Explore the Bruce

This summer we have headed up to the cottage twice when Sophie was inpatient at her therapy program for a couple days.  When Sophie is away from us we try to spend quality time with Lucas doing things that we are unable to do when Sophie is with us.  When we are at the cottage that involves big hikes in rugged terrain.  Lucas has found a love for hiking over the last few years as we have gone on more and more adventures.  Jason enjoys it because he has no choice ;p

This year for the first time we decided to attempt the Explore the Bruce Passport.  We had been to many of the stops before (they change each year) but had never actually done the stamps.  So Lucas decided that it would be a fun thing to try so try we did.

On a rainy weekend at the beginning of August we headed out and came to our first clue at a little garden nursery that had a beautiful garden you could wander through. It was, of course, pouring rain when we arrived and the owner ran up to our car when we arrived and handed us all these little kids umbrellas. It was so funny to see Jason with this little teeny umbrella, but man were we glad we had them!
The gardens were beautiful with lots to see.  Sophie was keeping an eye on us, I always happen upon a butterfly when we are out and about without her, but it was pouring rain so I knew that this sculpture was there for her to be with us.  Corny I know, but it gets me through my days without her physically near me.

I know, I know.  I got kind of artsy lol.  My first try at changing a photo in PS, what do you think?  I thought this photo was just begging for it :)

This picture doesn't really do the mud involved justice. The sides of the car looked like we had a taupe coloured car. It was definitely a dirty day to be on the back roads of the Bruce.

This wetland was another stop on the Explore the Bruce passport. It was so beautiful and very serene. There was only the sounds of the frogs and the crickets.

As we headed further along the road we came to Colpoy's Bay on the Georgian Bay side.  The boys had a swim which was a bit chilly but not bad.  We found a couple great fossils.  This one had a real obvious footprint in it so it was a keeper.

We stopped by Big Bay and also went to the Bruce Caves again. It is a pretty short hike but the caves are really interesting. This time we came across a bird that was up in the top of the cave and it was sending us some pretty nasty warning cackles. She must have had some babies up there with her.

We also took the boat ride to Chantry Island, it is not accessible by wheelchair and you have to climb the lighthouse so we decided to go, just the three of us.  Times like this make me very sad that Sophie has to miss out on certain experiences just because her body doesn't work the same as ours.  We do make sure to take her everywhere that is possible, and that is all we can do I guess.

Lucas enjoyed the boat ride and the island was beautiful.  It is a migratory bird sanctuary and I swear it looked like we were looking out over Africa from the top of the lighthouse.

Last weekend we went all the way up to Tobermory and did the longish 3 hour hike at Burnt Point Loop trail.  Lucas did awesome as always (why does he need to be carried in the grocery store but can hike 7 km no problem in the woods).  I will save that for another day's post.

Happy back to school tomorrow!

It's the most wonderful time of the year........you know you're singin' it ;)