Brief update

An overnight trip to the lake saw us knee-deep in dandelions and swatting bat-sized mosquitoes. But neither of those natural wonders stopped us from enjoying the view and the change of scenery. Not even the occasional heavy downpour dampened our spirit, though it must be said that poor Val is still beaten down by radiation-fatigue fall out. Nonetheless, she whacked down a bunch of thistles and held the ladder while I climbed onto the roof to clean out the (very bunged up) eaves troughs. That's what we call a good time!

I head to Edmonton tomorrow (Monday) for two weeks with my parents. Here's hoping that Val and Holly will take good care of each other in my absence. 

A break in the clouds of fatigue?

Val said this evening that she is beginning to feel a bit more like herself; that cloud of radiation-induced fatigue is possibly beginning to lift. She is maybe starting to feel just tired, rather than bone-numbing, head-clouding, zonked out tired. Here's hoping! 

Maybe our visit to Riding Mountain National Park this past weekend helped move things along? For sure we had fun! 

Val, Yvonne, Bella and I had a lovely time (in a crummy little cabin, but we came to overlook the inadequacies after an evening cocktail) enjoying each other's company and the lovely scenery in this gorgeous national park. The pictures below tell the tale.

Amanda and Bella, Yvonne's dog - a lovely 4-legged
travel and hiking companion. She did 9km
with Yvonne and Amanda
on Saturday around Moon Lake.  

Val and Yvonne cooling off their feet in Moon Lake on Saturday afternoon.
Yvonne and I had just finished the 9km hike, while Val had come to meet
us there, having done short bits of two different trails. We were all
bushed after our exertions and spent the rest of the afternoon rehydrating, reading
and preparing (then eating) supper. 

Bella stuck close to us, always. 

Val holding forth on matters of flora and fauna: She knows a lot! 

Sunday morning on the Brule Trail - a lovely gentle amble. Really nice. 

Val on boardwalk by the marshy lake
halfway around the Brule Trail. 

On the marshy lake - really windy! 

Amanda hiking, with Bella.