Hi everyone
This has been quite the week since I last posted. As I mentioned, we went into Toronto for the day, which was lots of fun. The CN Tower is a great experience, and we arrived early in the morning before it got too crowded. The bonus was that the weather was fabulous and we got a great view over Lake Ontario, and over the city, which looked miniature from our vantage point. There is a section of glass floor in the tower, so you can actually stand looking down to the ground...it takes a certain trust to step on a glass floor from that height, and I could actually feel my legs wobbling as I stepped on!
We walked by Rogers Place, the stadium where the Toronto Blue Jays play baseball. They were playing that night, against Oakland, and there were tickets left, so we decided to go. None of us are huge ball fans (sorry, Duncan), but it was a great experience to sit in the stadium with so many people who loved the game. We were all greatly entertained by a guy behind us who heckled the opposition outfield (shouting "Watch out!!" when two of them went to catch a fly). There was also a player on Oakland who had previously played for Toronto, who wasn't much liked, so he got huge rounds of "BOOOs" when he batted, and our friend behind us shouted "Nobody loves you Frank! I talked to your mother and even SHE doesn't love you!" When Toronto was in the outfield, he tried to get the left fielder to turn and wave, and tried to get the pitchers in the bull pen to throw him a ball...it was good fun.
The rest of the day we spent exploring the city, and using the $9 all day family metro pass. Since it was a civic holiday, things were quite quiet. In the afternoon, we went to Kensington Market, which was supposed to be full of stall selling food etc., but was really disappointing and quite tacky, until we found Wanda's Pie in the Sky, and had a fabulous veggie pizza and a lemon meringue pie that was the best I have ever had!
We talked a fair bit about heading home. We were all feeling quite overwhelmed by the journey and all we had seen, and I think psychologically, now that August had arrived, as though it was time to start the homeward journey.
The last thing we wanted to do was to go back to Buffalo to finish back-to-school shopping, a promise we had made the kids early on, as they tried to decide where and what to spend their money on...so BACK over the border we went on Tuesday, leaving about noon. We also had to take our trailer in for service and new tires (!!) so we dropped it off for the day and headed out. The kids enjoyed trying on runners, shoes, clothes, etc., and got some nice things, much cheaper, and in most cases, unavailable in Canada. Dennis was the big winner though, heading back to Eddie Bauer, and getting (I am not exaggerating) a year's wardrobe for about one quarter the price.
While he was waiting for us to finish, he struck up a conversation with a US Army vet who was lamenting the mess in Iraq. Dennis asked him if he thought Obama would win, but the guy said "Oh, I am voting for McCain. I'm a racist." Dennis said, "Well, Obama is half white" to which the guy replied "Maybe in your world he is"!
Headed home, paid duty, and got to work packing up the trailer...we left really early on Weds morning to try to avoid the rush hour into Toronto and made great time, driving to Sault Ste Marie and staying in the same campsite we had the way over. The next day, Thursday, we got to Thunder Bay. We actually found northern Ontario quite beautiful, although it does seem endless at points. By this time we were picking up steam and got to Winnipeg, where we got the oil changed in the car, and visited the Royal Canadian Mint. Then back in the car, and off to Brandon for the night.
Then we had to decide...meander or head home. The vote was Head HOME!! So, Brandon to Calgary on Saturday and Calgary home on Sunday, making the 9 pm ferry! The comment of the day came from Ceilidh, who, when we woke her up at 7:15 to get going, said "Thanks for letting me sleep in!" The DVD players proved invaluable, and we became adept at the 10 minute pit stop for fuel and bathroom breaks. Amazingly, there was not ONE word of complaint for the kids; after 7 weeks, they were ready for home!
The Prairies were beautiful, although not as completely flat as we had imagined. The sky is huge, and seems like a huge dome covering us until it joins the horizon. In fact, the TransCanada at that point was not what we had imagined either. I had images of it going through every small Prairie town, but for the most part, it is a divided highway that skirts most centres. I think this had something to do with us being ready to head home...
We arrived after 11 pm, and only unloaded the essentials, including the coffee machine in preparation for the morning java. After 7 weeks and 16,000 km of travel, my latte mug, which I had used each day, slid off the machine and crashed to its death right in front of our house!
Thanks, everyone, for reading, and all the comments...it is too early to sift through all we have done and try to come up with highlights. But this is for sure: we live in an amazing and diverse country. Still haven't totally up the gas bill yet...
Monday, August 11, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Ontario!
Hi all:
It has been a long time since our last post, so I will try to update you and also include some photos. Boring things to do in Montreal:
1. Drive to the Honda dealer to try to get the right key so the lugnuts can be taken off the car for service.
2. Go to another Honda dealer where they have the master set to remove the locking lugnuts and replace them with ordinary ones.
3. Go back to the original Honda dealer to get the service done.
4. Along with the service, book a time to get the car cleaned out, which was really exciting to the anal-retentive part of me, only to find the guy had gone home sick. We have dirt from North Dakota to PEI in there!
5. Do laundry and clean the camper.
On Tuesday we went into Montreal to explore the old town, while Ceilidh hung out with her teacher, Jenne Martin. We explore Atwater Market (YUMMY!!) and took the metro back to old town. I had a quick look round Notre Dame, and then we met up with Ceilidh, went down to the waterfront and rented a quadricycle, which was a hoot! Montreal is a fabulous city, for sure.
On Wednesday we left Montreal for the 1.5 hour drive to Lac St Francois and the town of St Anicet, where my sister-in-law Maryse's family has a cabin. As we were driving past the Honda dealer, the transmission light came on, which is never a good sign. We took it in, but there was nothing they could find wrong with it. The mechanic said to Dennis "Maybe you panicked!" Anyway, off we went, and there has been nothing wrong. Lac St Francois is actually part of the St Lawrence, so in the distance you can see freighters steaming through. The water is really warm, and Jean and Dick (Maryse's parents) have been coming up for years and years. It is a lovely, relaxing spot, where families have been coming for generations. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and the kids were in heaven. There were other kids and there was water! Cousin Yves took us for a ride on a Seadoo (yes, even me!) and we went on their fancy new boat too. It was wonderful seeing Duncan and Maryse, enjoying great food, friendly people and a fabulous location. One funny thing: we were introduced to so many new people since much of Maryse's extended family have cabins on the lake, including one cousin called Jean-Louise. I think Ceilidh must have misheard, because she kept referring to her as "Jeez Louise"!
On Friday morning, we headed out towards our home exchange in Grimsby Ontario, a town of 24,000 about an hour from Toronto at the "gateway" to the Niagara peninsula. Driving in to TO was quite the experience, especially on the Friday of a long weekend. The cities seem to blend together one after another, and we certainly got the feeling that this is the most heavily populated area of Canada. The drive to Grimsby was not all that attractive, but the town itself is lovely and Chris and Laurie's home is a "mansion" (the girls' words). They have their own bedrooms, and so do we!!! In fact, you could put two of our trailers into their bedroom! It has been great to relax in a house, and the neighbours have been so friendly and helpful too. The homes here are largely made of brick, and
On Saturday, we drove to Niagara Falls (about 40 minutes away) and had a good look at the Falls. We went on the "Maid of the Mist" (highly recommended) which takes you to the base of the falls, and is very dramatic. We got to wear highly fashionable blue plastic ponchos.
