CANADA!

Jane and Family Update:

We finally made it to Canada!

After more than 18 months, the border with Canada was opened to the US on August 9th, so at long last we were able to visit Todd’s family!  We faced a number of crazy obstacles trying to get there and back.  Flights into Canada were scarce and astronomically priced, so we instead flew to International Falls, Minnesota and drove across the border.  Three days before our trip the Canadian Border Guards went on strike, threatening to hold up our crossing (they settled the day before we arrived).  Then we had to avoid the forest fires burning along our drive route through Ontario (we saw smoke but were well away from any active fires).  And we had to delay our return home by a day because of a hurricane making landfall in Connecticut (the hurricane was coincidentally named Henri—the same as our dog)!  All worth it, of course :)

Don't let his smile fool you--Henri did NOT like his travel bag.

"Icebox of the Nation"!

Henri saying goodbye to the US

THE LAKE!

Group shot on the dock

Todd on a bike ride with our dear friend, Linda

Grandma agreed Henri is a very Good Boy

Random find: someone made a little dinosaur diorama beside the lake road :)

Helen and Alec joined us a week late (both had to work).  They walked across the border!

Todd's sister, Debbie, liked Henri, too

We discovered a new trail to a hidden lake (though clearly someone had found it before we did). 

Post-hike selfie

Bear in the backyard!!
(Picture taken from the relative safety of the living room.)

Jane catching crayfish

Henri loved the motor boat!

International Falls, MN is home to the largest Smokey the Bear statue (26 feet!)
We couldn't not take a picture :)

  

Running Update:

week of 7/19/2021	16.8 mi	2:49:07
week of 7/26/2021	22.7 mi	3:45:36
week of 8/2/2021	16.2 mi	2:43:46
week of 8/9/2021	27.1 mi	4:27:09
week of 8/16/2021	27.8 mi	4:35:55

I got lots of running (and swimming) in while we were in Canada, so I should be ready for the New Haven Road Race half marathon on Labor Day.  Alec will be running the 5K with his cross country team that day—it will be the first time we’re running in the NHRR together.  I’ll be wearing my Children’s Tumor Foundation shirt as usual, because I never stop fund-raising to #endNF!  You can donate here:

www.KRath4Jane.com