September 19, 2019 Today my mother would be 100 years old . I am flying home today!

 This is flying day. I chose September 19th because if my mother, Mary, was still alive, today would have been her 100th birthday. She was born September 19, 1919. ( the 19th day of the 9th month of 1919).  I was up early and quietly packed the rest of my things. The only things I left behind were my crocks, my sandals, a florescent green T shirt and long sleeved white Nike shirt. They were all old and had stains and the sandals had been glued together.
   I tiptoed into Carla's room and wakened her to give a big hug goodbye and told her to stay in bed. Then I slipped downstairs and Dick was almost ready also. I had a raisin bun and we got in the vehicle and left. This way he would not miss much  work because he usually starts at 8 . He dropped me off this time and we hugged and said goodbye. I was a little apprehensive about how I would make out with the bicycle but it went very well. He helped me load it horizontally on the cart so I could see where I was pushing it. There was one narrow spot going in the door and an angel helped me angle everything to get by. Once inside, I realized that I did not have to go up an escalator like Josephine had to for KLM. AIR CANADA was all on this floor so all I had to do was walk forward to the lines where you start following people in a zigzag until you reach the counter. I saw one worker and told her I could not do that due to the width of my load so she ushered me past those people to a wider gate that if and when it opened I would be able to get through. I waited for a short while and then could have my turn. She took the suitcase and the weight was good and it was gone. Then we had a little debate about the bicycle box and what it should cost and I showed them my bill for when it came but I guess they were right as it is not only a second piece of luggage but also has a handling fee. I considered myself lucky to have saved some money on the way over. I paid the huge sum and then brought my bicycle to the place where you bring over-sized items. One real good thing that made me feel GREAT was that she said my bags and box were checked in all the way to Sault Ste. Marie. I would not have to touch them in Toronto. WHAT A RELIEF to hear that. I had been dreading how that would go.The young man there helped me to put it on the conveyor belt. I also gave him the two rolls of tape that I had brought in case they asked me to open the box to look inside and then I would have had to reseal it. I headed to the security check line and made it through there with not too much trouble. Then I headed to all the stores and did some shopping. I found out that what you buy in the duty free stores can be brought on the plane and not be counted as carry on luggage. I bought 2 more cheeses, three more stroop waffles of different flavours, a little bicycle for myself, a bicycle key chain for Emily, some playing cards, 4 packages Dutch decorated napkins and a bottle of water. I put all the heavy items in my backpack and the lighter items in the small orange nylon bag that I had brought on the trip and had used at Tante Betty's house to store items that I did not bring further on my tour.

I saw some huge Amarylis bulbs and lots of tulips. I talked to a couple from Canada that had just completed a Cycle Tours Bicycle trip to the south of Holland. Theirs was not as good as ours because there were multiple languages that needed translation and their bicycle leader was not as good as ours. They watched my bags when I went to the washroom. The plane left a little bit late and they were trying to get us to hurry to put away our bags and get seated. I watched two movies and then near the end of the flight, I played some games. That is when the couple sitting beside me livened up and joined me in making  words in one game.  I arrived in Toronto with lots of time before my next flight. There was not a number for my flight at the usual Sault Ste. Marie place and I checked that out and had to go around the corner and farther along to wait. I saw them take good care of Silver as she was loaded. Next to me on the plane was a mother who is a doctor and her baby. We talked quite a bit so the flight went fast. I wasn't tired yet. At the airport, Matthew was waiting with Amara. Dave couldn't be there because he was leading a sing song at Pathways Retirement Home.

We stopped on the way home to pick up pizza that Dave had ordered. As we ate in the living room, I noticed a BEAUTIFUL bouquet of roses with a card from Dave. They were for our 50th Wedding Anniversary. I have never seen prettier roses!!

Treats for Sunday Worship Meeting

All together again except for front rack. She is headed to the bicycle store for new shifters and cables, a new chain and a piece for the back rack.

It is nice to be home again after a wonderful adventure!

Wednesday, September 18th, 2019 Last walk around the lake with Dick and Finish Packing

Today is September 18th and my last day in Europe. It has been a fantastic time. I woke late as did Carla.  I spent most of the morning finishing the packing up of Silver. I managed to get her into the box by looking at photos on my camera to tie her altogether again the same way she was when we arrived. I had a weigh scale borrowed from Carla and kept putting things in until it was just under 70 pounds. Then I taped her shut and this time put arrows to mark which way was up. I went upstairs and filled the suitcase until the weighing tool from Carla showed just under 50 pounds. I brought it downstairs by going backwards and sort of dragging it along. I did not want Dick to move it because of his bad back. I put it ready by the front door. Then my backpack could hold all the heavy items like all the museum pamphlets, bicycle key chains souvenirs, my two cheeses and the stroop waffle packages. It seemed heavy but was not near the 22 pounds allowed. At 12 0'clock I went to Marnix  in the office. He was going to help me with checking in with Air Canada. We had trouble with the luggage cost so I said to leave it until the airport. We did change my seats to aisle seats so I was happy about that.

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After lunch, I went with Dick to walk Sepp and Victor around the lake. We talked briefly to this boy who was fishing.

It was not busy today. The water was calm and the sky had nice clouds.

We had a good time and nice chat. I will miss that.

We loaded the vehicle before supper and enjoyed a nice evening together with a nice supper made by Dick followed by a "tootje" dessert, then some TV and Baguerra laying on my lap, a little drink, also many thank you's again for how wonderful Dick and Carla have been for me  and another  conversation about Jesus. At 11pm., I said goodnight and gave hugs and when I got upstairs I Skyped Dave one last time and went to bed.