Summer has begun to take a vague form around here. On a clear day, you can smell barbecue for miles. Our neighbours have taken to hauling their chairs out to their front step again to convene in giant circles. My friends and I take almost every sunny opportunity to hike or spend the day outdoors.
With summer comes all those plans and scheduling and plotting and devising. It occurred to me today that I pretty much have my weekends mapped out right up until the end of July. Gotta make the most of snow-free days.
Next weekend: New York City for the Travel Bloggers Exchange, sightseeing, networking, shopping, partying, eating. I haven’t planned a good trip in nearly a year, and buying new, colourful luggage was pretty much the highlight of my life.
Weekend of July 3rd: Two-day hike to The Spout, a natural geyser somewhere around the Avalon. I ran into an old classmate last night, and between him and two of my other friends, we made drunken plans to hike, pitch a tent, drink lots of vodka, and hike home.
I love how even camping involves vodka.
Weekend of July 9th: Birthday weekend! This is the first time I’ve celebrated in St. John’s in nearly 3 years. Besides all the usual shenanigans, I’m trying to book a half-day sea kayaking tour around Bay Bulls. Prime iceberg + whale season.
Weekend of July 18th: Come Home Year, family reunion, my town’s epic Cancer Benefit, hiking to find Mash Gush Falls, and possible ferry day-trip around the coast to visit all those isolated towns and islands without paved roads. Rumour has it they still butcher baloney and wrap it in brown paper bags in some places.
Weekend of July 24th: My friend and coworker’s wedding in Bay Roberts. Hotel is booked, ride arrangements made, liver failure predicted.
Weekend of July 30th: Lantern Festival, and maybe a trip to Cupids to celebrate 400 years of Newfoundland history.
Scene from our epic 8.9 km hike today.
See? Totally worth eight months of winter.
What are you doing this summer?
Tell NYC I said hi! And that I want my innocence back….
My dad is visiting again this summer, and we’re going to see more of NL, hopefully hit up gros morne…
other than that, i have car and will travel. Plan to spend a lot of time away from my daily life whenever I get a day off…
And if there’s ever room for one more in any of your outdoor fun plans… *cough**cough*
(i haven’t been to the spout yet…) (or sea kayaking for that matter. tried last summer. weather thwarted us hard.)
“I love how even camping involves vodka.”
I knew I liked you
Hanging out with my son, but I think I want to come and join you, looks like the place to be!
@J: Pshhh, NYC has no regrets
@maggie: I shall keep you informed! i haven’t been kayaking in YEARS
@LiLu: <3!
@Kate: you are welcome anytime!
Clearly The City will never be the same.
I love that you appreciate and celebrate where you live.
Wow, busy! I just came back from fishing in Ontario, which was tremendous — Big Sky country……
“Summer lovin’, happened so fast!”
I’m sure with all those fun and awesome plans Summer will whiz by… And you’ll love every second of it! Look forward to the stories from all your travels!
Dude, sounds like you have an excellent summer planned! I can’t wait to hear all the deets of your latest new york adventure, and all the others to come, and i mean it- ive really missed it around here!