Life On Lot 12

On Friday our good friend Wendy turned 50. Charlie  decided to have a surprise birthday party for her and we were invited. One small problem. The party was scheduled for January 31st and Charlie and Wendy (The T’s) live in Wawa 3 1/2 hours north of us. The trip means traveling along the east coast of Lake Superior which routinely experiences heavy snow squalls, white outs and extended road closures. It can be a really crappy drive which I never undertake lightly. As the planning progressed I was tasked with sourcing and delivering the fruit for a chocolate fountain and as of Thursday picking up a Wii game system, Charlies gift to Wendy. I also volunteered to make a batch of baked beans and a loaf of whole grain bread. Friday the beans were cooked and bread was baked.Also on Friday I discovered that my good friend Inga had to go to Wawa for another event and we arranged to travel together. All week it was clear with no precipitation. Saturday morning I woke up to snow – of course. A check of the road conditions online foretold less than ideal road conditions but I was committed and decided that if the highway was open we would go. I loaded the car with lots of heavy clothes and boots in case we got stopped somewhere. After stops in the Sault to buy the fruit and the Wii I collected Inga and off we went. The weather actually improved as we headed north. Highway 17 was almost bare, the snow quit and the traffic was light. About halfway to Wawa you reach the hamlet of Montreal River Harbour and climb one of the nastiest hills east of the Rockie Mountains.At the top of the hill the weather and road conditions changed abruptly. We experienced a series of squalls blowing in off the lake which caused sharply reduced visibility and the road surface became snow packed a lot more slippery. We slowed own and made it into Wawa about a half hour later than anticipated but safe and sound. I dropped Inga with her friend and then headed to the party site to deliver the goods and help with set up. Preparations were in full swing. By 2pm 30+ people were sitting chatting when Wendy walked in and was completely surprised. She had no hint what was going on. It was a fun afternoon with visiting and a few drinks and lots of snacks. People came and went. Wendy was having a great time. A number of gifts and cards were opened and a funny hat was produced.

After a while it was suppertime and out came lasagna, salad, beans, home made bread and buns and afterward a huge birthday cake. Everybody ate as much as they wanted and there was lots left over. After supper we broke out the Wii and played a few games of bowling. It really is a lot of fun.About 9.30pm I decided to head up the hill to my hotel room and made arrangements to be back at the chalet in the morning to help load all of the leftover food and booze into Charlies van for the trip back to their place.

I was down in the morning to enjoy a cup of coffee and some chat with Charlie and Wendy before heading to their place. We arrived just after 9 and Charlie immediately started organizing breakfast. Jon and I were dispatched to  buy some bacon and Jon’s friend Eric was sent downstairs to start a fire in the wood stove.  Just before 10 the bacon was frying and the pile of pancakes was growing when Charlie started mentioning that he could smell something like plastic burning. A few more sniffs and all of a sudden Charlie was yelling at Eric to look outside at the chimney. Yup it was on fire! Eric had overachieved on the fire. Well, then things got exciting. Charlie was roaring at everyone to get out of the house and Wendy called 911. Rebecca stumbled out the door in a tee shirt, boxer shorts and her boots, still mostly asleep. Jon was ordered out of the shower and into the street. In a few minutes the fire trucks arrived with 8 volunteer firefighters in all their gear including breathing apparatus and after some discussion insisted on going up on the roof to inspect the chimney. The street was blocked off, the neighbours were out and the red lights on the fire truck were going round and round.

By this time the forecasted snow squalls were starting to amke an appearance, the prospect of pancakes and bacon had, pardon the pun, gone up in smoke and it was time to head south. I collected Inga from down the street and Jon from the house and off we went. The weather and road conditions were very similar to what they had been on the way north and but again the traffic was light and we took our time. We arrived back in the Sault just after 2pm and after dropping my passengers I headed back to the island to see Val and tell her of all the adventures.  Many thanks to the T’s for a great party and a fun-filled visit.