This year I booked our RCI timeshare vacation for April 16-23, 2005 at The Lodge at Horseshoe Resort, Barrie, Ontario. We got a 2-bedroom unit, with full kitchen. Carlo got vacation leave from his office and came with us. The Resort is nestled in the Valley situated on 1600 acres of beautiful country side, from forested vistas to steep ravines and carefully manicured lawns, just steps away from the majestic Copeland Forest.

While at the resort, we drove to Algonquin Park hoping to go on some serious hiking at the many trails there. But most of the trails were still closed except 1 or 2 "tame" ones. We only tried one which was the Whisky Rapids, a 2.1 km. loop, but almost got lost there since the marks and signs on the trails were still covered with melting snow, and not so discernible. That was a scary experience, more so that no one else was doing the trail and it was getting dark any time.



There were days that we just stayed inside the resort, when the weather was cold (a high of 11C), while the boys tried Casino Rama, as the Resort provided transport. The girls were content swimming at the resort pool, or reading books borrowed from the library.



At another time, we went sightseeing at Midland, but the tour attractions were also still closed. So we just walked around the Harbour taking pictures. Going back to the resort, we took the route passing Orilla, and Lake Couchiching.



Back at Eric's home at Orangeville, since this was Carlo's first time in Canada, the rest of our vacation was spent driving around, taking in Eugenia Falls, Feversham Gorge, Creemore, and Forks Credit River. All this time, the weather was still very cold, registering at most a high of 14C.

In between our Canadian vacation, Eric drove us (Carlo and me) to New York to visit Arnold, who was then just barely a year in his working visa. We all stayed at Super 8 motel, near Arnold's boarding house, from April 29 to May 2. The brothers had their first reunion together. Arnold took a leave for the weekend and was our guide around New York.