Day 49 Home

We’re home! After 49 days on the road, across five provinces, on a holiday that encompassed several holidays, we’re home. To say we enjoyed it is a gross understatement. I have absolutely no doubt that if it weren’t for work and family left behind, I could happily adopt a nomadic lifestyle. I can’t honestly say I am thrilled with that whole back-to-work concept but our family celebration tonight at Jeffrey’s and Nancy’s was worth coming home for. It was the first time we had all been together since Mary-Kate was home last Christmas so that made the whole noisy mess extra special. Andrew and Michelle are now also back from their adventure and we heard about their adventures in Ireland … some of which were unbelievable!

Being back in “the city” certainly isn’t any kind of a thrill. I really am not a city girl at heart. I will admit to the hypocrisy of appreciating the conveniences that city living provides (we will finally have a reliable source of light coffee cream!) but the hustle and bustle of the city began to rankle long before we reached the city limits!

For the purposes of recording and for those future travelers who check back to the blog when planning future trips, here are the stats for the last 49 days:

• 8,684 km travelled
• $2,212.38 in gas
• $1,889.69 in toll and ferry charges
• $1,839.92 in campground fees (including one night before we started to get the fridge running)
• $405.20 in entry fees (museums, parks, summer theatre tickets, boat tours, etc.)

I didn’t include meals out since, traveling in a trailer we didn’t have to do that. We would have had to eat at home anyway and while we undoubtedly paid more for food than we would have at home, mostly that was a choice, and it would be very hard to determine how much more food cost than it would have eating at home. In the end, it may have cost a grand total of $6,347.19, but the trip was priceless!

Day 48 1000 Islands

Leaving Quebec is bittersweet. I am certainly not ready for summer to be finished. I certainly haven’t had a long enough time with my sister (though she may not say the same!!), but we are now coming closer to home and seeing everyone that we left behind for the summer. We have talked and texted with Jonathan and Jeffrey, Nancy and Jenna have sent pictures and we have had Skype dates with grandbabies but it’s not the same as being there. We want to see everyone and catch-up on various summer adventure so that has us looking forward to home!

It wasn’t a long travel day because we planned to stop once again in the 1000 Islands. While in Quebec with Nancy we learned there are actually 1,864 island and that in order to be called an “island” it must be out of water for 365 days and support a tree! Trivia!

Arriving and setting up in Mallorytown KOA (so David can flush the tanks before we store it tomorrow) was completed in record time. We are back in Ontario heat and when we bring Mary-Kate to Rockport to visit her Godparents we know we will be on the river so the temperature will be a little more manageable.

After some kisses and hugs, a cold drink and a quick catch-up we are in our bathing suits, loaded on the boat and cruising the 1000 Islands! So lovely and relaxing… or at least it was until we anchored the boat, hopped in for a refreshing swim and couldn’t get the engine to start again!! Poor Barry! He tried everything he could think of, Kathy used her cell to try to call everyone she could think of, and we were absolutely no help at all! Mary-Kate did mention that if disaster was to befall, this wasn’t too terrible a fate – to float on the St. Lawrence River in the setting sun!

Eventually a family out for an evening swim came close enough to contact and we were rescued and towed back to Barry’s and Kathy’s dock! No harm done! The jury is still out on boat engine repairs but while we were a little past happy hour, we quickly made up for the loss and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner of BBQ and summer’s harvest! We may have to go home tomorrow but we kept the fun and adventure going to the very end!

Cruisin'

Prohibition Days??? Apparently if you don't have something to celebrate in Rockport, you make something up! 

Anyone want to buy an island????

Fun in the sun.

Floating off the back of the boat with no idea we were in trouble!

Sun setting on the 1000 Islands

Tied beside our rescue boat, enjoying the sunset and talking about "Mike"!

Day 47 Quebec

Today was our last day with Auntie Nancy so after another lazy morning we agreed to follow it up with a lazy afternoon and evening! We played silly games, laughed until we cried and spent the heat of the afternoon floating on a raft made of connected pool chairs! While we floated we again talked and laughed and rigged a game of Farkle with a plastic tray! By the time we emerged from the pool with wizzly (pruney) fingers and toes to devour the obligatory feed of poutine, we could all agree it was the best way to have spent the day! We did engage in a lengthy discussion, among others, of why your fingers (covered with some of your thinnest skin) and your feet (covered with some of your toughest skin) are the only spots on your body to get wizzly in a pool? These are the things you think about and discuss when you have too much time on your hands!

