Days 27 and 28 - Ottawa

Friday I took a quick ride on the bike and cleaned up a bunch of loose ends around the coach. About an hour before we were scheduled to depart for our reunion at Joe and Francis Crepin's in Arnprior, the sky opened up and we experienced a real "gully washer" with the associated thunder and lightning. Dixie was apoplectic as usual. And unlike Florida thunderstorms, this one hung on - the rain continued after the front passed. After an hour or so it lightened up and we finally headed up the Ottawa River to Arnprior.

Joe and Francis had planned the reunion with several of our oldest friends: Don and Dianne Rioux, Peter and Mary Mayo, John and Doris Davidson and Dennis and Dianne Debroy. All were met when we were golfing members at Rivermead Golf Club in the mid 80's. As it happens, we were also celebrating three birthdays and an anniversary. Not bad timing!

A great time was had by all with terrific feast, complements of Francis and Joe. The ribs were great as was the chicken. For dessert, Key Lime pie and Black Forest cake! All went home a few pounds heavier - and a whole lot happier!

Saturday, I returned to the Hunt Club for a repeat beating. This time I played with old friends Peter Foley, John Hryhorchuk and Steve Cant. Steve and I took on Peter and John and had them on the ropes until the 17th hole. Nothing more needs be said, but I am $4 poorer!

The Hunt is in wonderful shape and it was good to see more of my old friends during the day. Returning to the coach, I put the bike back on the lift in preparation for our departure on Monday and gave John Davidson a tour of the coach - and a beer of course!

Later Suzanne and I headed into town for an evening together. We went to one of our old watering holes, Al's Steak House on Elgin Street for happy hour, then out West to the Boston Pizza on Hunt Club Road. We always liked their Pizza, and nothing has changed - just had the last two slices for breakfast - aah, cold pizza for breakfast!

Today, we are off the see Suzanne's nephew, Christian Duval and his wife Julie and son Destin, and later our sister-in-law, Vivian, at her house in Manotick. It will be a fitting ending to a most enjoyable week in Ottawa. We are sorry to be leaving, but looking forward to the next leg of our journey. Until then, Cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog (the latter two still sleeping!)