It's now five weeks since we arrived in Elora and we feel quite settled and part of the community here. Summer arrived with severe heat warnings -and it did get to over 30 degrees! We spent a fantastic weekend at a cottage on Lake Huron, just south of "The Pinery", where we had to paddle in a canoe and then use a cart to wheel our luggage down the "beach" to the cottage. It was clear, hot and sunny all weekend and we loved it-swimming, paddling canoes, some beach cricket.
Pete went to Boston for a week -where he did a Medical Simulation Course, visited the Boston Children's Hospital and then managed to squeeze in seeing a Boston Red Sox (Baseball game) and seeing the Boston Celtics (basketball) win the Eastern Playoffs. Fran went with Kathy on a girls only weekend at Niagara On The Lake - a gorgeous little shopping village with the most lush gardens and pristine 19th century "cottages".
Daniel has joined a Soccer competition -he is playing for Portugal and was goalie for the first time this week - they managed to have their first win 5 -2. Elsie and Gemma know everyone in the town, where they live and when they are going to go for a play. Elsie has checked out the Gymnastics in nearby Guelph and will join up for that in the Fall, while Gemma is going to start Tennis lessons with her new friend, Iris. Each day we ride to school and spend time playing or riding with the neighbours after school -street hockey, basketball hoops, soccer and lacrosse seem to be the activities of choice.
Pete and I went to see a band this week-The National (a Brooklyn/Ohio band) at Massey Hall - a great venue in downtown Toronto, while the kids had a sleepover at John and Kathy's.
We are approaching summer holidays (Again?!!?) and while the neighbourhood activity seems to focus either around post winter clean outs, planting flowers and keeping the lawn looking spectacular, or planning a long road trip somewhere -we thankfully have no such responsibilities. We do have a couple of shorter trips planned to some cottages by the lakes and possibly a trip to Montreal and Ottawa and/or Quebec city. Should be able to fit plenty of fun in to the 10 weeks off!!
Hi Pete and Fran, have just finished reading your entire blog to date. in the future I will keep more current. what an amazing time you are having. some stuff reminds me alot of when Rob and I drove around for 3 months in a beaten up Chevy Impala, and lots of the stories with the kids definitely remind me of travelling with ours for 3 months around australia. but the memories for you all are going to be so strong and bonding in the future, and I love that you are living the quintessential american(canadian) life with all the neighbours and other town folk. I am really envious and am already thinking about our next family trip there. we want to do a rafting trip down the Snake river. it is cold and miserable here, but Hawthorn is making a comeback and ofcourse Geelong is on top!!!! Love to all. look forward to living vicariously through you for the rest of the year. Cheers. Lisa
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