Another weekend

Upon realizing how little really appeals to us to keep us longer in the west, we decided to head for Thunder Bay and Janet’s before her weekend trip instead of after. We left our campsite this morning, breakfasted at a truck stop “family restaurant” and headed for the Manitoba border. We should be in the Bay tomorrow night or early Monday. After a couple of days’ visit, we shall return home – as before stated – either through Michigan or by way of Huntsville.At the moment, Barney and I are in the truck in the parking lot of the National Museum of the Royal  Canadian Army on the Shilo military base where Ed is enjoying military vehicles and artillery.I’ve spent a lot of time in the truck, more even than usual and that is a lot. It’s not horribly uncomfortable but it is difficult for me to get in and out of which often makes waiting here preferable to the alternative. Since the development of problems in my lower legs and feet, I have been careful to wallk more but – if that were easy – the problems would not have developed. I shall certainly have to pursue diagnosis and treatment of probable clots when I get home. Something to look forward to! Saskatchewan surprized me with its terrain even though the rolling hills eventually did give way to the iconic prairie. Looking at the map, I was surprized at the amount of water. Even here in the south the sloughs are numerous and the northern portion appears to be made up of equal amounts of land and water. Manitoba looks familiar, a lot like southwestern Ontario, in fact.                                                                                 ************************************* It is now late on Sunday evening, August 7 and we are settled in Janet and Ben’s basement for a night or two. We bypassed most of Winnipeg, camping last night just east of the city and coming straight through today, leaving the campground before 8:00 and stopping only briefly for breakfast and lunch. With the final time change, we got here at 7:00 p.m. and visited awhile with Janet, Ben, the children and Ben’s parents who were here. Ben’s Dad has been helping with staining the house’s clapboard. I’m very tired and we’ve decided to head home directly from here or as directly as a night in Sault Ste. Marie and a day’s drive through Michigan will allow. As much as I would like to visit Edna and, perhaps my son and his family, I know when I’ve had enough. We will likely leave here Tuesday morning and should arrive home late on Wednesday if all goes well. Perhaps I will get up to Toronto for an afternoon with Kelly soon to see Sean, Sherry and the children but we won’t see Edna until Thanksgiving. I’m not happy about that but the drive to and from Huntsville is more than I can face right now. I am looking forward to home, pets, family, friends and my studio. I have loved the vacation but am ready to be home. What a wonderful concept, “home”. Home is where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. That is true but how dreadful not to have a home to go to! Home may be what and where you make it but the idea of a safe haven to which to retreat is a precious one. Tonight I am grateful for home and the prospect of seeing it very soon.

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