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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

A day at the beach? Not quite...

In fact, pretty much the opposite. Late March in the Ottawa area can be a mixed bag, so we knew we might experience pretty much anything during our two week visit. However while we were hoping for at least March or possibly even April type of weather, instead we are getting what is typically January weather.

But, we have to bear with it, so we still went out for a 5 km (3 mile) walk.

The daytime high temperature was about -7C (19F) and it was windy. Clear blue sky though, so at least it's bright and sunny.

The village of Galetta is home to about 400 people. It's located about a 45 minute drive west of the city of Ottawa, which is of course the capital of Canada.

There are no commercial businesses here except for a livestock sale barn. There used to be two churches, but they have both been sold and renovated into private homes.

This used to be the United church. Now, a private home.

And this used to be the Anglican church, also now a private home. Ruth and I were married in this church!

Ruth, and the old railway bridge at Galetta over the Mississippi River. No, not the Mississippi River. The Canadian one.

Brrr!

So no, we didn't have a day at the beach.

However, maybe when we get to Nova Scotia next week, we can have a day at the beach! Of course Nova Scotia has been hammered by snow and winter weather this season, and it's not over yet. They were having yet another snowstorm on Sunday, and so our daughter and family decided they were due for a day at the beach.

They closed all the curtains, so they couldn't see this...

More snow in Nova Scotia. They've had something like 10 feet so far this winter! 

And they put on their swimsuits for a day at the beach. The kids loved it!

Our daughter Lindsey, husband Justin, and Cameron and Sadie. Enjoying a trip to the beach!

Can't enjoy hiking right now, so I'm having my own distraction from the cold by reading a book. I'm only about a quarter of the way through, but it's pretty good and I'm enjoying it...



24 comments:

  1. OK well, I guess bringing a truck load of sand into the house would have been a bit of an issue, but the beach program looked like fun.

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    1. Even if they wanted to bring in a truckload of sand I think they would have had a hard time getting any from under all that snow! ;-)

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  2. I wondered how your family in Nova Scotia was coping, we keep hearing horrible weather things about the Maritimes on TV. A day at the beach sounds like a good mental health day :)

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    1. They are surviving but I am pretty sure they will be happy to see all that snow disappear! They day at the beach sounds like it worked wonders for them.

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  3. Has the old railroad bridge in Galleta (across the mighty Mississippi, no less!) been converted into a bike path yet? That book Kevin is reading was made into a movie last year.

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    1. Nope it still gets used once a week for deliveries to a company in Arnprior. Apparently it is cheaper for their deliveries than trucking the supplies.

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  4. HAHAHA...love the day at the beach. Love their sense of adventure.

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    1. Yep, they have a good sense of adventure, humor and imagination!

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  5. Keep warm is good. At lot of community centres and or arena have indoor walking tracks, free. Not exciting but can still get some walking in, I have been about 3 miles a day or so. Better than nothing.
    Reading is good to with good books and we have plenty.

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    1. The route we walked was totally clear of snow so other than the wind it was a great walk.

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  6. Beach day, cute. When we lived in Upstate NY (about an hour from Buffalo, 10 miles below Lake Ontario) we celebrated my sons 5th birthday with a beach party. It was end of December. We had the kids bring swimsuits, decorated the basement up all beach like, had them bring towels, cranked up the heat and had beach themed activities. It was a blast!

    Are you in your rig?

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    1. Noooooo! Too cold for that! We flew up here and left the motorhome in Vegas. We return there on April 14th.

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  7. Replies
    1. Nope, they will have to wait for warmer weather until they come out again! ;-)

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  8. looks a tad chilly back east! but that 'beach' looks fabulous!

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    1. Actually it is colder here in Ottawa than it is out east, they just have a ton more snow! We loved hearing about their beach day and had a good chuckle over it.

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  9. very creative fun for the kids.....Like the brrr picture. at least the suns out....

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    1. Lindsey has a great imagination when it comes to activities with the children!

      Yep, it sure was cold but we know it is only temporary so we are Ok with it.

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  10. Bit sad, Churches being sold off - must seem funny seeing your wedding church turned into a residence - It is happening here as well in the country towns...loved the beach day - what fun for the kids

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    1. There are quite a few churches now that have been turned into houses and most have been done really well. They are usually churches that are in small communities where the population can't support the cost of keeping them open.

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  11. With just the title name it has drawn my attention. I'm going to check it out. Enjoy the sunshine! Today 30C, at least for another day and then rain this weekend with lows around 10C

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    1. Yep, it sure wasn't a day at the beach in Canada but with a little imagination.... ;-)

      Sounds like you are getting a mixed bag of weather there.

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  12. Great idea! The beach --
    You too look like you are enjoying it there, even if it does look cold!

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    1. We are enjoying ourselves and we are not letting the cold weather change that! :-)

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