Travel

Canada, the summary…

| Mairead

Day 1 Leaving Dublin.

18 9a

(Waiting to board our plane to Toronto)

Day 2 The CNE (Canadian National Exhibition.)

18 9b

(The Sky Ride at the CNE)

Day 3 Resting and remembering our Tiki Float.

18 9c

(Our team of bead throwers for the CNE Parade)

Day 4 Trip to the Mall (maul.)

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(Outside the Georgian Mall)

Day 5 Trip to Toronto.

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(The view from the balcony of the CN Tower Toronto, the wire mesh for safety)

Day 6 Trip to the Library…..

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(Very useful book!)

and the beach.

18 9g

(The beach)

Day 7 Road Trip to Sault Saint Marie.

18 9h

(All set with Timmy’s, water, blanket and crochet)

Day 8 Train to Agawa Canyon.

18 9i

(Our train)

Day 8 Road trip home to Barrie.

18 9j

(Stop for water and ice cream on the way home)

Day 9 Resting with the squirrels.

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(We spotted this squirrel running along the garden fences with a monkey nut in his mouth)

Day 10 Rainy day road trip to Niagara Falls.

18 9l

(Thunder and lightning near Toronto)

Day 11 Niagara Falls in the Maid of the Mist.

18 9m

(View from our boat of the boat in front about to get very wet)

Day 12 Breakfast at Timmy’s before trip to the power station and Niagara on the Lake.

18 9n

(Porridge with berries and filter coffee, nice)

Day 13 Medieval Times in Toronto.

18 9o

(Knights and food eaten with fingers)

Day 14 Saying goodbye to family and Canada.

18 9p

(Denis says the car rolled over his toe…..)

Still a bit tired… Mairead.

Hot and busy at Niagara on the Lake

| Mairead

13 9b

(The flower filled main street)

We left Fort George at lunchtime and went on to visit Niagara on the Lake. We had noticed that the town centers we have visited so far in Canada are generally deserted and most of the activity takes place in the shopping centers and malls on the outskirts. Not so for Niagara on the Lake – it was full of people walking, shopping, having lunch or just drinking coffee.

13 9c

(Maybe they came from Cork?)

We found a place to park at the Prince of Wales Hotel (established in 1884) and took a short walk to a beautiful little cafe called Balzacs.

13 9f

(Too hot to sit outside)

Now that we’re back in Ireland it’s difficult to imagine walking on a hot sunny afternoon but thinking about our trip brings it all back. On that day I was really looking forward to wandering around the town doing some window shopping, maybe some real shopping but we were only able to manage a couple of streets before the heat was too much. We spent the next hour in the air-conditioned cafe looking out the window!

13 9d

(The history)

On the way home we stopped off to fill the hire car with petrol and thought it might be interesting to note the price… so we took a picture of the pump. A reminder of something my Dad loved to do. Whenever we travelled away from home my Dad would frequently stop into petrol stations (you might remember he had a petrol station) – not for the petrol – to check if their prices were any lower than his. He didn’t have a camera so he kept all the information in his head. I’m not sure if he changed his prices when we got home or if it was just a hobby.

13 9h

(We got the regular (cheapest!) petrol and were very happy)

Anyway, as you can see from the picture the price of a litre of (regular) petrol in Canada is $129.90 and that means  €102.96 – nice eh? We couldn’t bring any home though because they have a lot of restrictions about carrying petrol in your luggage…

13 9g

(Busy and pretty)

Cloudy and hungry in Greystones, Mairead.

The passionate (and very funny) guide from Fort George.

| Mairead

12 9a

(Everything in Canada is in English and French)

After the power station we went to Fort George, (you can watch a video about its role in the Canadian (British) – American war of 1813) an old British Army Fort. The original fort was constructed in the late 1700’s but had fallen into disrepair by 1815. The present buildings were constructed in 1937. All the buildings are wooden and very pretty. When we arrived the tour had already begun so we ran to catch up with it in the barracks. This is where the ordinary soldiers lived. It was one big room with bunk beds. Soldiers had a really hard life and had to sign up for seven years with little pay and not much comfort. Often they had to stay a further seven years to pay outstanding bills possibly for their uniforms, losing even a button was costly and had to come out of wages.