After that, we drove to Niagara Falls NY (our 5th trip across the border!) and went to some outlet stores, where, believe it or not, Dennis bought more than I did. I bought one tshirt. He bought 15. I should say, though, that there was an Eddie Bauer store where he got tshirts for $7.50 that cost $24.50 in Canada! After that, we continued 20 minutes to Buffalo, where Ceilidh was thrilled to find Hollister, Aeropostale, Abercrombie and Fitch, etc. We didn't have too long there, so we are going back on Tuesday.
Today, we had an at home day, and Dennis went off to do some wine tasting, which he really enjoyed. He said he learned a lot, got to sample some wines and cheeses, and really enjoyed his adult day. I got into the car to get groceries afterwards, and the radio was blasting a 70s station, so it seemed as though he had a good time.
Tomorrow we are going up the CN Tower, and exploring TO. We are not sure how long we will spend here; there is SO much to see and do, but we are also feeling the pull of home.
It has been a long time since our last post, so I will try to update you and also include some photos. Boring things to do in Montreal:
1. Drive to the Honda dealer to try to get the right key so the lugnuts can be taken off the car for service.
2. Go to another Honda dealer where they have the master set to remove the locking lugnuts and replace them with ordinary ones.
3. Go back to the original Honda dealer to get the service done.
4. Along with the service, book a time to get the car cleaned out, which was really exciting to the anal-retentive part of me, only to find the guy had gone home sick. We have dirt from North Dakota to PEI in there!
5. Do laundry and clean the camper.
On Tuesday we went into Montreal to explore the old town, while Ceilidh hung out with her teacher, Jenne Martin. We explore Atwater Market (YUMMY!!) and took the metro back to old town. I had a quick look round Notre Dame, and then we met up with Ceilidh, went down to the waterfront and rented a quadricycle, which was a hoot! Montreal is a fabulous city, for sure.
On Wednesday we left Montreal for the 1.5 hour drive to Lac St Francois and the town of St Anicet, where my sister-in-law Maryse's family has a cabin. As we were driving past the Honda dealer, the transmission light came on, which is never a good sign. We took it in, but there was nothing they could find wrong with it. The mechanic said to Dennis "Maybe you panicked!" Anyway, off we went, and there has been nothing wrong. Lac St Francois is actually part of the St Lawrence, so in the distance you can see freighters steaming through. The water is really warm, and Jean and Dick (Maryse's parents) have been coming up for years and years. It is a lovely, relaxing spot, where families have been coming for generations. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and the kids were in heaven. There were other kids and there was water! Cousin Yves took us for a ride on a Seadoo (yes, even me!) and we went on their fancy new boat too. It was wonderful seeing Duncan and Maryse, enjoying great food, friendly people and a fabulous location. One funny thing: we were introduced to so many new people since much of Maryse's extended family have cabins on the lake, including one cousin called Jean-Louise. I think Ceilidh must have misheard, because she kept referring to her as "Jeez Louise"!
On Friday morning, we headed out towards our home exchange in Grimsby Ontario, a town of 24,000 about an hour from Toronto at the "gateway" to the Niagara peninsula. Driving in to TO was quite the experience, especially on the Friday of a long weekend. The cities seem to blend together one after another, and we certainly got the feeling that this is the most heavily populated area of Canada. The drive to Grimsby was not all that attractive, but the town itself is lovely and Chris and Laurie's home is a "mansion" (the girls' words). They have their own bedrooms, and so do we!!! In fact, you could put two of our trailers into their bedroom! It has been great to relax in a house, and the neighbours have been so friendly and helpful too. The homes here are largely made of brick, and
On Saturday, we drove to Niagara Falls (about 40 minutes away) and had a good look at the Falls. We went on the "Maid of the Mist" (highly recommended) which takes you to the base of the falls, and is very dramatic. We got to wear highly fashionable blue plastic ponchos.
After that, we drove to Niagara Falls NY (our 5th trip across the border!) and went to some outlet stores, where, believe it or not, Dennis bought more than I did. I bought one tshirt. He bought 15. I should say, though, that there was an Eddie Bauer store where he got tshirts for $7.50 that cost $24.50 in Canada! After that, we continued 20 minutes to Buffalo, where Ceilidh was thrilled to find Hollister, Aeropostale, Abercrombie and Fitch, etc. We didn't have too long there, so we are going back on Tuesday.
Today, we had an at home day, and Dennis went off to do some wine tasting, which he really enjoyed. He said he learned a lot, got to sample some wines and cheeses, and really enjoyed his adult day. I got into the car to get groceries afterwards, and the radio was blasting a 70s station, so it seemed as though he had a good time.
Tomorrow we are going up the CN Tower, and exploring TO. We are not sure how long we will spend here; there is SO much to see and do, but we are also feeling the pull of home.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Montreal
Hi everyone!
Sunday night here, and we have been in Montreal for four days. Unfortunately, wifi is not free here, so we picked a slow evening to buy some time and get caught up.
We left Quebec City on Thursday, driving the 250 km to Montreal. This KOA is not nearly as nice as the QC one, and the bathrooms are not all that, but it is a good base for visiting Montreal (it is only about 25 km away).
On Friday, we went into downtown Montreal (CRAZY drivers) and found the world's largest tourist info centre, where an incredibly helpful woman gave us all sorts of ideas. Since we were in the middle of downtown, we decided to use the afternoon to shop, and so Dennis went to Indigo and sat and read computer books while the girls and I went out to shop. Since Montreal gets very wintry, a whole "underground city" developed around the metro stops, with more stores than in the whole of Victoria, I think! All the usual brand names are there, along with Simon's, a Quebec department store that is terrific. Both kids found some clothes there. FASHON ALERT! For those of you who want to be cutting edge, fall clothes are starting to appear, and I saw STIRRUP PANTS for sale. Just FYI...if only I had kept mine! The jeans are getting narrower and narrower, and the tops bigger, kind of 80s style! I wonder if the mullet will return?
Anyway, picked up Dennis (now drinking coffee and reading the paper), and walked to St Denis street, a very funky neighbourhood with hookah cafes and the like. Went to a really nice Mexican restaurant, and then next door to a place the tourist info had recommended: Juliet et Chocolat. Three guesses why it appealed. Everything they served had chocolate, just about...although they also make sweet and savoury crepes. Dennis had milk hot chocolate (which, Sara and Beth, is like that chantico they sold at Starbucks for a while), which comes in a small pitcher and is poured into a bowl for drinking. It is so rich, it is almost like a melted chocolate bar (it also comes in dark and white chocolate). Mhairi had a citron et sucre crepe, which she has been craving since Paris, and had the most blissful look on her face as she was eating it...Ceilidh and I had chocolate cake with a molten chocolate centre, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (we could have had chocolate ice cream, but that seemed overkill, even for us). Neither of us could finish ours, but our tablemates helped us along. I thought my tastebuds were going to explode. I hope to go there again for a savoury crepe and another dessert. That was a meal to remember...
