I had a busy, but amazing week with work, friends and more friends!

He said

What is the best way to end a relaxing week at the trailer? Well… add in that there was some back and forth to London to get Emelia home for her busy work and social calendar. And… also add that part of the relaxing week away at the trailer including a couple of rain-filled days where the only time we really got a window of dry, we made a bee-line for the G2G rail Trail to get the daily rides in. But… After an amazing week away of relaxing (and as much as I am really laying it on thick here, it really was a great) without any alarm clocks, we did what we most certainly always do, we ended it with even more stuff—like a 40 km gravel bike race for me in picturesque Mansfield, On.

It really was an amazing week. Wednesday, we had an entire of day of rain. We did manage to get a seventy minute refrain that allowed us to get on the bikes and our ride done. As absurd as it sounded to Danielle, I was actually – at one point – considering driving back to London to get on the trainer to get the ride done. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that, but the rest of the day Danielle and I got to do something we hadn’t in a very long time which was be extra lazy and binge watch DVD’s that we have at the trailer for just these sorts of days. It felt so amazing to have what amounted to the laziest day we have had in a long time. We did manage to get a snippet of enjoying the fire pit – going back and forth from at the pit to under the awning. But it was enough, and quite actually ended up being a great day.

The rest of the week the weather kept getting better. Having burned the last of our wood, on Thursday it was finally time to get another load of wood from the local wood baron of Auburn. After our 26 km bike ride, we decided we hadn’t over-closed our activity rings enough, and spend two plus hours unloading and piling the wood much more neatly than it gets in the truck. You’d be surprised at just how much wood, a $45 pickup load of wood is. The rest of the day we earned our relaxing rings for sure! But we were happy to have graduated from the $8 bundles we picked up at the campground to have a load that will take us right to the end of camping season.

So, with the race today and needing to get Danielle and her eBike back from the trailer, we came back yesterday, so I could get ready and leave from the house early this morning. It gave Danielle the chance to hang out with the twins Mom at a neighbourhood party, as well as the chance to visit with a coworker today. All the while I was down in Mansfield taking in me to my fifth cycling race this summer! Had I not been a dummy and missed the window on Bluewater International Granfondo, I would have six events jammed into this season. Today was the Eager Beaver 40km Gravel Race put on by Substance Projects who I have heard nothing but great things about their events. My goal this year was to do at least one more race than last year,  and by my count, I have done two more than last year already. And there is still time left.

The race itself was a very fun but challenging course. There was for sure some spirit-crushing climbs—a couple where I actually found it better to get off and hike it a bit. There were also come crazy long and steep descents—one where I actually got up to 61 km/h and thought to myself that ‘if I wipe out on this, for sure there will be broken bones!‘. Thankfully I didn’t. The race started and ended at the Mansfield Outdoor Centre (a Ski Hill & Lodge) which as you can imagine had plenty of elevation in the neighbouring area. I managed to have a great day in the saddle and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! In the end I placed 8th in my Age Category  (51+ Male) and 35th overall. And I got to ride with my friend Andrew and make new biking friends to boot! By 1:30pm I was back in the truck and excited to be headed home where wings and beer would be ready for my supper.

It was the perfect way to end a week off work. But, the best part is that because my vacation didn’t start until 8:30pm last Saturday evening, I still have one more day off tomorrow. So one more day without an alarm clock and one where the agenda will still be a little more loose!

She said

With the stress and chaos of the last few months, this past week was something that we really needed. With our busy lives we do not get up to the trailer as much as we would love as a couple so this week off together was what we needed. We have hit the age when Emelia does not come to every camping trip but we were thrilled that between her busy social life and work calendar we were able to get up to the trailer for a few nights as a family.

My week off started a bit earlier as we talked about last week, we were able to spend time with our friends Suzanne and Chris and their son Ethan as well as fast visit from my sister and nephew. It was the perfect start of our week off. As the time off went on we did have to loop back into London for social stuff for Emelia as well as cheer training. The change in Emelia the last year is unrecognizable. There was a point about a year ago where she was determined to set her own worth, she sought out friendships and experiences that made her feel seen and valued. And once she decided she wasn’t going to settle for less she became a stronger person who really loved herself. So with that change grew her social life and the amount of friends she has not and all the plans has really blown up. And honestly we could not be happier for her. She is surrounded by people now who treat her with love and support. Her close friend group keeps growing and is folding in so many areas of her life. And her school friend group is getting bigger every day it seems, the girls love spending time together.

The one big change for Emelia is that she is now the social kid who invites her close friends to parties she is invited and she gets to introduce her friends to the other people in her life. On Monday we were back in town for a year-end softball party which was followed by a party at one of her friends from work’s house. They said she could invite some of her best friends so off Emelia, Anna, Grace, Sienna, Carys, Bree and Ashlyn went. The girls had such a great time and the laughs as I brought the girls to Bree’s house after for the night were infectious. The rest of Emelia’s week was filled with a few more parties and lots of time with friends between all her shifts at work. She is certainly living her best life now.

With Emelia happily set for the week with daily plans with friends John and I headed back to the trailer for the rest of our week off. It wasn’t really the same without Emelia there but we loved some one-on-one time together as well. We had a week of long bike rides, no alarms, and bonfires. My work has been very stressful lately so I really needed this break. I am glad that we got this much needed R&R. The week was what we needed with everything that we have been dealing with this year. The summer has flown by and I cannot believe next weekend is Labour Day weekend.

Yesterday we got home in time to spend a bit of time with Emelia before she was off to another party. John was getting ready for his race today so I went out with one of my close friends to a neighbours summer ending party. It was so good to connect with some neighbours as well as meet some genuinely amazing new people. There are already plans for a few other gatherings in the coming weeks. After years of being bubbled-up thanks to a global pandemic, I loved that I got to meet and connect with some great moms in our neighbourhood. I really needed that!

Today John was off to his race and I picked up Emelia from her friends place to get to work. I spent the day getting our life back in order and went to my friend Lauren’s place for the afternoon. I am excited to get back to work tomorrow and the insanity of the start of the school year.