East Coast 2010 - Gaspe Peninsula

After a brief delay due to a blown radiator in Kingston, we sped East and the holidays began in earnest. Rather than the usual turn east for New Brunswick, we carried on along the east bank of the St. Lawrence River, bound for the Gaspe Peninsula.

The scenery was stunning, and the camping was fabulous. Moreover, we learned that in a pinch, I can survive quite nicely en francais....at least as it pertains to procuring camp sites and ordering food and beer.

Forillon National Park was spectacular at the eastern tip of the Gaspe Peninsula, and much cheaper (actually, FREE!) in the offseason. The village of Perce and it's famous Roche (rock) weren't too shabby either.

Following the Bay of Gaspe, we wrapped around the peninsula after a few days and wandered into New Brunswick via the bridge at Campbellton.

Do you know the way to Gaspe?

Overlook at Grande Vallee

Campsite at Forillon National Park

The Perce Rock

Beach at Perce

Campground near Miramichi, NB

RAWK the COOP 3!!!

As is the custom, Rawk the Coop III officially got underway with the delivery of the porta-pottie. Light showers kept the first evening damp, but from there on out we were graced with glorious May weather - sunny and warm, with a light breeze to keep things pleasant.

A weekend of food and fun unfolded, with a BBQ feast one night and a fish and chip fry the next. In between, heated games of cards, Risk and ultimate frisbee kept us entertained before evening bonfires and relaxation.

No injuries (long term liver and kidney damage notwithstanding), nothing broken, and nobody cried. People even slept in tents.

Thanks to all who came out for yet another successful RTC!

So it begins...

Sign of the times

Jane scores a goal!

Point Taunya....unless they can catch that cup!

Mmmmmmarshmellows

The Gang around the campfire

Lightning crashes....

....an old motherboard dies.

The house got hit by lightning (quite a BAM! actually), and we're pretty sure the bolt hit the TV tower and came directly through the ethernet cable and fried both our router and computer. Clearly Mother Nature is savvy enough to avoid the six lightning rods that grace the house and barn....and hit our TV tower and internet dish instead.

With the gracious help of John and Julie, we tore down the old computer piece by piece, and rescued those parts that were not toast. In the end, we had to replace the motherboard, tower case and operating system, but thankfully the hard drive and it's data remained intact.

Back up and running (obviously!), and actually upgraded a little with Windows 7 a decided improvement over Vista. Also added a $9.99 wireless card to the desktop so that we are no longer physically connected to the ethernet.

Curious John and the Swapping of the Hard Drive

The leftover pieces of the old system

Dandelion Wine

Sure, there are already 14 wineries in this area...but I think I could establish a niche market by opening Ontario's first dandelion winery and marketing it to gullible tourists as the medieval drink of choice. We certainly have the dandelions for it....and the gullible tourists.

Rather than trying for VQA status, I am currently petitioning the Canadian Vintner's Association for the rights to establish the WQA (Weed Quality Alliance) designation for my wines. Currently accepting orders for 2011 delivery.

Also got the garden underway this weekend, with a two rows of green beans and three hills of cucumbers. It may be early yet so I'm going to hold there for now. Before tilling again for the third time (first time by hand and then two by electric tiller) I added some ashes from the fire pit to help break up the clay, and a bit of composted soybean waste from the nearby farmer's field. I even uncovered the strawberries (again!) to find that several are already in blossom!

The 2010 vintage - a fine year

Don't blink or you'll miss it - Jane cutting grass!

Freshly tilled and a few rows planted

Annoyed Jebus - apparently I was tipping off his hiding spot to the birds

In Bloom

Update on the home front - sure, we had daffodils....but now we also have tulips and a few cherry trees full of beautiful blossoms....and they smell pretty good too!

Tulips and Daffodils, living in Harmony

Cherry blossoms - I feel a Haiku coming on....

Visit to The County

A spring visit to Prince Edward County is always sure to please. Besides visiting my Grandmother and Uncle, we squeezed time in to walk the entire length of the 100-acre Cole farmstead, right back to the tenth field. Sure, there was some meandering around an overgrown tangle of a laneway and crossing Charlie Creek, but we made it right to the back. The place has been in the family since about 1850, so many a Cole have walked this ground.

Also managed to find time to visit Waupoos Estates Winery for some sampling, and grab some local cheese curd from Black River Cheese Factory, before taking the Glenora Ferry out of The County to visit my sister and family north of Kingston.

Country Roads....

Uncle Kevin's Workshop, aka The Barn!

Glenora Ferry from Lake on the Mountain above

The view from the ferry across the Bay of Quinte

April Showers bring...April flowers?

We had a few April showers over late Sunday and Monday, which only served to heighten the glorious daffodil bloom. Today was nice, and tomorrow is supposed to be even better - 27 C and sunny!

Working up the garden to prepare it for planting. Uncovered the strawberries - again - after threat of a light frost the other night. Trees are also exploding with leaves, even the downed Manitoba Maple also known as Living Lawn Art!

Gonna have to actually cut the grass soon. Even got the riding mower all fired up and running for the season. So it begins....

And the daffodils look lovely today....

Till we meet again, garden....

The Willow Weeps....for joy!

Holstein (aka Jebus) speaks his mind