2019 Summer Vacation in Ontario (Cambridge)

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After about four hours we arrived in Cambridge, a small city at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers where brother Rich and Nancie had moved recently. The city was actually an amalgamation of three towns, Galt, Preston and Hespeler which became Cambridge in 1973. Nancie had lived there in the same house for 35 years, finally selling up and moving with Rich to a condo in a very quiet area off busy Hespeler Road. We stayed downstairs in their newly renovated basement, complete with a huge double walk in shower. Richard still kept active by walking daily following his major knee operation and we went with him wherever he wanted to go. We followed the bank of the Grand River in one of the cities many parks one day, driving later into downtown Cambridge to stroll about the old, historic part of town. Nancie and Richard both cooked while we were there but we also ate a a local Pakistani restaurant - the only non-Pakistanis in there among dozens of people who came in and out. One strange character gave us all the willies by stomping around with crushed pop cans stuck to his feet and glaring at everyone as if to challenge his right to wear such noisy footwear. Ah Canada, eh?

Nancie and her new cook book

Settlers Fork, at the confluence of the two rivers

We were lucky to see Jenny and Jamie and their children who came by the last afternoon we were there. They were all very well behaved - me and the boys had a long game of lawn darts and Hanna insisted on taking Ben for a walk down to the local pond. It has been years since we had seen his girls and it was the first time meeting most of Richards grand-kids. Unfortunately we missed Hayley and her boyfriend who come up after we had left to help celebrate Richard's 65th birthday. It was also a great pleasure to be able to meet Marjorie, my third cousin once removed (Dad and her father were third cousins) who drove up from Dundas, Ontario to get together for an afternoon with Richard and I. She and Marie had been communicating through MyHeritage and Ancestry.com sites and we were pleasantly surprised to find out she lived less than an hour from Cambridge. She brought for us The Hebridean Connection, a large volume of written oral materiel preserved in Gaelic and English detailing the flood of emigrants to Canada in the mid-nineteenth century by Angus MacDonald. A lovely gift that we will share with the rest of the family so much thanks Marjorie! We enjoyed our stay with my brother and reluctantly left for our trek home after four days. We had to meet up with the fellows who were going to start building our garage this month as well as prepare for a visit by sister and Lyn and husband Don later in August. The break had done us good and reminded me that travel and change of place certainly impart new vigor to the mind...    🅶🆆🆂

Richard, with daughters Jenny and Jamie

Jack and Ben

Hannah and Ben

Jenny and Jamie

Rich and Marie in the front yard

Nancie and her "egg"

me and Richard, downtown Cambridge and Central Presbyterian Church

Grand River, Cambridge, Ontario, 19th century mill in distance

Pakistani restaurant

cheers🍷🍷

2019 Summer Vacation in Ontario ( Elliot Lake )

Bruce and Kirsten moved from Nanaimo, BC last year to a new life in Elliot Lake, touted as Ontario's most affordable retirement community. Situated halfway between Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury in an unspoiled wilderness area surrounded by pristine crown land and thousands of lakes and rivers that beckon you to canoe, fish and hike it is the ideal place for Bruce's love of fishing and exploring. We had never been there before and were looking forward to experiencing a new town and all it had to offer. Bruce had promised to take us fishing so we were both eager to put the line in the water again after many years. As usual Bruce and Kirsten welcomed us into their new home and we had a delightful BBQ dinner that night complete with corn on the cob, done right on the grill. We met Cory, one of Kirsten's three taller than average sons (see below) who was staying with them. We walked down to Spine Beach on Elliot Lake afterwards, just five or so minutes through the woods and, except for the usual big dogs, enjoyed the peace and quiet so close by. Bruce, after his last heart surgery, took it fairly easy while we were there but was still eager to show us around the area during our stay.

Kirsten's son Cody 

at the Fire Tower Lookout, Elliot Lake

We drove the next day up to the Fire Tower lookout where we had a wonderful view of the Northern Channel of Lake Huron and Manitoulin Island. Afterwards we headed out to Flack Lake to see the beautiful Laurentian Lodge where, following a drive of forty minutes along a very deserted road past Mississagi Provincial Park, we scrambled over rocks by a nearby waterfall and along a path that took us out to the lake. It was all very northern Ontarioish, rocky, wind-swept, scrubby trees and fairly flat terrain. We also took in the local flower show while we were in Elliot Lake, visited an antique shop in the small town of Spanish and on Sunday enjoyed the popular Brunch Buffet at one of Bruce's favorite Greek restaurants, 'Georges'.

Laurentian Lodge

one of the many almost tame red foxes along the highway

Elliot Lake flower show

Uranium atom monument, Elliot Lake

the Stuart tartan, modeled by the very lovely Marie 

Bruce, Georges Restaurant

Before we left Elliot Lake we finally got the opportunity to fish in one of their special spots, Depot Lake, along the 108 highway south out of town. Bruce built a small trophy for the winner (largest catch), payment of $2 to participate, the first fish caught wins the money ($8). After tying on the lures we all found a place on shore to fish and for the next three hours tried to catch the elusive monster. Bruce caught the first, 5 inches or so and I got the largest, a 16-inch small mouthed bass. Poor Marie had a few nibbles but is still waiting for her first. We all left the next morning, Bruce leading the way in their Honda and made our way east to Espanola where we stopped for a bite of lunch before saying farewell then continuing down highway 6 to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. We had reservations on the ferry to Tobermory, the Chi-Cheemaun.

and the winner is....Gary!

The weather turned rainy and gloomy while we meandered south through the farm fields of Manitoulin Island (Mnidoo Mnising in the Anishnaabeg language), the world's largest fresh water island. At one point we drove through a dangerous squall that suddenly blew in with high winds from Lake Huron, the sky blackening over and invisibility in the driving rain down to zero. We arrived safely at the ferry terminal to find the storm had taken out power to the island and had to wait for it to be restored before we could check in. I went for a walk and took some photos of the area while Marie waited with the camper. Then after over an hour and a half wait the Chi-Cheemaun appeared coming slowly up the gap in South Bay. We boarded shortly after, ending up at the bow, to be the first vehicle off in Tobermory. We had supper on board - meatloaf, veggies and fries which I found quite tasty for ship's fare- as we would tie up late on the other side. We spent the night at Harmony Acres campground, a few miles from the terminal, before continuing the next morning to Cambridge. The rain had passed and the sun showed promise of another beautiful day.  🅶🆆🆂

waiting for the ferry, South Baymouth

martin, ferry terminal

Chi-Cheemaun

yeah we get to go first!

Harmony Acres campground, Tobermory, Ontario

2019 Summer Vacation in Ontario (Balm Beach,Tiny Township)

From Embrun it was a six hour drive down the 401 towards Toronto, onto the toll road 407 to avoid the traffic of the Big Smoke then the 400 north through Barrie and on to Balm Beach on Georgian Bay. We had thought it would be a great idea to break up the drive to Elliot Lake, our next destination, by stopping for the night where Phil and Fer and the kids were holed up for a week. It was the second year in a row they had spent some time in the Balm Beach resort area, renting a cottage just a few minutes walking distance to the beach, large games room and restaurants. We spent the rest of the day after arriving relaxing at the beach, having an ice cream and dipping our toes in Georgian Bay. We were on the road after a delicious breakfast served by Fernanda and, with the promise of another hot day, expected to be in Elliot Lake for supper.   🅶🆆🆂

on the beach with the kiddies

William and Ben, Balm Beach, Ontario

enjoying Georgian Bay at Balm Beach