Tuesday 31st August

Holiday is almost over L

The incoming flight was late so it was clear we couldn’t make our 6.10 boarding time.  The Canadian practice of telling you well in advance which gate you’ll be at works really well – saves a last minute dash to the other end of the airport and you can see your plane arrive and get prepared.

Anyway, we take off 30 minutes late, see the sun set over Toronto and head off into the night sky.  We have the same seats as we did going, with plenty of leg room for all, but especially for me.  The films are Nanny MacPhee and the Big Bang and Valentine’s Day.  I watch the first and try to sleep through the second (without success).  The rest of the family watch them both.  I don’t think anyone sleeps on the flight.

Ellie is sitting next to an elderly lady and is soon chatting away about our holiday, Jack’s arm and (obviously) Alfie!

So at 6.50 am on Tuesday 31^st August, we touch down at Gatwick, tired, sad the holiday is over, but glad to be nearly home.  The flight was good, apart from no one sleeping.  We quickly clear customs and an hour later are on our way home, looking forward to picking up Alfie later in the day.

So have we enjoyed ourselves?  I think this is a definite “Yes!!!!!!!!”  Ellie started the ball rolling with a conversation over tea on Saturday about what we liked about Canada.

So the things we like about Canada:

1                     The people are so friendly – this we all agreed on

2                     The weather was brilliant – warm even when it wasn’t sunny – and we had great weather for our first day at the cottage and in Ottawa

3                     You can turn right on  a red light – one of the better things about Canada’s highway code

4                     Every restaurant gives you a glass of water at the start of a meal – at no charge and without asking.  A great tradition.

5                     The water in lakes and rivers is lovely and clean (and warm!)

6                     The wildlife – we saw chipmonks, exotic birds, racoons (in Ken’s garden!) and all colours of squirrels.

OK – so there are some negatives (or differences), which you need to be aware of:

1                     Lemonade isn’t fizzy – if you want that, you’ll need to ask for Sprite.  On the plus side, the lemonade is really lemony!

2                     The licensing laws are a bit archaic – not being able to buy beer and wine at a supermarket takes a lot of getting used to!

3                     On Canadian TV, they warn you before most programmes if there is mature content – including on comedy programmes like 2 ½ Men – and then repeat the warning after each ad break!

4                     We had a problem (well Jack did) with the high curbs in Canada

5                     Ellie also wrote down that the wild bears were a negative, but I’m not sure whether that’s because we didn’t see any!

Overall, though, we love Canada, the scenery, the scale of the place and the fantastic people.

Monday 30th August

Jack on the balcony

Up early (I must learn to lie in properly) so I took advantage of the last opportunity to run round Ottawa’s river bank, finding my way round the National Archive to the river, then going all the way to the Rideaux canal locks, round Parliament Hill and back.  Lovely at that time (around 8.00am) as it’s not too hot.  I see a loon flying along the river quite close to me.  Quite a few people around – cyclists, skaters and runners.

Back to pack the cases.  I’m so pleased we got some travel scales to reduce Helen’s fretting about over weight bags.  I get one dead on 20kg, but am obliged to take some stuff out.  Anyway, we are packed, take the bags to the car, check out and head of in search of breakfast. We go to a place I spotted on Saturday on Bank St – Eggspectations where we have a corner table overlooking the street.  Good brunch there.

View down the Rideaux locks

We’re too late for the 11.00am guided walk, so do our own – down Laurier to the Rideaux canal – this is our favourite bit of a wonderful city. It’s red hot (something like 31º) so we have an ice cream on the way back.

Ready for home

Getting to the airport is easy, as is the car drop off.  We’re actually early for check – in, got through security and settle down to wait for take off.  Good free Wi-Fi allows me to do this.

Sunday 29th August

Not many pictures today because we couldn’t take the camera for the best part of the day.

Up late and Jack and I went to the Gym while H & E slept.  Found the Grand Prix on TV (it was the BBC coverage) so did a particularly long stint on an exercise bike until I’d seen Hamilton safely home.

Then shower and dressed.  Popped out for some last minute shopping, then we’re off on the 1 ¾ hour drive to the Owl Rafting place on the Ottawa river.  Stop at a very countrified garage to fill up (we need fuel to get back and I’m not sure whether they’ll be open later – it is Sunday!).  It is the first time in years that someone has actually done the pump for me to fill up the car.  Quaint.

