An amazing travel day by car

LOL --- Soon the comments will be more entertaining than the blog!!! I love it all! And yes, each of us handles our stash differently. I know tons of organizations take donations, and that may be what happens, but I also want to have fun with that stash, and I'm trying to think of creative ways to get rid of it. And who knows, I may just end up keeping it all until I don't need it anymore. But the books and magazines? Those have to go! 

I laugh when I read that paragraph back. Who would have thought I would ever consider getting rid of all that fabric? That was my pride and joy for years, and now, sadly, it has become the monkey on my back!! Funny how things change as you get older. 

Then I would have room to put my puzzle collection in those bookshelves!!! Just kidding!!!!

It's one thing to talk about it; it's another to put your money where your mouth is and actually take charge. No more shuffling things off for tomorrow; do what needs to be done today!!!

I'll be home tomorrow, and then I have two blocks I NEED to finish for Many Blocks on Sunday. And if I get my butt in gear, I could get more done as well. This is going to happen. Why? Because I have a super cute project I want to move on to; actually, there are two, but I have to pick one. And I cannot start that one until I finish this one. 

The old me would just abandon Sylvia's Bridal Sampler (again and probably MANY times in the past 14 years!) and move on to the more fun project. I am NOT doing that now. If I don't think this project is fun, then I should just finish it as it is, or give it away. I NEED to choose how I spend my time, what is important to me to finish!!!!

Since I am so close to finishing all the blocks, I just need to get my butt in gear and make that happen. That would make me very happy, so that is my focus!!

Yesterday was a travel day, and a good one. I had to get something squared away with the store before I left, so I didn't leave until almost 10 AM, but since that was all I was doing yesterday, it wasn't a problem. I had some investigating to do anyway. 

Here's the store - Cindy B's in Espanola. I love the barn block on the front!! And what is nice is that Cindy's daughter is involved in the store, and guess what? She's YOUNG!! We love the young quilters. Tiffany is also a pattern designer, and you'll find her patterns on the website. Cindy also hosts a very popular quilt retreat (twice yearly). It's so popular that someone has to die (well, not quite, but almost) to get on the list!! 

Cindy B's

What's funny is that when I rode my bicycle through this town in 2013, I don't think I even knew there was a quilt shop here, and yes, it was open way back then. It opened in 2007 - you can read their story at the link above. 

I remember stopping at a small bakery to get something to eat. I wrote in my blog that, even though it was a bakery, they didn't have any baked goods. GASP!!!!! How is that possible? So we had tea and toast!!!! It was called Marantha Bake Shop and Cafe. 

I couldn't post pictures on the blog while traveling back then, but I really must add them one day. When I get home, I'll check that hard disk and see if I took any pictures while in this town. I did not grab that hard disk before I left for this trip. 

Anyway, I checked out (on Google) what bakery was open in 2013. Yes -- you can search for stuff like that. It's hilarious!!! 

This is the building I thought the bakery was in. 

Where I thought the bakery was

But no - this is the building the bakery was in. The one above has something to do with the motel. It looks like it hasn't been a bakery in a very long time! I must send the link to today's post to Neil, who rode with me a good part of the way across Canada. He and his wife drove a good part of the trip this summer and stopped by to visit me. So much fun reminiscing about that trip. They didn't stop in Espanola, which is why I was determined to find that bakery! 

Where the bakery was in 2013

I grabbed a few things to eat for the next leg of the trip, a 5.5-hour drive through beautiful country. And let's not forget that the weather is cooperating 1000%. I couldn't ask for nicer travel weather; the sky is mostly blue, there is a little construction, little traffic, and, well, it's perfect. 

I don't have any pictures of the terrain because that would mean stopping the car to take them, but this is very isolated countryside. Lots of rocky terrain at the start of the drive, plenty of trees, and lakes. When we were riding our bikes, we called it sticks, water, rock! 

The country is BEAUTIFUL. Yes --- it was 5.5 hours of the same scenery, but you know what? Life is too short to get bored by looking at nature!!! It was stunning and would have been even more so if I'd been here a week and a half ago, when the colors (changing leaf colors) were out. But my brain can imagine, and I was doing a lot of imagining yesterday!!!

I had also started a new audiobook which is hilarious. It's called The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood. It's about an older woman who creates crosswords, and there's a murder! The main character's name is Judith, and she's hilarious. I see it's been made into a series, probably a British one, so we know it's good!!! 

I crossed the train tracks a few times and passed a train, then saw the railway crossing lights flashing ahead, so I stopped to wait for the train. 

The train is coming

Thankfully, it wasn't a long train. But look at the sky!!!! Seriously? How perfect can a day get? 

