Brian H arrived from Bancroft on Saturday to keep Andy in check while I was away, he brought with him a sturdy new step for the boat that Brian V had made. Andy and Brian took me to the airport early Sunday morning for my flight to Halifax, upon arrival there I was met by Christine and Graham Williams.  Graham is my Eastern Star counterpart-  I am the representative to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Manitoba, and he is the rep from there to Manitoba.  As Christine drove to Truro, I got to know a little about them.  We stopped for lunch, and then checked into the hotel, which would be home for the next 4 nights.  Later we went out for supper, with a couple more Star members.  On Monday morning, I registered, and then went for pictures at some point, and to a Grand Representative’s meeting.  That evening at the informal opening of the Wishes do come true Grand Chapter of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, I was introduced along with lots of other people.  There was an amazing group in attendance from Manitoba, included in the picture is a PGM of Nova Scotia, that was initiated into O.E.S. in Portage la Prairie.

  The next few days we spent in meetings, watching how this Grand Chapter conducts business and comparing it to what we do in Manitoba. On the Tuesday night, there was a  western themed banquet, followed by line-dance instructions. On Wednesday night was the installation of the new officers, following that was a reception.

On Thursday, Christine and Graham took me to their place in Dartmouth, so they could drop off their stuff, we then toured around Darthmouth and Halifax, before they took me to the airport to catch my 5:40 plane back to Ottawa.

While in Halifax, I tried some local wine, cider and food- donair, when I got back to Ontario, I also found donair flavoured chips in the grocery store.

While I was away, Andy and Brian did some playing in the dinghy, going all the way to Long Island lock one day and then up to Burritts Rapids the next.  They had to replenish the gas in the dinghy when they got home.  They were also stopped by the OPP, and questioned on a number of things—only got a warning, no fines.  The crew from Hurst marina  came up with a plan to fix and reinforce the solar panels on the bimini and also put a filter on the black water tank.  All this work was completed on Friday. 

On Saturday  morning after paying the bill, we set off for the next lock which was Burritt’s Rapids, arriving at 1:30 and obtained the last spot that had power. 

On Sunday, we continued on down the rideau, passing through the 3 locks at Merrickville,  we couldn’t stop because of high water the docks were not available for use. So, we continued on to Kilmarnock and went through the lock and tied up.  We spent 2 nights there and had a good visit with Fred and Helen from J’ai Fini, which we had met last summer up on Georgian Bay.

 

On Tuesday morning, we left and travelled to Smith Falls, and tied up on the wall with power.  Tuesday was hot 34 feeling like 44, we were glad were able to run the fan and AC.  Jamie and Sheri, boating friends from Victoria Harbour stopped by for a visit, as Sheri lives in Smith Falls.  We went out for supper at the Lockmaster’s Tap house, which is nearby, and ran into new boating friends that we had just met in Burritt’s Rapids.  Tuesday night there was a huge thunderstorm with winds, and in the morning several trees had been knocked down in the park.  Wednesday, Sheri came by and took me grocery shopping for a few things, when we returned to the boat, we had finally heard from Karl, who was suppose to come and install our new alternator—he wasn’t able to make it. So, we rescheduled now having it done in Kingston on Sunday afternoon or Monday. We will stay in Smith Falls another night and then head quickly down the Rideau, to ensure we are close to Kingston for the Sunday bridge opening. My knitting project has had a bit of a setback– I somehow managed to complete the 4 rows of pattern the wrong way, so I am learning to unknit– slow process, and I don’t feel like doing it in this heat– it will have to wait for another day!