Our annual family vacation to Canada was a SUCCESS!! The majority of the gang went up Friday night and stayed until Monday, but due to work and the need for money, I went up on Wednesday evening and stayed until Sunday. It was the epitome of a relaxing time with a safe amount of entertainment (both at the expense of one another and purely innocent!)
A little background…this cabin is the same cabin we have been coming to since I was in grade school. It sleeps 13, but not comfortably (couches, beds that need new mattresses, etc.) I would compare it to luxurious camping! The amazing this is that it has a huge deck, is 50 feet from the lake and has its own dock! We basically live on the porch and in the water! It’s perfect in my opinion! There is also a competition each year to see who can catch the largest smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and pike. I won a few years, but NOT this year. This year I won the “Largest Sunny” prize! i.e. Nothing.
Ok, so I arrived around 10pm on Wednesday and immediate had a special drink courtesy of my family! It was a much needed beverage to end a 7 hour drive a little harassment at the border. I have never had any issues getting into Canada, but this year was an exception. Why am I the lucky person who gets to pull under pavilion #1 and proceed to the yellow counter? I am innocent as they come (I was in a sundress and looking, in my opinion, adorable). 6+ hours of driving down, less than an hour to go, dealing with rain and now this…I was irritated to say it nicely. Luckily after telling the customs guard where I was going, how long I was staying, where I am from, my age, my name, the purpose of the trip, that I didn’t have any weapons, plants, animals, etc. I was released and sent on my way. Thank God they let me into Canada!!
These are pictures of my posing for the fishies (and Ryan)!!
It didn't work. The fishies were probably blinded by my utter whiteness! It's ok, fairness is a sign of beauty, right?!? |
I was happy and giddy to be out on the water! |
Reading in my (front) "No Your No Seeing Double... (Back) It's the Sarahs! St. Patrick's Day 2006 |
A good book is vital in Canada because we get up early to fish, eat breakfast and hang out for a few hours, then we go on an afternoon adventure, come back, go fishing and eat a late dinner. Any downtime, which there is plenty of, is generally spent playing cards, Frisbee or reading! I read a great book called, “When Love Walked In.” It is not a mushy romance as the title insinuates, but it was really good! I also started “Wicked” like the play, and am excited to finish that soon! So far, it is amazing!! I tried to read “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress,” “The Sex Lives of Cannibals” (supposed to be really funny) and “The Art of Racing In the Rain.” If I ever get to these books, I will let you know how they are. If you receive them as a Christmas/birthday present, I hope you have better luck than I did. They were all recommended to me, so hopefully I will get into a reading mood and knock them all out!
Our three afternoon adventures were all fun, but in very different ways! On Thursday my brother and I kayaked out to an island in the middle of the lake while my mom and other brother swam near us. It was about a half of a mile in length, but with the waves from boats and nasty lake weed, it was more challenging that swimming in a pool. Once we got to the island, my brother and I switched places with my mom and brother. Keep in mind that I can honestly say that I have not spent more than a few hours in a pool/lake/ocean/body of water all summer, but I swam the half mile like a stud! It was actually easy! I think I should take up swimming because my body felt amazing the next day!! (Sorry no photos, but apparently since I was in my tan and cream bikini, I looked like I was skinny dipping!! That is according to my mom!)
Friday’s afternoon adventure was an hour boast trip to the Locks, cliff jumping and my 15” largemouth bass catch!! The Locks are still hand pumped (I am sure there are machines inside, but everything appears to be traditional and old fashioned). We watched a few boats start at the top lock and move their way down to the next lake! It was pretty interesting! Here are some photos from that experience.
Alphabet Soup! That's what the water scum reminded us of at least! |
Top view of the locks |
The lower lock being filled so that its water level is even with the lock above it (where the boats are) |
The water is getting higher... |
Dad doing his thing! (Sorry, I don't have many photos on my camera) Other than that, we read a lot and experienced some beautiful weather and skies! Enjoy!! View from the Cabin! |