The freight train

I have never seen this type of railroad car before, so I don't know what they were hauling. Thankfully the train wasn't long, and I was off again. I would say it's some form of hopper car, but it was short and didn't seem to have a hopper bottom. Something to do with hauling minerals, rocks, or whatever. Hmmm, I asked Google what they are, and it said those cars are likely open-top gondola cars (or also hopper cars) used to carry bulk materials like coal, scrap metal, or ore. And there you have it!!! Google also called them potentially a bathtub gondola!!!!

A form of hopper car

As I have mentioned numerous times, I am NOT good at driving. By that I mean, I get sleepy quickly, and my sciatica drives me mad. Yesterday? I drove the entire way without stopping. I had food in the car, and while I felt a twitch or two from the sciatica, there was zero pain, and I wasn't sleepy at all. It was an awesome travel day!!!! Let's hope that lasts for the long drive home! I still have enough of that audiobook to take me all the way home. 

I stopped at the Needleworks Studio in Cochrane, Ontario, chatted with the owner, and then headed to the hotel. I've been to this store before, but it's been quite a while since I was last here. 

Halloween seems to grow each year, and I've spotted some houses plastered with Halloween decorations. Here's one of them. There are some pretty big skeletons these days!!!

Decorated for Halloween

Since today's events are at the same hotel where I'm staying, I brought all my crap into the room so I could sort it out. I no longer need some things, so I bundled them into one suitcase. I shifted other stuff around, and I put loose items back in their bags. It was great to get that done, so I didn't have to do it this morning. 

All the stuff from my car! 

I'm going to take what I don't need back to the car this morning. I had frost on the car yesterday morning, but it's above freezing this morning, so there shouldn't be any. But then I'm not going anywhere, so it doesn't matter. 

Then I went for a walk and spotted this old train across the street. Shoot, I only got a picture of the front. But this is a well-known locomotive, number 137! 

Locomotive Number 137

Here is the story, though it's a bit hard to read. 

The story of Locomotive Number 137

Then I wandered around some more and checked the geocaching app, and yep, there's a cache nearby. So I wandered over to it and quickly found it. Do you know how hard it is to look UNDER a bench that is facing downhill? But by feeling along the underside, I found it. 

The geocache

Now there is only one problem. I didn't have a pen, so I couldn't sign the dang log, even though I was the first person to find it. So I logged it and noted that I didn't have a pen. The owner sent me a note saying it would be best if I went back and signed the log. So guess what I'm doing shortly? Yep -- taking a pen and signing the darn log. I must remember to put a pen in my little pouch. DUH!!!!! But the walk will be good for me!!! 


How many of you have lamented that you don't have time to declutter? I know I say that all the time. I wish I had an entire day to tackle the office, but that never happens. However, have you noticed that I have still made huge leaps and bounds in sorting and decluttering? Why? Because I often do it in bite-sized chunks. And that works for me. Yes, it's taking me longer than I would like, but it's better than doing nothing at all. 

Here is another list with examples of how to keep your house decluttered in short time frames. 

I have to say, this list is brilliant, and it is how I do a lot of my decluttering. Wait -- it's more like how I keep things clear. While the kettle boils, I clear the few things that have accumulated on the counter (the recycling that needs to go to the garage, emptying and reloading the dishwasher, etc.). 

I could do more; I need more "spare" time in the office because that is really the area that needs work. But you know what? I'm getting there. Every week, I get something sorted and tossed. Slow and steady, it will all happen. 

By the way, the Instagram account where I'm finding those lists is called One Drawer at a Time, and it says right at the top: AI-generated. Sigh......

I need to focus on the books and magazines in Studio B. I'm going to try to figure out how to make that happen, but first I need to take care of the books and magazines I've already culled that are sitting in the office. It doesn't make sense to cull more until I have completely dealt with the ones I started with. 

I have about ten boxes of books that were supposed to be picked up in September, but that didn't happen, and the new date is in November. There are also three bags to deal with, and then I can start the process again. I think there are a couple of piles of magazines that should probably be tossed because I've read them, but I wanted to point out a couple of things on the blog. I should make that a focus for next week!! 

Well, it's time to start the day. I have several hours before the events start, and I just have to walk down the hall!! But I must get out and sign that logbook!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

Visiting for old times sake!

It's my birthday! Another trip around the sun, and I'm still here to talk about it! I'm sure I say this every year, but one always reflects on past birthdays and remembers the special moments. And I have done many neat things on my birthday. Today? Just an ordinary day! Although I think I'll spend a good part of the day in the car as I have a few errands that must be done, and they are in opposite directions! But I must get them done. 

And I really must get some more paperwork done! 

I did some observing on my walk yesterday morning. Remember we had those bad house fires a couple of weeks ago? It's been a month - July 25th. I mentioned that one of the houses was torn down within a week of the fire, or maybe that was ten days. 

Lexi and I decided to take a walk to see if anything was happening. OMG—they have started rebuilding that house. It's not even a month since the house burned, and the basement has been redone and capped off for the framing? 

The new basement is capped?

