Day Three Manitoulin Island to Durham, ON

I guess it is high time I posted something new - I've been getting hints.

On day three, Friday July 4Th. we left Jansen's around 11 a.m. It was a very nice day for a drive south through Manitoulin Island - Evert had given us directions from their place so we didn't need to drive back to Little Current to find our way on the main highway. We arrived at South Baymouth, where the ferry terminal is, a little after noon. We paid our tickets and got the van parked in line for the ferry. Near the van there was a handy picnic table so we spread out our lunch things and dined in style while other folks were lining up for the ferry. After lunch we had time to walk around the area, visit the travel information center and one of the shops.

Second photo - Pat & me waiting for the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun ferry to dock in the port of S. Baymouth

Picture three - the previously mentioned ferry.

Photo four - on board the ferry and leaving the harbour.

Picture five - a light house that we passed as we neared Tobermory, ON. T. is at the tip of the Bruce peninsula.

On board the ferry we strolled around, sat outside on the deck for a while but it was fairly breezy and cool, went shopping at the on board shop and sat in the eating area for a while.

It took us nearly two hours to drive from Tobermory to Durham. We stopped for supper at a KFC in Hanover, ON before we reached NTM at Durham.

Val & Dennis' home was available for us to stay in and Pat had directions where to find the key even though they were not at home but at the Jungle Camp. We settled in for the night and Pat, found some work to keep her occupied for part of the evening. The morning just couldn't come soon enough for her.

Day 2 - Trip to Ontario - Schreiber to Hornora Bay

Started out fairly early from Schreiber with the intent of stopping for breakfast a little later. We couldn't find much of anything open for breakfast at Marathon which was about an hour along the way. Helmut and Pat were able to get their morning coffees and we ate things from our own supply of food.

It was a cool clear morning with only some foggy patches in low spots.

Lots of nice scenery to enjoy on this day and lots of road construction to slow us down along the way. We took turns driving but Helmut did the most of it.

We had lunch at McDonald's in Sault Ste. Marie. From this point east the road follows the lake shore (sometimes close and some times further back). It is leveler ground with some farms in the area.

We arrived in Espanol around 4 -4:30 pm. We went shopping in a mall for gifts for Jansens and some groceries for our picnic supper. Couldn't reach J's by phone (they were expecting us but not just sure when). We drove over to Little Current on Manitoulin Island, stopped at the information center to find out about the ferry service on Friday. Then we went to a park over looking the harbour and had our picnic supper. In the harbour area we saw this boat cruising around. This is on the North Channel of Lake Huron.



We arrived at Barb & Evert's to find Barb & two granddaughters at home - Evert was out cutting hay. Another local friend of theirs dropped in for a little while and Barb served us all some tea.

Just before sunset we went to their cottage ( just down the road) and on the lake shore. It is occupied by some of Kyla's employees. Helmut and the two granddaughters went for a swim in the bay - it is very rocky there. Scott, the dog also had a swim and played fetch with a stick almost bigger than he is. It was a bit breezy and not too warm. You can see Pat is wearing a jacket - but she left the blanket back in the car.

We watched the sun set over the lake - since it was such a clear night there wasn't some of the beautiful colors that can sometimes be observed.

Evert took us out to see Kyla's riding stable just before dark - some changes have been made since we were there in Nov. 2007 and of course it was Pat's first chance to see it. Kyla was very busy laying rubber matting on the floor.

Later after we got back to the house Barb made supper for everyone - by this time we were also ready to eat again. We had a very good visit and really enjoyed our time with them.

The next morning I was awake before most everyone else ( these farmers sleep in now days because they don't have anymore cows to milk) so I went for a walk on the roads until I came to the gate of the riding stable - quite a good walk for me - about an hour. Saw a deer loping across a field. By the way I was able to exit the house without awaking Scott who sleeps on the porch or Katie, the border collie who sleeps outside or in the open back entry. Katie was up to greet me by the time I returned.

We visited with the family until about 11 am when we had to get on our way in order to make the ferry at South Baymouth on time. That will be the next episode.

Spur -of-the-Moment Trip to Ontario - July 2008

The last week of June 2008 sister Pat purposed a trip to visit us and we all go to ON to visit Val & Dennis at jungle camp. Our interest in jungle camp had already been stimulated by Val's blogging all about the preparations for it. The suggestion to go visit with Pat, was easily accepted and our availability was easy to arrange.

