Pre-birthday party

Most of Scott's family made it over yesterday for Cade's early 15th birthday party - sister Laramie, partner Rick, sons Davis & Lincoln plus Bill & Karen - Scott's parents. Corn on the cob and hot dogs and, finally, once the boys had finished in the pool and hot tub, the cake:

Braeden, Lincoln, Bill, Karen, Cade & Jo

Cade, Lucy, Braeden, Scott, Laramie, Davis, Rick & Lincoln

Lincoln and Davis just out of the pool:

Earlier on, Lucy returned from her 18 mile run - preparation for her first marathon in 7 weeks - glistening with perspiration:

Many houses in USA (as they do in other countries) display their national flag, but it was refreshing to see a neighbour taking a slightly different, less nationalistic, tack:

World Citizen, it says

Lucy has commented on the tall umpires chair outside a local store, and how she thinks it would be nice in their back garden so she could sit and oversee the boys in the pool:

Maybe the (water)boys are past needing this level of supervision now Lucy?

So today (Monday) is our last full day here. It appears we are getting out just in time, judging by the forecast temperatures for the rest of the week:

We're ready for cool, damp Banchory!

Sunday morning post

Lucy's off for a run with the dogs and Jo and I will be going for a walk soon. Today is Family Day - we're not here for Cade's 15th birthday next week, so everyone is coming over this afternoon - 15 of us in all, I think.

The remainder of Friday was fairly quiet. We went out and met Scott for lunch at Goodness Gracious - nice place. Croque Monsieur for me and Lucy and Broccoli soup for Jo:

Lucy made fajitas with the leftover steak for dinner.

On Saturday morning, I felt a bit more energetic than I had done the last couple of days and so, partly inspired by watching Chris Froome tie up the Tour de France, I went out out for my longest bike run of the holiday - 49 kms round over Robertson Bridge and back. I had forgotten how long it was - I had done it last year. I checked my times for some of the stretches and they're definitely better this year - that's encouraging. The fire season is in full swing on the west coast but, thankfully, nothing round Grants Pass yet, although the danger levels are still high:

We went to the park downtown afterwards to look over the Classic Cars on show for the Back to the 50's weekend. Lucy had some shopping to do, so Jo and I were then dropped off at Griess Family Brews.

Shopping done, it was time for an early dinner, as Cade was again taking part in the Classic Cars parade through the town in the evening. We went for a Thai meal - and very nice it was too - and then it was over to Cade's friend's house where he - and Braeden - were dropped off.

We went back downtown later on to watch the parade, looking out for the boys in the black and white car:

Braeden looks happy - and you can just see Cade sitting beside him.

Time for my shower.