Whirlwind Summer

I know it's kind of late to post pictures from the summer, but it wasn't for lack of activity that we had no posts. So here are a few pictures to help us remember what happened.

In early June, my father visited on the way back from a conference in Toronto. Here he is talking on the webcam with my mom.

At the end of June, we had a superhero themed critical mass

The theme proved very popular, quite a few new people showed up, and of course the regulars

Our mass matured - we had tall bikes ...

(It was actually only one tall bike, but the two guys traded off riding it)

and people brought their children! (I was just helping out - that bike weighed a tonne)

Lots of fun(ny) costumes

On Canada Day Nick returned from planting (the best Canada Day I've ever had)


We had tickets to the Bluesfest, and our friends Paul and Sarah visited from Sudbury


With their daughter Blue


Who enjoyed the necklaces I brought back from the New York Pride Parade.

The next weekend we went to Nick's childhood friend Jill's wedding.

The service was in Morrisburg, close to where Nick grew up


Jill and her new husband, Rob

Nick knew the bridesmaids as well, from highschool and his early university years

We had a really nice time - lots of drinking and dancing

And afterwards, at Ken and Sandie's, playing with the kittens

The next weekend, my Uncle Mike and Aunt Lori, and cousins Tristan and Zach, visited from Davis, California.

(Tristan, Mike, Lori, Nick and Zach)

They were doing a tour of Boston - Quebec City - Ottawa, in part to visit the Chateau Frontenac, where my Grandma grew up (her father was the manager), met and married my grandfather

We had another critical mass, this time with a unicyclist


And then, at the end of July, we went to Montreal.

We spent possibly the hottest day of July at La Ronde, the theme park, with (from the left) Pat, me, Nick, Jeff, Sandra, Chris, Sandie, Cristina, Derek and Steve. Julie was also there, but is not in this picture.


Most of them braved the teacup ride - my stomach is not settled enough for it

Chris, Sandra and Steve are on there somewhere


I did the merry-go-round with Nick. (And some others!)

That evening, we visited with old friend Nic Hammond and his girlfriend Lauren


The next day we had brunch at Nick's grandparents with all the family - I don't have any pictures of that. Lots of swimming.


Back in Ottawa, Nick got in some bike polo (which is still going on, in January, in Ottawa - the weather is so mild)


We had dinner at our neighbour, Micheal's. I ate steak!


And we had a going-away party


Chris and Sandra came (see the pipe behind them - that's the rat's tunnel, leading from one cage to the next)


And our long lost friend Dave


Then, only a day or two later than planned, we got on the bus for Vancouver. It was a 66 hour trip, and though we were delayed several times in Ontario, and once in Alberta, we made it into Vancouver almost on time. Thank goodness for Sudoku, easy to read novels, and Nick and I both being pretty small.


Unfortunately this is the only picture we took. Northern Ontario (that's a mosquito holding the man)

In Vancouver, we went for a hike with Nick's aunt Marilyn and brother Derek, who was in town for a conference.


It was beautiful



We also had a dinner with my family to celebrate Russell and Jane's wedding anniversary. We watched a video of their wedding, and all learned new things about the day! We don't have any photos of that though.



Then we were on the ferry to Victoria - thinking our journey had ended. We weren't quite aware of the Victoria housing market...

But we did eventually find a place, when all hope seemed lost. And it has worked out very nicely. It is only a couple blocks from the ocean, and the Ross Bay Cemetary, one of the most famous cemetaries in the country. But that will have to go in another post!