Waterloo/Toronto

Well it's hard to believe that it's already Thursday, and we end the first phase of our holiday tomorrow morning. We have had a great visit with Steve's mum, sister and cousins here in Waterloo. With a side trip up to Toronto on Tuesday, we have been having a great time visiting, eating and drinking, and before I forget, playing cards. Even with the garbage strike, Toronto was still worth a day visit. I saw the newly designed Art Gallery of Ontario. It has a good collection of European art, and a great collection of Canadian art. Well worth a visit. The new entrance and facade is magnificent. After a few hours and lunch in a pub across the street, the Village Idiot pub, I walked up to Bloor Street to see the new entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum. It is quite stunning. I didn't go in, but did pick up a new ruler to add to my collection. This was the rulers of the Egyptian World. From there, it was a stroll down Younge Street, and a quick beer in a pub near the bus station. It was only a quick visit, but I still like Toronto. Would have loved to spend more time and maybe caught a show, or headed out to the island. This morning we got up and went to the St. Jacobs Farmers Market. It is a must see for anyone visiting this area. We will have to make sure we support our local farmers market when we get home in hopes that they may grow into something like this. It is great opportunity to buy local produce, baking, crafts, food and socks. Also, it is still amazing to see the Mennonites in their horse and buggies, as they co-exist in the modern world. You still have to pull out to pass them and their buggies on the rural side roads. Tomorrow we board Via Rail for a trip to Quebec City. Got news today that my brother Ed will be joining us next week in New York. It will be great to show him the sites. Well off to Quebec City.

Don't forget to click on our link to our pictures.

The Summer Begins

Well you don't have to travel to exotic places to see beautiful scenery. On Canada Day, we went to Deep Cove, BC to kayak up Indian Arm.( ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: from Inuit qayaq so a very traditonal way to spend Canada Day). It was a beautiful day and the sea started out calm. We had the kayaks for 4 hours, so we planned to paddle up about 2 hours and then 2 hours back. Well it was a beautiful 2 hour trip up the west coast of Indian Arm seeing the scenery and the beautiful houses build along the shore. We stopped for a bit at a waterfront park and then it was time to head back to Deep Cove. Steve and I started out first, finding the wind and tide were against us. We put our heads down and paddled as hard as we could. Little did we know that Evie was having trouble with the wind and tide and eventually flipped her kayak. It was a good thing she was listening the safety lecture about tearing her apron away when you flip over so you can get out of the kayak. A boat came to the rescue and they were taken to shore, where a group of senior canoers were waiting out the wind and tide. They offered Kevin and Evie to stay with them for a while and kayak back down the coast when the tide was in, and not so much a challenge. By this time we were around the next point and just assumed all was well. When we had made it past the worst of the weather and sea, we rested and waited, and waited, and waited and still no Kevin or Evie. We decided to continue back to the cove, because we thought that if they were having trouble, there were lots of boats around to help. After settling down, Evie got back in her kayak and began to kayak home. They were about 1 hour behind us. So all's well that ends well. We have learnt our lesson about kayaking, "Always give yourself more time to kayak home."