That isn't possible. How could the owners and the insurance make decisions that quickly? I can't see how that is possible, but it seems to be. I'll keep an eye on it from time to time to see the status. Meanwhile, the other three badly burned houses are sitting there. It looks like they might be trying to save one, while the other two are definite teardowns, and the fifth one will need minor repairs to the siding and roof. 

On our way to that house, we passed some city employees - I think they were summer students. Three of them left their city truck with pails and hand pickers to pick up garbage. I spotted the male walking through the soccer field by himself, while the two females walked together, chatting up a storm. They stayed on the path. Why? The grass was very wet, and they didn't want to get their feet wet. Or who knows what they were thinking. 

When Lexi and I walked back through this park, I spotted FIVE relatively obvious pieces of garbage. The girls would have seen them from the path - I took the same route that they did. To pick up the garbage, they would have had to get their feet wet. I was tempted to report them. Seriously? If they were hired to do a job, then they should do a good job! And if they hadn't been together, they likely would have seen the garbage. I'm sure they have work boots on to prevent their feet from getting soaked as they rescued those bits of garbage! Sigh....................

Garbage was left in the park after the workers passed by

You can't see it very well in that photo above, but there were three bits of garbage in a row - the final one is pretty obvious in the picture. 

I had company yesterday! Neil was my main cycling buddy on the cross-Canada trip by bicycle in 2013. He and his wife, whom I have met many times over the years, are driving the same route in their car with their cute dog. They were in the neighborhood and dropped in for a visit. OK—I've known they were coming on that day for weeks! Here is a link to the final cycling day. At that time, I wasn't equipped to add pictures. I really should go back and add pictures to that blog. I remember cycling that last day with Neil, and it was the worst day of the trip. I was done!

Look at the beautiful flowers they brought me for my birthday! 

Birthday flowers

Neil and I spent both of our birthdays on that trip. Neil's was in Outlook, Saskatchewan, and mine was at the ferry dock in Sydney, NB, as we got ready to board the ferry for Newfoundland. The things we remember. 

What Neil and Susan have discovered is that many of the things that we thought were so wonderful on the trip aren't that good! Small cafes that we stopped at with amazing cinnamon buns were just ordinary now. Was it all that sweat (lots) and tears (not so many) that made the cinnamon buns and chugging a 1-liter of chocolate milk after a hard day of cycling taste so good? 

Many campgrounds have closed or been revamped, and while they are enjoying the trip, it's just not the same in a car. We had a long visit, and it was fun to catch up. 

We had lunch at the house, which I coerced DH into BBQing for me! 

Neil and I

WAIT—I did manage to get some work done! Not sewing, but paperwork, and it's not my favorite work (expense reports), so it was good to get that out of the way. 

After dinner, I confess that the puzzle pulled me away from doing anything constructive. 

Progress

I made excellent progress, as you can see. I decided to change tactics and worked on the quilts. While that may have seemed easy, it wasn't. Then I had all those flowers in the bottom, and I was determined to get that done. I still have two pieces to find, but Murphy was "demanding" to get upstairs and to bed, and it was getting late by this time anyway. Not late, but later! And if Murphy was ready to settle down upstairs, then I was going to make that happen for her. 

Then I got hooked on this novel I've been reading. I've tossed the plot around multiple times. Is this plausible? Can this happen? I like the character, then I hate the main character. I'm on the fence. The book is The Cleaner by Mary Watson. I wouldn't rush to read this again. 

I have avoided the gym all week, and I feel like a slug. So I'm off to spend some time with Brooke this morning. 

One thing I want to alert you to is the SECOND Teach The World to Sew Day!! It's on September 19th, and you'll find it at many of the PFAFF, Husqvarna Viking, and Singer stores around the world. You'll find a list of stores on that link. Now, YOU don't need to learn how to sew, but if you know someone who has wanted to learn, get them signed up at their local store! They will be making an eyeglass case - so it's a small, simple project. 

Let's fill all the seats and make this a hugely successful day. I don't think there is any age restriction on the event, and everything is provided. You just need to register so they don't overbook themselves. 

If memory serves me correctly, one of the Canadian stores did amazingly well last year. So if you have a friend, a granddaughter, or a grandson, and their friend(s)—get them signed up for this event. It is OUR job to encourage the younger generation to learn to sew. That allows them to repair clothing, make their own clothes or other items. Check it out!!!!

WAIT --- if one of those stores is NOT close to you, then check out Michaels. They are selling Singer sewing machines, and some stores are setting up sewing machines for Teach the World to Sew Day. I think you have to check out each store individually to see if they are participating. 

We also have a Virtual Retreat on Saturday (6 PM - 9 PM) and Sunday (3 PM - 9 PM). I should be back in work mode by then. OK—let's face reality—I need to be back in work mode this afternoon after I finish my errands! Tick tock!!! And I will place those design boards over the puzzle to keep my fingers off it until I've done some work! I think the question for me is -- where the heck do I start? I'm going to have to pick one item and start with that, then move on to the next. It's a bit overwhelming right now. 