12 9c

(The background)

The officer’s quarters were much better and they had a much better life, as it was the rich who became officers. (In wealthy families the first son inherited the estate but the second and subsequent sons were given money to buy a job!) They could also pay for good food. While the ordinary soldiers had watery stew for dinner every day, the officers had six courses, often with foods imported from Europe.

12 9d

(Pretty…)

After the tour we were sent out to watch a demonstration of a musket by a really amusing guide. He was obviously passionate about his job and went into great detail telling us about how a musket works and then demonstrating it. Turns out it doesn’t work very well… it misses more often than it hits; it creates a huge smoke cloud when it’s fired, bit of a problem for camouflage; it takes at least half a minute to load one shot; it’s very heavy. But at the time (1800’s) it was the best they had and everyone had the same disadvantages.

12 9g

(Our musket guide)

He told us stories including one about the time he (accidentally) pushed the bayonet into his finger and had to go to the hospital still dressed in his red uniform. When the demonstration was over the assembled crowd didn’t want to leave, we were all smiling waiting for another story and he seemed to be enjoying himself too!

12 9h

(His funny face!)

Was it Confucius who said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life“? In the end we left because the temperature was hitting thirty degrees and we were off to the beautiful town of Niagara on the Lake.

Choose a job you love! Mairead.

Is it time to eat yet?

| Mairead

11 9c

(Can’t have too many pictures of Niagara Falls)

We’re back from Canada….. in body anyhow, not so sure about mind yet, well maybe not body either. We have to get up by the clock and eat by the clock and go to bed by the clock because so far the rhythm of the day doesn’t feel right here. Before we left I read an article about living with jet-lag. On the plane I forgot to follow the instructions to eat and drink nothing and go to sleep. Instead, I stayed awake and ate and drank everything…. oh well. The one tip that I had heard a long time ago was get plenty of sunlight and that seems to be helping.

11 9b

(The crane-like structures in the background are where the electricity story starts, the green water in the centre is where the Niagara river pours over the falls)

Anyway, there are still some things that we visited and I haven’t told you about so today it’s the power station. You might remember we also visited a power station in Scotland? This one was in Niagara, between the Falls and a beautiful town called Niagara on the Lake.

11 9f

(and one more of the falls…)

On our way back from our visit to Niagara Falls we decided to fit in a couple more attractions. The first was the Sir Adam Beck Hydro Electric Power Station. This station started producing power in the 1920’s and it’s very interesting how they did that. In Grahame’s itinerary for Niagara Falls he had mentioned that the Maid of the Mist didn’t run early in the morning because the water levels are not high enough due to hydro-electric demands…. So I thought there must be a power station at the Falls…. there isn’t. It’s much more interesting than that.

11 9e

(Tunnel underground to the power station)

The power station is 8km down the road from the Falls at a spot over the Niagara River where the drop is even higher than at the falls. Higher drop = more power. But back in 1917 there was no water dropping from any height here, so… that diverted the Niagara river. At a place before the river went over the Falls they diverted it, and they reversed the flow of another river (can’t remember its name) that was flowing into the Niagara at that point. The picture might help to explain.

11 9a

(That’s the Niagara River flowing from top to bottom of the picture. Those white blobs on the top left are the falls (Canadian and American.) That fuzzy line on the left corner of the screen is the tour guide’s pointer – he’s pointing at the place where the Niagara river water is diverted down a canal (blue line running from top left to middle.) The yellow lines running from the diversion point to the power station are underground tunnels built in the 1950’s when more power was needed and a second power station was built. The two Canadian power stations are in the foreground on the right bank of the river and there’s an American power station on the left bank.)

11 9d

(The yellow turbines – well, the tops of the turbines. Notice the workers get around on tricycles)

More water going to the power station might mean more power but it means less of a splash at the Falls, so…. the diversion only operates at night and in the morning all the power of the Niagara river goes back over the Niagara Falls. The tourists are happy and the Maid of the Mist can operate.

Is it time to go to bed yet? Mairead.

Rain and Snow at Niagara Falls

| Mairead

06 9a

(View from our window – that low cloud on the right is mist from the falls)

A very busy day yesterday (Wednesday) in Niagara. We got up early and had breakfast at the IHOP (international house of pancakes) across the road from our hotel, omelette for Denis and pancakes for me. Then we set off to buy our Niagara Falls Adventure Pass. With the pass we could go behind the waterfall, see the history movie, walk along the white water rapids boardwalk and board the Maid of the Mist boat. At each attraction an attendant gives you a rain mac, yellow mac going behind the falls.

