It’s Saturday morning and we’re towing our brand new - actually used - 2003 Sea Ray boat to the cabin. As we lurch along highway 99 Bill asks me, “So do you love the boat?”

“It’s nice,” I reply.

“What do you think?” I ask him back.

“Ummm, it’s OK,” he says.

And there you have it. We have just bought a new boat and we’re not excited. What’s worse - we both know it. Suddenly, a chrome blue Mastercraft wakeboard boat pulls along beside us. Its hulking frame dwarfs our little 17 foot Bowrider. “Now there’s a boat!” we both exclaim. It’s clear we’ve bought practical when what we’re both craving is something fun and totally irresponsible.

Seeing the Mastercraft sail on down the highway is like watching the cool, cute looking guy walk on by. Even at 42 I still want to be cool and apparently so does my husband. When it comes to boats - looks matter.

Don’t get me wrong our Sea Ray is a beautiful boat - a very distinguished, well coiffed lady. Our neighbour describes her as sleek, with beautiful lines. I gotta agree, she’s absolutely right. But I’m still feeling a little disappointed, that is until I take her for her first test drive and that’s when it starts to happen.

Initially, I like the way she handles. I’ve never driven a boat with power steering. Then, as I gently eased the throttle down, there’s no hesitation. We’re practically gliding across the water - her weight holds us steady and minimizes the bumps from the other boats’ wakes.

By Sunday at about 5 p.m. I’ve fallen in love - the Mastercraft’s long forgotten. Our new boat’s like a cougar -she’s been around the block and has got a few miles on her, but like any mature woman it only adds to her character.

This is the start of a beautiful relationship.

Cheers,

Julie

Despite missing the 8:30 a.m. sailing by 6 cars, we still managed to arrive at the cabin in pretty good spirits largely due to the weather.

Saturday’s temperature hovered around 28 degrees celcius when we finally pulled up to the lake. It was downright hot, so hot, our neighbours, who were in swimming with their kids (they had wet suits on) invited us to join them. Declining their invitation, we quickly got to work unloading the car and opening up the stifling cottage.

This past weekend was the kind of weekend you could only dream about. It was hot and sunny. The lake was flat calm on Sunday - perfect for wake boarding and yes, I donned my wet suit and went for a ride.

We kicked off Happy Hour season Saturday afternoon on Jan and Stew’s deck. It’s hard to believe eight months had passed. We pick up right were we leave off, although everyone’s kids are about a foot taller than when we last saw them, and some are heading off to university in the fall.

I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the cottage season. It was awesome.

Please drop me a line and tell us about your opening up weekend.

Cheers,

Julie

This weekend signals the start of our pilgrimage back and forth to the cabin. Opening and closing weekends are the more arduous ones due to the amount of stuff we seem to lug back and forth. Invariably, I’ll think of something I’ve forgotten, usually once we’re on the ferry.

In an effort to be more organized this year, I’ve created a check list - which I will be posting on the side of this page. Hopefully this will help me, and maybe you, get it all together and to the cottage.

Cottage CheckList:

• Assured Loading Pass for the ferry/ferry schedule
• DVD Player
• Cell Phone Charger
• Camera
• Kid’s activity bag (crayons, animal activity books, cards)
• Sunblock
• Bedding/Laundry
• Hats, flip flops, raincoats
• Cleaning supplies - vinegar, Method all purpose, baking soda, paper towels
• Weed wacker
• Tool Kit
• XM radio/iPod/Portable Speakers
• Dog Leash
• First Aid Kit
• Food
  • Fridge
    • Milk
    • Juice
    • Beer
    • Mineral Water
    • Margarine
    • Condiments - ketchup, relish, mustard
    • Salad dressing
    • Jam
    • Cheese
    • Potato Salad (Safeway)
    • Burgers
    • Hot dogs
    • Meat
    • Salad/ Veg/Fruit
  • Cupboard
    • Cereal
    • Tea/Coffee/Filters
    • Bread/ Buns
    • Snacks/popcorn/almonds/crackers
    • Seasoning salt
    • Marshmallows
    • Peanut Butter
    • Dog Food
  • Sundry Items
    • Foil/Plastic wrap/ziplock bags
    • Toilet Paper
    • Paper Towels
    • Batteries - 9volt
    • Fire starter
    • Dish soap, hand soap

Have I got everything? I won’t likely remember until tomorrow morning when I’m sitting on the ferry, but as long as it’s not one of the kids or Daisy, we’ll be just fine.

Happy Long Weekend.

Cheers,

Julie

You know it’s a long weekend when….

1. Gas prices go up
2. Long Line-ups at the border
3. Cars have sprouted kayaks
4. No parking spaces at the liquor store
5. Pick-up trucks are towing boats with coolers in the back
6. Canadian Tire is advertising sleeping bags, tents and fishing rods
7. Ferry sailings to Nanaimo, Tsawwassen and the Gulf Islands are sold-out
8. Nobody’s at yoga class
9. Friends have already left for Toffino

Have I missed anything?