Owl Rafting HQ

Owl Rafting turns out to be a place with cabins and where you can camp.  Week days you have to be quiet by 11.00 – weekends you can party until 1.00 in the morning!  We wait for the other family to arrive (they have been delayed on the road but are on their way.  We are in a family rafting party with a family of three.  There is also an extreme rafting boat going down with us.  As we have some time, we have  quick swim in the river out to a diving platform with a slide on it.  Ellie thinks I did a belly flop - I correct her as I really did intend to do a "skim dive"....

After the safety briefing, we get our helmets and lifejackets (or personal floatation devices) and climb aboard a mini bus which takes us all upstream. 

Our guide and oarsman (we don’t have to paddle – just hold on) is Matt.  Matt is Australian, normally a teacher, but used to work full time for Owl and now just does the occasional weekend.  Today he’s brought his 5 year old son Lucas for his first rafting trip.  He explains each rapid as we approach and makes sure we all give a thumbs up to risking our lives (we’ve already signed to agree that if we die it’s our own fault).  This is really good fun as we speed up down the rapids (which have names like Butcher’s Knife and Coliseum) and dive into the waves at the bottom.  We have the seats at the front of the boat so we sem to get most of the action.  We also get to watch the other boat as they try to surf the waves.  A couple oif times they are all thrown from their boat, but it seems to be mainly when their guide plans it.  We stop after a couple of rapids at Lemmings Jump – a high rock which you can jump from.  Jack and I go for the high jump into the swirling water below with no hesitation.  I’m sure this is higher even than the middle jumping rock on Gull Lake – I’m sure we were in the air longer.  Ellie jumps from a lower rock and Helen looks on proudly(!)  Amazingly, Matt jumps off the high jump holding his 5 year old son.  Both survive.

After the main big rapids, we jump off the boat and swim for a ½ mile or so. This sounds quite impressive, but we actually drift with the current, doing not much actual swimming.  Matt insists we keep our life jackets and helmets on, but Helen in a daring show of defiance forgets to fasten her helmet so it comes of when she hits the water.  There are a panicky few seconds while she struggles to fasten it.

Pontoon Boat

At the end, we are towed by a tin boat further down river to the pontoon boat where we have a barbeque and complete our journey.  The relish and chillies make the burgers really delicious, and there is a fresh do it yourself Caesar Salad.

The best thing about the 5 km or so we travelled downstream in the raft was the feeling that the river hadn’t really changed for centuries.  You could imagine Hiawatha (or Pocahontas for the Disney generation) travelling down this same waterway and feel eyes watching from the trees.  The size of the river really impressed as well. It was at least ½ mile across for all the way we went and there were other channels as well.  Even though its probably over a thousand miles from the sea, this is a big river!

When we got back to Owl base, we watched a video that Wes had made of our trip.  It was good – and captured me jumping off the high rock at least twice – so we had to buy a copy to bring home. 

Back to Albert at Bay by 9.00pm and we relaxed….

Saturday 28th August

Another great day in Ottawa! Blue skies and 30ºC forecast.  I’m up early and go for a run up to Parliament Hill, down by the Rideaux Canal and back.  It’s so quiet here – I can’t help comparing it with what London’s Parliament Square would be like on a summer Saturday morning.  I spot a 24 hour shop just below the hotel, so get some breakfast in.

After breakfast, we head out exploring.  Down Sparks Street towards the war memorial opposite Parliamernt Hill, then down the locks of the Rideaux Canal, watching a boat make it’s slow way up the hill (poor man had a big audience and lost his hooky pole in the water!).  We then cross the Alexandria Bridge – a lovely steel truss cantilever affair so we can say we’ve been in Quebec.  Walk round the outside of the Museum of Civilisation (have a coffee/fruit ice/slush puppie) and back towards the Byward Market.  

This is where the city gets really lively – loads of stalls selling all sorts of fruit, veg, jewellery and food.  As recommended, we try beavers tails – deep fried pastry with various toppings including lemon and sugar (Jack) and cheese and garlic (S & H).  Ellie waits and has a crepe a little later.  Beavers tails are much nicer than they sound – really tasty, although I don’t think they can be too healthy – bit like most good things.

