Greetings loyal readership! Marco and I have just returned to civilization from our weekend away in Sleepy Hollow (on the corner of Sleepy Hollow Road and Ichabod Line - really!) near the booming metropolis of Blenheim, on the scenic shores of Lake Erie! This was a different kind of cottage experience for us - usually we travel North or East and it was nice to see Western Ontario (ie: the flat part of the province) for a change.We mostly just lounged around but we had one "big outing," which generated much excitement from the trunk bunnies, (below): we travelled
to Rondeau Provincial Park - the second-oldest provincial park in Ontario. Being lazy and in vacation-mode, Marco, the lads and I selected the "Tulip Tree Trail" to explore: a 1.4 km path designed for children and the elderly. The "trail" was extremely easy and was populated by numerous boardwalks. This made for a delightful stroll rather than a sweaty, outward-bound, eat-your-neighbour-if-you-must kind of hike. Disturbingly, Marco thought the Tulip Tree Trail was a somewhat strenuous wilderness experience. My dream of a couple's canoe trip died a quick, painful death.Being the sort that loves competition, any competition, I entered this photo in the "Rondeau Park Photo Contest"... we'll see what happens... perhaps fabulous riches (or the cover of the Fall tabloid, whatever that is) will be mine...
The weather was perfect, the cottage (above) was beautiful, roomy, and super-clean, and the people we rented from were extremely nice and helpful. Marco and I spent most of our time relaxing on the screened-in porch which you can see at the front of the cottage, going swimming in Lake Erie, and walking around the area which featured cherry orchards, wooded trails, and vineyards. Sleepy Hollow is unique but a property student's nightmare - while there are distinct property lines, everyone just kind of walks everywhere. For example, we had to cross over our neighbour's property and descend 99 steps down a cliff to get to the beach.
The beach itself was the only thing we weren't crazy about - lots of refuse (sticks, dead things like the fish head Rocky found, some garbage) and the water was a tad too choppy. However, what it lacked in ambiance it made up for in privacy - we were the only ones on the beach for miles.
While Marco and I thought the beach was mediocre, some of us adored it:
However, not all was well in Sleepy Hollow: 
A certain member of the travelling team was a wee bit defiant about the gross indignity (and hideous outfit) involved in his first swim and didn't hesitate to share that with us: 
However, I am nothing if not stubborn... stubborn and cheap; that Outward Hound life jacket was $30 and it was going to be used, at least once, dammit! So, against his will, with a dramatic air of resigned defiance, Joey held his nose, thought of England, and was escorted to the lake: 
It was there that the hideous, Unspeakable Trauma occurred, the stuff of which is shocking for even the hardened counsellors at the abused pug hotline. (Note: watch the back feet, too!)
Hey, was that German supermodel Heidi Klum holding Joey? What's she doing there? Weird! Anyway, following The Horrible Incident of Which We Shall Not Speak, and after his dramatic stagger onto the beach like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, the Position of Protest was assumed: 
As punishment for our evil ways, we were forced to endure The Face for the rest of the afternoon:
The next day, Joey progressed to Full Protest Mode and stubbornly refused to come within 100 feet of the water: 
However, aside from the puggy 'tude (and likely an impending legal action) the weekend was a great success. Marco and I are even more determined to buy a cottage, and Joey is plotting to crap in my Franco Sarto's when I'm least expecting it.
