Our first month in Collingwood has been non-stop activity.

What Collingwood, and adjacent Blue Mountain, do really well is create events that bring together full time residents and tourists in celebration of local talent, amenities and natural resources…. and most of those events are free! In 3 short weeks we have watched classic movies under the stars, attended concerts at the Shipyard Amphitheatre and the Blue Mountain Village stage, listened to great Latin music at the old train station park beside the Collingwood Museum, played the pianos lining the main street, borrowed books at the library, seen As You Like It performed in the park, watched wakeboard races and kiteflying in the harbour, hiked the Georgian Trail, collected rocks at Sunset Point Beach, and shopped at the Saturday farmers’ market….all at no cost. We’ve met lots of friendly people at every event. And of course we’ve enjoyed spending time with our kids and grandkids too.

Now we have to take a short planned break. I go in for thyroid surgery next week, which means a couple of days back in the GTA to have the procedure done at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial. A couple of weeks later, Ted’s second cataract surgery is scheduled, in Vaughan with follow-ups in Brampton. Neither event was a surprise, and it was important to have them done while we are in Ontario and close to our doctors.

We’re taking a short pause, but that’s all it is. September 22nd is Oktoberfest at Blue Mountain. I have no intention of missing it.