I also need to finish up those distribution lists! It better be a productive day! 

By the way, I bought cake for lunch yesterday, so no need to worry if I'm getting cake today! I've already eaten some!

And on that note, I'm out of here!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao!!

 

Tree hugging is good for you!

About the air fryer — I think the smell greatly depends on what you cook. Yes -- DH was able to get crisper chicken than he can in the oven. I am not a fan of anything with grease or fat on it. Chicken with skin? I'll pass and just eat veggies - thank you! Yes -- I could remove the skin, and I do, but to eat the skin? Even crispy? No way! What I've seen so far is that if the item has grease (skin) on it, it's going to stink. If you are cooking veggies, it probably won't. 

I doubt we'll use one enough to warrant buying it. We have a small toaster oven that works just fine for the amount of cooking we do. HEY -- we have a stove that the poor oven has been rarely used! Thanks for the comments on the air fryer. Since I don't eat potatoes, processed foods, foods with batter, or stuff like that, and I'm totally happy with raw veggies (salad), I don't really need one! DH - loves his BBQ. But I'm not a picky eater! I just eat plain food - no sauces, no condiments, and that makes me happy. I eat to fuel myself - I don't enjoy cooking or eating it. And what I find is that people eat so fast that no one really enjoys the meal, so why put a lot of time into it? Don't get me started on meals prepped in high-end restaurants, where they seem to undercook everything and spend more time on presentation than on cooking. Not a fan!

I'm back to reading the book about the brain at rest, and apparently, it has been proven that forest bathing is truly healing. And it will keep you healthy if you hug trees! OK — that's pretty high-level, but I'm on the right track to staying healthy. Being in nature can boost your immune system -- who knew? 

And then there is the silence. Silence is golden and lets your brain rest. I can so relate to that because while I like to listen to audiobooks, I love listening to nothing, not even white noise. My brain can wander and relax and do whatever it wants, and that's usually where my brilliant ideas pop into my head. Try it sometime—turn off everything in your house and just listen to your brain, or not. It's one of the best therapies around! During these times, I think I face the reality of who I am, my limitations, my quirks (I have lots of those), and I've come to the point that I don't care - I'm happy with who I am!

Speaking of the forest, there is this tree that I've watched for years as it slowly deteriorates. Trust me, after walking as many times in the forest as I have, you get to know the trees. OK -- so I'm a tree hugger. Well, maybe not a hugger, but a lover. Although the book says the actual act of hugging is good. I might try that far off the path where no one can see me! WAIT -- I don't care!!!!

Anyway, here is the tree. A large group of squirrels calls this tree home, but there is barely anything left of the tree, and one day it's going to fall over. 

The squirrel condo

As you can see, the top part is leaning, and there isn't much holding up the spot where the squirrel condo is. It's absolutely fascinating to watch things grow or rot, depending on the situation.  

The squirrel condo is leaning.

So yesterday, something very strange happened in our house. I was in the kitchen tidying up, and I heard a ball plop plop plop down the stairs, but Murphy wasn't in the house. WHAT? I glanced over to the stairs, and Miss Lexi was standing there watching what she had done. I didn't see whether she picked up the ball, kicked it, or deliberately nudged it, but she caused it to bounce downstairs. 

MOM -- the ball went downstairs!

And there it was!!!! Of course, she wasn't going to chase the ball downstairs - that is not her thing. Hmm -- what happened? 

Lexi tossed the ball downstairs.

As I was trying to put some order into Studio B, I had help. I swear Murphy picks a spot intentionally where I need to walk. She is very good at it! I got my sewing machine set up and a few more cables, etc., in bags, but there is still a lot more to tidy up. Mostly the samples, but I needed to get to work on my sewing, so once the machine was up and running, I pretty much stopped tidying!

MOM -- I'm here to support you!

And look how cute this girl is!! All sleepy as she makes sure I do not miss her! 

MOM - it's exhausting being your constant companion

While I made great progress, it just seemed to go so slowly. I finally got all the half-square triangles trimmed for my border. And thank goodness, I sewed the border as I went, so it's all in one piece. You'll have to wait to see what it looks like. 

Trimming the half-square triangles for my border

While getting all that sewing done, I sewed more triangles as enders and leaders. They are pressed, but I didn't get a chance to trim them. That's a job for today. I have a few more things to get done for the weekend session of UFO Club. I still have a lot to finish, but I'm doing OK. 

More half-square triangles sewn.

As I looked at the tray of triangles to sew as enders and leaders, I spotted this stack of small ones. OK -- I'm past the point of keeping these teeny ones, so they went into the scrap box. 

These ones are too small to keep

I was "chatting" with a few friends on Messenger/Texting yesterday, and this picture was sent to me. OH MY GOSH --- what memories this brings back. 

Captain Elaine!