Saturday was not so successful. We decided to go to La Ronde, and amusement park. When we got there, the woman said they didn't give refunds if it rained, which we thought was peculiar, since who does give refunds if it rains? In Canada, everyone would be bankrupt. What they didn't mention was that they actually CLOSE THE RIDES if it rains. So, after paying $38 x 4 of us, and then a stupid fast pass to get us through the lines faster for another $50, and then paying through the nose for food cuz you can't bring coolers onsite, it RAINED! AND, they had the gall to actually charge extra for some things (which we didn't do). So, $300 later, we left. The kids enjoyed some of the rides, but really, it was a waste of time and money. A lesson learned.
Today, we went to Mount Royal Park, which is designed a little like Central Park. Apparently in the 1600s, Jacques Cartier was taken up the mountain by some native guides and he loved the place and decided it would be a great place to have a settlement, and named it Mont Royal...there is the history lesson for today. We took our bikes in with us, stopped by Fairmont bagels, which has THE best bagels in the city (also recommended by my favourite tourist helper!) and is open 24/7. Dennis ordered "plein" bagels instead of "nature", but other than that, he did well. Had a picnic at the park beside a lake, rented a paddlboat, and had a great time. We then biked around the park, stopping at the viewpoint, and at la croix. The story is that one of the founders of Montreal named Maisonneuve carried a cross up the hill when the city was saved from a flood, as his promise to God. Now, unless there is some Quonset story here (a story far too embarrassing for me to repeat here, but I am sure my sister would be happy to tell!), they have replaced the original cross he carried up, because this one was metal and lit up.
We then went into Vieux Montreal, and biked around the old Expo 67 site. We saw the Habitat 67 buildings and the geodesic dome (not sure of that spelling) designed by Buckminster Fuller. I kept imagining Montreal in 1967, which must have seems SO cosmopolitan, especially by Canadian standards. I imagine my sister, a 20 year old, going to Montreal for the summer in 1967. In fact, almost everyone we have met speaks both French and English, and with the large immigrant population, I am sure many are multilingual. What a gift! People I have overheard speaking seem to switch between French and English, even within the same sentence, and if they hear us struggling in French, they automatically switch to English, unless we ask them not to!
Anyway, there is a long pedestrian/bike concourse, so off we went to explore along the river, and a short way along the Lachine Canal. Reminded me of biking along the canal in Oxford.
Navigating here is quite fascinating, since almost every street is either Sainte or Saint something or other, so we are constantly saying "St Jean or Jacques?" "Did you say Ste Catherine or Ste Marie?", etc.
A close to home day tomorrow, then into Vieux Montreal for a good look around on Tuesday. Ceilidh is meeting another teacher (!), Jenne Martin, who is from Montreal, for a morning together while Dennis, Mhairi and I poke around the town.
We took a quick look at Notre Dame, where there is a series of organ recitals going on, one by none other than Matthew Larkin for those of you who would care to know!
Sunday night here, and we have been in Montreal for four days. Unfortunately, wifi is not free here, so we picked a slow evening to buy some time and get caught up.
We left Quebec City on Thursday, driving the 250 km to Montreal. This KOA is not nearly as nice as the QC one, and the bathrooms are not all that, but it is a good base for visiting Montreal (it is only about 25 km away).
On Friday, we went into downtown Montreal (CRAZY drivers) and found the world's largest tourist info centre, where an incredibly helpful woman gave us all sorts of ideas. Since we were in the middle of downtown, we decided to use the afternoon to shop, and so Dennis went to Indigo and sat and read computer books while the girls and I went out to shop. Since Montreal gets very wintry, a whole "underground city" developed around the metro stops, with more stores than in the whole of Victoria, I think! All the usual brand names are there, along with Simon's, a Quebec department store that is terrific. Both kids found some clothes there. FASHON ALERT! For those of you who want to be cutting edge, fall clothes are starting to appear, and I saw STIRRUP PANTS for sale. Just FYI...if only I had kept mine! The jeans are getting narrower and narrower, and the tops bigger, kind of 80s style! I wonder if the mullet will return?
Anyway, picked up Dennis (now drinking coffee and reading the paper), and walked to St Denis street, a very funky neighbourhood with hookah cafes and the like. Went to a really nice Mexican restaurant, and then next door to a place the tourist info had recommended: Juliet et Chocolat. Three guesses why it appealed. Everything they served had chocolate, just about...although they also make sweet and savoury crepes. Dennis had milk hot chocolate (which, Sara and Beth, is like that chantico they sold at Starbucks for a while), which comes in a small pitcher and is poured into a bowl for drinking. It is so rich, it is almost like a melted chocolate bar (it also comes in dark and white chocolate). Mhairi had a citron et sucre crepe, which she has been craving since Paris, and had the most blissful look on her face as she was eating it...Ceilidh and I had chocolate cake with a molten chocolate centre, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (we could have had chocolate ice cream, but that seemed overkill, even for us). Neither of us could finish ours, but our tablemates helped us along. I thought my tastebuds were going to explode. I hope to go there again for a savoury crepe and another dessert. That was a meal to remember...
Saturday was not so successful. We decided to go to La Ronde, and amusement park. When we got there, the woman said they didn't give refunds if it rained, which we thought was peculiar, since who does give refunds if it rains? In Canada, everyone would be bankrupt. What they didn't mention was that they actually CLOSE THE RIDES if it rains. So, after paying $38 x 4 of us, and then a stupid fast pass to get us through the lines faster for another $50, and then paying through the nose for food cuz you can't bring coolers onsite, it RAINED! AND, they had the gall to actually charge extra for some things (which we didn't do). So, $300 later, we left. The kids enjoyed some of the rides, but really, it was a waste of time and money. A lesson learned.
Today, we went to Mount Royal Park, which is designed a little like Central Park. Apparently in the 1600s, Jacques Cartier was taken up the mountain by some native guides and he loved the place and decided it would be a great place to have a settlement, and named it Mont Royal...there is the history lesson for today. We took our bikes in with us, stopped by Fairmont bagels, which has THE best bagels in the city (also recommended by my favourite tourist helper!) and is open 24/7. Dennis ordered "plein" bagels instead of "nature", but other than that, he did well. Had a picnic at the park beside a lake, rented a paddlboat, and had a great time. We then biked around the park, stopping at the viewpoint, and at la croix. The story is that one of the founders of Montreal named Maisonneuve carried a cross up the hill when the city was saved from a flood, as his promise to God. Now, unless there is some Quonset story here (a story far too embarrassing for me to repeat here, but I am sure my sister would be happy to tell!), they have replaced the original cross he carried up, because this one was metal and lit up.
We then went into Vieux Montreal, and biked around the old Expo 67 site. We saw the Habitat 67 buildings and the geodesic dome (not sure of that spelling) designed by Buckminster Fuller. I kept imagining Montreal in 1967, which must have seems SO cosmopolitan, especially by Canadian standards. I imagine my sister, a 20 year old, going to Montreal for the summer in 1967. In fact, almost everyone we have met speaks both French and English, and with the large immigrant population, I am sure many are multilingual. What a gift! People I have overheard speaking seem to switch between French and English, even within the same sentence, and if they hear us struggling in French, they automatically switch to English, unless we ask them not to!
Anyway, there is a long pedestrian/bike concourse, so off we went to explore along the river, and a short way along the Lachine Canal. Reminded me of biking along the canal in Oxford.
