In my last post I stated how I was enjoying summer. Now as I sit down to write this update to my blog. I realize summer is almost over. The days seem to travel by so quickly.
We had a good time in Winnipeg. We left Tania and family on Saturday August 02nd. The travelling was not too bad until on Monday August 04th we went on to highway 400 down to Toronto from northern Ontario. When planning my trip back to Michael's I knew it was a holiday Monday, but did not think of people heading back into the city from their cottages. Highway 400 was crowded and slow.
That wasn't enough, when we got through Toronto and headed on the QE 427, the clouds burst and it rained so hard. We crept along and had to stop for long periods on time. The road was flooding but we managed to get through and thought we were through all the ordeals.
As we left the ramp to go into Burlington where Michael and Annie are temporarly living we came to an intersection. We waited a long time at the intersection and when it was clear we thought it was safe to go as the traffic lights were not working. A car came out of no where and hit us on the driver side back corner spinning us around and we hit a small car going through the intersection. No one was injured but the three vehicles received damage. The police were not laying charges as the accident was the result of faulty traffic lights. There was another accident at the same intersection as we waited for the tow truck to arrive.
Our van was not drivable as the impact of the car hitting us broke the rear axle and bent the wheel housing. It ended up both bumpers and wheel axle needed to be replaced. It was going to take 10 -12 days to do it. We had a problem. Where Michael is staying, it is nice but small. From Saturday through Monday he works the night shift and sleeps during the day. They have a big poodle and she barks every time we moved around. So that was not a good thing. Going home seemed like the only thing to do and I was not up to socializing anyway.
I really needed to be home the following week as I had booked a wedding and had worked with the couple since December 2013. In my thinking it would not be fair to back out and leave them looking for someone else. So Valerie and I decided we would fly home and do what needed to be done and fly back to Ontario when the van was finished. The insurance would not pay for flying home, but we did it anyway.
I have been talking with the repair shop in Burlington and they say the van will be ready on Wednesday or Thursday. We have our tickets to fly into Hamilton tomorrow. We will stay Thursday and start the drive home on Friday, arriving home on Sunday.
I consider ourselves very fortunate, because we have been driving to Winnipeg every summer for the last ten years and this is the first accident we have had in all those miles. However, it goes to show that one cannot be careful enough.
Our problems are small and insignificant compared to others who are going through illness and other problems. My heart goes out to them and their families. They are in our prayers.
I am planning to work only two weeks a month starting this fall. I a not sure how it will work out, but I am looking forward to it. Then maybe next spring retire completely. We will see how the winter goes.
This is all that I am writing for now. God be with you all, especially my sister and brother-in-law in Pittsburgh.