We then head slowly back to base, stopping off at a bar for a beer an LCBO to get some wine and beer for the apartment.  During the afternoon, we rest – well a little.  Jack and Ellie persuade me to take them to the gym, and I get some groceries in from the bigger shop (Shoppers Drugmart) a few blocks away.

In the evening, we head back towards Byward Market as it’s the liveliest area.  We find an Italian called the Grand on the corner opposite an Irish pub with a live band which can be heard all over the street.  Luckily, they play a great selection, starting with the Buzzcocks’ “ever fallen in love” and quite a lot of Clash numbers.  Have the hottest Penne al Arrabiatta I’ve had for a long time – Ellie has it too and enjoys it, although she struggles at times.

After the meal, there is a street entertainer doing some fire eating which is good value (i.e. almost free), and we then take our seats on the grass on Parliament Hill for the sound and light show that is on free every night.  It’s called Mosaika – about Canada by Canadians.  It is really spectacular how they light up the parliament building, both using it as giant projection screen and bringing it to life in different colours.  By the end of it, we are proud to be Canadians!

Friday 27th August

Up and down to break fast for 8.45.  Good breakfast with home made jams, juices, cereal, toast and pancakes. 

Packed up and set off for Ottawa.  Good journey (no Tim stops) and arrived at the hotel early for check in. No problem, they have a room ready and suggest we change to one with two beds (queens) in the bedroom rather than a sofa bed for the kids or us.  This is an apartment hotel and the suite is great.  10^th floor; big well equipped kitchen (dishwasher, big fridge, oven the size of Alison’s) decent size and very comfortable – oh and a balcony overlooking the river.

We have a light lunch of dips we brought with us from Wasaga then set out to explore. 

I LOVE OTTAWA!  It is a beautiful city with great, really interesting things to do.  Out of the hotel, towards the river, we pass through the Garden of Territories and Provinces, to the Supreme Court where a guided tour is just about to start.  At first we have a private tour, but then a couple join is.  It covers the Federal Court (we get to sit in the judges seats - just like Judge Judy says Ellie), the Court of Appeal and some very plush marble toilets.  It’s free, very enjoyable and even J & E like it. 

We then head off towards Parliament Hill where the government buildings are.  It’s all in a lovely setting with traffic kept well away and lots of grass around.  We book the 4.20 tour of the Centre Block and Helen & Jack look round the precinct while I take Ellie for an ice cream – she’s feeling put out about going on a tour – but it doesn’t work very well – she chooses a flavour she doesn’t like!

The tour is about 40 people led by Candice, a journalism student, originally from Toronto.  We have to go through security first which takes ages, but then we are whisked into the Commons chamber which is really quite impressive.  Like a lot of things, they take their cues from Britain so the colour here is green.  Then the library, but we are told we can’t go in because some filming is taking place – the Canadians complain that this is the highlight of the tour (we’re ignorant and think they’re joking).  Candice tells us about what we could have had seen – but then we are allowed into the library providing we’re quiet and it is really quite impressive – white pine carved shelves and very ornate carvings with a staue of the young Queen Victoria looking over everything.  (Just like Harry Potter says Jack)

We then move onto the Senate which is also very impressive.

Helen and Jack, then show us the whispering wall – a curved statue plinth where you can whisper at one end and be heard clearly at the other end.  Very impressive.  The views across the Ottawa River are really impressive as well.

They then show us the memorial to the women who campaigned to get women allowed to be senators - Jack asks whether it is actual size - but it's quite big really!

We head towards town looking for something to eat, passing a jazz band playing to virtually no-one in the middle of Sparks Street, but really entertaining despite this.  We put right a wrong because we have eaten no Subway food this holiday yet, but find one on Sparks Street.  Take them back to Albert at Bay.  J & E then want to go to the gym – although the manual says that there is an over 16 rule, I made the mistake of asking at the desk whether they could use it when Jack was with me.  They are far too nice!  So I have to take the kids to the gym which they love. 

Thursday 26th August

Up to say sad goodbyes to Alison and Ian (Ken left for work at 5.00am – so we said goodbye last night). They have been fantastic hosts, really easy to get on with and looking after us all the way.  Hopefully we’ve done enough with Ken to make sure that they come over to the UK next year.  Alison draws us a map of Ottawa to show where a market is (I think), but it turns into a whole city map!

