The Inn at Horseshoe Barrie

First port of call - Visit Elsa and Ken who are about to become first-time parents at the end of December. We're very excited to meet our new grandchild, probably by Skype the first time, in late December. Our travels will take us to Florida, Texas, Arizona and Utah, with a possible trip to India in May to celebrate Eugenie's 50th. birthday.

The bump is very big!

We got up at 6 am and had our last breakfast in Venice. This has been a wonderful trip and I am sad to see it end.

We headed for the airport at 10:30 am. No dragging our suitcase across the cobblestones this time. We had a taxi pickup our luggage at the hotel. He had a cart and moved the bags. Drive to the airport was about 20 minutes. Once ...

... br>I laughed, reached down to her, hugged her, and gave her a kiss. She recognized who I was. What a joy. The long trip there, at that moment, felt all worthwhile. A tear came to my eye as I held her hand, asking her questions before the other relatives arrived.

The rest of the day we spent with other relatives. Fourteen in all. My Aunt hosted us for lunch in Mount Albert, and we were able to see ...

Great family camping weekend of campfires (i think we must have burned the equivalent of a small forest), frisbee, swimming, volleyball, canoeing, hiking. And the main event of the weekend: eating.

Some of us camped over night (me, Matt, Anice, Piyali, Calvin, Aunty Ivy ...

... town and no they do not have cell phone service or internet. It has been two days since I saw any bars on my cell phone and speaking of bars, they hide the liquor in Canada. If you know the code you can get in to a liquor store. It is LCBO. We are not living on sponge cake in Margaritaville; we are living on walleye sandwiches in Mosquitoville, and we are loving it! Randi

Then we made it to Barrie, Ontario (just north of Toronto) and ...

... small 2) is absolutly breathtaking. this is the experience I'll looking to share with other's there is nothing like being fully exposed the forces of nature and to be at one with living things around you, to make you feel alive! So we turned the boat and started to head down wind from where we had just come from, with assistance from the US coast Guard guiding us in. kotoos to the coast guard those guys are amazing and where so much help! we got to rpovince town Cape Cod safely

Only two more nights until we leave for our trip! Jessica and I are frantically finishing our packing and preparing to meet in London on Sunday before heading to the airport in Toronto. This morning I decided to bike to the bank in Barrie to pick up some AUD and NZD to have some cash on hand when we arrive on the other side of the world. I quickly learned that you must order money in advance! So, it looks like I will be picking some up at an airport along the way - and the adventure begins!!

... it, but I know the truth. It had gotten extremely hot, and on our way back, we stopped at the general store, looked around, found nothing, and left. From there, it was straight to the beach! I splashed around with a pool noodle for a bit, then got out to lie on the dock (the grass was absolutely full of goose poo) and listened to Lynda read more about wildflowers. Did you know that wearing "mullen leaves" on your clothes will ensure ...

... and in those 2 weeks I probably learned more about what I was capable of doing and wanting to do, and will to do. How much effort I was will to put into something, and I don't think my heart was truly in it at that time in my life.

I ended up spending the rest of the summer at home.

This was my first attempt at basic, I was pumped to be there, but the reason I was sent home, was because I had a panic attack while doing the shuttle run and couldn't get to level 4. Now that just totally bummed my summer, I ended up going back home, and was put to work on the farm. That so was not what I thought my summer was going to look like.