Pat, had a very long day on Mon. June 30 riding the bus from Omaha to Winnipeg. She had planned a day with us here in Wpg. to rest up and also visit our family.

June 2 at about 6:40 am we left home making the first stop at Tim Horton's about half a mile away where Helmut and Pat got their first fill-up of coffee. Around 8:15 we crossed the border of MB & ON - both rest stops were closed which was rather inconvenient so we drove on to the first gift shop/restaurant that seemed to be open where we stopped to use the facilities, buy a post card & more coffee for the driver. I was quite surprised when the clerk ( a young woman) asked me if I was Ruth's Mother. She turned out to be Jillian Thornton who knew us from her years at camp - we have known her parents and both sets of grandparents for many years.

Near Dryden, ON we saw a semi trailer upside down and badly burnt in the ditch on the north side of the road. Lots of emergency equipment still around it.

This was a very cool morning and cloudy as well .

In Dryden we took another stop so that Pat could get to the bank to change some US money into Canadian currency.

We had our lunch in a way side rest area where there were lots of wild flowers - we took a couple of pictures. The reddish flowers are Indian Paintbrush, the white ones are Daises, the yellow ones I do not know their name.

As we neared Thunder Bay area in the late afternoon we saw many areas of Lupines in the ditches. They vary in color from white, pink, yellow, orange, blue and violet.

We stopped at an overlook area to view lake Superior but the undergrowth in the immediate area was too high to see over so Helmut climbed on a railing post to see if he could take a decent picture for Pat and one on our camera - I can't tell which picture was taken from this vantage point but I got one of him on the post and of Pat all wrapped up in a blanket because of the crisp Canadian air.

We spent the night in Schreiber, ON at a Nor-West Motel it was very reasonable.
















































This last photo looks just like you might drive right into lake Superior if you aren't careful.

Day Out With Thomas The Engine

On June 27Th. we took T. to "A Day Out With Thomas the Engine". This was very exciting for our T. and he was already to go when we arrived at his house before eight in the morning - had to be there before his Mom & Dad had to go to work.

Getting to the location of the event was a little special in itself. the event took place at the Heritage railway station a way out on the far northwest corner of the city. The parking was a long ways from the station so there was a special bus provided as part of the package to shuttle everyone to the station. I'm not quite sure if this was a first bus ride for T.

On arrival at the station we had T.'s picture taken with Thomas the Engine but I have yet to figure out how to scan it into the computer. We had about an hour to look around at all of the things to do before our train ride.

The "Big Boy's" train was the first display we saw - "NO TOUCHING" was the rule at this place. I think Opa was more interested than T.

Then we came to the various size toy trains of the Thomas series. The littlest one was T.'s favorite. He was fascinated to play with it for quite a long time. All the children were playing alone side by side with one another and not fighting over any of the parts.

Then came the 45 minute train ride on the heritage coach behind Thomas the engine. ( Thomas the engine is mostly a mascot) Prairie Dog Central locomotive provided the pulling /pushing power. So we went backwards one way and frontwards on the return trip.

Also part of the activities provided were inflatables for the youngsters to play in. The train one had such a strong wind at the entry way that we couldn't convince T. to enter it and it was too small for adults to go in it. T. really enjoyed the Tiger and was able to get up in it and jump to his heart's content.

































































It was almost as much fun bouncing in and out on the tongue of the Tiger as jumpin inside of its belly.

Around about 11:30 we had to find some hot dogs for our lunch because Oma was so hungry.

Tid Bits

We traveled 5000 or more kilometers, spent two days in the forest and picnicked in various wooded places without any encounters with "bad bugs". I get home last evening and today I sit at my computer in our study and get a tick crawling up my shoulder right out of my reach so had to get H. to pick it off.

Activities in late June

" Abby stinks" T. said when he passed the dog in the back landing. That was the "sign" to Opa that the dog needed a bath according to T. So lots of doggie shampoo to sweeten her up; then the rinsing and finally the towel drying and the big shake that I didn't get the picture of. Sorry got the drying photo on here twice.



























Unexpectedly one day I noticed a big puddle of water coming out from under the washer and dryer so thought that the washer was leaking. It turned out that the water was coming in under the basement wall behind the washer. So my H. had to take down the paneling and try to seal up the seam where the walls meet the floor. The water was actually coming from a leaky faucet on the out side of the house - so that part was remedied with a new washer in the faucet.