This was me about halfway across Canada on my bicycle trip in 2013. Can you guess where the picture was taken? Yes -- that is a ship's wheel. And look how tanned my face is! That's after spending five weeks riding at least 100 KMs a day (OK -- there was a rest day or two in there as well). 

That was such an exciting trip, and I had to mentally dig pretty deep almost every day. Yes -- it was a very physical trip, and I was ready for it (I'm NOT an elite cyclist by any means), but the mental part was much bigger. Dealing with a frustrating fellow cyclist who almost drove me mad! Inclement weather—we had multiple days of rain in Northern Ontario. Hills that never seem to end, but thankfully, were graded for transport trucks, so most were no more than 12%. Hours and hours of riding and no one to talk to. Now that's not true because we did talk to each other, but I mostly rode in silence, which is where I learned that I'm very comfortable being by myself and enjoying nature and letting my brain wander. 

This was NOT my first long-distance cycle trip, so all this stuff wasn't new to me. 

Well, have you guessed what ship I could be on - halfway across Canada? Yep --- it's the Chi Chamaun Ferry. We got to do a lot of cool things on that trip, and it was definitely an adventure of a lifetime. I've been so fortunate to have taken several adventures of a lifetime, and guess what? I had to do them alone because none of my friends are nutty enough to do them with me. I'm perfectly OK with that. I only have to worry about myself, and that's the way I roll! 

Well, on that note, I've got a lot of work to do today, and I have a lot of paper crap to clear off the office floor. ONE day, I will get on top of it. But as I clear up, more comes out. One day, there won't be anything left! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

The 11th anniversary

So, while it was a fantastic day at Quilt Canada, I have something to share that was even more amazing. 

TODAY is the day eleven years ago that I and 23 other brave souls set out from UBC (the totem pole park) to ride our bicycles across Canada. We were accompanied by Adam, our fearless young driver, with whom I stayed in touch. He was amazing, already with a quip when the going got tough, and there to support 1000%. When asked a question, his favorite saying was, " It's on the whiteboard!"

I did not know anyone before leaving on the trip, and while I had done some long-distance cycling, the most I had done was three-week trips in 2010, 2011, and 2012. This was the year to do something crazy and go for ten weeks. 

I was fortunate to meet Neil, who became my riding partner for the trip. We rode together, more or less, every day, through the good and the bad. We just seemed to click. 

Neil's wife, Susan, was there at the beginning, the end, and one stop in the way as we rode through their home province of Alberta. I've remained in touch with Neil through Facebook and am always in awe of his fantastic photography. His photos are absolutely stunning. 

I was so engrossed in making Quilt Canada samples that I forgot about Neil living in the Edmonton area, so he contacted me. Could we meet? OH MY—YES!!!!!

So the three of us went out for dinner last night, and it was like those eleven years had never existed. He brought some photos along on his phone, and it was fun to browse through them. OH MY -- I had quite the tan at the end of that trip. Gosh -- I feel teary-eyed as I think back about that trip!

Here's a photo of us on the eve of our big adventure. 

Me and Neil on the eve of our big adventure

Did you notice what's in my hand? A Corona!!!

Here's a picture of us last evening after dinner. 

Neil and I - eleven years later

Yep, I had a Corona last night. We should have tried to recreate that first photo, but we only thought of it once we were outside the restaurant. 

Thank you to Neil and Susan -- it was a wonderful evening, and I enjoyed every minute of it. WOW --- so many memories - I can't wait to return home and review my photos. YES -- those photos were on that hard disk that I paid gobs to recover. I'm so glad I coughed up the cash!

I need to be more responsible with precious memories like that, and they really need to be in a book so I can look at them when I'm in the nursing home and can't remember a thing. At least when people come to visit, we can talk about my book!

OK—I have no idea what's going on this trip, but my hotel room is a disaster. I'm usually very neat, packing things into my bags before leaving for the day. I always have a "do not disturb" sign on my door—I do not need my bed made daily, and I certainly do not need fresh towels. 

This time, my room looks like a very untidy person is living here. Here's just part of the mess. 

The debris in my room

I'll try to tidy up a little later, but there's no need. I just don't want to leave anything behind, so I'll put a few things away that I won't need. But since I pack so sparingly, I bet I'll need most of what I have. 

Claire and I went for a walk in the morning and found a pedestrian walkway under the public transit bridge. 

The pedestrian walkway under the transit bridge

Then we ended up downtown, going to find Tim's for breakfast. Along the way, we passed this sign: Tonight, it's going to be insane in the downtown area. 

Look how little I am!!!!

Then, we made it to the convention center to help thread machines and set them up for a couple of classes. I then went up to the booth, where I grabbed one shot of the PFAFF booth and spent the day. 

The PFAFF booth

People were enthralled with my rope bowl making—so much so that I had zero chance to sew any more on the unfinished one. I didn't even get a chance to get my thread out!

