Day off

I got nothin!

Fort George

Headed to Niagara Falls this morning. On the way, crossed the Welland Canal. As we stopped for pictures of this old bridge, bells started to sound, the gates came down and the bridge started to rise. After 5 minutes a boat chugs by and then everything was good.

After that stop, continued to Niagara Falls and turned onto the Parkway. Travelled down to Fort George and spent the day learning about the War of 1812 with the Americans. 

American Hydro Electric Generation

Canadian Hydro Electric Generation

And Julie

Fort George

Powder Magazine, Only building not burnt down

Cooks for the Officers

Burning Kiln

On the road to Tillsonburg "My back still aches when I hear that word" Detours for groceries, and a 30-15 amp plug converter of the camper (found in Tillsonburg) And then down the back roads to Lake Erie. Enroute, another winery. Stopped in and found some great wines in a winery that was situated in a building that used to dry tobacco.  AKA; Burning Kilm Winery.  My wine box is filling up quickly.

Spring,  tobacco field, plants still small

Port Dover, Lake Erie, Main Street

More back roads to our destination Campsite. 25 minutes to the Welland Canal.

Hoity Toity

After Kyle's visit with Willie,  we packed up and got on the road. First chance we got, detour was made to the back roads. Our first objective was to find the cheapest gas so Harriston had gas under a buck. Enroute was found our first winery. Hoity Toity Cellar, had to stop, actually we had to turn around, Went in and talked to Gary and Diane the owners, They were charming. Because it is a cold region, special grapes that can withstand the cold are grown, they also make ciders. Must say that the grape wine was not the best, but the rhubarb wine was delightful. And had to buy some dry apple cider too. Loved their name. Diane also suggested the a local enroute craft brewery.

Kyle with Wiarton Willie behind glass

After Diane's suggested detour, we happen upon her suggested tastery. The lady serving had a personality of a wet paper bag, but had to take a phone call and handed us over to a nice young gentleman that had loads of personality and information. This craft brewery is in the former site of the Crystal Springs Brewery established in 1859, is the oldest operating original brewery building in Ontario. 

Some locals...  Many Mennonites in this area

Got down to Ingersoll and situated at a campsite. Got through 2 of the craft beers and it started thundering, moments later the rain came down, Snuggle in for the night.. 

Got lost

After a night of rain, which keeps me up, but puts Julie to sleep, walked into town and checked out the old red brick buildings again. Walked to "Spirit Rock". Went for lunch at "Dockside Willies" near where Willie is caged.

After lunch, got on the bike and went to "Bruce Caves". Caves in the Niagara Escarpment near to town. Walked about 1 mile to the caves and was fairly unimpressed, but got the picture. Got back to the camper and had a siesta. Then got back onto the bike and got lost. Just drove roads, got back down  to Owen Sound. Rode the back roads back and as we got to the campsite, rain started and increased in the intensity as we bedded the bike down in the trailer.

Why does a turtle cross the road?

To get to the other side....

Wiarton Willie

Another beautiful morning in paradise! Walked into town for coffee. Tour boat operators open, flogging their stories. Tourists running to meet the boats to be ferried off to the Flowerpot Island and beyond.  Dive store owners meeting the customers in their doorways.  Supposedly, The Bruce Peninsula has the best diving in Canada (lots of shipwrecks and unique underwater vegetation) Stopped and soaked up some morning sun while sucking on a coffee. Then we drove around and checked the area out. Quite a cottage community, New Home Hardware Store for all the big cottages being built. Prices still quite reasonable for waterfront lots.

Then down the road an hour to Wiarton and home of Willie, the prognosticating marsupial.

After walking around the town and finding that the Municipal Campground had room for us, we set up camp and then went for a bike ride. Rode over to Sauble Beach (second largest fresh water beach in the world). Reminded me of Whiterock without the ocean smell. Thousands of people playing and sunbathing, stores set up in tents ready for the summer tourist season. Drove the strip and then got lost down a road. Arrived in Owen's Sound at the far south end of Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. Fabulous old brick architecture. Amazing steepled, buttressed old Churches made out of brick, some red and others beige. Love these brick buildings and houses, unfortunately some were kept in great shape while others have seen hard times.

