Insults in the dark 2012 - The cottage we stayed at

Insults In The Dark – 2012

Darcy Travel Leave a Comment

Well another year and another successful trip with the guys. As our numbers dwindle, our trips change and evolve.

This year we did a cottage trip and we managed to snag a rental up near St-Sauveur (within a 30 minute drive). We hiked, played board games, read, watched the Olympics and a bit of Netflix, kayaked, swam and biked. I also managed to get caught up on sleep after my whirlwind trip down to Ohio a few weeks prior to this getaway.

Here’s the summary…

Day 1 – Friday

A short day – Left at 4pm and after a pitstop in Montebello for an average meal at Le Zouk (good service and atmosphere though), I know many females who would be envious of the double sink setup. we took the new section of Hwy 50 (need to update my GPS as it thought we were offroad) and got to the cottage at around 7pm. After surveying our abode, we chose the sleeping arrangements and settled in which took all of 10 minutes – we then proceeded to crack open a board game, Agricola, and played that for the evening. In retrospect, I have to say that it was my favourite board game of the weekend and it involved no orcs, elves or swords in the abdomen. It was surprisingly peaceful pleasant and very strategic (the element of chance is practically non-existent in this game).

img01

Double sinks at a cottage. Sweet.

Day 2 – Saturday

Day 2 – Saturday
Oh dear god, it burns.Shared a double bed with Bennett and it was a non-restful experience. The noisiest bed in the world ensured that neither of us got any sleep and we quickly discovered that when sunrise occurred somewhere at 6:30am, it was directly in our faces. After the crew was up, we hung out, played with the paddle boat (fastest one I’ve ever been on). Kevin and I did some recon up at St-Sauveur to find some hiking trails and after a rude concierge at a local hotel told us to go to the Info kiosk for help (after he asked if he could help us), we found some good hiking options. We headed home to report in and after dinner, we played Small World and watched some American Dad. Bennett slept on a sofa and we each got much better sleep. The sun reminded of us of its existence as soon as it came up.

img01

Oh god. The morning sun at 6am.

Day 3 – Sunday

After another relaxing morning, the four of us decided to go hiking up at Mt. Rolland near St-Adele. After a quick 40 minute drive and a $6/person entry fee, we were ready to see what this place had to offer. Once we were done, we headed back to St-Sauveur to offset any calories we had lost by having some ice cream to cool down on this 35c day. After looking around for a bit, I realized that Tobermory had a rival in the Tourist Trap category. Have to say that I could have just sat down and people watched for a good 2 hours. After a returning home and taking in a quick kayak, we ate and played Cyclades which was a lot of fun and then capped it off with more American Dad.

img01

Good times Smallworld

Day 4 – Monday

The Burning Sun paid us a visit once again in the early hours of the morning. Jonathan and I finally noticed there was a communal sleeping mask beside the bed and after realizing it was meant to allow people to sleep in a bit longer, we did a collective ‘ewwww’. Even if it washed every time – something didn’t sit well with me. After breakfast, I downloaded AutoRap on my Nexus and made a personalized rap for Kevin which he did not enjoy for some reason (guess he didn’t like the parts that mocked his home, work and sex life – go figure). The other guys found it quite humourous though so at least my 10 minutes of effort was appreciated.

Autorap has the potential to ruin many a friendship.
-Darcy

For the afternoon, Joe/Jonathan hung out at the cottage while Kevin and I headed up to St-Adele to find another hiking trail. We found the spot that had been pointed out to us on the previous day. We were delighted to find out that it was free though we did pay an intangible price. A 15 minute discussion with the park entrance guide. By the time we were done, Kev and I were eager to get away on just about any trail, though we did get a lot of extra info about the local area. After 2 hours and a bit of regret for wearing Keens for the hike, we made it back to the parking lot and returned home for a quick swim and another satiating dinner. I was pretty tired so I passed on the board games that evening – Cyclades was on the table once again (so punny!). After the games were done, we caught a few American Dad’s (love that show).

Day 5 – Tuesday

By this day, Bennett and I were getting used to having our retinas seared and once the guys were up, we headed down to the lake to have some fun. Joe/Bennett on the paddle boat while Kevin and I took the kayaks. Lax Bixley, our playground. While we were testing the efficiency of me towing the paddle boat, we discovered that if you put weight on the front of the paddle boat, it will take on water due to some cracked seals. Once we discovered that it wasn’t going to make it to shore, Bennett bailed and Joe hopped into the back. After our little water adventure, we spent the rest of the morning lounging. In the afternoon, Kevin and I headed off to St-Adele so that he could rent a bike and we hit the trail known as “Le Petit Train du Nord”. After a long climb up and up and up, we made the timely decision to turn around. After 11km of a relaxing descent, we made it back to the parking lot with about 10 seconds to spare before the thunder storm rolled in. After a return trip home to clean up, the 4 of us then headed back into St-Sauveur to have dinner at Rio’s Restaurant during a fun thunder storm which knocked out the power in the restaurant for about 10 seconds. Returned home and we played Bohnanza much to the chagrin of Bennett. Afterwards, big surprise, we watched some American Dad.

img01

Lac Bixley, our playground.