We leave Newmarket, only stopping at the hospital to pay the bill for Jack’s arm – over $900 for two visits and a waterproof cast.  Thank goodness for travel insurance!

This is the longest days travel we will have – 4 hours to Gananoque, stopping en route at three Tim’s – although at one, I learn that he died in a car crash in 1974 while still a hockey player – what a bombshell – I’ve always thought that he retired and founded the chain of coffee and donut shops that bear his name and was still with us!  A bit of research and I can confirm he did found the chain and was died aged 44.

Gananoque is a lovely town – tree lined streets and the B & B we’ve booked into is on the street down to the water.  We arrive a little early for check in and there is no one around, so we walk down to the dock where the cruise boats leave.  There is a 2.5 hour cruise of the Thousand Islands leaving at 3.30, so we book onto that and go back to the B & B to book in. Tristram (I think – she’s a girl) shows us round.  It’s got real character and we have the attic room – low ceilinged staircase, but really quite big with 5 beds.  For once Jack and Ellie won’t be able to kick each other!  There is a claw foot batch so H is happy.

The thousand island cruise is great.  Really picturesque and I’m surprised that there are so many cottages, houses, mansions and castles on the islands (there is really one castle).  Even tiny islands only 20 feet across have a boat house and cottage. This is where the millionaires of New York come to relax.  We spend over 30 minutes in the US, but don’t stop so don’t need out passports.

Back to the Manse Lane B & B.  J & E go swimming, I blog and H has a bath.  Then out to find somewhere to eat Moroni’s Family Restaurant – specialising in Greek, Italian and Canadian cuisine.

Wednesday 25th August

Up early (well I am).  We go for a swim in the pool while H sleeps on, then it’s a mad dash to get ready and out for the 10.00am check out time.  We make it only a few minutes late.

We head west towards Collingwood which looks like a really nice lake side town and try to find the Blue Mountains.  I think we miss them as what we find is a bit of a disappointment.  The “Blue Mountain Resort” goes on for miles and is just that – a skiing resort with loads of accommodation over several miles.  The Blue Mountains are part of the Niagara escarpment and right here, the escarpment is a long line of ski runs with loads of chair lifts up between the trees.

We then head back to Newmarket, stopping at the by now obligatory Tim Horton’s for coffee and toilets.  When we get back, Alison takes the kids out swimming, leaving Helen and me to have a quiet afternoon catching up.

It’s our last night with the Mosses and we take Ken and Alison out to a restaurant called Milestones (I think there’s a law here that all decent eating places need to start with “M”). On the way we get to stop by and see Ken’s dad, Sid, who is 93 and lives in a really nice retirement home.  He tells us a couple of stories about his experience in Europe in the army – skinny dipping with Dutch girls in a castle and taking his hosts in Sussex to see London – things they’d never done themselves.  He’s really lively and a great character.  Having missed meeting him 2 years ago, I’m really pleased we did this time.

We have a lovely meal at Milestones with Ken and Alison, served by a camp waiter called Lee whose first comment is about Helen’s smile – talk about working hard for your tip!!  He carries on in the same vein, but is always entertaining.  The food is really well presented and looks great.

The kids have stayed home eating pizza and ice cream and watching movies.  One is called Paranormal Activity about ghostly goings on is a house.  They are not scared by it though, they say, even though only one of them can watch the last bit!

Tuesday 24th August

For once, I’m last up (well apart from Ellie of course).  We breakfast on danishes and muffins and off to the beach.  The weather is roasting, the sky blue and the breach is fantastic.  Quite a bit busier than yesterday!  It’s a fab beach for swimming – and not just because the water is warm (most un-North Sea like).  It is very shallow a long way out with deep bits, then shallow bits up to 300 yards out.  Boats are kept out of the swimming area and even though there are quite a lot of people, it feels quiet, a bit out off season even.

We swim and sit in the sun, then pop across to Burger King for a nutritious lunch and explore the resort.  In the afternoon, H & I pop to Walmart (must stop calling it Asda), for some groceries, J & E swim in the pool and I write this.