We were supposed to enjoy a backyard fire tonight but once the dishes were cleared and the cards came out for “just one more game” that led to “just one more” it was time to go to sleep to get ready for our travel day tomorrow.

Day 46 Quebec

Today was my birthday! I am seldom not home for my birthday but we realized that this is probably the first time in almost 40 years that I spent my birthday with Nancy. Apparently she has taken that as a challenge to see to it that I have a spectacular day!

The morning is spent in utter laziness. Lingering over coffee in our jammies, checking in on the Olympics and responding to the many birthday wishes that social media now delivers! By the end of the morning the troops are called to action, but I’m not allowed to lift a finger, and a picnic lunch is packed as we travel to Nancy’s and Jean Francois’ winery!

Their sugar bush has been operational for a number of years. I have visited several times and while it is a great operation for producing maple syrup, in is little more than a shack in the woods. Most sugar bushes are the same. They call them “sugar shacks” for a reason! When I heard a few years back that they had decided to start a winery on a part of the same land, I expected the same type of operation. I knew of course that the mechanics would be different but I expected “humble and home grown’. I certainly did not expect the beautifully crafted buildings, ultra-modern labs, the charming cellars and the beautiful rolling vineyards that they have created. Jean Francois and his brother Jocelyn share in this winery. While they both have other careers (Jocelyn is a doctor, significant when you learn how the wines are labeled), they have built this winery on land that has been owned by their family for generations. When I say built, I mean built! Le Fief de la Rivière has been built by using building timber taken from their land. The vines have been planted, pruned and tended by hand – the hands of Jocelyn and Monique, Jean Francois and Nancy and occasionally their children when harvesting means extra hands are needed. They have conducted the business of their “day jobs” since 2008, and as soon as they finish that, they head out into the fields to tend to the chores that have already led them to award winning wines! According to the sign next to the door where the winery now welcomes guests, water, earth, passion and labour are the four elements necessary in a vineyard. Water and earth are of course a given, the passion is clear but the labour of love that has resulted in what they have created in just eight years is astounding! The Globul wines all have a stylized drop at the top of the label and are individually identified as A, A+, B, B+, and the Rose as an AB. Wine as life blood – works for me! Remember Jocelyn is a doctor? Quite clever!

We visited last year when we were here to celebrate our nephew’s wedding. Unfortunately Mary-Kate was not able to be with all of us at that time. She has heard the stories so was very looking forward to the visit. We walked the vineyards and learned all about the fruits of those vines and the work needed to get them to the vats. We took a side trip out to the sugar shack and by the time that was finished the heat of the day had us heading for the cool of the upper deck overlooking the vineyards to enjoy a beautiful view while we enjoyed our delicious lunch. Pâté and cheese, fruit and chocolate, bread and spiced meats, all washed down with what else but wine – what a way to spend your birthday!

After a tour of the buildings, a stop at the gift shop and a collection to take home with us the afternoon was fading and we headed back to Nancy’s for fun in the cool pool! We have spent so many happy hours floating, lazing, playing and laughing in this pool. I am left to languish when once again Nancy springs into action to create a wonderfully delicious birthday dinner. I thought the picnic was it but oh no! We have steaks and shrimp, roast potatoes and wild rice, grilled garlic toast and salad with the most interesting combination of greens, various veggies, nuts and seeds, dried berries, chocolate (!) all drizzled with a homemade raspberry-balsamic vinaigrette that was oh so delicious! All of course complemented by a bottle of Le Fife de la Rivière’s finest!

Barely able to move following that meal, we nonetheless head out to catch the tail end of Stephanie’s soccer game. She has made my birthday cake and although she couldn’t have dinner with us because of her game, I refuse to enjoy birthday cake without her! By the time the game is done, our food has settled enough that there is room for cake … and Brazilian flambéed coffee!!! Honestly my sister has outdone herself – my birthday has been a celebration of family, fun and gastronomic delights!

