Trailer Talk

In the spring we were the astonished, and very grateful, recipients of a used pop-up trailer. Parents of dear friends were clearing out their garage and were looking for a new home for their camper; used as our friends was growing up, but not needed anymore in that family. So, we gladly have adopted "The Cabin on Wheels", or COW, as our own summer home.

Today was largely spent working on outfitting the COW for our travels across the rest of southern Ontario. I was tickled to find sheets and pillow cases, plus a 100% wool blanket in the colours of the COW (a lovely combo of 1983 camping olive green, beige, mustard yellow, black, and brown). Base bedding totalled $12-. I love Value Village!

Sleeping bags were not quite so cheap, but we have shivered our way through two summers of camping with only sleeping bag liners as our summer bags and are unwilling to take the risk of another summer with lack of sleep due to cold. Despite the very warm temps in the sunny south this July, I am determined that we will be warm in any instance. We did end up with good quality bags, on sale (of course), and in matching red and black (of course). I am pleased.

Bedding with the only really big item that we had not already organized for camping that wasn't transferable to the COW, so it looks like the inside is almost ready to move into. The outside is LK's project.

I already knew that my darling spouse was a serious 'curb appeal' guy. He faithfully mows all our lawns, shovels drives within moments of snow starting, and clips the bush overhanging the driveway to ensure that there is clear visibility as well as a tidy appearance as you arrive at home. All this in a home we rent, and where there are no condo rules.

However, he is approaching the COW as his own little home. So, he sprayed the canvas today and has the paint ready to scrape and repaint the bumper as well as repairing the few tiny nicks in the white stuff that protects the outside. It is clear that I really have the inside and making it into a cosy nest in my mind, and LK has making the outside look smashing in his.

What a great team!

A Quick Link

While prepping for the trip I went through the usual wardrobe stress and spent a bunch of time hunting down inspiration and ideas online (where most of my inspiration for most things comes from these days). In my travels across the Web I discovered this great site for those interested in fashion. Check it out; www.youlookfab.com. I love her point of view and the fact that she posts lots of ideas often. The Brit perspective is also a refreshing change from being inundated with American ideas.

Recovery Day

The last six days have been REALLY busy. Four days of driving; lovely days with gorgeous weather, better scenery, and amazingly patient children. That was followed by two days filled with family at Oma and Opa's house.

I love time with family. I revel in watching my kids have so much fun with their cousins. I love catching up on news with family; being so far away means that when we see each other there is lots to share. I have new things in common with my sister-in-law now, and am loving the connection we have chatting about fitness and food. But after all the people and travel and business, I am ready for some quiet time. Solitude.

To recover we are getting the trailer ready for camping. That classifies as a recovery day because it doesn't involve moving at a pace that needs to take into account anyone but ourselves, puttering on projects as we feel like it, and stopping for snacks whenever the tummy grumblies strike. It's gonna be good.

My part currently is to sit on the front porch, typing, with my cup of tea and keeping half an eye on Jo as he interrogates Papa and Opa about what they are doing to the trailer. He is a bottomless well of questions these days, "Papa, what are you doing to the trailer? Hey, what is this? Why is is like that? Do boats go fast? Is our trailer broken?" All coming out in rapid-fire sequence with barely time for answers in-between.

Just got a new assignment; am required to take pictures while the trailer is washed. Jo has the hose ready to go (although it is not hooked up yet) and is telling Opa that it has water coming out. He just discovered the garage. Oh dear, I have lost my son. He is all boy and will start doing Tool Man grunts in seconds.

We're on the way, we're on the way...

...on the way to Opa's house!

We had a great pit stop at Raleigh Falls for a picnic lunch. It was just off the highway and provided a short hike after eating as well as a lovely, if loud, view while we ate right beside the falls. Both kids are remarkably good travellers, but a three year-old boy definitely needs a lot of running around to keep him cheerful on long trips. So every time we stop, we have a hike or exploring session. Fi just needs lots of books and conversation to keep her happy on the road. She thrives on discussions in the car.

It took what felt like forever to finally find our hotel in Thunder Bay as we took the looong way around to it. But, on the bright side, we found Kakabeka Falls, where we will be camping on the way home. By the time we were all checked in everyone was cranky and hungry.

My DH sent me out for a run while he sat with the not-so-settled Sprouts who were supposed to be going to sleep. Honestly, who can blame them for being just a bit wired on the first day of our Grand Summer Adventure? So, when I got back from exploring Thunder Bay's downtown on foot they were still wiggling under their blankets. I think that I was asleep before Fiona.