Nottawasaga River at night from our cottage

We have another swim in the pool, then sit out and watch the boats go by.  We eat in - pasta and sauce from Walmart – and sink a couple of beers and some wine. Very pleasant evening

Monday 23rd August

Up not as early as we’d thought (bit of a pattern here), but we managed to make some lovely blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  Left the cottage at 10.45 and headed north, then west towards Bracebridge.  Here we had an early light lunch in Marty’s World Famous Coffee Shop – a surprisingly small place given it’s name, but with great coffee, world class butter tarts (although none of us had any) and Kawartha ice cream (see Saturday).  

Found some pressies in main street Bracebridge, then headed on to Gravenhurst where we saw Lake Muskoka and where the steamship Segwun would have been.  Then had a run of 90 minutes to Wasaga beach.  Found our hotel quite easily and booked in.  

Luau Resort is a combination of hotel, motel and holiday park, set on the Nottawasaga river which runs parallel to the beach for the whole of Wasaga Beach.  Our chalet  has a private porch with a view straight onto the river, shower, 2 bedrooms, kitchenette and a TV.  Just right. 

While Helen and the kids settle in, I head off to the Walmart store we passed coming into town for beer and breakfast.  I also get the disposable camera from Toronto developed.  On the way back, I stop at the LCBO – the only place where you can buy beer and wine, but it’s closed.  No worries, there is a sign on the door pointing to another one, further down the same street which is open late.  I set off looking for it.  Four bloody miles later, I find it.  I forgot how long streets can be here!!  Still, although I’m back late, I’m not back empty handed.  The LCBO also had Speckled Hen and Boddingtons in cans!

Helen has reaslised that she left her hanging (i.e. best) clothes at the cottage.  I think about going back the next day, but she says she can mange without (she did have a very big pile of clothes!), so we’ll ask Ken and Alison to send them on later.

We then go out looking for somewhere to eat.  There are loads of motels, and a few camping grounds, but very few eating places.  We end up nearly back to Walmart, where the choice is KFC, Taco Bell, a Chinese or Boston Pizza.  We opt for the latter.

The night is hot and I can’t sleep at first so I turn on the A/C to cool down.  Bodes well for the next day.

Sunday 22nd August

Much quieter day today.  It’s overcast again, but we start off with the kids going out in Ian’s tin boat.  Helen and I watch from the dock.  It starts to rain so we all head back up to the cottage – except Alison who is determined that she is going to have her swim!  We plan to look out to Minden later, but spend a very leisurely lunch chewing the cud with Ken and Alison that the time just goes and it’s soon time for them to head of home.  We phone up Owl rafting in Ottawa and book a white water rafting trip next Sunday.  The kids watch a movie then go for a last swim in the lake with Ian.

After Ken, Alison and Ian leave the place feel quite quiet!  We have a quiet evening, reading and Helen tries to find something to watch on TV.  The choice is Family Guy or Canada’s got a Dancing Idol type competition. 

Saturday 21st August

Different day today.  The weather is overcast and threatens to rain all day.  We have a lazy morning, bit of reading, then head off to Haliburton for lunch.  All cottagers seem to have the same idea and the first two restaurants we try are full with a ¾ hour wait.  The third seems more countrified, but has a free table for 6 which we can all fit round.  Lunch is good – they even do veggie burgers – and all is served in a basket.  The waitress loves that we are English – then comes back and asks about how the Coronation Street storyline has developed – here they are about 9 months behind.  Helen and Ellie enjoy predicting what will happen in the coming months.  Walking down the street, we hear a band playing in a carpark round the corner – great rhythm and blues accompanies us around the town.  We find a neat shop called Cranberry House and find a little present for Russ and Lee – they have invited us for dinner tonight and the more I hear, the better it sounds.

On the way back, we stop for ice cream at the Kawartha ice cream factory shop.  It must be good because there are about 50 people in a queue that you’d more often see at a theme park!  The flavours are many and varied – including Wolf Paws, Moose tracks and Bear Claw.  The wait is worth it and the ice cream is delicious – Wolf Paws is a vanilla with pieces of chocolate caramel in it - lovely.  Alison gets a pack of Moose Tracks to take to dinner this evening.