Then we started riding out of town along the lakeshore, more brick mansions on the bluffs overlooking the lake. Came to an overlook of the Georgian Bay on Niagara Escarpment (part of the Niagara Falls and extends to Tobermory) The Georgian Bay bluffs are part of this escarpment. 

Back to my story, this overlook was a dedication to the woman who started the Kemble Women's Institute is the oldest active chapter in the world which  has over 9 million members, including the queen.

Manitoulin Island to Tobermory

We were told that the Manitoulin Island and Bruce Peninsula were hidden gems and they were right. Interesting vegetation as it was shorter windblown evergreens and deciduous trees speckled with small farms and ranches. Rolling hills and nicely paved winding roads made us feel at home. Vegetation was not as far along as other areas we have travel through showing us that it must have a northern climate.Got to the ferry terminal and again felt like home waiting in the line up with everybody else. Beautiful emerald green clear water without the stinky ocean smell. The ship is the largest fresh water ship. Mantioulin is the largest fresh water island in the world.

After our 2 hour ferry ride, we arrived at Tobermory a picturesque little tourist town. We drove the town to get a feel for it. Then we found a deserted parking lot to bed down for the night. Then we walked into town and around. Friday night and people are out at the bars and restaurants. Everyone is googling over Kyle, like they have never seen a Husky. Had Whitefish, Fish and Chips at a local eatery and talked to a colourful young gentleman that gave us some ideas on where to go.  Julie and Kyle saw a Coyote just before bed and a bunch serenaded us to sleep.

Bushplane Museum & Micro Brewery

Went into town with our friends to see the Bushplane Museum.  Quite interesting especially for Peter and Clara because he flys and builds his own planes. Got to see 2 short movies, 1(in 3D) about fighting forest fires in Ontario and the other about bush pilot flying. Very good! Well worth the admission...

Walked out and met some people from Enderby, BC. They were interested in a craft brewery attached to the museum, apparently. We found it around the corner and went in. These guys bought the rights and recipes of the old Northern Brewery of years gone past. Just opened about 8 weeks now, was given a tour by Clarence. Very nice, helpful, funny gentleman. Kept on giving us refills with some excellent brew. Great time....

Maintenance Day

Decided to stay another couple of nights and meet up with Peter and Clara (met in Drumheller). Needed to mount a vehicle thermometer on the dash and do a check over of the vehicles. Then a check of the dog and found 3 more ticks.

2 ticks with Kyle's flesh and hair

Applied flee and tick stuff to the dog, purchased yesterday. Started to rain and Julie wanted to muck out the camper and clean all bedding, Kyle's blankets and clothing. While she was doing laundry, I sterilized the camper and vacuumed. By that time Peter and Clara arrived and we sat down to try some of the Crown Royals recently acquired. Peter's favourite, Northern Harvest because it was the least sweet. Clara's favourite was Maple because it was the most sweet and mine was the Black because it was just right. Helped Clara start her blog.

Soo Locks and Museum

After the time change again, it was a little late getting started. Checked out the Soo Museum. It is in the old post office that was build in 1906. Awesome architecture. Made out of sandstone that was cut from the locks and the red bricks were formed and fired from the silt that was taken from the lock excavations. Lovely red brick architecture in this town. Expect to see a lot more red brick houses and buildings as we travel east.

Took pics of an old snowmobile because I couldn't at the Snowmobile Hall of Fame. Pretty cool!

1940s gas powered toboggan

Teachers have it so easy now..

Then we headed for the Canadian Soo Locks. Back in 1987, their was a dock wall failure and it was closed until 1998 when the modifications were finished. Originally the lock dimension were 60ft by  900ft until modified it to 51ft wide by 253 long. It is used for recreational use only. The large commercial boats use the American locks.

Then we walked across the lock gates to Whitefish Island and out to the rapids. The indians used to fish these rapids for whitefish, but with building of the locks, it killed off all of the Whitefish. Since the locks have been in operation, a salmon fishery has developed in the Whitefish's place.