Summer Fun

So time seems to be slipping away, and summer is almost half over already…sorry to be the bearer of bad news to those in denial, though I guess it could be argued that celestially summer has readily just started (June 21) and will continue to September 22, but I am not in the mood to argue.

Since the last update life has been busy. Simon continue to grow at astonishing speeds, develop cognitively and interact with us more each day. Being a parent is pretty cool. We went camping for the first time with him two weeks ago. The destination was Salmon Arm, the company was Ian and Emma, Kerstin and Chuck (Derrick), and the activity was Mt. Biking. All in all it was a great weekend, Simon adjusted well to being put outside his comfort zone and routine, we made Derrick puke (or Chuck) while riding, and while Ian’s parents are convinced that we pushed him too hard, it could be a result of some questionable Tim Horton’s grease that morning. We met Tess and Loїc at the trail head and rode the Salty Dog Enduro race course, with an added loop at the top. It was a perfect skill level for everyone. The boys got to rip and have a lot of fun, and the girls had fun challenging themselves on the technical downhill. I believe that Emma can be quoted as saying that it is the “best trail ever”.

Outside of that one trip, there hasn’t been that much happening. I continue to ride a few times a week, and have been entertaining and stimulating Simon with outdoor experience as much as possible. This last weekend was a scorcher, so we explored Fintry on Saturday, hiking shorts creek and swimming its pools and relaxing at the Fintry Dog Beach on Okanagan Lake. On our way back into town thermometers were reading 37 degrees at 5:30pm. DAMN! On Sunday we spent the day with the Friend family. Jill arrived in town after spending another year in Singapore, and travelling the world on her time off from teaching. Julie taught us all how to surf behind the boat, and I got reacquainted with wakeboarding after at 12 year hiatus. It took some time, but I managed to at least remember how to come close to clearing the wake, and rattle my brains when I bailed time and time again. As for the surfing, well I got up, but I can’t claim that I was proficient enough to surf without using the rope as a lifeline when I started falling off the back of the wave. Julie showed us all how it was done, making it look easy, and inspired me to surfing when we go to Westport at the end of the month. The only problem there is that catching the wave there will be a hell of a lot more work beating you way through the surf only to get thrashed on the way back in. At least last weekend, the boat pulled you right up into the wave and you were surfing right away.