Some Colour

It was hard to get good pictures from inside the train but it really was beautiful.

Ontario doesn't get the respect it deserves. I think this is an absolutely beautiful province. I've been to a lot of it especially with the union work. Maybe it's because it is so big and takes so much time to get around. My advice, pick an area and go explore.

The Canyon

I took this shot after climbing 320 steps to an observation post. I huffed and puffed but it was worth the view.

The Train Ride

The tour train leaves at 8 am and arrives at the canyon around 11:30 am. The 1940's passenger cars apparently are being up dated soon (Ont govt is making an investment) which will be great for the already large tourist market. The canyon is at Mile 112. Passenger trains have a speed limit of 35 mph (freight is 25 mph) so it is a leisurely trip and lots of time to look, reflect and just soak it all in. We took the train on Sept 12. If I were to do it again, and I likely will, I think I'd wait to the 3rd week of Sept. The colours just got better and better with each passing day.

Agawa Canyon Trip

Some time ago, just after the amalgamation of school boards, I was assigned to work on the new contract for high school teachers in Algoma. Travelling there in the fall was wonderful - the colour on the trees viewed from the plane were fabulous. I told myself that as soon as I retired I was taking the Agawa Canyon train to see the colours. We left Ancaster on Sept. 10 and drove through Michigan to the Sault. Linda and I took a drive out to Pancake Bay for old times sake for me. Barry, my brother, worked there for a couple of summers as a teen. My parents and I took trips up to visit him. I love the beach. It is long, sandy and the Lake Superior waves are tremendous.

Best Seafood Finds in NS

I have had considerable trouble with pictures from NS. I had them printed but do not seem to be able to access them on the computer. I didn't like the camera much - bought it new for the trips. I took it back to Henry's and they were very accommodating. I like my new one much better and have pictures of the last adventure.

Anyway, to my mind my best lobster was at the Lobster Pound at Hall's Harbour. The best clams (actually whole and not strips) at a little place called Mom's Diner at Caning and by best scallops were not at Digby but from there prepared at Acton's in Wolfville.

I've discovered I really am not that enamoured with the ocean. I think Lake Huron has spoiled me. The scenery was often quite beautiful or rugged. The biting insects drove me crazy. Glad we went and having a home base on the mainland and Cape Breton was a good idea for us. Fort Loisburg was probably the highlight. We had a wonderful guide (Iris) who had loads of wonderful stories to tell. The reconstruction is very impressive and we got a real feel for life in the booming port. Stop for breakfast at Judy's Lil Diner and tell her you'll take cookies to her husband at the forge. She sent us with a treat for him.

Oh, and it is true - NS are exceptioanlly friendly.

Halifax Explosion

After being in the Fundy area for a few days and with it being overcast and rainy, we decided we'd go to Halifax for a day. We got there and I was running out of gas so we started looking for a station. Going through an intersection suddenly WHAM! We were broadsided on the rear passenger side - no one was hurt just ratttled. The impact spun the car through the intersection and we were fortunate that there was not a pedestrian or another car there. My car was undriveable as the rear wheel was all bent as was other stuff under the car. The young woman who hit us was talking on her cell phone while driving. Fortunately, a very nice fellow from New Brunswick stopped and helped. He was our witness that we had the green light. In Nova Scotia the police only come out to an accident if there is a personal injury; otherwise you go to a station to report the accident. Linda found that out by calling the police while I was calling insurance. Tim, the nice guy from NB, took us and Kaylee to the station, waited, took us to a rental place and then wouldn't let us take him out for lunch! I've sent him a gift certificate as he really did help us. The insurance adjuster told me there was "some question about the light" but it was good I had a witness!!! So, I got a Ford Fusion (either that or a Dodge Charger!) and put 42000km on it over the next few weeks. Linda couldn't handle the seat as it hurt her back but we got an Obusform and that did the trick. Of course, fixing the Volvo took longer than expected so we got the car four days after we were supposed to leave. It gave us more time to explore the south shore so that was fine. Glad to have the tank back and that everything went smoothly and no one was hurt.

Been and Back

It's August 12 and we got home at 1 am on Saturday after 17 hours in the car. The trip to Nova Scotia was fun, filling, and often beautiful. It took us a over two days to get there. The CAA had the trip through the States as the most direct so we took it. Never again. It was very slow - 2 lane highways, lots of construction and one depressing little town after another. The cottage at Porter's Point was a very nice place- post and beam construction. The garden was very pretty but now being neglected. It was the owner's mother who was the gardener and she has moved back to Ontario. The tide is extreme in the Minas Basin so for most of the day all we saw was mud. It confused Kaylee who wanted to play in the water but it was nowhere to be seen! I did finally find a beach that we could go to and play. The water in front of the cottage had a lot of sea grass, so once the tide started to go out (an inch per minute) it quickly became unapproachable. We did a fair bit of exploring in this area and really liked Wolfville, Halls Harbour but not Halifax and it had nothing to do with the city itself. I'll explain next time.