We are running a little late now for dinner. Although Lee hasn’t specified a time, it is after six when we get back to the cottage.  A quick change (and for the girls a remarkably quick hair wash) and we head back out to Russ and Lee’s place.  Their place has been extended massively over the 40 years they have had it and is a large, comfortable “cottage” with fantastic views across the lake.  The steps down to the lake are less severe than at Ken and Alison’s cottage, but it’s still quite a way above the water.  They have a big family kitchen, two living areas and I don’t know how many bedrooms.  One of the highlights for me is the open sided outdoor conservatory type area on the side which is completely shielded from bugs, but allows you to relax outside whenever, without getting bitten.  We see chipmunks, and loads of quite exotic looking birds – attracted to a tree high feeder.

Russ’s dad, Budd is there (they live on Budd’s Lane) and it’s his birthday.  He bought the cottage many years ago and has worked with Russ to extend and maintain it.  He even has a “honeymoon suite” (a separate self-contained cottage alongside the main one) which he lives in with his wife Betty when they are at the cottage.

Lee has done a fantastic job with dinner! She has made a veggie pie which is delicious as well as a load of different salads – curried chickpea (my favourite), three bean, grain salad and potato salad –

which are all fantastic.  There is fresh corn which Budd has picked from his regular farm just the day before on the way up to the cottage.  The corn here is delicious, but this is extra fresh and tastes fantastic.

It’s in desert where Lee and her family really excel.  Gilly has spent the day making cup cakes and they are decorated brilliantly.  Some are chicken legs (I have to admit I had my first chicken leg for about 30 years tonight), some have carrots and peas, some are mashed potato with butter and gravy on top.  A load more are decorated with bugs – centipedes, spiders, mosquitoes – and all are delicious.

We have a great night with some fabulous people who go out of their way to make us feel really welcome!  This is what I like best about Canadians!

Friday 20th August

What a day!!  Russ came by on the pontoon boat at 10.30, we headed off on a tour of Gull Lake, stopping off part way to swim off the boat (really warm and good to do) then at the jumping rocks.  There are three levels of jumping rock – low, middle and high.  High was just mad, but low was fine and the middle rock was about 20 feet up.  Gillian and Ryan found it easy.  Ian was a little more hesitant and Ellie stood for quite a while thinking about jumping from the middle rock, but decided against it.  I made the mistake of climbing up to have a look, then with everyone watching and Gillian diving in easy as anything, felt I had to jump myself.  It took me a few minutes to work out all the angles to ensure I made a safe entry, then I jumped without any hesitation at all, whatever.  Wow – what an experience.  The water was about 40 ft deep so there was no danger of hitting the bottom.  Lots of swimming round as well.

We then headed back to the cottage for lunch.  After lunch, Russ took the kids back to his place and Ken took Helen and me in his Panther speedboat which was a real blast!  Up to 70 mph down the lake with the wind blasting us. 

Russ and Lee have a great place – they have a boat house and big dock down by the water with loads of fantastic boats (the pontoon floating palace; a top notch ski boat and two tin boats with skis, tubes, a giant hamster wheel and a diving board.  The water there is about 18 ft deep so it’s great to jump and dive in.  Ryan showed me how to stop my ears hurting when diving by blowing the pressure and I got to the bottom.  Russ took the kids tubing – two on each tube, then Ellie tried wake boarding.  Gilly gave a good demonstration, but Ellie’s feet were just too big for the bindings.  Gilly then showed what she could do on one ski – fantastic.  As the sun began to set, we piled into Ken’s boat, back to the cottage for dinner – followed by a game of Hoopla with some very tired children and adults.

We’re all a little red from the sun today, but had a fantastic, exhausting day.

Thursday 19th August

Jack had his return appointment for his wrist this morning.  Went to the hospital for the appointed time – 10.10 – and waited for nearly 2 hours before being seen.  I was just calling Alison to tell her that we would be another hour at least, and when I went back to the waiting area, Jack & Helen had gone in.  The prognosis was that Jack had fractured his arm, would need another cast for at least 3 weeks, but could have a Gortex® one (in cool black) that meant he could still swim in the lake.  We got a copy of his records on CD to take home and headed back in time to see Alison before she went to work.

