Rum Runner Race - Pirates

Christina decided to have a Pirate theme for the Fish Fry this year and some of us dressed up for the pre-dinner race as well.

Weather was too hot, there was little wind so I jumped ship and let Hans be first mate for the race. They crossed the line first (hurrah) but with the handicap came in 5th (boo).

Chris and Les looking great!

We scrounged this up.

I changed - too many mosquitoes, too few clothes.

Ellen and Rudy came out too!

First Week of July

The weather is continuing to be crazy. The other day I turned the A/C on and the next day I had to turn the furnace on - yes, during the day! Out in northern BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan the fires are still raging, they haven't gotten any rain and the smoke is spreading south throughout the provinces, and into the States - there's a smoke advisory as far south as Colorado. The armed forces have been called in to help in Saskatchewan and firefighters from Ontario are going out to BC.

Of course here, we just got another torrential downpour - I had just moved the rhubarb patch to higher ground that morning.

They're in a raised bed now, used to be to the right (where the log is), a flood zone. Now there's only a bit of asparagus and a fern left there. Will have to find a new home for them too. The water runs down the hill and collects there before going into the lake. I know, I know a stupid time to be transplanting but they were drowning.

We got the boat in the water just before the July 1 deadline but the mast didn't go on until Sunday July 5. Thank you Frank & Gary, couldn't have done it without you.

Sculling to the end of the dock

Gary, Frank, Gerry

This post is for Baltimore Bill

Bill likes to tease me about how little summer there is in Saskatoon - only 2 or 3 days.  I'd like to point out that this spring Saskatoon has regularly been hotter than Ontario. In fact they've been in summer mod (over 20 degrees) for weeks now and we've been cold and rainy. Yesterday it was 30 there and 14 (and rain) here. I think I should consider moving there.

Sunny Saskatoon

Gerry left on the 10th but was there long enough for the Pride flag raising at the city hall.

And there was cake! Guess who was almost first in line.

I stayed another week and had a great time with all my girls. Went to school with Sally (Kindergarten teacher) and did a craft with sand and seashells from the Bahamas and showed a few photos. Most of them paid attention LOL.

Abby's open house music class.

Bed time stories every night, sometimes with August but only if I read The Wild Things.

Saskatoon has a Pride Parade every year, Sally got me a great t-shirt. I thought we were going to watch the parade but to my surprise we were in the parade!

It says: "I love my daughter (her wife is pretty awesome too)."

Stella waiting for August to drop her snack.

August "helping" Mommy stretch.

Friday in Camrose / Saturday in Edmonton / Sunday to Saskatoon

A friend of Sally's (from Milverton, now Camrose) generously allowed us to stay in his house for 2 nights. He was out of town but his brother was there - a wicked card player we discovered.  Camrose had closed it's main street for a fair - Gerry bought tickets and took Abby on the rides. What a guy!

Next day - Edmonton Mall.

McKenzie is an avid soccer player and fan. She, and a bunch of friends, spent the day at the opening FIFA Women's Soccer game while the rest of us roamed the mall, spending lots of time at the water park and amusement park. Great place to play.

Abby watching me fall out of the "toilet" slide.

We had a race, I won once, she won once.

They wanted to explore the pirate ship but it was closed for a private party.

No crowds at the amusement park so the attendant let us grownups ride for free.

Sunday, another nice day, hit the road for Saskatoon in the girls' posh van.

McKenzie drove, Sally suffered silently (had hurt her neck, not on a water slide), the old folks were in the rear relaxing and Abby ate candy (what a life).

Calgary to Drumheller

Finally stopped raining, sun is out and temperature might hit 20!

Last few days have been filled with lots of talking and eating, time to move on to Drumheller.

We did the tourist thing - the Dinosaur Trail which took us from Drumheller to the Tyrell Museum (with lots of prairie dogs outside and dinosaurs inside), scenic lookouts, car ferry, suspension bridge, hoodoos and at the end 11 bridges and the Last Chance Saloon (of which I have no photos).

One of the many dinosaurs throughout Drumheller

Not to scale giant dinosaur at visitors centre.

Gerry thought they were rats until he got a good look.

Check out the tiny tiny head on this one.

Scenic view of the "Badlands"

One of the many ferry crossings (in Albera and Saskatchewan).

Suspension bridge to defunct coal mine.

Hoodoos

Was going to post all 11 bridges but I have better things to do with my time (I think). In fact, there are 22 bridges as there are also 11 railroad bridges. The road dead ends near the Last Chance Saloon. Strange, who goes down a dead end road for a last chance at food and drink?

Final bridge

We stayed in a B&B (this time with B) in Linden, population 700, so small was not found in our GPS. Basement suite, very spacious but also very cold. Host was an opinionated Limey, but hostess was quite hospitable.

Calgary June 2

We're staying in a B&B which is a misnomer as there was no breakfast, and was offered coffee only once. We had free breakfasts with Gerry's family at the hotel a few blocks away (hotel thought we were part of the group - have we lost our moral compass?).  B&B was a brand new place, painted entirely in white so felt rather cold. Host and hostess were OK. Coincidentally the house is next door to where Aunt Betty's house was and 1.5 blocks from the home where she spent her last years. What are the odds?

Weather is as promised, cold and rainy, perfect setting for interment of Gerry's Aunt Betty's ashes. I'm saying right here, right now, I had better not be buried!

On a brighter note his cousins Jean and Marg are very nice.

These are the only photos I have, Gerry keeps forgetting to give me others.

Sister Julie, Jill, and cousin Marg

The parrot is Jill's birthday gift to Gerry which she brought all the way from Ontario and I got to bring all the way back.  It's interactive, to a degree, says over 20 things! I had it in my giant purse and turned it on when it went through the xray machine in Saskatoon - staff had a good laugh.