06 9f

(See the boat in the background – those people are getting very wet… so am I)

We went behind the falls first and got very wet, then we went to the movie…. and got very wet. We were given a blue mac going into the movie (first clue it would be damp). I loved the movie. There was a cartoon to start and then we were ushered into a circular cinema to stand on a platform. The floor was wet (second clue.) When everyone was in place the screen showed frozen wastelands – the ice age – and it began to snow. Not on the screen… it began to snow on us! It felt and looked like snow. Then the ice on the screen began to melt and the rain came… on us. It was heavy rain and I had decided to leave my hood down so I was screaming…. with excitement. I continued to scream through the thunder and lightning and the rocking platform and the helicopter ride (on the screen). Loved it.

06 9g

(Maid of the Mist boat going towards the Canadian Falls)

Then it was time for the boat trip. Again we were given the rain macs – blue. We queued up with everyone and found a good spot on the top deck. It started off gentle enough with just a little mist as we passed the American Falls….

06 9j

(American Falls – so named because that side of the river is USA, this side is Canada)

But when we got close to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls the rain came in showers, of course it wasn’t rain it was mist coming off the falls but I was screaming again. Loved it.

06 9h

(Part of the Canadian Falls)

Off to Niagara on the Lake today, but first… porridge at Timmys, Mairead

Fear and Lightening on the way to Niagara Falls.

| Mairead

05 9e

(Treats at Tim Hortons)

We set off for Niagara Falls this morning (Tuesday). Denis went to pick up the hire car while I packed enough for the two days away. Something lovely happened when he got home. You remember Doris’s mum Bobba? Well… long story short, just as Denis arrived back with the car Doris and Bobba pulled up to the house with umbrellas (it’s raining today and well… Doris thinks of everything!) and a package. Bobba, knowing I love to crochet had crocheted me a blanket! I feel very special.

05 9d

(Sat-Nav)

After lots of hugs and kisses we set off but we hadn’t gone far when we realised we had to stop the car – Denis couldn’t pass Tim Hortons (it’s only been a week but Tim Hortons has got hold of him.) So just ten minutes down the road we stopped again. Everyone out for coffee and Danish. Everyone back in and power up the Sat-Nav. To make sure we got the most out of our trip to Niagara, Grahame (who lived and worked in Niagara for many years) typed up an itinerary for us and yesterday Moira programmed the Sat-Nav with all the locations so we were ready to begin. In spite of my dislike for planning, I do appreciate when someone else does it!

05 9g

(Gone a bit dark over here)

We got onto the 401 (highway south from Barrie) easily enough but just as we were getting close to Toronto we hit a thunder and lightning storm with torrential rain. The rain was so loud we couldn’t hear the little voice on the sat-nav and so heavy we couldn’t see very far in front. Something we’ve noticed about the drivers on this road – they like to drive close together, possibly something to do with slip streaming and saving petrol? Whatever it is, it’s very scary, especially in the rain. We passed two accidents where the car behind could not brake in time!! As I’m a nervous passenger at the best of times I was prepared with my crochet (very calming) and the storm soon passed (as they always do…) and we arrived safely.

05 9f

(More rain – yippee)

I’m sitting writing on one of the two ginormous beds in our hotel room. We’re on the 9th floor and have a great view… well it would be great except for the mist and heavy rain, but I’m not complaining I have a new sense of respect for rain (yes Isabel!) – it’s cooling and there are no biting bugs. I’ll be consulting Grahame’s itinerary soon and we’ll go for a walk in this soft Canadian rain.

From an Irish-looking Niagara Falls, Mairead.

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train

| Mairead

04 9a

(Grahame says this is why we don’t have snakes in Ireland)

Following on from yesterday we travelled north of Barrie and came to French River where there was an interpretative centre with canoes, fur pelts and animal skeletons. French River was a transport corridor used by the Algonquian tribes and later by the French and English explorers and missionaries. Outside we crossed the snowmobile bridge. In winter the snowmobile club comes up here to navigate the park and in 2008 they built a bridge to cross the deep gorge.

