Weekends

So I need to tell you all about the last two weekends here in Canada. I have got myself a nice cushy 8.30-4.30 reception job so for the first time ever I have the weekends off. And man have we been making the most of them!

Last night we got back to Toronto at 1am after a great weekend rock climbing at a beautiful place called Bon Echo. But more about that in a moment. Fist I need to tell you about the long weekend before that.

I managed to get myself invited along on a great canoeing trip with Adam, Peggy and four of their friends. We went to a lovely lake in Massasaugua and set up camp on a remote little camp site. The canoeing was a nice way to travel but with three people and gear in the Canoe I was glad to get to our camp site. We had a lovely couple of nights there playing cards (wizard is now my favorite card game), reading, swimming and eating. It was great. There was a slight worry about bears coming into the camp ground so I went to sleep with a canoe paddle and whistle right next to me in the tent. No Bear was going to get me without a fight. On Sunday night we watched the most amazing lightning storm which was happening on the other side of the lake. I have never seen such great lightning ever. It was huge fork lightning spreading across the sky like big angry hands…we sat out watching it was ages. The next day we quickly packed up camp and tried to get to the dock before the rain came down….we weren’t fast enough and got absolutely soaked. Thankfully it was warm and I really enjoyed being out in the big fat rain drops.

Now on to last weekend and Rock Climbing…..

Man it was a weekend of extremes.

First I was happy to be out of the city camping on the lake front with a great bunch of people. Then I was in awe by the sight of the cliffs rising hundreds of feet up from the lake. Then I was a little nervous when I started my first climb. Then I was scared repelling down after the climb. Then Saturday night I was having fun as we ate and drank and swam and went in the sauna and watched the stars. Then I reached my emotional peak half way through our climb on Sunday….I WAS PETRIFIED!!!!

I have to admit to being so scared that little tear’s kept squeezing out the corners of my eyes and my nose wouldn’t stop running. Though to my credit I didn’t have a big paddy and demand to be lowered down I bit my bottom lip and asked for some help. With a lot of coaching and squealing (more like grunting) from me I finally made it up the last 60m pitch to see the most amazing views from the top. Yhaaaaaa! That was the best feeling ever. Adam, Peggy and I finally got back to the dock about 6-7hours after leaving that morning. We were tired, hungry, dehydrated and sun burnt but I was the happiest I have been in ages!

Time for some pics
Much love
Jo

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