But I met up with some fantastic people. A HUGE SHOUT OUT to those who read the blog and stopped to say HI!!! I may not know you, but I appreciate you following along! And YES -- the dogs are taking over. Everyone loves Murphy and Lexi. OK -- let's be honest, Murphy is doing a considerable share of the entertaining when it comes to the dogs! Lexi had better step up her game if she wants to be part of it! Just kidding, Lexi, we love you, and you are my sweet girl!!! 

Lots of people I knew stopped by to say hi. I have never met some of them in person, but I know them quite well from Zoom! It's pretty funny since some of them live close to me, but we had to travel to Edmonton to meet in person! 

I've met up with other people I met on Zoom but have previously met in person, and then I have the gaggle of friends from home that I have known in person for many years. 

There are just so many people! I love you all, and thanks for being a part of my life! I couldn't be who I am without you! I think we take a little bit from everyone we meet but also give in return. That's what friendship is all about - giving and taking! 

So yes -- if you are at the show, stop by and say HI!!!

The last amazing thing yesterday was the daily door prize donated by PFAFF. This is our top-of-the-line sewing machine (creative icon), and let's just say that it's an excellent price. Well, the young lady on the right is the lucky winner. She is a wonderful person, and I had the pleasure of walking her through a demo of the machine and what it can do. Her mother was with her. 

Pam with the door prize winner

I love that she was thrilled and saw how old she is!!! She said she's not as young as we think, but I said - we were old enough to be her mother - that makes her young! She and her mother went home thrilled to bits. I was so excited for her. 

Well, that's just too much excitement in one day. Today will be a bit quieter, and I hope to get out a little bit and check out some quilts or some of the vendors. I know—I must be diligent as I do NOT have a lot of room—weight-wise or space-wise. I never got out of the booth until lunch at 2 p.m. and didn't see any vendors or quilts. Not seeing the vendors was probably a good thing! 

It's time to get moving so I can be ready for a walk this morning. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

 

Travel Day - the journey home...................

Ever had one of those days when NOTHING goes WRONG!!!!   I know - make sure you read that right - I should have bought a lottery ticket at some point!


Woke up and WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!    There is something VERY wrong with this whole picture.  Yes - the SUN - yes - THE SUN was shining.   I felt like I had been transformed into another country.  The sky was blue, there was a gentle breeze, the pavement was dry and not a hint of the blustery, miserable conditions that we had encountered over the previous two days!!!!

Had breakfast with a couple of riders that were still at the hotel and then I was off on an adventure. I had a couple of hours to kill before catching my plane.

I walked downtown and if you have never been to St. John's when I say DOWN town - I mean DOWN.

Had to walk DOWN this hill to get to the main part of town. 

Too bad my Fitbit battery was dead and I put the charger in with my luggage that I sent home. Drat!!!!  I am sure I would have done a LOT of flights in those couple of hours.

Anyway - my first stop was the bike shop. I had dropped the bike off the previous day for them to pack up.  When I had called them on the phone two weeks ago - they were very accommodating. However when some of us contacted them once we arrived, they seemed to back track on their helpfulness.  I stopped in to make sure that the bike was in fact packed and ready to go so when I stopped later in the day - I wouldn't be waiting around.

Yep - the bike was packed and ready to go!  Phew!   I was a bit worried about that.

Townie bike for sale at the bike shop!!!!!   come on - these bikes are fun and do NOT involve hills!!!!!

 Had an amazing view of Signal Hill from the Harbour - yes - can you believe that they rode up that hill in the crazy wind and rain?????   So glad I didn't feel obligated to do it this year!!!   It is quite a climb in a very short distance. But the view from there is spectacular.

Cabot Tower on top of Signal Hill

Signal Hill in the distance - one of the streets with those crazy houses!!!!

More crazy streets - very hard for you to appreciate the steepness but trust me - I was huffing the first time I walked. I attribute that to the fact that I carrying stuff!!!!  

Or if you want to walk between Water and Duckworth - you can take the stairs!!!!!    That is a LOT of stairs!!!!!

Anyway - I spent a couple of hours wandering around - I was looking for a specific piece of art that I had seen last year and wouldn't you know it - I finally found it in the last shop I checked.  But I did find a few other goodies along the way.

Someone told me that The Duke of Duckworth had the BEST fish n chips and when I mentioned that to the girls in the last shop - they said OH NO - you have to go to The Ship Pub (same owners - but supposedly better).   OK so I had nothing left to look at so I wandered over to the pub. It was just opening for the day.

I ordered the fish n chips. And an Iceberg beer which is one of the beers we had tasted the day before at the Quidi Vidi Brewery.  When the girl took my order - she asked me if I wanted dressing and gravy?  Hmmm - and that would be?????   Well I thought - when in Newfoundland - order what they would order - so I got the works.   Turns out the dressing is in fact - a dressing with bread crumbs and other goodies that goes onto the fries and gravy on top of the whole thing, but not on the fish.  Normally I would NOT eat that, but hey - why not. The fish was lightly battered and fried and I am NOT a huge fish eater, but this fish would melt in your mouth.  I have NEVER eaten fish that was that fresh or that tasty.  Who cared about the fries - the fish was to die for. Apparently - it practically comes out of the ocean and into their kitchen!

