Waterford and RibFest

Sunday, August 24, 2014

I tried to ride to Waterford and back today, but ran out of time.  Only made it back to Scotland.  Still a good ride.  Lynn joined me on the way to Mount Pleasant where we had parked the van.  

I love the trails around here, although Scotland to Waterford was gravel which made for a little more slugging.   This is the Black Bridge (which is not black) in Waterford. 

The Waterford Ponds looked like excellent fishing territory.  It was in one of the other ponds here that Lynn's son Allen drowned while fishing 18 years ago. 

I crossed the bridge and had a bite to eat before heading back.   

Lynn was there to meet me in Scotland. 

Logged 38 km today which is my personal best to date.  

A quick shower and we headed out to RibFest in Guelph to see Lynn's cousin (and my fishing buddy) John play.  Lynn's sister Allana and Rudy came along.  

The earlier biking effort helped ease the guilt as we downed a Bloomin' Onion and a Texas Teaser (Ribs, Chicken and Pulled Pork). 

John's band Kerosene Creek put on a great show (as always).  

Another great day in the books.

George Jones Tribute

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Another trip tonight to the Walters Dinner Theatre featuring a George Jones Tribute.  

Joined Lynn's good friends Al & Linda, Janice & John, Neil & Sharon and Barb. 

Got another show before the show when a crop duster worked the adjacent fields. I've never seen one in action before. 

Not that familiar with George's music, but the band was excellent. 

Another very enjoyable night.  

On The Road Again

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Left the house today for a two day trip that will end up at Algonquin Park to visit my son Paul and his family.   

First stop today was to drive through Lonesome Pine Trailer Park on Pigeon Lake to show Lynn where I used to have a trailer.   We then proceeded to one of my favourite small towns, Bobcaygeon.  We sat and watched a few boats go through the locks.

I introduced Lynn to Bigleys........

where she got a great buy on this oat!

We had a great lunch at Donattelas (highly recommended) and then had dessert at Kawartha Dairy. 

We left Bobcaygeon and decided to check out the timeshare cottage we'll be staying at next week on Lake Kashagawigamog near Haliburton. 

From there we headed to Huntsville up the very scenic 35 highway.   This drive is spectacular later in September. 

Checked into our hotel in Huntsville and enjoyed dinner at East Side Mario's. 

Tomorrow we head to Algonquin Park and the Lake of Two rivers Campground to visit Paul and Andrea and the kids.  

Lake of Two Rivers

Friday, August 22, 2014

We made our way into Algonquin Park this morning to rendezvous with Paul and  Andrea and family. Saw a couple of cars pulled over and got a good look at these two Moose.  

Paul was camping at Lake of Two Rivers and arrived yesterday.  They've got a real nice trailer with a couple of tip outs that is really well laid out. 

We went for a bike ride along the Old Railway (Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound) Bike Trail.  

We came across an abondoned airfield that was full of Blueberries. Everybody was busy picking ............

......along with this Mother Bear and her two cubs who would periodically stand up on their hind legs and pop their heads up!

It was a very overcast day, but luckily we didn't get much rain.  

Lots of memories of being here in the early 60s with Bud and his family and also my Mom and Dad driving Judy and I up in their old '53 Chevy.   

A great visit and a great Senior's weekend (every day is a Saturday)!!

RVing

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Spent most of today with Lynn's sister Darlene and husband Don.   They sold their house in June and are now full time RVing.  This is their new home!

They are currently staying at Landings Campground in Petersburg and heading to Arizona after Thanksgiving. They're living my dream........

Had a few hot games of Sequence.   Don and I have beat them up so bad in the past that we let them win today 5 games to 2 so that they won't get too frustrated playing with us :)

We had a fabulous steak dinner and a great visit.  

Lynn hasn't caught the RV bug........yet!

Hamilton Bay

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Lynn had an eye appoinent in Hamilton today so we took advantage of it and met cousin Moe and sister Judy at Williams Coffee Pub on Hamilton Bay for lunch.  

We took the bikes and Lynn and I did 5 miles along the bay front to the Carp trap at Cootes Paradise. 

These are the  benches we sat at over a year ago when we were courting.  

