Zero Days: Guelph, ON

Date: Saturday, July 22 - Monday, July 24, 2023

I'm not going to share a lot about the time I spent in Guelph.  My friends hosted me and there are things that I don't want to put out on the internet, even with their permission.  You'll just have to settle for a synopsis of each day!

Saturday

We spent a lot of time at home hanging out and catching up.  In the morning my friends had some family from overseas visiting in the morning, so I snuck away and blogged.  In the afternoon Mireille and I went to a nearby bike shop where I bought two new tires and some spare tubes!  We also stopped off at a local bakery on the way back and saw some of downtown Guelph.  I neglected to take pictures of almost anything this day!

I emptied the two bags that the raccoons had opened up and thoroughly washed them.  They were covered in peanut butter and whatever else the raccoons managed to get their hands on.

I also changed the tires on the bike.  None of the bike shops had the tires I wanted, but they had SOMETHING suitable for touring and I grabbed that.  While inspecting the old tire I found what had caused my slow leak the day before:

Sunday

On Sunday we started out by going to a nearby bakery as Patrick and Mireille have read the blog and know what I like.  It is called With The Grain Bakery and it's a VERY strong contender for best bakery of the trip so far.

You picked your filling for the donuts or the cruffins and they filled them there in front of you!  And the jelly donuts were something else.  It was an actual jam that was in there, and the donut was holding it's own even without the jam.  Their breads were also on point.

We ate the pastries and did more catching up.  I had to work to hide my enthusiasm for what we were eating.  It was very good!

The kids took us to a park where there was a carosel and a train to ride.  We did both and then played on the playground.

Monday

We all went for a walk in the morning and then Patrick went to work and I went to do groceries with Mireille.  I also worked on blog posts.  Not a lot to tell from this day.

I'm not going to share much more than that.  But I will spare a few words to praise my friends!

I met Patrick while we were both students at the University of Ottawa.  We had courses together and were in the same circle of friends.  At some point a shared love of politics, strategy games, and sitting around drinking and solving the world's problems became a friendship that has lasted to this day.

I first met Mireille when she started dating Patrick and they both came to a friend's wedding.  I remember she was the usual kind of polite and reserved that anyone else would be in the company of new people, but the occasional interjection or remark detrayed a quick wit, intelligence, and passion for doing good.  Over the course of a few dinner parties and social occassions I grew to know her better and there was another kindred spirit!

It was my great privilege to be able to attend their wedding, and it was a very happy memory for me.  Many a tear shed in joy.  We get to know so many people at various stages of our lives, but not all of those relationships last.  Over the years we've managed to stay in touch, visit, and make sure the connection lasted.  I once helped them move out of Ottawa and we share a lot of laughs about lowering a couch over a rickety fire escape on rope.  Visits in Toronto, Calgary, Quebec, and Ottawa have cemented what I'm confident is a life long friendship.

They've worked so hard and now have so much to show for it, and it's my privilege to be able to share in their success when I roll through town on a bike and spend a few days with them.  I hadn't seen them in maybe 6 years, and it's not a stetch to say thtat this reunion was one of the reasons I'd decided to go on this ride.  Being able to sit in front of them and talk, smile, and laugh made those 6000km all worth it.

Thank you to Patrick and Mireille for - somehow - managing to build a life together and still find the time to remain my friend!  The visits are never long enough, but afters years of trying to figure out how to see them again...I figured out how.  I love you both and will see you again soon!!!