Today was mostly a day of driving.

Leg 1: Toronto to Whitby

…to my friends Joy and Fredrick, who I know from my very early days in Canada in the 1990s. Fred first was my guitar teacher, and over the years he and his wife Joy became dear friends. What a warm welcome they gave me!

Leg 2: Off to the Cottage

Both he and Joy are retired now – and proud owners of a cottage at Grass Lake, some three hours’ driving time north of Whitby. I was thrilled to join them for a couple of days to relax and unwind in one of Canada’s most beautiful spots. So their car got loaded with food, spare clothing, their youngest grandson Lincoln, and the dog Lily. I was ready in my rental car. The idea was that I’d follow behind their car. Of course, we lost each other somewhere after Gamebridge, but Fred managed to catch up with me again after Bracebridge. After a short detour to the store at Burk’s Falls, we reached the cottage at the very end of Hazard Hill Road.

Idyllic does not even begin to describe the place! I thanked all the gods for granting me this good fortune. And my two friends.

After the lovingly prepared dinner there followed the evening ritual of Fred casting the fishing line for 27 times.