Goodbye to Kars

This is a very short entry, but it deserves a special place as it occupies a special niche in the hearts and lives of my sister and brother-in-law. This historic home has been the heart of their family for almost 45 years. Its history belongs to my brother-in-law as he is the historian in the family. But 4 of their 5 children were born while living here, and their entire married years for the past half century have been etched into the structures and grounds of this village corner in Kars. Their children have grown, attended the village school, played along the banks of the river and their grandchildren now also live in the village and are are poised to live the same rich life as their mother and grandparents.

The house as seen from the carriage house and lot across the street.

The carriage house and house in the background.

The peaceful river scene taken from the foot of the garden lot.

This house has a wonderful kharma, it was a pleasure to spend the time in it that we did, having dinner around the table that once graced our own grandparent's dining room many decades ago, enjoying tea, conversation and much laughter in the midst of children and grandchildren.  It has been a pleasure indeed.

The Tale of Two Sisters

My older sister and I have been living vast distances apart for many years (Ontario and BC). Despite the long separations, we both have been delighted to find a lot of common ground, being both very opinionated, very silly (at times) and profoundly attached to family.  We are here sitting in my sister's backyard (behind the historic carriage house for some ancient buggy) which is across the street from their house and fronts onto the Rideau River for the purpose of our husband's taking our official photos. As you can see, we can't resist the opportunity to ham it up a bit...

This one has to be the classic shot. Who knows what made us giggle and grimace??

Inside their house across the street, my sister's husband Cameron cooked up a feast for all the family. Only Kathryn's Flora was absent due to work demands. On the left is her grandson Cameron, daughter Alexandra, son John and granddaughter Sydney. On the right side is Simon (Flora's husband), Rick, me and Heather (John's partner).

This photo we have Alexandra, John, Barbara (Flora's twin so if you have seen Barbara you don't need to see Flora) and Cameron at the end.

This was our last day in Kars, and all the family really enjoyed celebrating together. We hope for another visit soon, hopefully next time on Gabriola. The years pass by so quickly and the memories we make now are those we will pass on to our children and grandchildren (and great-grandchildren!). I have a great sense of pride to see so many of our mutual family doing so well, living in such harmony and making such wonderful lives of their own. Many thanks to family in Hampton and Kars and dear friends along the way for making this our greatest adventure to Ontario yet...Bye for now, but hopefully we will see all of you again and soon. Love to all.  Rick and Barbie

Cruising past the Parliament Buildings

We had a free morning so after breakfast we decided to take a very quick trip into Ottawa to see the Parliament Buildings. Kars is only half an hour away...we descended into the city along the Rideau Canal

We shot through some very pleasant residential areas....

Saw more of the canal....

Arrived into the hustle and bustle of central Ottawa....

Ended up at the War Memorial and had to turn one way or the other...

Ended up in the wrong left turn lane and got here, with a bird's eye view of the Parliament Buildings...

After cruising around following various signs, we ended up in the lane directly in front of the Parliament Buildings following a very slow bus, so had ample time to start snapping photos...

One last photo of the Supreme Court of Canada and we shot free of downtown and zoomed back to Kars. A very profitable morning for us to cruise through and past the main buildings.

Trip Hampton to Ottawa

Here is a short travelogue about the route across southern Ontario to our capital city of Ottawa. The scenery is one taken from my childhood as my parents had a cottage north of Norwood at Stoney Lake and my sister and I spent a summer holiday at a cottage near Marmora and a farm near Havelock...the countryside is lovely and rolling and we pass through various small traditional Ontario villages en route.

The architecture changes as we reach the Rideau Valley south of Ottawa, including both stone and log buildings.

Late in the day we pull into the Shady Cedar Campground, a few miles away from my sister and brother-in-law's home in Kars, south of Ottawa on the Rideau River.

Lost in the Canadian Bush

Here we sit at Geraldton, Ontario in the heart of northern Ontario. People here speak French even though all the signs are in English and I keep forgetting and trying to chat to people in English. They seem OK with that. Anyway, the internet connections are very very difficult and we are not able to post any photos. We are hoping to find a camp spot in the next day or two that will work for this purpose. So please be patient and wait for the next installment. Also be forewarned that our day traveling through Manitoba also will not have internet so all the reports from here to home will be spotty. Camping in Canada is a more traditional kind of experience than perhaps to that great modern country to the south, and such things as internet are not always thought of as essentials. We are enjoying this part of the trip through northern Ontario bushland as neither of us has ever seen it before and it is quite an adventure. It impresses on one the remarkable thing about this entire country which is it's massive size and formidable challenges in geography and climate and the admirable way it handles all of that. Makes one proud.

So hope to see y'all soon, but know that we are safe and enjoying the experience...love from Rick and Barbie xxx

Family celebration

Nicole and Richard hosted a wonderful family celebration for us on Saturday. It was a chance for his family to come together and we all enjoyed it immensely. The weather was perfect and Richard exhibited his ultimate culinary skills on the BBQ. Rick and I thought it was the absolute best way to celebrate our anniversary with all the family together.

The three first cousins. Richard and Malcolm meeting their first cousin Edward for the first time. A lot of male bonding happened and we hope more interaction in the future!

Richard is the BBQ King. The burgers were the best.

Sitting around under the shade of the tree: Nicole's mom Suzanne, Richard's mom Pauline, Richard's grandfather Dick and standing is Richard's grandmother Anne.

Pauline with her beautiful granddaughter Rachel...

Richard's grandparents Dick and Anne, just back from a river cruise in Europe and keen to get in some baby-Rachel-cuddle-time.

Nana Anne with Rachel.

Rick and I cutting the cake.

Family shots: Richard and Rachel, me, my nephew Edward and oldest son Malcom (Richard's father).

The whole shebang: Nicole, Richard and Rachel, me, Edward, Malcolm and Rick.

The four generations: baby Rachel held by her father Richard, grandfather Malcolm on right and great-grandmother in the middle (me).

Me with nephew Edward.

First cousins Edward and Malcolm.

Relaxing after the BBQ in the backyard....

The traditional Ontario fire pit and marshmallows. No kid gets too old for this! The three cousins continue their group discussion, lots of fun and laughter...good times!

It was the very best day, and the family BBQ turned out to be the highlight of the trip so far, and for this we give thanks to everyone who came and participated and added their energy to the group...we hope to see everyone again, perhaps some of you on the west coast?? All my love to everyone who shared the day....and those of you who are reading it now.

Family time and the Bowmanville Family Zoo

The days are passing far too quickly. We decided to spend some downtime around the house with Nicole and baby Rachel.

 Molly and Rachel seemed to really enjoy the fire pit in the backyard.

 Somebody likes hats...

 

And shoes!!

 

 Aussie just likes to snore.

 So we decided to visit the local Bowmanville Zoo. It is a leafy outdoors space with a lovely park-like feel to it.

 Rachel helps Nicole feed the Llamas.

 The Joiner family feeding some exotic bovines...

 Later we went for Mexican food in the village.

 

Rachel with her Grandpa Rick

 

This afternoon we are resting in the camper for a bit while outside it is thundering and raining. Tomorrow is our 40th anniversary with a number of family invited to share the celebration. It should be a bit busier than today...til then, adios to all our friends and family reading our little travel blog.