Nothing but Blue Skies...a Blessing and a Curse

 Fast forward through July, which was lovely.  We basked in the plentiful sunshine.  Visited with cousins.  Made it through what we thought would be the hot and humid "week" of the summer...for two weeks.  Said "goodbye" to a few cousins and "hello" to even more friends and relatives who arrived in time for "the Games".   With each passing day it felt like every sequential day went faster, and faster!

Pugwash on Canada Day, July 1

The buoys caught my eye!
Leaving Bar Harbor, Maine

The flower "pot" is doing great this summer!

So is the fennel!

Can't make these colors up!  One of the good ones.

We spent a lot of time watching our diligent tree swallows, build their nest,
populate the nest, feed the babies and raise them over the month.
"Must see tv"

The view from the lawnmower,
back when the grass was green and needed to be mowed.
I'll get to that in a minute.
Plus, my favorite clouds.

Another sunset...why not?

We did take a little trip down to Boston early in July, to help our daughter move to a new place.  It went well and they are settled into a nice neighborhood!  We drove down memory lane back and forth remembering the many years of driving those same roads with a van or a ginormous SUV loaded with 4 kids, one or two dogs and all the luggage for a summer of fun.  We stayed in nicer hotels this time and ate better food.  We added a stop in Bar Harbor on the way home because TJ had never visited Acadia National Park.  Checked one more off the list this summer.  Although I am not sure we can really count it as all he saw was a road, a lot of fog and some misty water.  We did however get the obligatory photo in front of the sign.  

This makes it official!

July shifted gears the last week when Rachel and the three grandsons arrived.  Suddenly the table was set for 6 or 7 or 9 depending on who joined us.  The garden started providing side dishes and summer was in full swing.  Their week culminated with...THE GAMES.  If you are unfamiliar with THE GAMES, read this post...it says it all.  Suffice it to say the days are jam packed with activities and the nights don't let up.  This year the Browns (our team) won and there was happiness and joy along our beach.  It's been a few years since we were the winners!

You would think after THE GAMES we could sit back and relax...but NO.  Add to the family, our daughter Katie and her two kids and we were now a table for 9.  All good, it was a brief overlap and then we had to say goodbye to Rachel and the boys.  Time flies up here!

Last week, was all the events for the kids.  Mini Olympics, the 50th anniversary!  Think about it...THE GAMES celebrated 50 years last year and this year the Mini Olympics turned 50!  We like to play games and compete up here.  All in good fun too!  These games were followed by a Walkathon to raise money for the Koolaid Kids.  Then, we finished the week with the Sandcastle Contest.  

Softball players

Getting ready for the 3-legged race

The Red Solo Relay
not what you think...

Water Relay, swim, push a kayak, SUP, Canoe

Mini Olympians and Alumni Mini Olympians

The Koolaid Kids!

Serious work being done here!

All of this brings me to today.  Have you noticed how nice the weather has been in my photos?  I was counting my blessings for a while when every day was sunny and warm.  After a while, we noticed we needed to water the flowers more and the garden needed more water.  Well...then the grass quit growing and then it started to turn brown.  The cars are all coated with dust.  If the windows are open, you can forget about passing any white glove test.  My skin is beginning to resemble that of an alligator.  The province has issued a fire ban and has closed all hiking in the woods, all trails in the province are closed to hikers. We are living in a giant tinder box.  One spark and it could all go up in flames.  The skies have been hazy from the smoke out west that has blown this way.  When was the last time you were on "vacation" and prayed for rain?!  We need a good soaking...soon.  Normally, looking at my weather app and seeing nothing but sunshine in the forecast would make me smile broadly.  Now I scroll across the week just hoping to see that rain icon or a thunderstorm.  So far...August 23rd is the first day with even a hint of rain predicted.  Yikes!  It is crispy out there.  Please send rain.

Life has taken a bit of a slower pace this week.  With THE GAMES in the rear view and there are only weeks until Labor Day, we are all savoring the time we have left here.  I want time to slow down.  There are things I still want to do and people I want to sit and have a nice chat with.  There are vegetables in the garden that need to be made into deliciousness.  I find myself sitting on the beach later and later each day just dreading going up and saying goodbye to another day of summer at the shore.  Usually, I write at least one summer post on a rainy day, because I am forced to stay inside.  Today I am seeking shelter after a hot and dry game of golf.  My skin felt like it was frying, and I am indulging myself with the AC running.  The other part of my brain says the sun is shining and it is time to go visit on the beach.  Guess I'll apply a gallon of moisturizer and sunscreen and head to the beach.  That part of my brain always seems to win.

Hope your summer is going well!

The Great Escape, Part 2

 

Hello again!  Yikes, the weeks have flown by, and the rest of the story was left dangling.  Quick...I better close one chapter and start the next before it too is over and a distant memory.  Is it age or am I just too busy living my life to sit down and concentrate on writing?  