Lunch (and a thunderstorm), then north to the cottage with Ian, stopping at Tim Horton’s half way for coffee (S & H), Chocolate (E & J), Iced Tea (I) and donuts (everyone).  This was Helen’s first proper Tim’s.

As instructed, we checked in with Russ and Alison to say we’d arrived OK.  Unpacked, then straight down to the dock, then (more slowly) back up. Russ arrived with Ryan and Gillian (his charming kids).  Russ had brought some Muskoka beer to welcome us – fantastic!  The kids went off and played and we got to know Russ (again).    

Ian kayaking on Gull Lake

After Russ left, we went down to the lake and Ian, Jack & Ellie went out in the canoe and kayak, then swam.  The water was lovely as were the views.

Canoeing on Gull Lake

Supper was pizza and we were ready for an early night.  Ken and Alison came up after work and arrived around 1.00am – we heard nothing.

View across the lake from the cottage

Wednesday 18th August

Toronto today.  We were up early (well, we left the house at 8.50), to the bus station and caught the 9.10 bus to Toronto.  Walked down to the waterfront and I was really surprised how quiet it was – we really struggled to find an open ice cream shop.  Settled on Baskin’ Robins just over the road.  Calamity of calamities – I forgot both the camera and my phone (which had stood in for the absence of a camera charger in Niagara) so we resorted to getting g a disposable camera.  This is why this page will have no pictures for a while (if at all).

There were a number of ships offering cruises round the harbour and we were attracted by the

Kijama – a tall sailing ship where we could help hoist the sails and it went out of the harbour into open lake.  Had a good trip with some fantastic views of the city (you’ll have to take my word for that) and lunch.  Then headed up town towards the old city hall and shops.  Found the Hudson Bay Company shop (or “Bay”) where the boys headed for the gadget department and Jack & Ian spent time sat in a massaging chair while the girls managed to get themselves a nail manicure.

It was then time to head back.  The bus had left us at Union Station and despite an uneasy feeling that Ken had said we’d have to get the bus back from somewhere else (and the timetable calling it somewhere else that we couldn’t find on the map), we felt it safest to go back to Union.  There was a bus leaving, although not those on the timetable – we then realised that it was a train not a bus that was leaving.  Our ticket was OK for the train, but we’d need to get from the train station to the bus station in Newmarket – not a walk according to Ian. There was a chance that this was Ken’s train home, so when we got to Newmarket Jack & Ian raced to the front of the train to try to catch him.  They were in time to see his truck disappearing out of the car park!  So, we found a taxi rank and bundled into a taxi to the bus station – about 2 miles – Ian was right!  But we got home!

That evening, we were all going out to Mandarin’s a serve yourself buffet oriental restaurant – bit like Cosmo’s but classier.  Had fantastic sushi, salads and Chinese food, but the puddings were out of this world and never ending.  The service was great too. 

Tuesday 17th August

Lazy start – we only just made it for breakfast!  Breakfast was good – the buffet laid out was unimpressive, but the made to order stuff was great – freshly made waffles, pancakes, omelettes etc. Lovely1!!

Packed up and off to try to find a winery tour.  First stop was the Inniskillen Winery where we just missed the 11.30 tour.  They pointed us towards their sister company where the tour was more “mechanical” and suited to Jack (she said). We motored over there in good time for the 12.30 tour only to find it was fully booked.  We gave up at this point and headed off to NotL  firstly for the best ice cream in the world at Cows (which had a great selection of themed t-shirts – e.g. Cowonation Street; Super Moorio Bros), then some picnic  lunch from a deli.  We found a good spot by the river to eat, then headed for Fort George – a wooden stockade re-created to look like it did at the start of the 1812 war with the US.  This was really good with actors/guides to give a real feel for how it was and what happened.  First we had Pete (helped by French Pete) who demonstrated a load of musical instruments from the drum, through fife, whistle, violin to Oboe including a “mystery” instrument – a serpent.  He was funny and clever.  Then we were picked up by Pete – a sergeant in the Royal Engineers who told us the history of the 1812 war between the US and Britain/Canada.  This was really interesting as well.  We finished off with the obligatory visit to the gift shop – Jack was enticed into buying a Jaw Harp (one of the instruments demonstrated) while Ellie stayed on safer ground with some candy.

We then headed back to Newmarket for an evening with the Moss’s.