It was a beautiful day with a beautiful breeze.  Another great day for biking. 

Touring the Grand

Monday, August 18, 2014

Went for an excellent bike ride with neighbour Mark today. He gave me a great tour of some of the trails in and around the Grand River.   

We did about 19 miles along some very picturesque trails.   The trails are not only wide and safe but continually offer fabulous views.  Here are a few.  I will save others for later. 

The Lorne Bridge in downtown Brantford. 

Wilkes Dam. 

Buddy Mark.  

He's an experienced biker and showed a lot of patience as I struggled up many of the hills :)

After the ride I went to The Bicycle Shop in Brantford to buy a bike carrier for the van.   This will allow us to venture out a little farther from home. 

The Bicycle Shop is a Ma and Pa (and daughter) operation.  They offer exceptional customer service and competitive shopping.  I won't be shopping anywhere else.  

Lynn went out on the back porch tonight to water the flowers and was greeted by this young fellow who had fallen asleep in one of her plants.  He refused to leave and just after this photo was taken he curled up and went back to sleep.  Hopefully, the plant will recover!

Conestoga Bluegrass Festival

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Enjoyed the Conestoga Bluegrass and Gospel Festival today outside Princeton.  This is our second year of seeing the show and we're already looking forward to next year.

We went with Lynn's long time friends Paul & Estelle.  

The highlight of the day for me was meeting Blue Grass Hall of Famer Doyle Lawson.   I have been a fan of his for years. 

A great. Day with good friends.  

Scotland and Back!!

Friday, August 15, 2015

Well, today I outdid myself.  Lynn had an appointment in Scotland (Ontario).  So I thought I would take the trail there and rendezvous with her and get a ride back.

By the time I got there, I still felt good so decided to ride back.  It helped that it was slightly downhill on the return and the weather was beautiful (60s with a refreshing breeze). 

18 miles!  I have the bicycle butt to prove it!

Once I got home and showered, we drove out to Delaware Speedway near London and met Lynn's cousin Jessie and Bruce to watch the Super Modifieds that were running. The fastest short oval cars anywhere.  15 second laps on a half mile oval.  If my math is correct that's an "average" of 120 mph!  Must be over 150 in the straights.  

This always brings back tons of childhood memories going to Pinecrest Sppeedway and the CNE to see the Supers run with my Aunt, Uncle and cousin.  

As an added bonus, they had a couple of Vintage Super Modifieds from the 60s.  This car had a frame built for Ted Hogan, but he never got to use it as he died in a plane crash in November, 1960. 

I was a card carrying member of the Ted Hogan Fan Club.   

It's hard to believe some of these guys are still kicking!   It was over 50 years ago that I watched these guys.  

Here's Jack McCutcheon. 

Hazen McIntosh

And Warren Coniam

Had to have a hot dog with just mustard cause that's the way I used to eat them.  The only thing I missed was drinking ice cold 16 oz Cokes in the parking lot after the race waiting for the traffic to thin out!

Great memories!

I'm Back!!

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Well it's time to fire up the blog again....

Started the day with a bike ride to Mt Pleasant and back (roughly 8 miles).  This is in preparation for the Tromper's weekend this September where we'll be biking at Point Pelee and Pelee Island.  It is more about getting my butt conditioned than being fit! 😊

The bike trails around Brantford are amazing. They take advantage of the abandoned TH&B and LE&N railroads and the Grand River dykes around Brantford.  

I rode out to Mount Pleasant on the TH&B and returned on the LE&N.  

This is a typical view. 

The weather was perfect for biking with temps in the mid 60's and sunny.  My goal is to ride the trail from Brantford to Port Dover before Tromper weekend. 

As you can see I haven't put many miles on the bike yet.  

A significant accomplishment today was finally getting Pogger's John Newby picture framed and up after 23 years!!!

That's Paul in goal when he played for the Grimsby Peach Kings!

Finished up the night with dinner at Zander's Restaurant with a pile of Lynn's cousins (the Murray's) and two of her sisters and husbands.  

John on the left is an avid fisherman and we had a very enjoyable discussion.  He was getting me all worked up to go fishing!

A great night.