A day in our family is never finished without a game though and we started into a crazy card game called, How Do You Do Your Majesty! Everyone is dealt a stack of cards, facedown. As we take turns revealing our top card everyone is to respond, depending on the card revealed. We salute the King, bow to the Queen, and shout “How do you do your majesty?” to the Jack. The last person to respond loses a point. As the game progresses, we take turns deciding on how we will respond to other cards as they appear. We decide to cough at the 10, sneeze at the 9, blow a kiss to the 8, etc. I am laughing so hard by this time that it sparks hiccups and that only adds to the fun and laughter!

If a birthday is a celebration of life, my birthday was well spent!

The winery

The winery barn

One of the garden rest spots before heading out into the vineyards.

Out to the vines

Nancy explaining the process

Mary-Kate learning how to make maple syrup

The sugar shack

From the upper vineyards, looking back at the lower vines and winery buildings

Lunch on the deck

One of many Auntie Nancy kisses!

Their latest tasting room, 16 feet below ground

Mary-Kate appreciating the bouquet

My delicious birthday dinner - no room yet for the spectacular salad!

Cheers

Birthday cake from Stephanie (and my birthday present - a bottle of their Reserve, Le Fife de la Rivière glasses, maple syrup and maple butter (I may have to share that!)

Flambéed coffee

Cheers again!

Day 45 Quebec

From the moment we start the day, evidence of spoiling is everywhere! Nancy knows that years ago, when David discovered Map-O (a maple flavored spread for toast) in Quebec he liked it. As well as the school cafeteria and the winery, Nancy and Jean-Francois also own a sugar bush (they are two of the hardest working people I know!) and they produce about 2000 gallons of maple syrup every spring. In addition Nancy as now producing her own real maple spread for David. She also knows that my kids only ever had (and loved) Nutella at Auntie Nancy’s, so while David’s toast is slathered in maple, Mary-Kate’s is concealed in chocolate! While they enjoy their coffee black, she remembers that light cream is my preference so while I am well prepared to take what I get, my coffee appears just the way I like it! Now this might not sound like much, a sister remembering that I like cream in my coffee, but it really is. The distance and business of our lives means we haven’t had huge amounts of time together in recent years. Last summer, for example, was the last time we spent a few days together and that was while she was hosting the entire extended family for Jean-Sebastian’s and Joanie’s wedding. Through all of that Nancy notices the little things, and scatters thoughtfulness like that liberally though the day!

Our morning passes, basked in comfortable laziness while everyone slowly eases into the day. After lunch we drive over to Trois Riviere and spend the afternoon wandering along the pretty waterfront. Enjoying the weather, the company, the sights, the ice-cream, just everything falls into place for a wonderful afternoon in a little French downtown! It is hot though so on our return everyone is back in the pool in record time!

Following dinner tonight the kids all head to the local park for Wednesday night volleyball. It’s a pick-up game but the locals know to be there at 7:00 and apparently enough always show for two teams. The big kids linger over their wine in calm of a fading day and then we go for an evening walk, eventually arriving at the park to cheer on our favourite team. As the full moon rises we wander back home for a final few games of cards before the day ends. Honestly, what an incredible blessing it is to follow the unbelievable holiday we have had with this as a travel home stop!

Stephanie started the ice cream parade - bless her!

Nancy and Jean Francois

Sculpture - reaching for the future!

Sailboats on the St. Lawrence

Strolling

Stairway of history

The great volleyball game

Lo-Lo, Nancy and me!

The team!

Nancy delivering the moon - I said she was hospitable!

Day 44 Quebec

Today we arrived for our holiday segment with my sister and her family – so much fun! My sister Nancy is crazy, outrageous, hilarious and one of the most welcoming hostesses anyone could have. They rushed out to the driveway when we arrived for rounds of hugs and kisses. Their driveway is well able to accommodate out 55 foot length and slide width so, instead of finding a campground here, we will just stay in her driveway. As we back up, there is a large tree that overhangs the driveway. It isn’t a huge problem since David can just move forward – nope, we significantly trim the tree to make room. As I said, very welcoming! Thus starts the laughter.