Today we got an early start, which was great because it was a long driving day! The drive around Superior is always the most beautiful part of the trip. It is also the most exhausting. Not very much fun to feel the need to get nine hours of driving done, while there are so many interesting places to stop and explore in this region that tempt us off the road. We have started a list of the places we want to stop and swim or hike on our way home. Thankfully on that part of the trip our timeline is much more relaxed.

After today we recommend Old Woman Bay as a great place to stop and enjoy the beach. It is in the northern half of Lake Superior Provincial Park. The beach has lovely sand and there are lots of smooth pebbles for throwing in the water. The water is a bit chilly, but we were able to have a good wade today. There are many spots to hike or enjoy the water in Lake Superior Provincial Park. It would take many trips, or camping here for a week or more, to enjoy them all.

Each time we drive through the city, we remember that we would like to explore more of Sault Ste. Marie. We have only driven through in a hurry, four times now, but never had time to stay and enjoy the sites. LK wants to see the locks, I want to wander downtown, and the Sprouts will love any park or destination with something new and interesting. If there are big machines, Jo is in heaven.

So, tomorrow is on to South Baymouth. And then Friday morning we ride the Chichimon. Fi has been telling Jo about the big boat we will ride. They are both very excited. I am so thankful that we have the chance to travel with our kids. It is a treat to get to see the world fresh through their eyes. And we have a whole new appreciation for construction.

Each time we approach an area of construction, Jo goes on machine watch. He gasps, with awe in his voice, the name of each machine we pass. He quivers with anticipation as we round each curve, to see what wondrous machine will be hard at work around the bend. To think that I never noticed the wonder of construction season before!

So, our Grand Adventure has begun, and we are having a wonderful time. I look forward to many more enjoyable adventures as we wind our way around the province. Looking forward to seeing so many loved ones in the next few weeks!

Sitting by the Phone

We were trying to be responsible and took the car in for it's oil change/check-up before heading off on our summer travels. Being responsible is not all it's knocked out to be. We are now waiting for struts to come in so we can haul ourselves back to the city and drop more than a paycheck to get them replaced.

Responsible, shmonsible! I prefer blissful ignorance.

Although, having the struts give out while pulling a trailer down one of those great big Lake Superior hills would not be pretty... maybe responsible isn't so bad.

So, I am sitting by the phone waiting to hear from my dear, dear Subaru dealer. I am praying that the parts come in today and that we can get in before the end of the week, and that we don't have to move our departure date back. PLEEAASSSEEE Lord, let us leave on time.

But the sun is shining. The breeze is beautiful. Skies are brilliant Canadian summertime blue. I can't stay inside. The lake is calling.

So I sit upon the horns of a dilemma and wait for the phone. Beach or phone?

Guess what I choose. Hint: I already have my suit on. After, why else were answering machines invented?

Capsule Wardrobes

As our departure date for the summer trip edges closer, we are in the midst of getting ready. The usual fridge cleaning-out, freezer-emptying meals have been started. LK has begun going through pictures from past trips to spark his creative juices and get us all a bit teary remembering summers past, as well as amping up the excitement about this trip. We have taken the car in for it's summer trip tune-up (and are now waiting for a part to come in that needs repacing before we pull a trailer around Lake Superior). And I have been working through three wardrobes to make sure that everyone has appropriate clothes for everything we are planning to do.

Because we chose to drive a smaller vehicle we have limited space. So I am on a strict one bag per person rule for clothes. Each person also gets a small backpack for their books and toys (LK has his camera bag, I have my laptop, and the kids actually have books and toys).

We are going to the city for a week and a half to visit family and friends, so we all need to have unstained, functional outfits for that part of the trip (also a bit chic would be great, but not necessary at this point). We are camping and hanging out at the lake the rest of the trip, where absolutely anything is allowed for clothes. That would normally be really easy, but for our last two camping trips I packed us all summer clothes and we froze, because we didn't really have summer weather. And while they appear to be having very hot weather down south, I am afraid not to pack some warm layers, just in case.

I was feeling a bit lost at how to fit what is really three wardrobes into one bag for each of the kids and myself. LK is on his own for this one. So I went a-googling. I just spent about an hour surfing hits for "capsule wardrobe" and had such a lovely time. Now I am all inspired to get back at it.