04 9b

(The snowmobile bridge)

We stopped for lunch in the city of Sudbury where there’s a nickel mining plant and a huge shiny nickel on top of a hill. At that point we were half-way to our destination. Four hours later we arrived at our hotel (a very nice Travelodge) in Sault Saint Marie. I was suffering a little from insect bites so Denis and I went across the road to the mall and got antihistamine, heavy-duty bug spray and tea tree oil for the itching and of course we went to visit Tim Hortons. That night we all  had a lovely meal at Docks restaurant on the boardwalk looking out on to the International Bridge that joins Canada to the United States.

04 9c

(Our train)

Next morning we were taking the Agawa Canyon Tour Train at 7.30am and we wanted to get a good seat (right hand side, middle of a window.) Grahame, Doris and Denis  made a preparatory trip to Timmys and then we boarded the train with our provisions. Way back in the early 1900’s the railway was built to transport iron ore. We were taking a four-hour section (114 miles from Sault Saint Marie) to a beautiful scenic spot called Agawa Canyon, on the tour train – not any old commuter train.

04 9d

(Speeding along)

The seats were plush, there was a screen with the drivers view of the track and we had guides (both on the screen and in person) who popped in from time to time to tell us some interesting facts and answer our questions. (There was also a lady whose sole jobs seemed to be checking the toilets – they were very clean.) Then there was a dining car with cooked breakfast – yummy, the boxed lunch and the souvenir shop.

04 9f

(Forests)

But the most amazing thing about this trip was the view – huge forests and pretty lakes, and each time a particularly good view was coming up the guide on the screen would sound a whistle so we would have time to get our cameras ready.

04 9g

(Lakes)

When we arrived at the canyon we had ninety minutes to explore. There were walking trails, another souvenir shop (in an old boxcar) and more beautiful scenery.

04 9i

(Made it to step 300)

We choose the Lookout trail – three hundred steps up to another amazing view.

04 9k

(View from the top)

We had considered doing another trail after that but a rest was much more attractive…  So we rested while the others explored for us.

Fresh air and wilderness – but no hens, Mairead.

Happy Labour Day and Happy Birthday Bro!

| Mairead

03 9b

(The famous Timmys)

Today is Labour Day – a holiday here in Canada, almost everyone’s off work and all the shops are closed. We will be resting mainly because we’ve already had a packed weekend. On Friday we left Barrie about 8.30am to drive to Sault St. Marie (pronounced Sue-Saint-Maree) for the weekend. It was billed to be an eight-hour drive and it fulfilled its billing. You may remember Doris and our trip to Toronto? Well, Doris’ husband Grahame was the driver this time. Only the just arrived Irish thought driving for eight hours was very odd, to everyone else this is what you do. Afraid we might miss something we tagged along anyway. We were glad we did.

03 9d

(Pit stop coming up)

The weekend will probably span a few posts because quite a lot happened, not least of which was the preparation for travel. Coolers with water for hydration and chocolate for energy, electronic devices for boredom and connection and first stop Timmy’s for breakfast, ensured smooth running of a finely tuned vehicle – Grahame. Well… to be honest we all benefitted.

03 9f

(That’s just selfish… Grahame)

This is probably a good time to tell you about Timmy’s, a nickname for Canada’s favourite coffee shop – Tim Hortons. Tim was a successful hockey player who started the business in the 1960’s selling coffee and doughnuts (also spelled donut here in Canada) and when he died his young wife sold up and the new owners grew it to what it is today –  a love affair, an addiction, possibly a religion, and definitely a way of life. Unlike Starbucks, there are no comfy sofas, the main attraction is the price  (low – you can get a coffee for little over a dollar) and it’s Canadian.

03 9c

(Spotted at the servers station of an Italian restaurant)

Since we arrived here I’ve spotted traces of Timmy everywhere. Not just the shops – there are 3,326 of them. I’ve seen the empty takeaway cups on shelves in Wal-Mart (the supermarket), Michael’s (art and craft supplies), in the library, on the bus (in someone’s hand.)

03 9e

(On the train)

It’s my little brother’s big birthday today, he fell under the spell of Tim Hortons when he visited in July so I hope the pictures bring back happy memories. By the way, Timmys trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange… just saying….

Have a great Labour Day wherever you are and have a great birthday Lar, Mairead.