Rainwater Rambling Archive
July 2007
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Friday, July 06, 2007
Camping At Bass Lake
We spent the week at Bass Lake Provincial Park, we haven't been camping
since 2004, so the girls were quite excited. We managed to get the same
campsite again. We were there monday to friday, it wasn't busy at all
and it makes for easy driving when you're driving against the weekend
traffic. Since the parks don't have wireless yet, I'll do the blog
update in one shot.
Mon, 02 Jul 2007
Setting up camp wasn't so bad, even after having been out of practice
for a couple of years. The girls are a big help now and it makes things
a little easier. This was the first time we tented it at Bass Lake. We
also brought our little tent and Gillian and Angela slept in it together.
The weather was good on day 1. Here is the sun setting over Bass Lake.
The girls didn't get a chance to go swimming the first day.
The end of a good day.
Sitting around the fire.
Gillian and Angela playing with the fire.
Claudia calling it a night.
Tue, 03 Jul 2007
This hill was known as the "Hill of Torture", Gillian was the only one
who could ride all the way up without stopping.
We were able to bring the girls bikes with us. This was a little hill
the girls nicknamed "Hill of Doom".
Next down was Gillian...
Followed by Claudia.
The lake was calm early in the morning.
A stop at the beach to check out the water.
There were a lot of sea gulls and Canada geese there when we got there.
One of the Parks guys taking water samples in the swimming area.
Claudia in her element.
It was back to the campsite for some lunch. Angela tried to ride up the
hill of doom, but halfway up she started heading back down, backwards!
Back to the beach.
Angela and Claudia having a blast in the water.
Angela doing headstands.
Claudia and Angela.
The girls having their spa treatments at the beach.
Wed, 04 Jul 2007
Wednesday morning was the only day we had rain. There were showers most
of the morning.
Gillian providing the entertainment during the rain delay.
Angela in good spirits.
By lunch time, the rain had stopped, but the clouds were still looking
ominous. We headed down to the beach anyways.
The girls didn't seem to mind the water, they said it wasn't any colder
than the day before.
Turned out to be just us and the ducks hanging out at the beach. Here
was one of the family of ducks that would pass through the swimming area.
The ducklings were neat to watch.
Synchronized ducks.
We had the beach to ourselves.
It wasn't until just before we were going to leave, that other people
started showing up.
The ducks looking a little chilly.
The girls trying not to move while the duck was walking past.
Gillian being a statue as the ducks were passing by.
Angela watching one of the ducklings.
Gillian with momma and baby duck.
After dinner it was time for a game of bocce.
Claudia using the same technique she uses for 5-pin.
Susan giving it a shot.
Gillian in fine form.
The final shot.
The end of another day.
Thu, 05 Jul 2007
One of the campsite regulars.
Claudia in search of crickets.
Angela trying to make friends with Chippy.
Angela relaxing.
Gillian making goofy faces.
Not sure if it was the dock or me that was so off kilter.
Since we were in Casinorama country.
Mother duck.
The girls helping out with the dishes.
The girls down by the water.
Our final night at the campground.
One more sunset.
Three happy campers.
Our new blog photo.
Fri, 06 Jul 2007
Jammed full and heading for home.
The traditional camping photo. I'll have to dig up the previous pics
taken on this site.
It was a great week of camping, even though the POP was between 30-60%
everyday, it only rained the one morning, and we didn't get any of the
thunderstorms. We may change sites if we come back next year, we looked
for one with a little more grass. We may look for a bigger smaller tent
so that all three of the girls can sleep in their own tent together.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Ice Cream Festival
On Saturday we headed up to Markdale,
Ontario to check out the 8th Annual Ice
Cream Festival. Markdale is the home of Chapman's makers of
Peanut/Nut Free ice cream and frozen treats. This is the original Chapman's
factory in town. On the exterior doors there are signs posted indicating
no peanut or nut products are allowed beyond that point.
The festival was held in King Edward Park. Carolyn, Danny, Alex and Emi
had joined us for the day trip.
