The end is here.

Year eight of my 100 Days of Summer Bucket List has come to a tragic and cold end (ugh, Fall). But looking back, Summer was filled with beautiful people and memories, so I must not be sad.

I’ll get right to the juicy stuff. Friends, I got 90/100 items done! A big thank you to all of the suggestions and willingness to join me on many awesome adventures. Like last year, going into the start of Summer, we had no idea what would be open and available to do in Nova Scotia, so I thought about that when I made my list. I am super grateful our province is doing well, and we were gifted a bit of freedom to enjoy our ocean playground in most ways.

Here’s a video I made if you’d like to watch it. I always try a get a picture of every item, but there were a few improvised, and at the very end is the ten I didn’t do. Enjoy!

1. Night hike with my mom (on her trails)
2. Night swim
3. Night kayak
4. Make a peach pie
5. Make a rhubarb pie
6. Make a banana cream pie
7. Run with friends/Road Hammers again
8. Run to the Bike and Bean
9. Have a sushi picnic
10. Eat ice cream in a cone
11. Go trail running
12. Have a campfire
13. Eat s’mores
14. Bike a trail
15. Paddleboard down the Wallace River
16. Paddleboard in the Northwest Arm
17. Swing off the river rope
18. Build a dock or finish the driveway or both!
19. Patio dining and patio drinking
20. Sleep in a tent
21. Set out on a walk – meet a friend halfway
22. Take a dip in the ocean
23. Drink beer from a cooler
24. Go for a beach walk
25. Hike the new trails at Cape Split
26. Hike the Bluff
27. Apply sunscreen every freaking day
28. Swim in my aunt’s pond
29. Work outside
30. Make peach marmalade
31. Kayak (or canoe) the canal
32. Go neighbourhood stalking with friends
33. Expand neighbourhood stalk: guest posts in other cities!
34. Stroll along the waterfront
35. Cocktails by Cameron on the patio
36. Try ice-dying
37. Get a haircut
38. Buy new Birks
39. Make rhubarb syrup for (virgin) cocktails
40. Dance in the rain
41. Play four-squares
42. Play croquet
43. Play spike ball
44. Drinks on my inlaw’s patio
45. Go for a run and jump in the water right after
46. Eat a lobster roll
47. Eat fish tacos
48. Eat a Kaiser’s sub
49. Have a lunch date
50. Have a brunch date (Almonak)
51. Play hooky
52. Yoga outside
53. Discover a new beach
54. Have root beer floats
55. Get 10,000 steps every day
56. Grow flowers from seed
57. Road trip to visit a friend
58. Take the ferry to Dartmouth
59. Host (at least one) Youth Running Series race
60. Summer wreath-making party
61. Backyard outdoor movie night
62. Run and jump off a dock without knowing the temperature of the water
63. Go to a drive-in movie
64. Road trip to Just Bloom Flower Farm
65. Find a waterfall
66. Bike to Bedford
67. Visit the ocean after work
68. Watch the sailboats on Sullivan’s Pond
69. Send mail every week
70. Make popsicles
71. Stargaze
72. Only use the clothesline
73. Nova 7 in a can!
74. Rent a cottage
75. Re-do my 5km time trial
76. Snorkel (or learn to scuba dive) with David
77. Play sandbar rake tag
78. Make giant bubbles with my nieces
79. Make strawberry shortcake
80. Get a bird feeder
81. Celebrate Sunday Buddy Sundae
82. Find and photograph lupins
83. Run to a lighthouse
84. Eat from a food truck
85. Visit Tatamagouche Ice Creamery (at least once)
86. Play tennis
87. Drift down a river
88. Go berry picking
89. Go whale watching
90. Yard sale
91. Go out, wear clogs
92. Take a “lunch” break – get fresh air (daily!)
93. Organize and play a night game (not game night)
94. Take a class/workshop (online)
95. Make potato salad
96. Dole Whip at the Chicken Burger
97. Get fully vaccinated
98. Watch the sunrise at the ocean
99. Watch the sunset at the ocean
100. Watch 500 Days of Summer

To SUMMERize – here’s what I did not do

• Sleep in a tent
• Swim in my aunt’s pond
• Play four-squares
• Road trip to visit a friend
• Summer wreath-making party
• Backyard outdoor movie night
• Go to a drive-in movie
• Snorkel (or learn to scuba dive) with David
• Go whale watching
• Organize and play a night game (not game night)

I always hope this inspires others to create their own version – I am already looking forward to year nine!

Here are my lists from 2020, 2019 2018, 2017, 2016,  2015, 2014