It's good to be back home

The Bob and Rudy travelling circus is back home after a 3 weeks trip thru New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, seeing family and friends.

The primary reason for this trip was to attend Heather's life celebration that was organized by her former club; the Ottawa African Violet Society, and was attended by a good cross section of our mutual friends... Some I  have not seen since we left Ottawa in 2006. Heartfelt thanks to all who participated, and hopefully you got to know my Heather a little bit more, who she was and what we accomplished together.  I would never be half the man I am today without her. For every successful man there is a great woman standing behind her man.

In preparation for this long trip I have been training Rudy to traveled in the car.
He wear a body harness and he is attached securely to the seat belt connector.
Doing so turns off the Air bag on the passenger seat.
He has enough room to turn in circle on his seat without being tangled up, thanks to the swivel connector. I normally put the AC on my side, crank up the temp on his side and sometimes turn on his seat heat :-)

Rudy slept most of the time while travelling

When he was cold, he went under his blankie

In our travels he has been introduced to numerous friends and relative's pets,

Rudy and my brother Michel's Slinky

Rudy has taken over Slinky bed and brought his blankie over

Went to have lunch where my nephew Alexandre work, a small restaurant bar in downtown old Beloeil by the waterfront.

The main building is the old flour mill.

 Look at the thickness of these walls 

While in Ottawa stayed at Claude and Wendy and attended Heather life celebration, organized by Maureen. Thanks a lot Maureen and all who pitched in to make it happened. Then it was off to Ken and Trish

Rudy playing with his new friend Wally at Ken and Trish place

Wally and Rudy greeting Ken back

Went to see a Baseball game with Ken and Trish

Trish, Ken and Bob

Play ball...!

Then it was off to Hamilton to see our eldest son Tim and Rachel, with stops in Kingston and Ajax along the way

Stopped at the Mac Naughlin woodworking museum in Kingston.  I was lucky to have the girls at the museum looked after Rudy so I could browse the museum. Rudy is quite a babe magnet :-) While in Kingston, had a short visit with Marty.  

My favorite room where you can play with some of the planes

A small sample of the collection, nose prints in glass...mine...

A typical French Canadian raised panel called " Pointe de diamand"

Rudy playing with Sunny, at Eric and Cory place in Ajax. 

Cory is a cousin of Heather

Me and Rudy in their backyard

Finally made it to Hamilton and spent some days with Tim and Rachel.

Will take the kids off to some sunny destination this winter, it will be a small family reunion with all the kids and their partners. 

Tim, Rudy and Rachel

On my way back to Ottawa made a stop in Trenton to go see Paul and Judy. They came recently to visit us, so reciprocated.
Back in Ottawa did a few more visits, Henry and Lorna, Jack and Cathy. Went to Carleton Place to see Eillen then Kevin in Renfrew

Kevin inside one of his shops, where he deals with vintage machinery

Made my obligatory stop(s) at Lee Valley flagship store in Ottawa ... of course :-)

Rudy wondering, do we have to stop here again??

Yes, I am the first in line before opening...

A part of the manufacturing building at Veritas

On my way out of Ottawa stopped in Almonte for lunch with Terry.

The newest LV store in Almonte, it is a boutique modeled after 

an original hardware store, very neat.

Then meet with Jean Claude on my way to Norm.

JC and Rudy

Finally made it to  Norm Pirollo where I had a lovely supper then made it back to Bourget to Claude and Wendy place overnite
Next day made my way back to Quebec, visit with my sister in Montreal.

Had a great lunch outside in Griffintown at a micro brewery

Did a caleche tour of old Montreal with Rudy and my sister Francine

 

Rudy think that the horse is a big doggy... :-)

Came across this crate in a market in old Montreal.

Ironically it is from where I came, the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, 

minutes from where i now live.

After a short stop at my brother Michel, it was off to Quebec city to visit my youngest brother Daniel in Beauport.

Arriving back in my old stumping grounds, 

Beloeil on the south shore of Montreal

Arrived at my brother Daniel in Beauport

Daniel and Rudy besides his new toy... Mercedes SLK

After that it was off to New Brunswick to see another of Heather's cousin, Cathy and Maurice and their doggy Miky in St-John NB, then stayed overnite with Laura in Moncton then visit with Ray in Cap Pele NB and made our way home.

Miky and Rudy

All in all a whirlwind tour, thousands of Kilometers driven, one oil change and no pot holes. Both the car and Rudy traveled well, we are both tired but happy to have seen so many. To those that we could not accommodated in our travels, we will see you again soon.

Now I have a small pile of stuff to attend to, from my travels :-)

   

Planes, saws, handrill, jointer fence, etc etc...

My next blog entry would be about Gerhard's new hand drill 

North Bros No 1445

The Bob and Rudy traveling circus is back in town