Navigating here is quite fascinating, since almost every street is either Sainte or Saint something or other, so we are constantly saying "St Jean or Jacques?" "Did you say Ste Catherine or Ste Marie?", etc.
A close to home day tomorrow, then into Vieux Montreal for a good look around on Tuesday. Ceilidh is meeting another teacher (!), Jenne Martin, who is from Montreal, for a morning together while Dennis, Mhairi and I poke around the town.
We took a quick look at Notre Dame, where there is a series of organ recitals going on, one by none other than Matthew Larkin for those of you who would care to know!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Encore Quebec
Hi again
We have had a busy few days. On Sunday we went to the Valcartier waterslides (the largest in Canada) and they really were amazing. We were there for 8 hours and certainly got our money's worth since Den and the girls went down the slides over and over again. There were also a couple of inner tube rivers that they loved. I sat, read a book (and finished it) and did my knitting. I really must have looked old though, since the book I borrowed happened to be large print (and it was a Maeve Binchy which isn't exactly intellectually highbrow) and I was knitting...However, the knitting came in handy, since I can reset the GPS (which sometimes gets confused) with the tip of my knitting needle. In addition, some of the waterslides prohibit wearing glasses unless you have a lanyard on them...so I gave Dennis a fetching yellow piece of yarn for his glasses, and Mhairi a cool green one for hers. Needs must!
The weather was perfect...a slight breeze and overcast so we didn't get fried. It was a good day! Came home with tired kids too!
The next day, Monday, Ceilidh's Grade 8 teacher, Danielle Brault, drove up from visiting her father in Cowansville. She took Ceilidh, Mhairi and I out to Montmorency Falls (beautiful, and taller than Niagara Falls, although not as wide). Dennis stayed home to work (which he FINISHED and now is free!!) and nurse an injured toe he stubbed at the waterslides. After the falls, we went over to the Ile d'Orleans, an island in the middle of the St Lawrence, which is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Quebec. It is a little like Saltspring, with artisans, craft stores, lots of produce and quaint houses. It is easy to see the remnants of the feudal system in the long, narrow plots of land that reach the water. Went into a couple of churches, too!
We then went into town for coffee, ice cream and a tour around. I really like Vieux Quebec; it is European, pedestrian friendly, and charm around each corner.
Danielle brought us home, and Dennis made the yummiest pizza, with thinly sliced potato and rosemary. She also left us with some of her sister, Suzanne's, home made maple fudge. YUUUUUM! Merci, Suzanne!
Today, we took our bikes, parked on the Blvd de Champlain, and biked the 5 km into Quebec City. There was a fierce wind, which made for tough peddling, but the way home was easy!!
The bike and pedestrian path was installed for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City (this year!) and is a wonderful path, easy to cycle, with beautiful benches, seating and "installations" along it. The benches all look very modern with horizontal lines, and remind me a bit of 60s architecture. The "installations" are sculptures, and other "things", that I am sure have some deep meaning which eludes me. Some seem to look like ships, others emit a mist periodically, which almost obscures everything. It is all very user friendly and appealing to the eye. The installations seem to run diagonal to the path.
In the city we did more sightseeing, and enjoyed tarte au sucre (sugar pie) which is like pecan pie without the pecans or raisins....so sort of a maple custard in a crust. Wow! I hope we cycled off a tenth of the calories! Thanks to Danielle for the suggestion!
On the way home, there were Cycling Security people who kept the cycling traffic moving, and directed cars so that the cyclists had the right of way! What a nice change. Since we headed home about 4:30, I assumed that cycling commuters were joining us.
It is raining (sigh), but we are sitting down to a tortellini arrabiata dinner, which we all are looking forward to!
We have had a busy few days. On Sunday we went to the Valcartier waterslides (the largest in Canada) and they really were amazing. We were there for 8 hours and certainly got our money's worth since Den and the girls went down the slides over and over again. There were also a couple of inner tube rivers that they loved. I sat, read a book (and finished it) and did my knitting. I really must have looked old though, since the book I borrowed happened to be large print (and it was a Maeve Binchy which isn't exactly intellectually highbrow) and I was knitting...However, the knitting came in handy, since I can reset the GPS (which sometimes gets confused) with the tip of my knitting needle. In addition, some of the waterslides prohibit wearing glasses unless you have a lanyard on them...so I gave Dennis a fetching yellow piece of yarn for his glasses, and Mhairi a cool green one for hers. Needs must!
The weather was perfect...a slight breeze and overcast so we didn't get fried. It was a good day! Came home with tired kids too!
The next day, Monday, Ceilidh's Grade 8 teacher, Danielle Brault, drove up from visiting her father in Cowansville. She took Ceilidh, Mhairi and I out to Montmorency Falls (beautiful, and taller than Niagara Falls, although not as wide). Dennis stayed home to work (which he FINISHED and now is free!!) and nurse an injured toe he stubbed at the waterslides. After the falls, we went over to the Ile d'Orleans, an island in the middle of the St Lawrence, which is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Quebec. It is a little like Saltspring, with artisans, craft stores, lots of produce and quaint houses. It is easy to see the remnants of the feudal system in the long, narrow plots of land that reach the water. Went into a couple of churches, too!
We then went into town for coffee, ice cream and a tour around. I really like Vieux Quebec; it is European, pedestrian friendly, and charm around each corner.
Danielle brought us home, and Dennis made the yummiest pizza, with thinly sliced potato and rosemary. She also left us with some of her sister, Suzanne's, home made maple fudge. YUUUUUM! Merci, Suzanne!
Today, we took our bikes, parked on the Blvd de Champlain, and biked the 5 km into Quebec City. There was a fierce wind, which made for tough peddling, but the way home was easy!!
The bike and pedestrian path was installed for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City (this year!) and is a wonderful path, easy to cycle, with beautiful benches, seating and "installations" along it. The benches all look very modern with horizontal lines, and remind me a bit of 60s architecture. The "installations" are sculptures, and other "things", that I am sure have some deep meaning which eludes me. Some seem to look like ships, others emit a mist periodically, which almost obscures everything. It is all very user friendly and appealing to the eye. The installations seem to run diagonal to the path.
In the city we did more sightseeing, and enjoyed tarte au sucre (sugar pie) which is like pecan pie without the pecans or raisins....so sort of a maple custard in a crust. Wow! I hope we cycled off a tenth of the calories! Thanks to Danielle for the suggestion!
On the way home, there were Cycling Security people who kept the cycling traffic moving, and directed cars so that the cyclists had the right of way! What a nice change. Since we headed home about 4:30, I assumed that cycling commuters were joining us.
It is raining (sigh), but we are sitting down to a tortellini arrabiata dinner, which we all are looking forward to!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
More Quebec
I have posted a few new pictures at the bottom of the blog.
There is certainly a wide range of RVs and trailers around this country, and ours is one of the very very smallest. There are many that are like homes on wheels...more than 40 feet long with slideouts, laundry facilities, tv, satellite dishes...and two entrances! We are consistently dwarfed by the monsters around us.
