We left in the morning sometime around ten, (maybe it was later?) to drive to our first stop - Science North in Sudbury. We stopped at Lick's on the 400, 15 kms south of Parry Sound for lunch. Then we were on the road again.
We played until the place closed at 6, had dinner at East Side Mario's and then checked into the hotel. We stayed at the Hampton. Our first order of business was going for a swim. (Insert ominous sound to let you know that something bad is going to happen.)
Ken went downstairs with the girls to the pool and I got ready and quickly followed. Ken was waiting to use the bathroom and the girls were in the pool. I got half way in when I noticed something on the bottom of the pool that looked... suspect. Kate looked at it with her mask and said she thought it was a leaf. I really hoped it was a leaf. Ken got the net from the back wall and fished it out. Alice smelled it. It was not a leaf.
The girls and I got out of the pool and showered. A lot. Ken went to the front desk. We were given permission to use the other hotel's pool (also a Hilton hotel). So we did. After a fun swim we went back to our hotel, showered again and went to bed.
Friday, August 4
The next morning it was raining. We took our time having yummy waffles for breakfast and eventually got ready and left the hotel. We decided since there was a lot of rain in the forecast, and Ken's parents were at market all morning, to go over to Science North again.
Saturday, August 5
We planned our trip to Manitoulin around other travel and visits, but I was so glad that it worked out for us to be here this weekend so we could attend the Pow wow at Wikwemikong. On the website it refers to it as a cultural celebration. And that is indeed what it was. I'm not sure what I was expecting, I think this was pretty much what I was expecting, but I'm not sure. There was singing, drumming and dancing, food, vendors, all of it!
The day started out so very, very cold. We got there early and got a good seat, and then we waited. And waited. The girls got nuts. Then Ken started buying food; well more precisely treats, cotton candy and snow cones. The crazy girls got it in their heads that they had to have snow cones. So they did. The opening ceremony - the grand entrance, prayer and speeches was a little long for the girls, but once things started happening, (and because of the treats and hot dogs) they calmed down.
I had a moment with Kate when she was complaining when I explained to her how special this event was generally and was to me specifically - my first pow wow, and she settled down. At the first inter-tribal, everyone that wanted to was invited to dance, and Kate and Alice went and joined in. It was great!
Then we were off to Providence Bay for Fish and Chips, but I needed to stop at the scenic outlook. Fiona came with me to document!
Lake Huron Fish and Chips in Providence Bay. When we went two years ago I was blown away, or something. This time, it was good, but I think I expected more? I'm not sure, still yummy though.
Someone had left a painted rock on the steps of this new cafe. We were heading to the cafe but it was closed. Fiona found the rock on the stairs. On the back of the rock it said: Bentonville Rocks, take a pic, post it to our Facebook page and re-hide. When I requested to join the group we found out that the rock was from Arkansas! How crazy cool is that?! We re-hid the rock in the little green space behind us and we walked to the beach playground for real. I will always have a special place in my heart for Providence. In 2010 Kate took her first steps on Ken's parents porch and then walked all over the beach and all around the Canada Celebrations that we went to.
Then it was time to go "home". Fiona and I had a picture taking adventure and the girls watched tv with Nana. It was cute watching Nana watch Ratatouille with the girls.
Sunday, August 6
Church! The Manitoulin branch meets in Little Current. They meet at 11 a.m. and have a shortened service, they only meet for two hours. It's pretty great! It was Fast Sunday and the girls got to hear their Papa bear his testimony. Then they went to primary with their Nana. Fiona lasted a little bit! It was fun too because Lynda Addy and two of her daughters, Evelyn and Lily, were visiting from Orangeville. It was great to see them and chat. After church we took some pics and then we were off for home. We wanted to take the ferry but we waited until the last minute to book and it was full.
Oh and the girls were all excited about the monarch caterpillars. But these are not those. These are Tussock Moth Caterpillars.
The drive home was long, but we all had a really great weekend!
We saw so many things and had a lovely visit with Nana and Papa.