Lunch

Well - lucky me as I was the ONLY person to be served in the restaurant that day - at least from the kitchen.  Apparently after the chef cooked my meal  - something happened to the stove and they had to shut the kitchen down for the day!   Since I had time to kill - I consumed a couple of those yummy Iceberg beers!


Then back to one store to pick up something that I wasn't sure I wanted, but after the beer - oh yes - I wanted it!  Just a book - nothing too exciting!

Back to the hotel and caught the shuttle to the airport.  The driver (who I remember from last year) made a detour down town so I could collect my bike and then a quick drive to the airport.

Now Air Canada does need to come up with a FIRM policy on the payment of luggage.  Last year - when I did the check-in - I said I had TWO bags to check - one was a duffel bag and one was a bike.  I paid $50 for handling for the bike and an extra $20 for the second piece of luggage.  The agent said - I should have only paid the $50, not the extra $20.  Oh well - I wasn't going to make a fuss and try to claim the money back.  So this year when I did the check-in - I only paid $50.  This time the agent said - that was wrong and I had to pay an extra $20 for the second item.  No big deal.  But make up your minds people!!!!

Anyway - off to the over sized luggage area to drop off the bike.   The people there were EXTREMELY friendly.  Last year - they were NOT.   They even helped me tape up the box (and provided the tape and scissors - which they did NOT last year).   And we had a great chat all the while we were doing that.  Last year - they wouldn't even touch the box. I had to empty it, lift it - whatever. This year - well - no comparison!!!!!   Now all the luggage is checked and I am off to the gate to wait.

Oh dear - the flight looks like it is going to be late leaving.  Well - no big deal - I've got a book, but there was a family there and one of the kids was stuck in a stroller and he did not want to be in the stroller.  There were two or three other kids in the same family.  The mom did NOTHING to console this kid in the stroller.   I was tempted to go and ask her what her problem was. It was very annoying and when we finally got on the plane - her kids dumped their toys on the first seat and took off down the plane.  I would have killed those kids if they were mine.

Anyway - as we are sitting in the lounge waiting - they are calling individuals up.  No idea why. Then my name got called.  OK - so what is this about?   Giving me a new seat. A MUCH nicer seat - yep - a seat in BUSINESS class.   Apparently the next plane out of St. John's was also going to be late and they were trying to fill this plane - which they did. But it meant that some people got bumped up.   Hey - that is just fine by me!!!!!!    However I had bought a set of head phones so I could watch the movie and had already sent my head phones home. Also bought snacks as I was prepared to sit in economy.  Didn't need to buy the  head phones or the snacks after all!!!!

Had a very comfy flight home and I plugged those headphones in and watched a VERY FUNNY movie - The Other Woman and I never once heard those kids!!!!!!     Although at one point - we are near Toronto and all of a sudden my ears are killing me.  Oh crap - forgot about the pressure thing.   I never wear head phones (ear buds on a plane - I usually read, but this time - I knit!!!!!!)   With my bamboo needles of course.


Luggage came off relatively quick and then I was home.   I must say that it is good to be home. It has been a crazy summer.  While I was away - I kept telling people how on previous trips - I got the urge to purge when I got home because I was so used to having so little with me.  Well - you guessed it - I was up half the night figuring out what to dump and on that note - I am off with a HUGE URGE TO PURGE!!!!!

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!

Day 72 - Pictures

Here is the group at Mile Zero - gosh - I keep picking the one with Gavin's arm in the way

Leslie dipping her wheels - awesome job Leslie!!!!!

Day 72 - St. John's

Let's just say that it was awesome to have a warm dry bed to sleep in.  I got a room by myself otherwise we would have had to share with two or three to a room and with all the wet gear and bikes - well it is just ugly so I coughed up extra cash to get a room just for me!!!!   For those who know me - I don't like to share!!!!!

Had breakfast with the others and the weather outside was FRIGHTFUL.  They had plans to dip their wheels in the ocean, go to Mile Zero and ride up Signal Hill.  Me - I had plans for NONE of it.  I did it last year and it really wasn't my trip across Canada so no need for the ceremony.  However Barb (Dave's wife) convinced me to come and so I did.  I am very glad that I did as I was the official photographer!!!   They started out at Mile Zero which is symbolic of Terry Fox's run - it was to be his end point. There is a beautiful statue of Terry near the water front and a nice little park. Let me tell you - that there were a LOT of cameras that made an appearance and Gavin and I spent a bit of time taking pictures. 

Trust me - NO ONE lingered.  The wind was blowing like mad, the rain was pelting down - it was just ugly!!!!!

