Act Three

Some places and some people are worth revisiting.  Many years ago we went on a road trip with good friends,

this year we decided to vacation together again at Spruce Woods Provincial Park.  We took 2 canoes and paddled up the Assiniboine River,

our goal was the Devil’s Punch Bowl.  There were many times along the way we didn’t think that we were going to make it.  We stopped for a shell hunt/fishing break,

a little pep talk and we are on our way again.  Different people needed pep talks at different times as the exhaustion, frustration and blisters came out.  We eventually spotted the canoe launch stairs, but they were like 14ft up the steep river bank.  Creative minds and pure determination to make our goal kicked in and we reached the Punch Bowl.

This is our route paddling and hiking according to L’s watch.

One new adventure was enough for us.  The rest of the time was spent hiking the Spirit Sands trail and playing in the sand dunes, fishing, enjoying the beach, sitting around the fire, resting in the comforts of a cabin and soaking in the hot tub.

Thank you for your friendship.

Camping Spruce Woods 2015 was entirely different than Camping Spruce Woods 2014; the sun shone.  We rode our bikes down to the Interpretive Centre and with a little help K and T even made it up the big hill back to the campsite.  Some of us went for a hike in the Spirit Sands.   To me a hike in the sand dunes when at Spruce Woods is compulsory; there is nowhere else in Manitoba quite like it.

During little M’s lunch break, 4 energetic souls climbed the high dune behind the shelter.  Several times they raced each other to the top and jumped their way down again.

The sand at the beach was lovely.  After a dip to cool off the engineers got to work constructing sand castles and an artist among us made a sand horse.  Too bad it didn’t come alive like the dog in Robert Munsch’s book.

Tinfoil dinners are great when they don’t burn.  Perhaps some of us are too particular about cooking them slowly, but they turned out perfectly.

We had our biggest turn out ever this year, 4 of which had never camped with us before.  It was great to catch up with the Giesbrecht clan and the surprise visitors who kept showing up.

In July Grandpa F and Grandma L have birthdays.  For Grandpa’s birthday we found a place to minigolf.

It was hot; after one round of 9 holes we were happy to find some air conditioning at D&K’s.  We cooled off and still had our picnic outside.

Since August long weekend was available for L family camping this year,  we were all together for mom’s birthday at Spruce Woods Provincial Park.  More weekend pictures later.

Happy Birthday, we are blessed to have you in our lives.

Two weeks ago, we were finally able to take advantage of the summer and head out to the lake.  The original plan was for us to spend a few days camping at Caddy Lake, but on the day before we left a friend offered us the use of his cottage on Jessica Lake in the Whiteshell.  We could hardly turn him down, so we altered our plans.

First on the agenda was a hike from Red Rock Lake to Cabin Lake.  The trail crossed a beaver dam and we were able to keep mostly dry.  The kids, however, had their first encounter with “Fireweed” (otherwise known as “Brankrut”) and quickly started complaining about the deer flies.  Only the blueberries on the side of the trail were able to distract them from the constant buzzing.

When we arrived at Cabin Lake, we were greeted by a nice view and a small sandy beach.  We were eager to try our new beach shoes we had bought for the trip and started exploring the water.

Shortly after this picture was taken, L slipped on an underwater rock and skinned his knee.  We all know how that feels.  Eventually, with a little help from his parents, he worked up enough courage to attempt the walk back to the car.  We all made it back, none the worse for wear.

The next day was a warm one and we took full advantage of our proximity to the water.  L and K played in the clay at the side of the dock.  I tried my hand at doing a solo Capistrano Flip, thinking that if one is planning on doing more canoeing, as we are, one should know how to get back into a capsized canoe.  I wasn’t successful, but, having done a bit of research, will try it again in the future.

On the third day, we decided to go play in the water at Rainbow Falls.

One of us will forever remember this place as “the leech nest.”

Every day should be Auntie’s  birthday party they are so much fun.  I think the birthday girl had the beach in mind; hope she had fun at the aquatic centre, her niece and nephews sure did.  We thought we were going to Splash Island water park, which was closed (terrible website), but ended up in a better place after all.

There has been some work in the backyard this spring.  I for one am very excited about the process of growing plants, the others may have only been thinking about their tastebuds.

 

The finished product is great, especially with some basil and 2 tomato plants gifted by a friend with a greener thumb then mine.  When wet you can smell the cedar and unlike the eyesore that used to sit there, this raised bed is worth bragging about.

L and K also have their own mini gardens, built and designed by them.

Fairies

and elves are welcome here.

So we decided to upgrade in the canoe department.  It didn’t come cheap, but I think it will be worth it.  We’re looking forward to many paddling adventures.  We haven’t decided on a name yet.  Any suggestions?

They are forecasting snow for Monday morning.  So tonight we did a “springish” thing; we went to see the goslings.  Apparently it has been two years since we visited Brookside Cemetery because K had no memory of being there before.

It is peaceful sitting by the water listening to a variety of bird calls, awing over tiny bundles of down, until a parent goose starts hissing in your direction.  L & K were quite worried for awhile, wanting to go home.  Apparently cranky geese are almost as tempting to torment as cranky cats for one member of our party who shall not be named.