The last day of summer - in October

Yesterday was such an incredibly gorgeous day. Warm (26C), sunny, slight breeze. Just a perfect day to hop on the bike and head out into my favourite forest for a little trip through the trees. I ran into more people, dogs, and horses there then I ever have before. Everyone seemed to have the same idea. My only issue was the trails were so covered in leaves it was hard to see where they actually were. I really had to use my trail markers that I had previously named on many other trips. Some of them have even fallen over since my first visit in the spring. I can't wait to get out there again.

Fall is Upon Us

My favourite thing to do once the leaves start changing colours is to go out and just drive randomly; see where you end up and take a look at the world changing around us. So, I took a drive on the weekend to see the fall leaves in the forests north of my home. I drove east for about an hour out to Lindsay, then up to Minden, on to Dorset, and through to Huntsville. I stopped in Dorset to go up the fire tower. I've always wanted to but have only ever driven past. I came across the sign for the small town turned in and found a museum immediately. Behind the museum was a trail that another man was pointing out to be the way up to the tower. So, I grabbed my camera, threw my jacket around my waist and started hiking. Up, way way up. Extremely winded about 20 minutes later I get to the top of this very steep climb that I had just taken, only to come upon a parking lot. Had I only driven another 1/2 mile up the road I would have found the drive way for the top of the hill. LOL. It was a wonderful and beautiful day. Here's just a few of the shots I took.

Beatlemania!!!

My brother, Scott, and I went to Orillia's first annual Beatles Celebration last weekend. It was so much fun. I know how well everyone knows the Beatles, but it was so evident here at this festival. There were toddlers dancing to the music and there were bikers singing along to every song. A few teenagers dressed in punk were moving from venue to venue. Some people from Germany were sitting beside me tapping to the tunes. We watched a band filled with Italians play all their tributes. We listen politely as an orchestra softly portrayed their renditions. It was all fabulous.

In the end we will definitely return next year and stay even longer. The best part of the day though was the look on my brother's face when he had on his souvenir shirt and flexed his new air brushed tattoo thinking he looks like a "tough guy".

Want to Take a Swim

My boss was kind enough to give me yesterday off and so I found myself and my brother looking for some adventure. So we took a drive to Georgian Downs to play the nickle slots. I warn you that, when it comes to my brother and I and day trips the level of adventure is...well the average 90 year old can keep up (or out do) with us. So we didn't make it big winning nickles, but had fun for a few hours.

I then thought since it was such a nice day we would head straight over to the beach to see if we could find a nice place to sit and enjoy the sun. We did get to the water, but instead of sitting at a beach we drove along the entire lake shore home (30 km maybe) daydreaming of one giant cottage after another...if we had only won at the casino.

We came across one little spot where you could park and have access to the beach. Most beaches are private for cottage owners who don't have lake front. This is the one we stopped at and I was so happy that my brother actually took me up on the idea of jumping in with just our underwear. Turned out it was took steep and rocky for him to access, but the fact that he was willing too I loved.

Frank Morrison Gorst

Today I want to say goodbye to a dear friend who will be missed by a great number of people. Frank Gorst passed away this past Tuesday, August 21. He was a warm, caring and charming man. He was a wonderful husband to Edith. A great father to Ian and Barry. A welcoming father-in-law to Jean and Lana. A loving and devoted grandfather to Courtney, Tanner, Breckin, Madeline, Hayden and Avery.

What I think, and most of Frank's friends, will miss is his wonderful cheeky sense of humour. He was always able to make everyone in a room laugh whether he was just commenting on something, telling you a joke, or even having a laugh at you.

I've known Frank and his family since I was 14. Each of them has always made me feel a part of the family. There are so many stories and so many memories that I don't know what to say. He was a great friend to me and one of those fathers of a friend that becomes a bit of a father figure to you as well.

I'll miss you terribly Frank...."know wha' I mean?".

Mini Vacation with Family

My mother, brother, sister and I went on a mini vacation this past weekend to Birch Run, Michigan. I thought the "shining" moment of the trip was seeing the inside of Bronner's - The World's Largest Christmas Store.

But it truly came when I saw the look on my brother's face when I told him that the only thing I could find for him in the Zehnder's Bakery in Frankenmuth was a little donut.

No trick...it's about a foot across and Santa was about 20 feet tall.

A New Start

I pass by this one house everyday as I walk to work and never seemed to notice the lovely flowers that the gentleman there has along the side of his house. One day this week I thought the weeping flowers succumbing to the heat we've all had to endure the last while really represented the way I was feeling this week, but I didn't have my camera. The next morning on my way to work I made sure I did have my camera. I was in a better mood and now suddenly the dying flowers had some fresh blossoms. It was a new start, a new outlook, a new day, a better day.