After our time in Seattle, Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier National Park we drove through some stunning countryside to North Cascades National Park.  I did not know much about this park but after researching prior to our trip it may have been the one I was most excited to visit.  It was everything and nothing like I expected.  Once again, the expectation of wet dreary weather was unrealized and we enjoyed almost perfect conditions.  We arrived later in the day but just had to drive into the park and headed right to one of the most iconic viewpoints in the park, the Diablo Lake viewpoint.  It did not disappoint!  The color of glacial lakes cannot be mimicked!  That turquoise blue is just stunning!  Our appetite to see more grew!

Lake Diablo inviting us to come back tomorrow!

Our accommodations were...rustic.  I am not sure there are anything but rustic accommodations around the park.  Seems North Cascades is a camper's and hiker's paradise.  We are not campers, but we do like to hike!  We stayed in a small cabin not too far from the park.  Very functional is how I would describe it.  Luckily, we were driving and had our breakfast provisions, some snacks and our evening card playing refreshments with us as the on-site restaurant was closed for renovations.  The "nice" restaurant nearby was also closed for renovations.  We settled for the next to nice restaurant for both nights and were happy.  If you hike enough, hot food is very satisfying

The next morning, we took the obligatory national park sign photos which gave us many laughs.  I mean how many tries does it take for 4 people, of a certain age, to get a good photo?!  You would have thought we were toddlers...one with eyes open, 2 with them closed...photographer not quite in the photo yet...totally awkward poses...We made many attempts and cracked up at the poor efforts.  Note to self...stand as far away from the camera as possible and don't stand like a statue!  Vanity has no end.

Nope...only 3/4 with open eyes.  And so it went!

First hike of the day, Blue Lake.  We had high hopes for this and it did not disappoint.  Possibly our longest hike with the most varied terrain.  We were farther north and at higher elevation so we hiked through some mud, some snow/mushy ice and crossed water on log bridges.  We also got to see some mountain goats up close and personal.  The lake at the end was beautiful!  We sat on a rock and ate our lunch marveling at the beauty.  

The view along the trail was motivating!

Navigating the mud and the snow...not as much fun.

The lake did not disappoint!

Nice view for lunch!

We hiked back and drove back to hike the "short easy" trail to Rainy Lake.  Another lovely lake and we appreciated the short and easy part!  

  

The adequate accommodations and as close to camping
as I like to go!

The dam at Lake Diable

Enjoying the cold glacial soak after a day of hiking!

Amazing!!!  Rainy Lake

The day surpassed my expectations!  North Cascades has so much more to offer and a new breathtaking view around every corner.  It was also the park we saw the most wildlife!  We saw a bear across Rainy Lake while soaking our feet...  The park has so many hikes of various elevations and lengths, we just touched the tip.  I would go back.  

The next day we drove up to Vancouver.  After all the time I have spent in Canada, I have never been to Vancouver.  I was very excited to visit.  Plus, it was nice to get back to "civilization" after a week in the parks.  Vancouver is not like any city in Nova Scotia that's for sure.  So shiny and modern.  We stayed in a very nice neighborhood and enjoyed walking to dinner.  We did not mind driving in and out of the city either.  Compared to Houston...super easy!  In order to see as much as possible in as little as possible time we did the hop on hop off bus tour.  We had never done one before.  Not a bad way to see the big sights quickly.  We did take a break at the market and in Chinatown.  We had a great meal on the water and indulged ourselves.  The last day of the trip we drove the Sea to Sky Road up to Whistler.  TJ was curious to see the ski village as he has it on his radar.  The drive up was the best part.  So scenic!  We made a few stops to take a short hike and to see a few sights.  Lunch in Whistler Village which is a summer mountain biking mecca and a winter ski resort.  

Steam Clock...check!

Shannon Falls and many rock climbers in the area! 

Drink a Ceasar!  Check!

Cross a suspension bridge!  Check!

Enjoy the waterfront!  Check!

Vancouver was lovely and we wish we could have spent more time exploring the area but all good things come to an end.  Maybe we will go back and visit Victoria...hint, hint.  The Pacific Northwest in June was a real treat!  We all loved it!

Back at the shore, life moves along.  We returned to summer in full bloom.  June proved me a liar.  June was a lovely month as far as historic data goes.  July began warm and continued to heat up to almost Houston summer conditions.  Luckily it did not last 3 months only a few days.  The population continues to grow almost daily now.  Some people have come and gone already which makes me a little sad.  If their time up here has ended for the year, mine can only be approaching.  Better make the most of the days we have here, they are precious and numbered.  It feels like I am about at the halfway point of my time here and heading down the other side of the countdown.  I guess I can't think about that now.  Hopefully I will have a day to myself again and find something fun or thoughtful to share here.  Until then, enjoy the summer and make the most of the days that give us extra hours of sunlight to enjoy.