Magrilless

A short ride today

Pool, bouncy house, art, frisbee

Happy and relaxed

Stats

Miles biked: 33.5

Trips down the water slide: many many many many

Bill vs Gretchen soccer score: 4-7 (Gretchen may have cheated)

On a trail in the forest were we

Singing songs and biking so free

Free slushies as a snack

And strawberries by our track

Helped us pedal our way to the sea

Stats

Miles biked: 24.2

Uno games played without a deck: 1

Uno games won by Bill: 1

Times Gretchen was hysterical: 1

We begin in the north’s wind. 

Wind turbines make a powerful whoosh. 

Free hot dogs in the garden!

Stats

Miles biked: 7.8 

Turbines passed: 23

M&Ms consumed: 79

After losing a day to the car situation, Bill and I had to talk about what were the most important things about our trip. 

Priority #1: Getting to Prince Edward Island in time to do our trip as reserved. 

Priority #2: Niagara Falls, specifically the boat ride up to the falls. 

The falls are gigantic and amazing and the girls really enjoyed getting wet! All the kitsch surrounding it is pretty hard to ignore, especially when you’re 4 and 7. Imagine paddling your canoe up close before there were sky bridges and zip lines and 500 fellow tourists with red ponchos. Maybe priority#3 will be inventing a time machine to fully appreciate #2. 

To accomplish our most important goal of getting to the island comfortably, we decided to drive all night. Bill took the late, the late late, and the early early morning shift. I took the early morning one, and now we’re waiting for our ferry, blissfully out of the car and unrushed and feeling like vacation is about to begin!

Stats

Miles driven: 3250

States + provinces touched: 10

“Watch out for moose” signs in 79km of highway: 23

2:43 We’re in Canada!

3:38 Call Geico to cash in on towing insurance

5:04 Abandon hope of car being fixed in an afternoon. Bill and girls abandon waiting for the tow truck and head for a park on foot. 

6:14 Tow truck arrives and takes Gretchen and car to a garage. 

6:36 Bill’s phone dies. 

6:49 Hotel a mile from each Collins party reserved. 

6:53 Bill borrows a phone off a jogger and we set up a rendezvous at the hotel. 

7:58 Leave Appleby’s in a fierce rainstorm (but not yet hail) with dinner in hand. 

8:47 Late night swim in the awesome indoor pool with water slides and wading pool. 

9:32 AM After breakfast swim in the awesome indoor pool with water slides and wading pool. 

10:46 Start calling every auto parts store in Windsor to find a fuel pump before Wednesday. 

11:47 Bill and girls begin 4-mile trek to movie theater to waste the afternoon. 

11:50 First Uber ride to salvage yard for only fuel pump in town. 

1:23 Second Uber ride to garage to deliver fuel pump. 

4:51 Pick up Bill and the girls at the mall and head to Niagara Falls! Woot woot!