A BUNCH OF B'S FOR THE LAST DAY BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

There are a lot of things I thought we would do this summer, but 2 and a half weeks traveling up the St Lawrence and hanging out in Winnipeg, make up shifts to allow for the former, swimming lessons and play dates all added up to the summer vacation ending sooner than anyone had hoped. So today's ambitious plan was to bike, walk my favorite boardwalk, and hit the beach with a high of 30, with our first gelato of the  summer. I know, I know, but better late than never.

 So we started late, due in part to my slow start, need for weekend waffles (I know, it's Monday, but any day I don't work and my kid doesn't have school is a weekend in my mind), and an elaborate village of Barbie's, Littlest Pet Shops and other sundry characters. So by the time I pumped up the tires, and found my roller blades, we were having hummus, naan and crudités for lunch at the beach.

BIKE

I only took the long way to get lost once, and we "circled" the oval track until my daughter was hungry.

BEACH

Off to the beach another long way, this time with construction, and a gale force northern wind blew with 95% cloud coverage. We ate with a pair of doves, climbed the vacant lifeguard chair, and rediscovered the Canadian fact of bodies of water- no mater how cold it is to start, once you acclimatize, any shallower water will feel warm in contrast, and that is how you end up running in and out until your rolled up pants are wet and you are having a great time until bordering on hypothermia again. How can it feel 30 sheltered in the sun, and 10 minus windchill when on the beach?

Summer tan on a beach

Dendritic pattern on the beach ?thunder strike 

Parc Ile Bizard

BOARDWALK

Then, onto the boardwalk where we saw ducks and geese and painted turtles and a baby beaver (or a muskrat- I couldn't be sure) and frogs and albino snails and all sorts of crazy skimmer bugs and dragonflies in the Parc on Ile Bizard (how bizarre, to name an island Bizard Island). I love the wetlands, and this boardwalk through the marsh has become a special place to me that I was thrilled to share with my daughter.

Baby Painted Turtle

Close up

Beautiful beetle

Dragonfly

How to find a turtle, or a frog? Look for the eyes.

A perfectly packed day, with a bath and specially requested homemade Mac and Cheese for supper eaten out on the back deck in lovely weather in order to provide the perfect first meal for tomorrow's lunch!