Monday, July 18-Monday, July 25: Off the waterway and onto the roadway.

On Sunday evening July 17, we learned of the death of a distant family member back in Maine. Jean was Wally’s 2nd cousin; he was one of the few of her living relatives. After she struggled six years ago with a complicated series of health issues, Wally and I began taking responsibility for her welfare. Now at her death at age 88, it fell to Wally and I to put her estate affairs in order. We arranged for Summertime to spend a week or two at Ontario’s Port of Orillia Marina. By Monday night we were in a hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. That drive along the St. Lawrence River Valley had lifted our spirits. Handsome farmhouses, barns and multiple silos dotted the landscape while rolling fields of ripening grains created a quilted pattern as far as the eye could see. After clearing customs on the Vermont border, we found ourselves surrounded by the breathtaking granite and evergreen peaks of the Green Mountains, soon followed by the equally stunning peaks of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. By Tuesday noon we arrived at Jean’s home in central Maine. Thankfully Wally’s sister made her nearby cottage at the lake available to us for overnight accomodations. By Friday we had taken care of all that Jean’s situation would allow us to do. With a long week-end ahead of us, we drove north to visit as many friends and family members as we could squeeze into three days. “Nan and Pop... promise us you will never go away in the summer again!!” rang in our ears. Getting back to Bottle Lake and our sweet Emily and Bailey was on the top of the list. How can a six and nine year old grow so fast? We relaxed and enjoyed watching Erin and Brett ably taking care of camp upkeep. It seems that we are passing on the torch... hurrah!

Fellow Cruisers Tricia and Rob

Competitive game of UNO

Erin and Bailey---Brett and Emily

Created by Darcy O Campbell