Here’s hoping your long weekend is warm, sunny and full of fun. I’m secretly hoping I’ll be able to go for a wakeboard. We used to always have bragging rights on who was the first person in the lake (putting in the dock doesn’t count). I’m hoping to bag those rights this weekend.

Cheers,

Julie

Our adventures in boat shopping reminds me of the following Taoism story, The Farmer’s Luck. See below:

There was once an old farmer who worked his crops for many years. One day, his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbours came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it two other wild horses. Such good luck!” the neighbours exclaimed. “Maybe,” replied the farmer.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Again, the neighbours came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. “Such bad luck!” they said. “Maybe, answered the farmer.

The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army to fight in a war. Seeing the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. “Such good luck!” cried the neighbours. “Maybe,” said the farmer.

Deciding which boat to buy, or not buy, can be a very stressful process. We made an offer on a boat only to have it turned down. Is this a blessing or a lost opportunity? Only time will tell.

Cheers,

Julie

Here on the West Coast, I’m almost giddy with joy. The weather report for the long weekend, now only five sleeps away, is forecasting hot - 28 degrees hot, at least for Thursday and Friday. I so hope they’ve got this one right. It hasn’t been that warm since last August. According to the weather channel lady, “The west is the place to be from Thursday onward.” It’s about time.

Has it stopped snowing in Calgary yet???

In preparation for summer, Billy and I were checking out boats on Boats.com this past weekend. This is could be the most expensive Mother’s Day present yet. We found a sweet little Sea Ray that Bill’s going to take for a test run after work tonight. The US dollar is making boat buying a whole lot more affordable.

If anyone is considering buying a new or used boat this year, here are a couple of websites we found very helpful:

1. Shopping for New and Used Boats - Boats.com and BoatDealer.ca
2. Appraisal or Book Value :We used the NADA guide. This online guide is from the same folks who publish the auto industry’s little blue books. They provide pricing information on boats dating back to 1970.
3. Importing a boat from the US: click here for all the details and paperwork required to clear customs

If anyone else has been been boat shopping I’d love to hear from you.

Cheers,

Julie

After months of eating, drinking and being merry, I seem to have developed a “muffin top” or five pounds of white squishy flab that’s spilling out over top of my jeans. Up until now it was largely hidden by big bulky sweaters, but the warmer weather means less clothing.

I’m not looking forward to squeezing this year’s body into last year’s bathing suit.

In order to avert a “whale spotting” at the cabin, steps must be taken now to gently bring my body back to it’s former shape and glory.

Not a person who enjoys gyms or repetitive toning classes, I prefer to exercise in a more natural setting i.e. the cottage. I want to know the best way to get in shape at the cabin without having to drastically alter my lifestyle. Simply put, I want to have my cake and eat it too.

After a little bit of research on the Net, here are eight activities I can do to get in shape at the cottage:

Highest Calorie Burners (Based on a 155 pound person)

1. Swimming - 420 cal/hr
2. Waterskiing - 420 cal/hr ( I don’t know anyone who can ski for that long)
3. Construction/Renovating - 390 cal/hr ( we’re going to build a new dock this summer!)
4. Golf (carrying clubs) - 390 cal/hr ( 9 holes that’s 975 calories)
5. Kayaking - 350 cal/hr
6. Painting - 320 cal/hr
7. Windsurfing - 210 cal/hr
8. Fishing and walking tied - 180 cal/hr

If, at the end of the day after doing all these activities I’m too tired to do anything else, I can relax. Sitting doing nothing burns 91 calories. If you have any tips or ideas, please feel free to share them with me.

Cheers,

Julie

P.S. One hour of canoeing burns 280 calories

Gary Shelton makes his living training people on how to survive bear encounters. In addition to his Bear Safety Training Program, he’s authored two books: Bear Encounter Survival Guide and Bear Attacks - The Deadly Truth. Having lived most of his life in “bear country,” Shelton knows a thing or two about fending off a deadly attack.

Taken from his website, Shelton writes, “There are three possible strategies for dealing with bears, and each has a different success rate.” They are:

1. Play dead/fight back - 30 - 40% success rate

2. Bear spray - 75 - 80% success rate

3. Firearms - 95 - 100% success rate

Shelton has recorded numerous bear attacks and strongly recommends if you have no defense system at all, do not yell at a bear that is blowing, growling, or popping its teeth and trying to locate you visually. He suggests stand still and be quiet; it will most likely leave in a hurry after about a minute.

Given the above statistics and the fact that most people don’t own a firearm, bear spray offers the most accessible defense weapon. I must admit, I have a can of bear spray, but I have yet to ever take it from its holster.