As we walked around we saw a karate demonstration. After watching the
back of this guys head, he started to look familiar.
It turned out to be my cousin Mark, he was up to help out the local club.
Farmer Dan checking out the livestock.
The girls first ice cream cone. Most times when we are out we can't buy
the girls ice cream because of the type of ice cream, not knowing if it
peanut free or not. All of the ice cream was supplied by Chapman's, but
we still had to ask, because some were serving the premium ice cream,
which isn't peanut free.
Alex concentrating on his ice cream cone.
Angela he-man.
Claudia flexing her muscles.
Claudia taking in the action.
Angela in front of a truck full of ice cream.
One of the last events of the day was the Chapman's Make Your Own
Creation. For $2.00 you got container of vanilla ice cream or yogurt and
then you piled on the smarties, whipped cream, chocolate sauce,
strawberries, chocolate balls and more. Here they are unloading the tubs
of ice cream.
Susan was first in line for the frozen yogurt.
Tubs of ice cream!
Scooping out the ice cream.
The line-ups for ice cream.
Who's going to finish their ice cream creation.
Angela drinking hers up.
One happy Ice Cream Festival girl! Angie and I were the only ones to
finish all of our ice cream.
After the festival, Gaila and Mark invited us back to Gaila's parents
cottage which was only about 10 minutes from Markdale on Irish Lake.
The girls went for swim. The lake is shallow, but with a muck bottom.
There are no gas powered boats allowed on the lake.
Emi wasn't a big fan of the muddy bottom, she wouldn't go in on her own.
Mark pulled out a real inner tube, compared to the ones they brought.
What started out as a "not sure what we're getting into" kind of day,
driving 2 plus hours to an ice cream festival, turned out to be a great
day. We all had a good time and it was good to catch up with Gaila and
Mark.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Lake Belwood
We headed up to Lake Belwood today.
A retired co-worker of mine has a trailer up there and a couple of us
from work went up for a visit. The weather wasn't co-operating when we
got there but eventually the sun peeked out and the kids were able to go
for a swim in the lake. Brian has a sail boat, so the men folk and the
kids went for a drive to check it out. Here is Angela getting tangled up
in Chases's leash.
The two boys are Brian and Kathy's grandsons who were down for a couple
of weeks. The other girl is Victoria, she'll be at Guide Camp the same
week Gillian and Angela are there.
Angela and Claudia going for a short walk on a long pier.
Claudia racing Ethan and Stuart.
After dinner they were in the water.
There was a raft that the older kids were able to jump off.
Next in was Victoria.
In goes Angela.
Claudia.
Gillian and Victoria.
Dave and Chase, eventually Chase went in for a swim.
Claudia warming up with Kathy.
Angela finding boulders.
Making a splash.
After swimming Brian and his grandson had organized a scavenger hunt.
Here they are receiving the rules.
The first team back was Victoria and Claudia. Here is one of the judges
checking their loot.
The second team back was Angela and Stuart.
And then it was Gillian and Ethan.
The prize ceremony.
The participants on the podium.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Swimming, swimming and more swimming
We headed out to Andrew and Jeannette's place in Dundas for a BBQ and
swim. The kids had a great time in the pool. Here's Claudia jumping in.
Andrew sizing up his wasp problem.
Mom wanted a picture to send in for a school reunion.
Claudia practising her target jumping.
Angela looking pretty happy.
Claudia just as happy to be in the water.
Gillian.
A bit of a logjam at the ladder while they were doing a whirlpool.
A small flash video (1.5 mb) of Angela and Claudia jumping through the
ring.
(Note: Not sure what happen with the video, will try and correct soon)
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Happy Birthday Susan!
Happy Birthday to Susan. Here we are celebrating with cake. Gillian made
the ice cream cake. It was delicious.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Wii had company
We had Nikki and Richard and the kids over for dinner today. They have
been in town on holidays. David enjoyed playing the Wii with the girls.
Here are Susan and Nikki.
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