Pick-nick along the canal

Today was again a beautiful sunny day. Susan mobilized us all and brought a lunch out to "lock 3" where Ralph and Mary cycled, Sue brought the food and I brought Opa Vandenboom. 

Opa enjoyed watching one of the "Great Lakes" cargo ships enter the lock on its way to Fort Erie. I took the e-bike back with Ralph while Mary drove Opa back. We both got our exercise for the day. At home we still enjoyed some of the Fall sunshine.....

Nice Fall days

While the counting of election ballots continues in the USA, we have a few very nice Fall days. Along the Welland canal it is always nice cycling and walking, especially during these nice weather days. One of my stops today was at the South Niagara Rowing Club (see photo below). I had nice days there doing volunteer work during the years that Hilary did her rowing practices and races, now already 13-14 years ago. Time flies...

Another puzzle bites the dust

Mary found a 1,000 pieces puzzle in one of the local second hand stores. We started on it early last week and it was a challenging self-inflicted task. Sorting the pieces in the beginning makes the finding of fitting color by color easier.....

Mary joined the puzzling and I did most of the work while listening to the USA elections. What a crazy process it is this time in the middle of a country wide severe Corona pandemic. I am impressed by the details required to make the counting a transparent, fair and diligent process. It takes time this time, of course also because the race is again very close. 

Continuing the puzzling while following the USA election counting process now during three days. It is an amazingly complicated process, and people have to be asked to be very patient. Hopefully the folks will manage to keep their calm and accept whatever the outcome will be. Today we completed the new puzzle: mission accomplished on this one....

Mark & Carly's house

Carly and Mark took possession of their house this weekend and they have been busy fixing up the inside before moving in. Plenty of helpers. Especially the skilled assistance of "Uncle Tom" is great. Today Mary and I went to do a few small tasks. I ended up a few hours on my knees to take out nails of the old carpets + put a load of stuff in the trailer for the landfill. In the end there was a nice Indian take out meal. A productive day...

Still outside

Mary caught up with Maureen today and they did stay outside to be on the safe side. Warmly dressed and both with a heating pad under their butts....; it is certainly Fall weather, but still....
 

Thanksgiving 2020

As everything else this year, we celebrated Thanksgiving a bit different. Ralph and Susan set up a little tent in their backyard and we had a very nice late lunch there. Joe & Marcy & the boys stayed in Sarnia this time (corona virus infection rate is increasing again throughout Ontario), but Mark & Marcy did come from Toronto. They are pretty excited to move into their house in Stoney Creek in two weeks.
 

Electric bike

A few weeks ago Mary got herself an electric bike. The past few days I have been going on it for short rides to see if the cycling on this type of bike would still irritate my lower back as it has done in the past. It looks like this will be much better. The pushing of the pedals can now be much better regulated so less stress on the lower back. We might get one for me as well. The trees starting to get in their Fall colors already. The change of season certainly has started with lower temperatures and more rain.