We went into Quebec City yesterday for the evening, which is so beautiful. Narrow, European lanes with shops and restaurants...We also climbed up to the Plains of Abraham, where the fate of Canada was determined in about 45 minutes, and talked about how our parents would not likely have immigrated here if it were a French speaking country. Paul McCartney is playing a free concert here tomorrow; they are expecting 250,000 people, with busses coming from as far away as Mexico!
Well, a nice down day today, catching up on email and letting the kids play in the pool...
Love to all
Kerry
There is certainly a wide range of RVs and trailers around this country, and ours is one of the very very smallest. There are many that are like homes on wheels...more than 40 feet long with slideouts, laundry facilities, tv, satellite dishes...and two entrances! We are consistently dwarfed by the monsters around us.
We went into Quebec City yesterday for the evening, which is so beautiful. Narrow, European lanes with shops and restaurants...We also climbed up to the Plains of Abraham, where the fate of Canada was determined in about 45 minutes, and talked about how our parents would not likely have immigrated here if it were a French speaking country. Paul McCartney is playing a free concert here tomorrow; they are expecting 250,000 people, with busses coming from as far away as Mexico!
Well, a nice down day today, catching up on email and letting the kids play in the pool...
Love to all
Kerry
Friday, July 18, 2008
Quebec!!
Hi everyone...this will be a long post since we have been offline a couple of days and much has happened. We left PEI expecting a short drive (3 hours) to Kouchibouguac National Park which is on the east coast of NB. As we went back over the Confederation Bridge and into New Brunswick, we realized we were in Acadian country; French flags abounded, and the sign at McDonald's in PEI that read "McLobster is back" (who knew there was "regional cuisine" at McDonald's?) now read "McHomard est en retour". Got a laugh out of that. In PEI I announced that since I had parented all the way to the east coast, it was Dennis' turn on the return trip. So, we stopped at Tim Horton's for a donut. Since we were in a French speaking community, Dennis tried his language skills and ordered an apple fritter by asking for "pommes frites". He got a strange look and when we left, Ceilidh said "Dad, you tried to order French Fries!" I thought we were all going to die laughing, and every kilometre or so, we would all bust up again.
As an aside (that comes into the story later) there are NO Starbucks in Atlantic Canada...and virtually no cappuccino. Tim Horton's regular coffee is what everyone drinks.
We stopped in a very sweet town Bouctouche, with a beautiful Roman Catholic church, were we had fries and the girls had slushies (remember, Dennis is parenting). This becomes important later. We were meandering around since we had a short driving day. Then, I look at the guidebook for the national park and read "Under no circumstances should you be without bug spray". We arrive at the park to find there are no water hookups...So we are 1:30 pm in a campsite nobody wants to be in on the east coast of New Brunswick on the scenic route. We decide that we will drive up to the next day's campsite at Riviere du Loup, in Quebec, which the girls are into...but it is a further 8 hours. Back into the car we go.
Now, Dennis was expecting that we weren't driving long, and was OK with the junk the girls had eaten...now we were driving for another 8 hours...Mhairi complained she didn't feel well, and about 2 minutes later, was throwing up into a hastily conjured bucket (my reflexes are pretty darned good after all). FYI, blue raspberry slushie comes up blue.
She felt a lot better after that.
I was needing a coffee, but we could not find anywhere for love or money, or even a plug for me to make my own. I was regretting having sneered at Starbuck's earlier in the journey and knew this was my penance. In fact, Dennis said it was my penance for booking a campsite in a swampy area, with no water! So, I joined the locals, and got a Tim Horton's!
So, the other thing we kept seeing were signs to watch out for moose. The signs started out benignly, with a picture of a cute moose on a diamond shaped yellow sign. The next signs had a much larger moose trotting out into the road. The next signs had "ATTENTION" in large red letters, with a moose TOWERING above a car, and finally, there were signs that showed a moose sign and a car sign colliding with nasty results, and an "extreme caution" written below. We had already decided NOT to do any night driving, but in this case, to get to our campsite, we knew we would have to, at a time when the moose would likely be out. This coincided with us driving west, into the setting sun, while it rained, resulting in near blinding conditions. However, we were fine, and lo, and behold, saw a mother moose and her calf standing in a field near the road. They very kindly stood while we pulled over, got out the camera and took some good shots.
So, Dennis has seen his moose. We also saw a fox and kit, and a black bear.
We made it to Riviere du Loup at about 9:30, and thankfully fell into bed.
Riviere du Loup is a charming town, with all the amenities, including good veggie selections "Hamburger tofu", and a very nice patisseries with real cappuccino. It was wonderful walking around and feeling immersed in French. The town is on the south banks of the St Lawrence, and we biked along the river, where apparently you can see whales. I guess it isn't really a river at this point...I think I could live here too...although I noticed that the fire hydrants are marked by large signposts, leading me to believe there must be a lot of snow.
We drove today for a couple of hours into Quebec City (our campsite is about 15 minutes outside of the city). Doing laundry and all that stuff...
As an aside (that comes into the story later) there are NO Starbucks in Atlantic Canada...and virtually no cappuccino. Tim Horton's regular coffee is what everyone drinks.
We stopped in a very sweet town Bouctouche, with a beautiful Roman Catholic church, were we had fries and the girls had slushies (remember, Dennis is parenting). This becomes important later. We were meandering around since we had a short driving day. Then, I look at the guidebook for the national park and read "Under no circumstances should you be without bug spray". We arrive at the park to find there are no water hookups...So we are 1:30 pm in a campsite nobody wants to be in on the east coast of New Brunswick on the scenic route. We decide that we will drive up to the next day's campsite at Riviere du Loup, in Quebec, which the girls are into...but it is a further 8 hours. Back into the car we go.
Now, Dennis was expecting that we weren't driving long, and was OK with the junk the girls had eaten...now we were driving for another 8 hours...Mhairi complained she didn't feel well, and about 2 minutes later, was throwing up into a hastily conjured bucket (my reflexes are pretty darned good after all). FYI, blue raspberry slushie comes up blue.
She felt a lot better after that.
I was needing a coffee, but we could not find anywhere for love or money, or even a plug for me to make my own. I was regretting having sneered at Starbuck's earlier in the journey and knew this was my penance. In fact, Dennis said it was my penance for booking a campsite in a swampy area, with no water! So, I joined the locals, and got a Tim Horton's!
So, the other thing we kept seeing were signs to watch out for moose. The signs started out benignly, with a picture of a cute moose on a diamond shaped yellow sign. The next signs had a much larger moose trotting out into the road. The next signs had "ATTENTION" in large red letters, with a moose TOWERING above a car, and finally, there were signs that showed a moose sign and a car sign colliding with nasty results, and an "extreme caution" written below. We had already decided NOT to do any night driving, but in this case, to get to our campsite, we knew we would have to, at a time when the moose would likely be out. This coincided with us driving west, into the setting sun, while it rained, resulting in near blinding conditions. However, we were fine, and lo, and behold, saw a mother moose and her calf standing in a field near the road. They very kindly stood while we pulled over, got out the camera and took some good shots.
So, Dennis has seen his moose. We also saw a fox and kit, and a black bear.
We made it to Riviere du Loup at about 9:30, and thankfully fell into bed.
