Father's Day on the Bruce

Presumably Justin & Sherry have finished the move into their new apartment in Shanghai. I say this because Kathy was/is such an integral part of the move's success. I had Skyped with her on Friday morning prior to the move on Saturday.

Here on the Bruce, Father's Day morning, Sunday morning, the Lutomski's and Thuerig's and your dad will travel to Cape Chin for a Sunday brunch celebration; no kids from any of the families.

The water story never seems to end. Here is a shot into the bush just off the road. There are ponds and ponds of standing water. And yes, there are black flies. I use plenty of DEET, cover up in a broad brim hat and wear a flannel shirt, long pants and long sock. So far so good.

Wild flowers are going through their spring evolution. We had yellow lady slippers when we were up over Memorial day weekend that held out their shoe for us to peek into. Here we have the brilliant reddish orange tiger lily, alone and in triplets. I find them along the roadways and hydro lines where they receive the full benefit of the sun.

This morning the flag across the way hangs limp, yet, through the open sliding glass door there is a breeze, a pretty chilly breeze as a matter of fact. The wind is from the Northwest, right off the Lake, Lake temperature still at 10 Celsius.

Yesterday there was a windsurfer coming from down the Bay. He had on a bib wetsuit and no life jacket. I wondered, after the paralysing shock from cold immersion, would he end up like a partially empty bottle floating on the water, head down and the buoyant leg and feet section sticking out of the water? I wondered, how could I rescue him? Drive over to Bill's, get his aluminum boat, hopefully the motor not disabled, putting on my life jacket, bringing one for the windsurfer. What? Maybe 20 minutes? According to the US Coast Guard immersion tables, in 50 F degree water (10 degree Celsius), 20 minutes would be at the upper limits of survival if he hadn't already drown. Maybe its tempting the wrath of the gods, but, we could use a little global warming up here right now. My mother told me about summers when she would be at the cottage after her school year, and she would have a fire to keep warm every day. Anticipate, prepare, enjoy.