Wandering around the streets of Québec City

This past week we spent in Québec on our annual RV trip. We flew into Montreal very late Sunday night (actually it was early Monday morning), thankfully we had a booked our first night at the Airport Marriott. We picked up our RV around noon on Monday and we were off. Our first stop was Québec City where we wandered around the old town for a couple of hours. Then it was on to our first night in Saguenay Fjord where we would be spending the week.

At the Notre Dame du Saguenay Statue overlooking the fjord

Our first full day was spent hiking to the Notre Dame statue in Saguenay Fjord National Park. It was a bit longer than we expected and it rained quite a bit but it was a beautiful hike with spectacular views of the fjord.

Our one night of fine dining at Auberge La Fjordelaise

That night we booked a fine dining establishment in L’Anse St Jean called Auberge La Fjordelaise which was fantastic, our best meal of the trip. It was a B&B run by an elderly French couple who spoke no English but we communicated ok with Jude practicing his French, and Marcy for that matter.

Jumping off the pier at Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux

The next day we moved camp to the other side of the fjord, staying in a more rustic setting at an RV Park called Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux. As the name suggests, this was an adventure park as well as a campground and was everyone’s favorite place on the trip. They had a pier for jumping off, sea kayaking, a ropes course, volleyball and more.

Sea kayaking on the fjord

We spent more of our time on the beach. The water was cold (well under 70 degrees) but the kids didn’t seem to mind. Marcy joined in as well but I wasn’t feeling that great so I stayed out of the water. Although we all went seak kayaking one afternoon, which was a blast.

At the Beluga whale viewing area

The next day we had lunch in the cute town of St Rose Du Nord, and then we stopped at Baie Sainte Marguerite to see if we could spot some beluga whales. There was a 4-mile out and back hike to a viewing area, and sure enough we saw a flew spouts from blowholes in the distance that were undoubtedly whales.

Outside our RV, a converted ambulance

Our last day was spent mainly driving back to Montreal although we did manage a quick stop at Montmorency Falls near Québec City. Then it was to our hotel in Montreal for our last night. We just wandered around the city and grabbed some dinner.

On a hike to the top of Mount Royal (where Montreal gets its name)

Montreal is one of the few cities in the world that has a mountain, really a large hill (740 feet elevation), on the very outskirts of downtown. It took less than an hour, this morning, for us to walk from our hotel to its summit. That was our last adventure before heading home this afternoon.

I should also mention that Jude and I were in England the previous week. Jude was at his International soccer camp north of London and I was on a work trip to London. Jude loved his camp, particularly meeting kids from all over Europe. The counselors/coaches were great and he said he got a lot out of it. But we were both really tired with less than 24 hours at home between trips. The lack of sleep didn’t help fend off a cold that we both experienced during the first part of the Canada trip.

One reason we were happy to return to Denver was to see Olive and Pickles, who stayed home with our housesitter. Both animals seem happy to have us home.

Jude about to board his flight to London

Saturday night was always going to be interesting. We had Anna returning from her camp in Pennsylvania, Jude was flying to London, and so was I, but on a different plane. We were arriving or leaving within an hour of each other. Or so we thought.

We found out Jude’s flight was delayed first. Then Anna’s flight was delayed by an incoming storm. My flight was on time, so I said goodbye to Jude and Marcy. Luckily Jude’s and Anna’s flights were on the same course within 100 yards of each other. Jude finally made it onto the plane and then Anna was the last person off the plane on her flight as she was the unaccompanied minor. Then they were both able to watch Jude’s plane leave.

Happy to see each other after a week away

Not only was Jude late leaving Denver, but his plane also took the long way to London and ended up being almost three hours late. I went to Terminal 5 and called the camp a couple of times to make sure this was all going to be ok. They assured me it was. So, I left the airport ready to return if there was a problem. After a little mix-up once Jude got to the arrivals hall, everything worked out and he was on his way to camp at the Oundle School about two hours north of London. We can’t wait to find out how it goes.

Anna and her campmates right after throwing chalk at each other

On to Anna’s week in Pennsylvania. This is a camp she chose herself, back when she was still doing gymnastics. Even though she is more into cheer these days, she still said she loved the camp. And there is a huge crossover as all the floor gymnastics is very similar to cheer.

Anna practicing on beam

Anna said she loved her counselors and made some new friends among her campmates. But I could tell when I chatted with her this morning that she was pretty happy to be home. It was a big deal doing two flights by yourself, each way, and then being so far from home for a week.

Anna won the kindness award at her camp

Our crazy travel schedule continues with Jude and I returning on Saturday and then Sunday we leave for Montreal where we are spending next week in an RV.

In her seat on her first solo flight (Anna sent us this selfie)

Today was a big day for Anna. We left the house at 6am to head to the airport for Anna’s trip to Allentown, PA for her first gymnastics camp. Anna seemed pretty calm about the big day. She was flying to Atlanta first for a two-hour layover and then on to Allentown. I stayed at DIA until she took off, as I was instructed to do.

Leaving Denver for Atlanta

When you are 13 years old, you are officially an unaccompanied minor and so Delta representatives were with Anna the whole turn during her layover. They even gave her a free lunch coupon which she spent at Wendy’s. The trip all went smoothly except for a little hiccup at the end that was sorted out fairly quickly. Anyway, she is at camp now and we won’t hear from her again until Saturday.

Getting ready to go see Minions: The Rise of Gru

Of course, we began this week in Des Moines. The kids all went to see the new Minions movie and Jude dressed up like many teenage boys are doing, although he dropped the jacket given how hot it was outside. They also spent time bowling and more time in the pool.

The traditional photo by the pool with Olive taking part this year

On Wednesday we drove to Iowa for our annual summer trip. The kids have had a great time with their cousins and grandparents. They have had a lot of time by the pool, been bowling, watched movies, played games, went shopping and Jude even took a ride in the MG. And Grampsy let him drive, it was his first experience of a stick-shift and apparently he did ok.

Because we won’t be back for Christmas, the kids got their next birthday cake early

It has been really warm which has meant lots of time in the pool. I played golf with Nate On Saturday and Sunday but today, July 4, we all stayed home and just hung out. Games were played, we watched the movie Independence Day and we had a typical American dinner: burgers and hot dogs.

Opening their stash of goodies from the Easter Egg hunt

This afternoon the kids did a July 4 Easter Egg hunt. Baba had stuffed over 100 eggs with goodies and we hid them around the house. It was a nice break from the heat. This evening all the kids went to see the fireworks with Baba.

Waiting for the fireworks to start on July 4