Riviere du Loup is a charming town, with all the amenities, including good veggie selections "Hamburger tofu", and a very nice patisseries with real cappuccino. It was wonderful walking around and feeling immersed in French. The town is on the south banks of the St Lawrence, and we biked along the river, where apparently you can see whales. I guess it isn't really a river at this point...I think I could live here too...although I noticed that the fire hydrants are marked by large signposts, leading me to believe there must be a lot of snow.
We drove today for a couple of hours into Quebec City (our campsite is about 15 minutes outside of the city). Doing laundry and all that stuff...
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
More PEI and car woes
Hi everyone!
Tuesday today, and we leave here tomorrow, to head to NB en route to Quebec. On Monday we went into Charlottetown (PEIs capital city) and had a great day. We dropped our Honda off for its service and were shuttled into Charlottetown. Went to Founder's Hall, which is a display describing Canada's Confederation (I know it might SOUND boring, but it really isn't). In fact, even Ceilidh gave it an 8.5 out of 10. Basically, we entered into a "time capsule", in 1864, when delegates came to Charlottetown to discuss a union, originally intended to be a Maritime Union, but Canada East and West (now Quebec and Ontario) crashed the party to suggest the union of all the provinces.
We then went through each stage, listening to a "reporter" cover the news via headsets. There are models, interviews with with the people involved, and some funny anecdotes. The funny thing is that even though PEI hosted the conference, they did not decide to join Canada until 1873. Then the exhibit goes through how each province joined, ending with Nunavut in 1999.
After that we headed into town for lunch, and a little shopping. Mhairi made the sales clerk in bookstore laugh out loud when she asked "Do you have the 'Anne of Green Gables' books?" I wish I could count all the "Anne's" on display; from dolls and figurines, to chocolates, books, tea towels, t shirts, etc etc. Anne is big business. We got tickets for the musical "Anne of Green Gables" for that night. Checked in about the car. Had left the lug nut key at the campsite so they couldn't do all the servicing. Made an appointment for today.
Came home, had a quick dinner, and then back into town for the play, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
Today, we looked for the lug nut key...no luck...we have lost it. Phoned the Honda dealer where we bought the car and they said each dealer had a master set...not in Charlottetown, apparently! So, we need to wait til we get to Quebec and discuss the whole thing IN FRENCH!
We'll probably end up with red flames painted on the side of the van by mistake. We did go down to Cavendish beach and cycle along the dunes trail, which was wonderful. The sand has a red tinge too, and the kids saw red jellyfish!
So, we all recommend a visit to the Maritimes. We like the pace, the friendliness, and aside from some rain yesterday, the weather. The family next to us in the campsite are from Port Coquitlam; isn't that always the way!
We also have eaten PEI potatoes for the past two nights; they are really really good. Apparently this is new potato season, but when the others are harvested in the fall, they are as large as a litre milk container! Most of those head to McCain for frozen fries.
Dennis is desperate to see a moose; we keep seeing signs for them, but to no avail. Apparently there are lots in Newfoundland, and one guy told us he saw one whose back was 8 feet tall. They are not animals you want to mess with, or find on the road ahead of you in the dark.
No wifi at the campsite tomorrow, so you will likely hear from us from "la Bell Province".
Off to have smores!
Tuesday today, and we leave here tomorrow, to head to NB en route to Quebec. On Monday we went into Charlottetown (PEIs capital city) and had a great day. We dropped our Honda off for its service and were shuttled into Charlottetown. Went to Founder's Hall, which is a display describing Canada's Confederation (I know it might SOUND boring, but it really isn't). In fact, even Ceilidh gave it an 8.5 out of 10. Basically, we entered into a "time capsule", in 1864, when delegates came to Charlottetown to discuss a union, originally intended to be a Maritime Union, but Canada East and West (now Quebec and Ontario) crashed the party to suggest the union of all the provinces.
We then went through each stage, listening to a "reporter" cover the news via headsets. There are models, interviews with with the people involved, and some funny anecdotes. The funny thing is that even though PEI hosted the conference, they did not decide to join Canada until 1873. Then the exhibit goes through how each province joined, ending with Nunavut in 1999.
After that we headed into town for lunch, and a little shopping. Mhairi made the sales clerk in bookstore laugh out loud when she asked "Do you have the 'Anne of Green Gables' books?" I wish I could count all the "Anne's" on display; from dolls and figurines, to chocolates, books, tea towels, t shirts, etc etc. Anne is big business. We got tickets for the musical "Anne of Green Gables" for that night. Checked in about the car. Had left the lug nut key at the campsite so they couldn't do all the servicing. Made an appointment for today.
Came home, had a quick dinner, and then back into town for the play, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
Today, we looked for the lug nut key...no luck...we have lost it. Phoned the Honda dealer where we bought the car and they said each dealer had a master set...not in Charlottetown, apparently! So, we need to wait til we get to Quebec and discuss the whole thing IN FRENCH!
We'll probably end up with red flames painted on the side of the van by mistake. We did go down to Cavendish beach and cycle along the dunes trail, which was wonderful. The sand has a red tinge too, and the kids saw red jellyfish!
So, we all recommend a visit to the Maritimes. We like the pace, the friendliness, and aside from some rain yesterday, the weather. The family next to us in the campsite are from Port Coquitlam; isn't that always the way!
We also have eaten PEI potatoes for the past two nights; they are really really good. Apparently this is new potato season, but when the others are harvested in the fall, they are as large as a litre milk container! Most of those head to McCain for frozen fries.
Dennis is desperate to see a moose; we keep seeing signs for them, but to no avail. Apparently there are lots in Newfoundland, and one guy told us he saw one whose back was 8 feet tall. They are not animals you want to mess with, or find on the road ahead of you in the dark.
No wifi at the campsite tomorrow, so you will likely hear from us from "la Bell Province".
Off to have smores!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
PEI is the CUTEST place
Hi everyone
We arrived in PEI today after two nights in Nova Scotia. On Saturday we went into Halifax, which is just beautiful, and reminds me quite a bit of Victoria, with an attractive and busy harbour. Lots more "Maritime" themed things here though, focussing on lighthouses, lobster and men in sou'westers. Had a nummy lunch at Just Us Cafe (Karl and Kelsey, I think it was the place that friend of yours was representing that we met at your BBQ).
Back to the campsite and an early start to get us to PEI in good time. We drove over the Confederation Bridge, which is an engineering marvel; it is over 10 k long! Just on cue, as we drove off the bridge, we saw a statue of Anne of Green Gables, the red dirt and a young woman step dancing. The whole PEI experience in 30 seconds. Since it is Sunday today, and PEIslanders seeming to be a religous lot, there was not much open. Stopped in a teeny tiny grocery store that was one of the few open to get some lunch fixings (Dennis parking across four parking spaces) and the parking lot started filling up. Appeared to be post churchgoers stopping for a few supplies. One man came right over and welcomed us to the Island, asked us where we were from and then told us his brothers and sister lived in Calgary (which I guess seemed to him close to Victoria). Another man honked his horn and commented on how far we had travelled. It was like a scene from 50 years ago. The houses, streets and buildings are just impossibly CUTE, and there are fields and fields of potatoes planted in the red dirt. We were all just commenting on its cuteness until we stopped at the third United Church for me to take photos. Ceilidh muttered "How many freaking United Churches are in this province anyway?" while Mhairi ran back to the car to show Dennis a photo she had taken of a tombstone with the name "DENNIS" on it!
