Enroute to Cape Breton we had the chance to drop by to visit Jayne and Brian in historic Windsor, Nova Scotia. Our timing couldn’t have been better as we were also able to meet their daughter Kelly and her husband Sven who were awaiting the birth of their first child. Pretty special for them and for Jayne and Brian who are excited to join the exulted club of Grand Parenthood. They will be awesome grandparents.
We first met Jayne many, many years ago as she has been a long-time best friend of Nancy, one of Bernadette’s younger sisters. When Bernadette and I first became parents, both Jayne and Nancy were always willing to help us by babysitting our eldest babe, Melissa. This was when we lived in what is lovingly remembered as our “Mouse House”. (Another tiny house story for another time.)
Although Windsor is a great place to visit first-time parents and grandparents, it is also an important town to visit if you are a hockey lover as Windsor credits itself as the birthplace of hockey. Just over the hill behind Jayne and Brian’s stunning home is a long pond called Long Pond.
As early as 1804, it is claimed that school kids from Windsor’s King College, one of Canada’s oldest schools, would play a game called hurley on the frozen Long Pond. Local historians believe hurley eventually evolved into what we know today as hockey, and there are photos of some of the first hockey teams in Windsor (men and women) that date back to the late 1800’s.
I can’t believe I was walking that close to such hallowed hockey ground, um hockey pond, where the very first puck was likely dropped. No matter if you debate Windsor’s claim to being the birthplace of hockey, there is no doubt that Long Pond would be the most picturesque place to lace up your blades, skate off for a few laps, and maybe roof a couple in the twine. Just don’t try doing so in June. It was very special to visit with Jayne and Brian during this important milestone period. They proved to be such great hosts that I didn’t want to leave. I was ready to park Ladybug and just move in for a month or so. Sadly, my navigator gave me the look and Captain Pete knew it was time to hit the road.