (I avoided the highways and looked for gravel). I ended up on mostly blacktop roads with little traffic - my kind of riding with this kind of bike.
A quiet crossroads with horses playing. It was more photogenic but then this truck came down an otherwise deserted road and made a sloooow turn and then the horses were done frolicking. Driving into the sun makes it hard to see stop signs - not good, warrants extra caution.
Barrie’s waterfront. I stopped here for a snack. The bathrooms were nasty, but otherwise it was pleasant. Oh, and the bugs started getting bad.
A picnic area with a lovely waterfall. Just prior to this I rode through a swarm of large dragonflies and ended the lives of 20+ of them. They were dangling off my jacket and bike for quite a while afterwards.
A bizarre structure on an abandoned road, where I got to practice my off-road riding (yes, on my road bike). Don’t trust the GPS, well, trust the GPS but take it with a grain of salt - it said this was a highway and more of the same for 20-30 kms would join up with a highway. After 1 km I was back on the highway. Sigh - I’ll look for more gravel soon.
My afternoon ride - lots of these gorgeous twists on a fantastic day. I wouldn’t call these ‘twisties’ as I never really needed to slow down - I think they’d be classified as ’sweepers’. They were great - well paved, no debris, sometimes cambered, and perfect for a motorcycle.
Stopped just outside Whitney to pee and saw this great farm. Too bad the cows didn’t come to visit (or at least stand on the horizon for me)
My afternoon lounge spot, looking over the lake, enjoying the sun and breeze. I thought about camping on a private lot here but it was a hassle to ask for permission so I moved on.
Stealth camping - private, zero impact, and free, with my new bivy sack tent. I even found a toonie, so I got *paid* to sleep there.
Yes, it was buggy.
A short walk from my campsite. I setup camp at ~ 7:00, and just walked back and forth along the road (avoiding the bugs) until 8:30, when I went to bed.
Crooked, but still pretty, at sunset.
I woke up at 5:00, was packed up and moving by 5:25. Lucy this morning at my breakfast stop
The Highway 60 corridor was typically nice. Saw a couple of moose, a few deer, a bear, and hardly any cars. But no pictures - much of the really nice stuff I keep only in my head.
The coolest road, going right across a lake.
I was on my way home, and it was typical driving through built up areas (Newmarket, Hwy 9), and then the home stretch.
450 km on Saturday. 400 km on Sunday. And a bad case of numb butt - gotta get a more comfortable seat! Mentally and physically (otherwise) I could’ve gone twice as far. It was lovely. After gas and the bit of food - probably $60 for the trip.
Work was gross today… not only was it humidex of 42…. it was wet!!! Usually it’s just humid and sticky but the floors were wet… quite gross. And I have mosquitos in my classroom… that is just unnatural!! 14 working days left… Yeah!