Besides watching "The Brady Bunch" and "Partridge Family" on DVD, we have also been listening to "Anne of Green Gables" on an audiobook, so as we drove past LM Montgomery's birthplace, we were listening to her book!
The island looks just like the pictures; rolling hills, farms, beautiful gabled houses, and red, red dirt. We have actually enjoyed all the Atlantic provinces; New Brunswick has some amazing coastline, and rolling farmland, and Halifax is a charming city.
Forgot to mention about the fog in New Brunswick; one guy in Saint John said "Fog was born here", and a woman near Fundy National Park said "Fog is nature's air conditioner". The joke on PEI is that all the top soil blew off Newfoundland and came to PEI.
Well, that is all for now...off to make a campfire and have 'smores!
We arrived in PEI today after two nights in Nova Scotia. On Saturday we went into Halifax, which is just beautiful, and reminds me quite a bit of Victoria, with an attractive and busy harbour. Lots more "Maritime" themed things here though, focussing on lighthouses, lobster and men in sou'westers. Had a nummy lunch at Just Us Cafe (Karl and Kelsey, I think it was the place that friend of yours was representing that we met at your BBQ).
Back to the campsite and an early start to get us to PEI in good time. We drove over the Confederation Bridge, which is an engineering marvel; it is over 10 k long! Just on cue, as we drove off the bridge, we saw a statue of Anne of Green Gables, the red dirt and a young woman step dancing. The whole PEI experience in 30 seconds. Since it is Sunday today, and PEIslanders seeming to be a religous lot, there was not much open. Stopped in a teeny tiny grocery store that was one of the few open to get some lunch fixings (Dennis parking across four parking spaces) and the parking lot started filling up. Appeared to be post churchgoers stopping for a few supplies. One man came right over and welcomed us to the Island, asked us where we were from and then told us his brothers and sister lived in Calgary (which I guess seemed to him close to Victoria). Another man honked his horn and commented on how far we had travelled. It was like a scene from 50 years ago. The houses, streets and buildings are just impossibly CUTE, and there are fields and fields of potatoes planted in the red dirt. We were all just commenting on its cuteness until we stopped at the third United Church for me to take photos. Ceilidh muttered "How many freaking United Churches are in this province anyway?" while Mhairi ran back to the car to show Dennis a photo she had taken of a tombstone with the name "DENNIS" on it!
Besides watching "The Brady Bunch" and "Partridge Family" on DVD, we have also been listening to "Anne of Green Gables" on an audiobook, so as we drove past LM Montgomery's birthplace, we were listening to her book!
The island looks just like the pictures; rolling hills, farms, beautiful gabled houses, and red, red dirt. We have actually enjoyed all the Atlantic provinces; New Brunswick has some amazing coastline, and rolling farmland, and Halifax is a charming city.
Forgot to mention about the fog in New Brunswick; one guy in Saint John said "Fog was born here", and a woman near Fundy National Park said "Fog is nature's air conditioner". The joke on PEI is that all the top soil blew off Newfoundland and came to PEI.
Well, that is all for now...off to make a campfire and have 'smores!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Ahoy from Nova Scotia!
Hi everyone. Thank you a million times over for sending email and posting comments on the blog; it is so nice to know you are out there!
Quite a busy couple of days. We left Maine on Wednesday and drove up the coast to New Brunswick, coming into St Stephen just over the border. St Stephen is home to Ganong candy, so we stopped there to buy a few things. It is nice to be in Canada again! Drove on to get to Fundy National Park (the highest tides in the world) and stayed at a national campsite. Went into "town" to get groceries, had the choice of spaghetti or macaroni for pasta. Chose spaghetti. Our friend Lori mentioned that the pace was slower here in the Maritimes; is it ever. It seems to me that there is a beat before people answer questions, and that everything moves just a l i t t l e more slowly here. I feel like a type A Wall Street person next to the locals.
Fundy is really beautiful...the tide was in when we first looked, but this morning was waaaaay out. We took the scenic route (the kids were THRILLED) to see a lighthouse at Cape Enrage, which was really beautiful. They did not design the road for trailers though, and it was bumpy and slow going. Dennis had to u-turn at one point, so he backed UP A HILL to turn around. We were all very impressed. (Actually, I was out of the car directing, and I could see the girls' panicked faces at the van windows...)
We then went on to Hopewell Rocks which are "flowerpot" rocks, shaped by the tides. Timed it perfectly to see them at low tide, where we ate local strawberries and fresh bread.
I have also begun taking photos of churches (United) as we drive along; the kids just roll their eyes and sigh.
Long day to make it all the way to our campsite in Sackville (Beth, there is a Frenchy's here which we hope to check out) in Nova Scotia. There are hideously large bugs here but it is not humid. Tomorrow we will go into Halifax, and then Sunday we head to PEI.
No more funny bathroom stories to share; sorry to disappoint everyone.
Quite a busy couple of days. We left Maine on Wednesday and drove up the coast to New Brunswick, coming into St Stephen just over the border. St Stephen is home to Ganong candy, so we stopped there to buy a few things. It is nice to be in Canada again! Drove on to get to Fundy National Park (the highest tides in the world) and stayed at a national campsite. Went into "town" to get groceries, had the choice of spaghetti or macaroni for pasta. Chose spaghetti. Our friend Lori mentioned that the pace was slower here in the Maritimes; is it ever. It seems to me that there is a beat before people answer questions, and that everything moves just a l i t t l e more slowly here. I feel like a type A Wall Street person next to the locals.
Fundy is really beautiful...the tide was in when we first looked, but this morning was waaaaay out. We took the scenic route (the kids were THRILLED) to see a lighthouse at Cape Enrage, which was really beautiful. They did not design the road for trailers though, and it was bumpy and slow going. Dennis had to u-turn at one point, so he backed UP A HILL to turn around. We were all very impressed. (Actually, I was out of the car directing, and I could see the girls' panicked faces at the van windows...)
We then went on to Hopewell Rocks which are "flowerpot" rocks, shaped by the tides. Timed it perfectly to see them at low tide, where we ate local strawberries and fresh bread.
I have also begun taking photos of churches (United) as we drive along; the kids just roll their eyes and sigh.
Long day to make it all the way to our campsite in Sackville (Beth, there is a Frenchy's here which we hope to check out) in Nova Scotia. There are hideously large bugs here but it is not humid. Tomorrow we will go into Halifax, and then Sunday we head to PEI.
No more funny bathroom stories to share; sorry to disappoint everyone.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Atlantic Ocean
Hi again
We (well, 3/4 of "we") swam in the Atlantic Ocean today. We cycled down to Old Orchard Beach (about 3 miles) and spent a couple of hours, where Dennis and the girls body-surfed. It was colder than Hawaii, that's for sure, but there were lots of people in the water. Beth says if we look to the east, we will be looking at Yarmouth, NS. Tomorrow we are doing the waterslides.
As I think about our trip, I keep forgetting to post things! Here are some bits and pieces I have forgotten to tell you:
1. Finding the public library in NY, a city block big with a wonderful park of trees and birds (!!) with lots and lots of free seating, and a trolley full of free kids books for parents to read with their kids!
