Started the day with a run/walk along the river to the covered bridge one of the last remaining covered bridges in Ontario. This one is a pedestrian bridge and it marks the start of the Eramosa Trail which meanders along the river.

We then went to watch little Heath have a swimming lesson at the Guelph university pool before going to breakfast at ‘eggcetera’

We then explored a nearby shopping mall before visiting Mat & Heath where the boys had a play together

and then the city centre but it was a bit hot in the city (30 degrees) so headed home after an hour there.

Mat, Michelle & Heath around for dinner tonight

Today we ventured 20k down the road to Elora for some tubing through Elora Gorge. We expected the park to be busy and there be heaps of tubers but we were the second car there and it was a pleasant, uncrowded float through the gorge and down some rapids. Apparently the water level was low but it didn’t detract. It took a bit over a hour to float from launch to the end.

Then lunch and a wander through Elora township and nearby gorge cliff top walk. A lovely little ‘touristy’ town. I can imagine it being packed in summer holidays.

It was to much for Hendrix

A hot afternoon (28 degrees) so spent the evening dining in at our accomm with Mat, Michelle & Heath.

Transit day. 330kms. Left our lovely lakeside air b&b about 9:30am. Quick visit to see Mike & Carol and say goodbye and we were off to Guelph,, a university city SW of Toronto. Nice easy and quiet driving until we got to the 401 the main highway to Toronto. Speed limit 100k/h but that only seems to apply to trucks?? I drove generally at 115k/h and was consistently passed🤷‍♂️. We witnessed two incidents early on this drive. A car locked up in front of us to avoid hitting an F250 backing out of a driveway and a truck took a cars mirror off turning into the 401. We stopped again at Trenton ONroute for a break and we’re at Guelph by 3:00. We checked out Mat & Michelle’s condo then checked into our own accomm at 4:15. Dinner at Cornerstore (vegetarian) then back to settle into accomm. Tomorrow we explore.

Started the day with. Kayak across the lake before anyone else got up. Only 2.6km but it felt longer.

At midday Mike took us up to the hunting camp at Arden about 30km away where he has recently built a ‘bunky’ he can use on hunting trips. Between Mike his brother-in-law and his father-in-law they own about 260 acres of bush property on which they hunt deer and black bear. We took a drive over some of it and checked out his brother-in-laws renovation of the old house on the property. This place was pretty ramshackle last time I was here but a nicely restored house now. Saw a couple of deer (doe) on the way home.

On our return to the lakehouse Mat, Justin, Quade and I went for 9 holes of golf at Rideau Lakes Golf Course. 5:20pm start and 28 degrees so a sweaty round of golf. Encountered a couple of turtles and a few squirrels on course

While we were golfing Denise braved a drive into Westport. Her first drive in a left hand drive car on the right hand side of the road 👏👏

We made a visit to nearby Perth today (30 odd kilometres away) to return the wedding caterers bowls and plates and to have a look around the town. Population Approx 6,500. The town was established as a military settlement in the early 1800’s. Many of the settlers after that were Scottish stonemasons and as a result there are plenty of impressive stone buildings in the town.

Spent the afternoon on the lake kayaking, rowing the little dingy, swimming and then sitting around the fire pot roasting marshmallows and watching the sun set. 21 degrees at 8:45pm. Nice, but it’s also when the mosquitos come out.

Actually woke at a ‘normal’ time this morning so I think the body clock has finally adjusted. It’s a beautiful calm morning so I started the day with a short walk and then a paddle on the lake before anyone else got up.

Mid morning Mike and Carol came round in the pontoon boat and we went for a cruise around the lake. Some pretty impressive lakeside ‘shacks’ to be seen

Then a swim and a lazy around on the pontoon

Then a bbq at Mike & Carols for dinner with a visit by Mr Racoon. Very pleasant day. 👍

A lazy post wedding day. Late morning we went around to the cottage to catch up with Casey, Kate & Levi before they left for home and to help Mike take down the shade tent we’d use for the wedding

Then we headed into Westport to find a laundromat. While the washing was happening we went up to Foley Mountain for a short walk and views over Westport from Spy Rock lookout.

The afternoon and evening was spent at the Lakehouse lazing about, playing games, eating and drinking.

After three years of planning and two cancellations Mat & Michelle finally had their wedding day. Original plans were to marry in Canmore BC where they met but Covid put an end to that plan. So wedding venue was lakeside at Michelle’s dads cottage near Westport Ontario. Lovely setting and a great family get together. Like Mike said in his speech ‘an international family summit meeting’ 🤣. It was a pleasure to welcome Michelle into our family.

Mat had organised golf this morning for the boys at the nearby Evergreen Golf Club. It was a great little 9 hole course. We played the first nine and had a few laughs before reviewing the round over a couple of beers. We were entertained for a while by a friendly 72 year old American guy who’d been coming to this area from Pennsylvania all his life.

The afternoon was spent at a local vineyard with the extended family where we enjoyed local wine and tasty kiln fired pizzas. All the little cousins got to meet and play together

A lazy day at the Lazy Loon Lakehouse Air B&B. It a bit windy today but not cold. In fact there is a tornado warning out for this area.

Mike pick us up mid morning for a cruise around the lake in the pontoon boat. It was a challenge to dock at the pontoon due to the wind but we boarded safely and picked the calm side/end of the lake for a nice little 40 min cruise back to Mike’s cottage.

After a visit into Westport we settled into an afternoon by the lake and to sit out the threatening weather that never eventuated.

Mat arrived from work about 6:30pm and we had a pleasant evening sitting around the fire pot by the lake.