Day 1 The O`Briens

Another great start! It occurred to me today that following our family day weekend of nothing but fun, fun, fun, then an incredible first day of vacation, I am finally remembering what it feels like to be hopeful…truly joyful…filled with eager anticipation… Being a principal certainly means I am blessed with incredible holiday time but the stress of the school year leaves little time for balance!

It was a great idea to have the trailer set on a site for the last few days. It meant that this morning the fridge was cold, the cupboards were full and we were ready to go in record time! The new 407/412 is now open and a great way to avoid Toronto city traffic – money well spent when you’re towing a trailer. The trip itself was uneventful. Just the way we like it.

KOA – the McDonalds of camping! Not my idea of camping but a dependable place to stop, easy access sites and close to the highway. Arriving in Mallorytown KOA we were unhooked and on the way to O’Briens in minutes!

Awww… the O’Briens – well seasoned friends (liking the term old friends less and less the more I become one!), good food and good drink, immersed in the 1000 Islands. Life is pretty close to perfect for Day 1!

We enjoyed just hanging out and catching up before heading out in the boat to cruise through the islands for some ultimate chillin’. As the sun was beginning to set we docked for a delicious BBQ and accompanying beverages! Since today is July 4^th and their deck faces into the islands that form the US coast we expected we could enjoy some fireworks. The mosquitoes were not welcomed to join us so Barry thought he would take a moment to add the screens to the gazebo! Easier said than done apparently. We quickly discovered that, although the screens were new, the plastic hooks had obviously been around a while. As we opened the hooks they snapped in half! MacGyver Barry, not to be thwarted, found rope and set about to race the fading light and the encroaching, ravenous mosquitoes, to secure shelter from their savage attack! We four and our accompanying laughter were clearly up for the challenge – mission accomplished! When Barry later apologized for not being prepared, David came back with, “What? And miss all that fun?”

With tea (me being DD), wine (because Kathy has taste), scotch (because Barry and David don’t!) and fresh Ontario strawberries and cream, we glided into twilight with fireflies twinkling. Anyone who knows me knows what pleasure that brings me! Frogs and a mournful loon delivered the sound track for our contented conversation. It truly is a gift to recognize life’s perfect moments!

The galaxy was obviously in on the plan and the clear night sky was spectacular in the absence of our usual light pollution. For anyone who followed the Heading West blog, five years ago was the first time I became consciously aware of “light pollution” as a thing! Growing up in Newfoundland, and then certainly when Mom and Dad moved to the northern lights of Labrador, I had certainly been a fan of star gazing. Like many things that happen over time though, I hadn’t noted the loss until we visited the Night Sky Reserve in Saskatchewan. Since then, I have never missed an opportunity to appreciate the heavens away from the glare of city lights.

We were happy to let our American neighbours interrupt the evening with a pretty great show of patriotic spirit. As we took the short trip back to our trailer to rest up for our second day of travel, we offered a prayer of thanks for the start of another great adventure!

Ready for adventure

Gilligan!

Our view from their deck.

Anyone want to buy an island...not kidding!