Shelton admonishes, if you’re going into bear country you’d better have bear spray. He writes,”Every year in B.C. there are three to four people who save themselves from death or injury with sprays. Even though spray success runs at about 75%, it is a far better strategy than the ‘play dead/fight back’ concept.”

Here are his tips on using the peppery spray:

1. You need plenty of spray; the 260 gram size can or two smaller can- a small can only has two blasts in it
2. Your spray must be in a holster on your belt for quick use
3. Everyone in the group must have spray and be ready to use it simultaneously
4. The effect on the bear may be temporary, so leave immediately
5. If you’re dealing with a persistent bear and you’ve used up all your spray, beat the bear off with anything available
6. The bear must be sprayed at close range so if the wind is blowing in your direction, the bear will get more spray than you.

Bears, like people are unpredictable. It’s better to be prepared than caught off guard. If you’ve had any bear encounters I invite you to share them with us.

Cheers,

Julie

Now that the weather’s warmer everyone is coming out of hibernation and heading outdoors. From now until late fall, an average of six people will be attacked by bears, here in BC.

Bella Coola Valley BC, situated in the Central Coast mountains, about one-third of the way up the province, has been described as “The Killer Bear Capital of the World,” due to its high level of human bear conflicts. It’s an area with special grizzly bear management issues.

It was here, this past Saturday, where the province’s first bear attack of the year took place, according today’s Globe and Mail article, Animal Control. It has yet to be confirmed whether the attack was related to a food or garbage problem, but the article goes on to explain that over 700 bears are destroyed each year because they pose a danger to the public, largely because they’re looking for food.

It’s carelessness with garbage and food that attracts bears into areas where they shouldn’t be.

Our cottage, and many others across Canada is located in bear country. Below are are 10 tips from the Bear Aware program designed to reduce the incidents of problem people - opps, that should read bears.

Bear Aware Tip Sheet

1. Keep Garbage inside the house
2. Don’t add meat products or cooked food to compost, turn it regularly and keep it covered
3. Pick ripe and fallen fruit daily*
4. Remove unused fruit trees*
5. Use bird feeders only in winter*
6. Keep ground free of seeds
7. Clean barbecue grill after each use
8. Store grill in a covered area
9. Bring pet dishes inside and clean up spills
10. Store pet food indoors

* Our cottage association discourages us from having fruit trees and bird feeders at the lake

Tomorrow we will test your bear knowledge and provide tips on how to use bear spray.

Cheers,

Julie

So for the last month I’ve been doing a count-down to opening weekend - only to discover that I was out by a week - and NOBODY corrected me. It seems the long weekend is not THIS weekend, but next - May 16th - 19th. In my enthusiasm to get there I skipped a week.

On that same note, I received my Cottage Life e-newsletter. In it is an Opening Weekend check-list . No offense to Penny, and the good folks over at Cottage Life, but I won’t likely get around to doing most of the things on that list - this whole summer. UGGGGG - like cottages aren’t enough work?

The more my cottage resembles a home, the more work I create and the less I enjoy it. Listed below are just a quarter of the things they recommend you do:

• Find out why pads under deck posts are shifting
• Make ring game for kids
• Sharpen blades on trimmer and chainsaw
• Put up the flagpole and replace worn halyards
• Clean barbecue
• Fix tippy dock
• Inspect flotation in floating docks
• Fix friggin’ potholes in lane
• Tighten or reinstall loose dock cleats and rings
• Hammer in raised nails on dock and repair loose boards
• Inspect life preservers for damage; make sure there are enough for everybody
• Do kids’ lifejackets still fit?
• Make horseshoe pit before family reunion!!!
• Clean and set out porch furniture
• Sit down, have a beer

With the exception of the last item, I doubt I will do any of these things.

I’ve actually come up with my own list, designed for those folks living in western Canada, who might consider themselves to be a little more laid back then their eastern counterparts.

A Westerner’s Guide to Opening up the Cabin

1. Call and make a ferry reservation for the long weekend - chances are if you haven’t done it by now it’s too late
2. Call the marina and check on the boat - arrange a time to pick it up
3. Upon arriving at the cabin, walk around and find out who made it up for the weekend, spend most of the morning visiting with them and arrange for happy hour later in the day.
4. Make sure fire-pit is cleaned out and ready to go for evening’s campfire
5. Quick trip into town for plumbing supplies, marshmallows, beer and appetizers
6. Make a list of everything that needs fixing for the season and solicit advice over happy hour
7. Grab a bucket to prime the pump, making sure valves are all closed, and get ready to spend the next 2 hours on your back in the mud swearing at anything and everyone.
8. Haul out the deck chairs and rest - what didn’t get done today will still be there tomorrow - as long as the toilets flush, God will look after the rest.

Cheers,

Julie