We stopped over in Kitchener for a ‘baby-fix’ for a couple of days, getting to know Jamie again! Perhaps we played a bit too much?? Tired him right out!! Then Tanya put us on the train to Kingston in the midst of some absolutely filthy weather and zilch visibility- just made it on time.
We had hardly got home and said Hi to the Mother and family, when we
dashed off to the Canadian reception for cousins living in Australia, Clint and Meg; they’d gotten married in Vegas and then threw a BBQ for those here who couldn’t make it. They had a amazing cake with poker cards, chips and little bride and groom kangaroos; and they cut it in their own non-
traditional fashion!! At the party we met heaps of ‘cousins’ of various degrees, some of whom I’d known 100 years ago and some I just knew of, as well as a couple of school mates and their wives, whom we’ve been able
to see since then, which has been great.
come out in the afternoon for a barbeque potluck. Summer here this year has been exceptionally hot and dry this year. Wonderful for us, but drought conditions make the lawns and fields look distinctly Australian!We’ve welcomed back our usual assortment of chipmunks, squirrels and many types of birds to our feeders. We have also seen the annual trek of the big old mother snapping turtle, pictured. She goes up the hill behind us to lay her eggs, then returns past us/ around us/ over us- she 
doesn’t much care,- to the water. This year she decided to catch her breath on the roadway just by a curve, and I had to ‘talk’ her ou
t of it. You don’t dare try to pick her up; she has a surprisingly long neck that can reach right round and teeth and jaws that can take chunks from the plank I was using to ‘persuade’ her. We haven’t used the RV this year and have decided to sell Old Faithful. Kind of sad, but it’s time. Anyone want to buy a most reliable old van?
Of course we need a holiday from our rough lifestyle, so we headed out to the 1000 Islands for about 8 days, camping on the boat. We got as far as the Ivy Lea international bridge this year; in fact one night we camped on an island right under the bridge. 
We spent a night in Kingston marina and 2 nights in Gananoque marina, but mostly we stayed by locks or on islands. Maureen and friend Don visited us one day for a boat tour and island swim, followed by dinner and an evening at theatre. Very posh!. 
We had signed up for dancing classes in Gananoque, so we walked up from the marina on our very first evening. Mind, by the time we’d walked up and around a substantial hill, then danced an hour or more,
we could hardly walk, and had to catch a lift back to the boat!!We had a great trip and perfect weather. We met people from all over, some of whom spend the whole
season on their boats, instead of a summer cottage. All very laid-back. You pretty much have to stop for the night by noon to get a space on the island docks. So all you can do or the afternoon and evening is sleep, read, swim, visit. Everyone sits out on the dock until 8:50pm sharp. Then it’s time to get to the boats and close up before mosquito time –9 pm!!
We came home to a series of social occasions. We hosted a group of Mum’s friends from their South Mountain days, and one of them, Mavis, stayed over for a visit.
The summer round of family birthdays has started. Happy Birthday Holly!
Our dancing classes continue, as well as frequent forays to various local clubs and dances.
Tanya, Cristina and family will be at their cottage this weekend for most of August, so we should get in some serious grandchild time.
And the upcoming news is that Anne is off to England on Tuesday for 8 days to catch up with friends and family, and to meet her new little great-great nephew. Mum and I will be ‘batching it’ out here at the lake much of that time. More on that next time.
Guess that’s (finally, do I hear you say?) it for this mammoth blog!! Hope it finds you all well! Take care of yourselves and be happy.
THE HAPPY WANDERERS
ANNE AND KATHIE
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