A Cycling Tour and Juno’s New Job

Ray and I completed another successful home exchange, spending a few nights in a century home in Niagara Falls. The main draw was the Niagara River Recreational Trail, a cycle path that goes from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake. We did the portion from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake and back (50 kms). On the return journey, we stopped for a hike into the Niagara Gorge that included climbing up and down over 200 steps, so it was enough of a challenge to earn a spot on my 60@60 list (no big deal for Ray though).

We stopped at a vineyard called “Two Sisters” where I thought I’d buy my sister a bottle of wine. The helicopter landing area should have tipped me off that this was a higher-end winery. The only item in my price range was an empty wine box, and I didn’t think that would go over so well, so I got her this pic instead.

On our way there and back, we stopped in Georgetown to have coffee and lunch with Ray’s mom. We left Juno there with former neighbours. When we came to pick her up, Wayne and Cathy were sitting on opposite ends of the couch while we chatted. Juno hopped up and sat on Wayne’s lap for a while, then crossed over and sat on Cathy’s lap for a bit, then curled up on the couch between them with her head on her paws and looked out at us, as if to say, “Thanks for stopping by guys. Great to see you, but we’ve had a busy day and it’s time for my nap. See you later.” As much as she loves going to ‘Squirrel Camp’, we couldn’t leave her there because she started her new job this week.

Since last fall, Juno and Ray have been in training to become a St. John Ambulance therapy team. After a couple of interviews and a testing session where applicant teams were exposed to various situations – people in wheelchairs, other dogs walking past, being offered a treat, being approached by a large group of people – to see how they’d react, Ray and Juno spent a couple of months accompanying existing therapy teams in different settings (e.g., assisted living home, VON day program).

They’ve now graduated from the training program and are a certified therapy team (it’s the team that’s certified, not the dog, so only Ray can take her). They’ve been assigned to the recently-opened retirement residence in Brighton, where they’ll visit once a week for about an hour. Juno’s job is to look adoringly at everyone she meets, be soft and furry, and wiggle her bottom in delight when people pat her. She’s a natural.

When I started my 60@60 challenge, I had a different idea of what I wanted it to be. For example, when we first decided we wanted to visit the Niagara area, I saw that there was a zip line at the falls and that seemed like an adventure that could go on my list. I’ve done zip lines before and I enjoy them, but I don’t feel the same need for adrenaline adventures that I used to. A bigger challenge for me is staying active so I’ve focused more on those activities. It’s been an interesting exercise in clarifying what I want.I’m very happy with my life right now, but I don’t want comfort to turn into complacency. My list is a way to guard against that.

My June challenge, which will start today, because I keep forgetting about the monthly challenges until I write these posts, will be to do the stretches I should be doing daily to prevent further dragon boating injuries. I enjoy dragon boating but it is not an easy sport on the body with all its twisting. I injured my lower back the first summer I tried it and have not been good at doing the exercises the physio suggested. Ideally it will become a habit and continue beyond the 30-day challenge.

60 at 60 list:

1. January challenge: 30 days of Flow Yoga
2. Memory challenge: Identify all 195 countries in the world on a map (using Seterra app) 
3. Sunbathe on the au naturel island
4. Try pickleball
5. Climb a waterfall
6. February challenge: study Portuguese (use Duolingo daily)
7. Initiate coffee with someone you don’t know
8. Calabogie mini-vacay with Tim & Pamela
9. Get an iPhone
10. Spa afternoon with Joanna
11. Visit Portugal with Karen
12. Sign up for competitive dragon boating (with Josee)
13. Learn to crochet (with Sarah)
14. Experience a total solar eclipse (with Ray, Rick & Josee)
15. Take a dip in an Ontario lake in April (with Nick & Megan)
16. Have a sleep assessment done at a sleep clinic
17. Escape Room birthday celebration with Lorrie & Josee
18. May challenge: Plan and make two or three meals per week
19. Mystery Tour with Susan
20. View the Northern Lights
21. 56 km cycle along L’Estriage in Quebec’s Eastern Townships
22. 50 km cycle along Niagara River Recreational
23. Trail (plus hike into gorge)
24. June challenge: daily stretching and release exercises for lower back