Kirkland Lake

Another perfect day in the North but we’re beginning to move to the south. Ron, Andree and I went to Kirkland Lake to visit with Andree’s son Bryce and his wife Julie and their sons, Danny and Cody. Ron was able to play a round of golf with the boys while Andree and I had a nice visit with Julie. They too have done some wonderful renos to their home and yard. We stayed the night and then all headed off in our own direction—Cody was off to school, Dan and Bryce were off to work, Julie was taking Andree to the train station as she was off to Ottawa to attend her grandson Shane’s graduation and we were heading south to Aurora to visit with her daughter Sharon and her family. The drive south was a new path for us as we would normally follow highway 17 to Ottawa but this time we followed 11 thru Huntsville, Orillia , Barrie and on into Aurora. The drive was an easy one and interesting to see Lakes Couchiching and Simco. I remember seeing them from the train as I went north from Toronto to Longlac by train. The wildflowers on the roadside were beautiful—orange, white, yellow and the green of the grass and ferns. It was a smocking plate in the making.

Mining was once the big employer in Kirkland Lake but one by one many of the stores are changing and closing. However, there is still some gold mining being done and other small industries .

We arrived in Aurora in time to say hi to Jody(Sharon's cousin) and her two children—Jody had been visiting for the day so Sharon had non stop company—one out and the next lot in. Mark , Sharon’s husband, had just arrived home too so we all sat down and had a rum drink before starting dinner—memories of Barbados.