Dinner on the patio!

 Thursday, July 14th – it was dinner, I guess, not lunch. But we didn't actually eat on the patio last week! 

I was sitting out back, having just weeded out some thistle from the yard, bend and stretch/bend and stretch, and put my feet up. As I sat there, the clouds rolled in. It was a light scattering of rain. It spit on my computer, taunting me to retreat, but I stayed there. Yes, it blew over. We'd planned to go out to dinner in Rideau Ferry, and I was still hopeful as the clouds passed over. Popcorn clouds, with pop up showers, gradually they moved on.

We debated the timing of it all. When we took the family out to CC's Rideau Ferry last week, we had to sit in the screened deck. The patio was full. We debated Thursday's lunch or dinner, and decided that 4 p.m. would be good timing. We both had lunch at 11:00 in order to be ready.

The Approach

There is new signage on the highway. I like it. I am often tailed driving here, where the speed reduces from 80 km/h to 60. It is a village. There are bridge repairs going on, and it is single lane controlled by the system. The drivers can be irritable, and gun the engines after being released from the traffic jam. 

Arriving at 3:50, I could hardly wait. I was prepared to wait for a patio table, too. Late for lunch, and unfashionably early for dinner. BINGO! We scored my favourite table! Happy Jenny! There were two other tables with patrons, and they left as we sat there in the sunshine. 

The View

We sat and enjoyed the sun and wind and water. Eventually, as predicted, the clouds rolled in. In the meantime we had spent a lovely hour and 10 minutes on the patio. JB with his virgin ceasar, me with my white wine. 

In the meantime, there was lots to watch, with the clouds blowing by.

It was lovely! The clouds rolled on by, the boaters came and went. The breeze blew, the afternoon was sweet. Across the way, there were people swimming, dogs playing. It was so peaceful. 

 We used to see this when we lived by the lake: a parent driving the watercraft, with the kid in front. This is illegal, as the kid is too young to drive, and shouldn't be there. OPP Marine patrols will nail them if they see them.

   

The Storm

By 5 p.m. the clouds rolled in. It was exciting! The geese slowly moved towards us as the weather changed. 

There they are! They aren't very close, but their lines are epic. (Reminds me of school field trips!) When the winds really blew, the geese headed back into the cove.

They have come a long way from wee goslings. (Archive photos)

geese at rideau ferry from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo:

Around 5 o'clock, the rain began. It was epic. There were, I think, vultures floating on the winds. dark clouds from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

People moved into the restaurant. The screened deck was full, with a big party. We never even thought of face masks, we were eating outside where we felt safe. Dinner done, spicy chicken tacos with a lovely tangy sauce and veggies. We hustled on home.

Traveling Family: Crete 

 Sunday morning we did Facetime with the kids. They are in a lovely airbnb in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Jos explained that they had to get up at 5:30 in order to be ready to disembark. They'd done laundry and were ready for more adventures.

The shower was quite different, they took us on a tour. There is only a hand held shower, in a small tub. They posted a photo of it later.

They visited Knossos (wiki)!

     "Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city. Settled as early as the Neolithic period, the name Knossos survives from ancient Greek references to the major city of Crete."

There were about 18,000 people living here around 2000 BCE, but it was abandoned around 1300 – 1100 BCE.