Toronto : Trucks Power Lines & Hot

Our first day here started off well, figured out the transit system and received a very good discount on our first bus ride 80% off, given to us by a very helpful driver, we weren't so lucky the next day.
The trip into Toronto takes approximately 2 hrs, we first take a bus to the train station then the train into Union Station. On the way in, we see a field of transmission lines, massive highway systems filled with trucks, numerous distribution centers one being CTC's main distribution center consisting of 8 huge buildings with over 60 loading docks. The closer we get to Toronto the larger the building get until we reach Union Station and all we can see are skyscrapers.









We spend our first day exploring the upper part of the city, touring St Lawrence Market an upscale farmers market filled with seafood, butcher shops, bakeries and sandwich shops. We stop at one to pick up a Peameal bacon sandwich - a Toronto tradition as well as a butter tart another Toronto tradition. Afterward, we head up to the parliament buildings were they are setting up for the swearing in of their newest premiere Mr. Ford, the place is filled with news vans setting up for tomorrow's ceremony but we are still able to take the 45 minute guided tour of the building. Then it was on to the visit the "Toronto" sign before heading back, on our way back we stop by the very posh Fairmont Hotel before heading back to our campsite.











 After arriving back in Toronto the next morning we spend a leisurely day along the waterfront watching water taxis and boat cruises, ply the harbor and nearby islands. We stop at the numerous small parks along the way and watch the preparation for Canada day celebrations. On our way back to the train station we finally stop at the CN Tower as well as the Roadhouse and train museum. It's been enjoyable visiting Toronto despite the 35-degree temp, tomorrow it's off to Niagara Falls.



















Read More

Indian Line Campground : Trains, Planes & Automobiles

Today we are heading back to civilization for the next week or so, and I'm not looking forward to it. We head off this morning for Indian Line Campground in Brampton which is the closest campground to Toronto with good transit, we will be spending 3 nights here leaving the RV there and taking transit to explore Toronto.
The closer we get to Brampton the busier the traffic gets, with cars passing us on the left & right. I'm starting to believe the speed limit is just a suggestion, as the cars and trucks passing us are going way faster than the speed limit. We reach Hamilton late in the afternoon and before heading to our campsite we stopped at a magnificent Hindu Temple called the "Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir" it is an elaborately carved white temple, the largest Hindu temple in Canada. It consists of over 24,000 pieces of white marble and stone hand carved in India and transported to Canada and assembled. The exterior is exquisite but the interior which we were not allowed to take pictures of is even more beautiful consisting entirely of white marble all covered in detailed carvings it was donated to Canada in 2007.
















After spending over an hour touring it we finally headed to our campground. It's definitely not 5 stars but it will do, but it's definitely noisy with trains, planes, and automobiles all around us, never thought I'd miss Walmart but I probably will by the time we leave.




Read More

Bruce Park - Lucky? Not Really

After an enjoyable evening spent at the cranberry marsh, we head out for our first stop at Wasaga beach. It's a pleasant drive through farmlands with the most scenic barns I've seen. Unfortunately, the roads here have very narrow soft shoulders, so I'm unable to stop and get any pictures.
Our stop at Wasaga beach is quite brief, with the parking cost at $17 a day, no hourly rate or on street parking, cool temps and windy conditions, we settle for a quick stop, long enough to dunk our toes in the cold water and take a couple of quick snapshots. At 14km long, it is the world's longest fresh water sand beach and during the height of summer is quite packed I'm sure.




Our first stop upon reaching Bruce National Park is to climb the tall observation tower to look out at Georgian Bay, then a nice hike down to the water before heading towards the campground where we hope to be able to stay the night.






On arrival at the park, we find out we are in luck they have a cancellation so we quickly agree to take it. We really should have asked more questions as our site is located in a tent only area. After a very slow drive down the narrow road with a lot of low hanging branches, we finally arrive at our camp site and manage to shoehorn our RV into the site after removing some low branches. Lesson learned - always ask if the site will accept a large RV.




The next morning, after extricating ourselves, we head into Tobermory for a glass bottom cruise to the Fathom Five National Marine Park. Our cruise includes viewing of 2 of the more than 22 shipwrecks  before dropping us off at Flowerpot Island, which is named after the two "flowerpot" rock outcroppings located on the island. The water here is crystal clear, the shallows are a lovely shade of green changing to a deep shade of blue as the escarpment drops off. We spend our time picnicking near the flower pots, before hiking around the the island for a couple of hours. After our jet boat ride back to the marina, we make the long drive back to Owen Sound to find a place to spend the night.













Read More

Bala Harvest Host

A short drive today to Muskoka Country (cottage country for Toronto) to our first Harvest Host experience- Johnson Cranberry Marsh/ Muskoka Winery. We took a very informative tour learning all about how the farm came to be and how hard it is to be a farmer, as well as a lot of information on growing cranberries. For example, even though they have a short growing season, they have to tend to the cranberry plants all year round as they are very susceptible to frost. Contrary to what we see on tv commercials cranberries are not grown in large pools of water since they are actually shallowly rooted vines growing along the ground. The easiest way to harvest them is to flood the fields knee-deep and let the berries float on the water so they can be scooped up.







The Johnson Cranberry Marsh consists of 27 acres of cranberries. They handle all aspects from harvesting to inspection and sorting, packaging and distribution. Last year they produced over 420,000 lbs. As well they take some of their crops and produce jams, wines and other products - my favorite being chocolate covered cranberries.







Part of our tour included a wine tasting. They produce 6 different types of wine here and ship 60,000 bottles a year. I'm not much of a wine connoisseur, but I enjoyed their wine so much I purchased a bottle which even Jackie had some. I would have bought more, but we are short on space. The Marsh is a year-round attraction with snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and a 1k skating loop in the winter.







We spent the night after everyone else had gone home taking a bike ride around one of the 5 different trails available, then enjoyed our cranberry/blueberry wine with a good steak as we watched the sunset - now that's really roughing it.

Read More

Eaten Alive in Algonquin Park!!

We have moved from Killarney to Huntsville.  We overnighted at a beach, but the mosquitoes were terrible - buzzing around our heads all night long.  The next day we headed to Algonquin Provincial Park.

This is a huge park of spruce, ash, fir, and pine forest and many, many lakes both large and small.  There are lots of hiking trails and lots of canoe access points.  While we don't spot any wildlife, but there are bears, moose, deer, and smaller mammals, as well as lots of trout in the lakes.  The one creature here in abundance is the mosquito - we are covered in bites after a few walks in the park.

The best stop in the park is the logging museum.  After a short film explaining the past and present logging practices, we go into the forest to see displays.  During the first world war, 50% of all Canadian males worked in the logging industry - falling and squaring off timbers in the winter and then sending the logs downstream in the spring to be shipped to England to build boats for the war efforts. 

Read More