Day 5 – Tuesday

By this day, Bennett and I were getting used to having our retinas seared and once the guys were up, we headed down to the lake to have some fun. Joe/Bennett on the paddle boat while Kevin and I took the kayaks. Lax Bixley, our playground. While we were testing the efficiency of me towing the paddle boat, we discovered that if you put weight on the front of the paddle boat, it will take on water due to some cracked seals. Once we discovered that it wasn’t going to make it to shore, Bennett bailed and Joe hopped into the back. After our little water adventure, we spent the rest of the morning lounging. In the afternoon, Kevin and I headed off to St-Adele so that he could rent a bike and we hit the trail known as “Le Petit Train du Nord”. After a long climb up and up and up, we made the timely decision to turn around. After 11km of a relaxing descent, we made it back to the parking lot with about 10 seconds to spare before the thunder storm rolled in. After a return trip home to clean up, the 4 of us then headed back into St-Sauveur to have dinner at Rio’s Restaurant during a fun thunder storm which knocked out the power in the restaurant for about 10 seconds. Returned home and we played Bohnanza much to the chagrin of Bennett. Afterwards, big surprise, we watched some American Dad.

img01

5 days later and still friends.


How things change over 12 years

  • IITD 2000

    Beer consumed

    0

     

    Cola consumed

    0
  • IITD 2000

    Beer consumed

    0

     

    Cola consumed

    0

Worthy Quotes

The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop.
Mark Twain
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.
Mark Twain
A Man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
Benjamin Franklin
If I only had a little humility, I’d be perfect.
Ted Turner
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.
Kristian Wilson
Nintendo, Inc, 1989
Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand.
Kurt Vonnegut
Well begun is half done.
Aristotle
Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
Mark Twain
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
Thomas Jefferson
I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.
Groucho Marx
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
Winston Churchill
Do, or do not. There is no 'try'.
Yoda
Jedi Master
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.
Cale Yarborough
Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
Benjamin Franklin
If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us.
Anonymous
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
Never ruin an apology with an excuse.
Benjamin Franklin
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
Benjamin Franklin
There are lies, damned lies and statistics.
Mark Twain
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.
Native American Proverb
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.
Mark Twain
The manager administers, The leader innovates. The manager maintains, the leader develops. The manager relies on systems, the leader relies on people. The manager counts on controls, the leader counts on trust. The manager does things right, the leader does the right thing.
Forbes Magazine
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
Mark Twain
Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else’s can shorten it.
Cullen Hightower
Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.
Benjamin Franklin
Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.
Erica Jong
I am opposed to millionaires, but it would be dangerous to offer me the position.
Mark Twain
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.
Benjamin Franklin
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
Benjamin Franklin
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost
The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
Mark Twain
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
Oscar Wilde
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.
Will Rogers
If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.
Mark Twain
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.
Plato
We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
Aristotle
Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.
Franklin P. Jones
You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.
Wayne Gretzky
Once in a while you will stumble upon the truth but most of us manage to pick ourselves up and hurry along as if nothing had happened.
Winston Churchill
History is written by the victors.
Winston Churchill
We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
Robert Wilensky
Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
Albert Einstein
Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.
Benjamin Franklin
When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.
Benjamin Franklin
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Harry Truman
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
Plato
We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing!
Benjamin Franklin
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill
People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.
Zig Ziglar
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
Mark Twain
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today.
Benjamin Franklin
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.
Benjamin Franklin
Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.
Benjamin Franklin
To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other.
Jack Handey
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
Ovid
Poet (43 BCE - CE 17)
He that lieth down with Dogs, shall rise up with Fleas.
Benjamin Franklin
Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not.
Virgil Garnett Thomson
Tis a great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him his.
Benjamin Franklin
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
Steven Wright
The measure of a life is not what that life accomplishes,but rather the impact that life has on others.
Jackie Robinson
We learn something every day, and lots of times it’s that what we learned the day before was wrong.
Bill Vaughan
Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress.
Alfred A. Montapert
To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.
Abraham Maslow
Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage. He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married, and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked.
Kimberley Broyles
You can do anything, but not everything.
David Allen
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Gandhi
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
Benjamin Franklin
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Benjamin Franklin
Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very'; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
Mark Twain
Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away
Benjamin Franklin
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.
Mark Twain
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.
Groucho Marx
If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not working on hard enough problems. And that’s a big mistake.
Frank Wilczek
When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.
Thomas Szasz
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
Albert Einstein
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
William Arthur Ward
Well done is better than well said.
Benjamin Franklin
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
Mark Twain
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
Winston Churchill

Subscribe!


Instagram Feed