A stay with Nancy and Jean-Francois is always filled with laughter! The Fringlish alone is good for a few chuckles. Sadly our French is very limited. I wish that our school system had better prepared us to live in a bilingual country but it certainly did not. I could conjugate a mean verb by the time I finished high school, but conversational French was not a priority for Mr. French (I kid you not, the name of my high school French teacher!) All of no matter here though. While Jean-Sebastian, Guillaume and Stephanie (and their significant others) are somewhat self-conscious with their English pronunciations, they are certainly well able to understand and make themselves understood. The occasional struggles when we attempt French or they struggle with an English expression is always met with laughter and a teachable moment to bring us all a little closer.

Before long we are enjoying the “house drink” affectionately known as “slutties”.  In a Fringlish moment, the slushy drink was mispronounced and a legendary cocktail was born! The day was very hot so before long we all landed in the backyard pool. Much of a visit to Nancy’s is spent in the water with pool games and friendly competition the order of the day!

The other given while you’re here is much food and wine! Nancy owns the town’s school cafeteria service so is well used to cooking for hundreds (a handy skill when you belong in this family). Nancy and Jean-Francois also own a winery (a handy skill when you belong in this family!) so whatever else you’re lacking, it isn’t a full glass! After a wonderful meal shared together, the table is cleared for a raucous game of cards.

When we were planning the return trip with Mary-Kate one of the things she really wanted (based on past experience) was to spend some time here reconnecting with Auntie Nancy, Uncle Jean-Francois and her cousins. Great idea and if the last few hours are any indication, the next few days will be oodles of fun!

The first round!

Sibling pool totem!

Day 43 Through New Brunswick

Uneventful travel day – amen! As we head toward home, even though it’s several days away, we can feel ourselves slipping into the “home” mode. “When we get back…” is starting to appear ever more frequently in conversation. Of course home mode is also prompted by the splotches of change in the New Brunswick forested landscape. It is amazing how the view has changed in little over six weeks. As we head toward the Quebec border the first brilliant colours of autumn are showing. Certainly the trees have not all changed colours, but there is unmistakable evidence of the show to come!

Despite being confined to the truck all day, or maybe because we were, we had several times today where we laughed until tears ran! I fear they may be “you had to be there” situations, but since this blog is for me, I will try to recreate some of them so that Mary-Kate and I can laugh again later.

At one short stop, long enough for a leg stretch, we were listening to crickets. I was explaining to her that we didn’t have crickets in Newfoundland so I was very excited the first time we traveled to Montreal and I heard them. She was surprised that Newfoundland didn’t have crickets so I was moving on to explain some of the other critters not found there. Instead of starting with “crickets and racoons”, I began by saying “rickets and cracoons” and the wheels were off the bus! David came out of the trailer to find us both doubled over with laughter and the poor man was trying to figure out what was going on. Neither of us could sober up enough to explain! Mary-Kate finally managed to choke out, “Mom’s a cracoon” and we were off in hysterics again! Like I said, it may not translate but it was hilarious at the time!

I’ve explained before that some of the TCH is in rough shape. At another point today, on a particularly bumpy stretch of road, we thought Mary-Kate was asleep in the backseat when we suddenly hear an indignant tone saying, “No one told me I should wear a sports bra for this trip!”

Now maybe because it was a day of giggles but when we passed the highway sign for Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! Mary-Kate was far more amused that one might consider normal. She claimed it was the name actually including exclamation points that really got her. Some might suggest cabin fever! Whatever it was, it was good for another belly laugh!

Today was a long day and by the time we arrive in Riviere du Loup Municipal campground we are ready to get out and have a stretch. Parc de la Pointe at the end of the campground road provided the perfect place with a stretch of shoreline along the St. Lawrence that we have mostly to ourselves! A few hours to beachcomb, walk and just generally engage in a little silliness was the perfect end to the day!

Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!

Great spot for windmills!

Rock painting along the shore.

Shadow silliness

Apparently dancing helps us stretch!

More silliness

Such interesting rock formations. Tons of quartz!

Posing on world's largest piece of driftwood!

Mary-Kate making bear claws from beach rocks.

Sunset on the St. Lawrence.

More silliness

The Interpretation Centre

Of course as much as we don't want this vacation to end, the thought of going home isn't all bad! Missing people like crazy! Got this picture sent to us today, reminding us of what we're missing!