Then off to the dock to dip the wheels.  I remember those docks from last year.  Let's just say that a floating dock is already a very unstable platform, but with the high winds - it was even more so.  The cyclists went down one of the docks and I went on the other so I could get a good picture of them. My camera has been acting up lately - too much dampness no doubt.   Anyway - I managed to get pictures of them all although a few times - they were a bit shaky because of the waves.

Back on their bikes and they were off to Signal Hill.   Now I really felt for them on this climb because it was into the head wind. It was an UGLY climb.  I got pictures of them coming up and that was so cool to watch them all arrive at their final destination. It was almost as exciting as if I had done the entire trip with them.  As I was taking pictures in the blowing wind - a woman came up to me and asked if I was with the cyclists. Yes I said.  She asked if a John Edwards was with us.  Hmmmmmm - John???   Oh yes - John!!!!   Turns out his cousin came up to meet him on the Hill!!!!!   How cool is that!!!!!!

Then another round of pictures and by this time everyone was frozen - except Stuart who had on his merino wool base layer and long pants!!!!!  After all the pictures were done - everyone headed back to the hotel.  They had been out for about two hours by this time and yes - everyone was wet again!!!!!!  

Our final brunch was just a short walk down the road. On the way there - we had to pass a Shopper's Drug Mart and I wanted to pick up a couple of things. AHA - there is a photo printing station here and they printed off two pictures immediately for me so I took a copy of the group photos to the brunch.  Everyone has excited to see them.

We had a great brunch - and a couple of traditional Newfoundland dishes which I have to say I did not care for.  Too much fat for me!!!!!!!   Then all the thank yous, comments and such and it was over!!!!!!   Oh dear - that is always the sad part! 

Back to the hotel and then I grabbed my bike and walked it down to the bike shop so they could box it up for transport.  I know - just being lazy!!  But I didn't have a box so I had to get one from them - another few dollars and they would pack it up - that was a no brainer!!!!   But it was raining and so it was ugly walking down the hill to the shop.  I did a little bit of shopping - I had to buy a new duffle bag to bring all my odds and ends home - I wanted to check it on the plane and my other luggage is already back in Ontario!

Then by the quirks of Facebook - I was off to meet Cheryl and her family.  Cheryl is a quilter (and her husband Larry helps out with the quilting - I want Larry to come visit me!!!!!). Their son Stephen had just crossed Canada - also on a bike.  He did it by himself and so it was great to meet all of them including Stephen's finance whose name I have forgotten!!!  Anyway - we met at Quidi Vidi Brewery where we did the tasting and had a tour of the production process.   Very interesting, but the tasting went so fast - we got to taste five beers and they were coming around to fill up my glass before I had finished the first sample.  Oh well - bottoms up!!!!!   Some very nice beer and I think some of it is available in Ontario - I must look for it.

After that we were off to Linda's.  A small eccentric little restaurant not far from the Brewery.  When I mean eccentric - I mean eccentric. And John - if you are reading this - they had license plates on the wall.  I was tempted to pinch one or two for you!!!!!   The story there is that John started collecting license plates in Alberta and we gave him three more at the final brunch.  I think he ended up with quite a collection at the end of the trip!!!!!   Anyway - back to Linda's - we had great clam chowder - so thick you almost needed a fork to eat it.  And a group who were also at the Brewery came in to be screeched into Newfoundland.  Oh boy - what fun as we listened to them go through the ceremony.   I did not participate!!!!!   But I watched and observed!

Chery and Larry drove me back to St. John's where we visited the chocolate shop.  Yum yum!!!!   And then I said good-bye as I still had a couple of things to do.  I walked back to the hotel - UP that huge hill and yes - I was huffing when I got to the top.   Then a nice quiet evening in the hotel.  And a nice - dry bed!!!!!

Thanks Cheryl and Larry - it was so awesome to meet you - I'll see you on Facebook!!!!!   (And thanks to Pauline H - who made the connection for us)

On that note - I still have a couple of hours before I have to catch my plane and I want to pick up one more thing from St. John's since it may be a LONG time before I come back!!!!

Have an awesome day!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!

Day 71 - Last set of pictures for today

Hans (from Berlin) and John (from Scotland but originally from Canada)

Gerald (from Austria) and look how much weight he lost on the trip!!!!!!

Day 71 - More pictures of the last day

Gerald arrives AT LAST!!!!!

Jacques - very focused on pouring that scotch. Can't waste a drop!

Day 71 - more pictures

More pictures from the last day - needless to say - I did NOT take any pictures along the way!!!!

Pizza and beer!!!!

Last hands of rummy!

Day 71 - pictures!!!!

Oh yes - a note - it will be a LONG time before I decide to cycle in NewFoundland and if EVER I even hint at it - strike me down!!!!!

Welcome to Newfoundland

The Tim's at the junction of Highway 100 and 1