1. Leaving NY on a Monday morning after a long weekend...there are traffic cops at many intersections, keeping traffic moving, regardless of the colour of the light...a very efficient but disconcerting experience. Right turn lights that operate independently of the straight lights, causing one traffic cop to yell at Dennis (in that great NY tradition) "Hey! Don't you know what a red light is for??!!" As we left the city, we counted (no exaggeration) over 150 busses lined up in traffic going into the city, filled with commuters. They were stopped dead in an express lane. I think I would go postal if I had to endure that every day.
2. Listening to people here talk about "cahs" and "Bah Hahbah" (cars and Bar Harbor). I LOVE the accents. I have been trying to figure out how to write the NY accent...but I don't think I quite have it, but one word would be "cawfee" for "coffee".
3. Poor old Ceilidh struggling on the bike ride, with a beet red face, and me thinking she was totally out of shape, until we discovered her front brake had been locked on the whole way.
4. The "Live Free or Die" license plate logo in New Hampshire. They also advertise liquor stores and lottery tickets sales (open on Sunday), so I guess living free means free access to alcohol and gambling. I much prefer Maine's "Vacationland" theme.
5. Someone at the KOA addressing Mhairi as "Ma'am"! We get ma'amed a lot here.
6. Mhairi says "hi" and Ceilidh says "hi".
Kerry
We (well, 3/4 of "we") swam in the Atlantic Ocean today. We cycled down to Old Orchard Beach (about 3 miles) and spent a couple of hours, where Dennis and the girls body-surfed. It was colder than Hawaii, that's for sure, but there were lots of people in the water. Beth says if we look to the east, we will be looking at Yarmouth, NS. Tomorrow we are doing the waterslides.
As I think about our trip, I keep forgetting to post things! Here are some bits and pieces I have forgotten to tell you:
1. Finding the public library in NY, a city block big with a wonderful park of trees and birds (!!) with lots and lots of free seating, and a trolley full of free kids books for parents to read with their kids!
1. Leaving NY on a Monday morning after a long weekend...there are traffic cops at many intersections, keeping traffic moving, regardless of the colour of the light...a very efficient but disconcerting experience. Right turn lights that operate independently of the straight lights, causing one traffic cop to yell at Dennis (in that great NY tradition) "Hey! Don't you know what a red light is for??!!" As we left the city, we counted (no exaggeration) over 150 busses lined up in traffic going into the city, filled with commuters. They were stopped dead in an express lane. I think I would go postal if I had to endure that every day.
2. Listening to people here talk about "cahs" and "Bah Hahbah" (cars and Bar Harbor). I LOVE the accents. I have been trying to figure out how to write the NY accent...but I don't think I quite have it, but one word would be "cawfee" for "coffee".
3. Poor old Ceilidh struggling on the bike ride, with a beet red face, and me thinking she was totally out of shape, until we discovered her front brake had been locked on the whole way.
4. The "Live Free or Die" license plate logo in New Hampshire. They also advertise liquor stores and lottery tickets sales (open on Sunday), so I guess living free means free access to alcohol and gambling. I much prefer Maine's "Vacationland" theme.
5. Someone at the KOA addressing Mhairi as "Ma'am"! We get ma'amed a lot here.
6. Mhairi says "hi" and Ceilidh says "hi".
Kerry
Monday, July 7, 2008
New York to Maine
Hi from Old Orchard Beach! We left NYC this morning and picked up our trailer and then headed to Maine, through NY, New Hampshire ("Live Free or Die") and into Maine. This is a beautiful campsite, with the added attraction of being near the ocean and the waterslides. This is also the first campsite we are staying more than one night, so the kids have their bikes out and are enjoying some downtime.
Our last day in NYC was great; Mary Poppins was a terrific show with an absolutely amazing set. It looked like a doll's house with three levels, like you are looking in the back of a doll's house. In one scene, Bert the chimney sweep tap dances up the wall, across the ceiling and down the other side! The theatre (the New Amsterdam) was like a tarted up Royal Theatre. We walked home through a market, got some souvenirs, ate watermelon and smoothies, and then went home to pack up for this morning.
Parking in NY is insane. Parkades offer a half hour of parking for $7. Street parking is non-existent. I also think that most people in NY must have standing or sitting around jobs, there are traffic cops, regular cops, front doormen, people who sell touristy stuff in stores and stalls, ushers, ticket sellers, people who work in toll booths...everyone is standing around. Mhairi says she misses the "busyness" of NYC, and there certainly is a buzz. However, there were some things that amazed me. Starbucks seems to be the only game in town. In fact, Starbucks locations are at almost all the rest stops, and McDonald's are everywhere.
When Dennis and I talked about it in the car, we both agreed we enjoyed the European cities we have visited more...they seemed friendlier, much cleaner, and (obviously), had more going on historically. We are glad we went, though!
Our last day in NYC was great; Mary Poppins was a terrific show with an absolutely amazing set. It looked like a doll's house with three levels, like you are looking in the back of a doll's house. In one scene, Bert the chimney sweep tap dances up the wall, across the ceiling and down the other side! The theatre (the New Amsterdam) was like a tarted up Royal Theatre. We walked home through a market, got some souvenirs, ate watermelon and smoothies, and then went home to pack up for this morning.
Parking in NY is insane. Parkades offer a half hour of parking for $7. Street parking is non-existent. I also think that most people in NY must have standing or sitting around jobs, there are traffic cops, regular cops, front doormen, people who sell touristy stuff in stores and stalls, ushers, ticket sellers, people who work in toll booths...everyone is standing around. Mhairi says she misses the "busyness" of NYC, and there certainly is a buzz. However, there were some things that amazed me. Starbucks seems to be the only game in town. In fact, Starbucks locations are at almost all the rest stops, and McDonald's are everywhere.
When Dennis and I talked about it in the car, we both agreed we enjoyed the European cities we have visited more...they seemed friendlier, much cleaner, and (obviously), had more going on historically. We are glad we went, though!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
More from NY
Hi
Sunday today, our last full day in NY. Yesterday we walked up 5th Avenue, past all the expensive stores...Prada, Gucci, Cartier etc., as we oohed and aahed. Mhairi tried on a $500 belt at Lord and Taylor.
The rain started as we got to FAO Schwartz, a great toy store, so we hung out there for a while. Our plan was to go into Central Park, but it was raining too hard so we went back 5th Avenue to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). What a great place...saw Picasso, Matisse, Gorky, etc., all who Mhairi had studied in her art class. She took about 700 pictures...Ceilidh ended up reading on the second floor.
The rain had stopped when we left and we came home. Ceilidh's friend Tessa invited us to dinner; she and her mum and sister are here for six weeks and have rented an apartment. It was great to see familiar faces, have some good food and catch up. Sounds like they will have a great summer.
I forgot to mention earlier that our subway stop is Grand Central Station. It is quite beautiful in there, and every time we go, one of us says "It's so busy here, it's like Grand Central Station" and we all think we are very funny.
Today we are picking up some souvenirs and then Mary Poppins. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. Tomorrow we pick up our trailer from the campsite and then head to the ocean. I will be glad to be away from the garbage-y smell!! There is so so so much more to see here though!
Sunday today, our last full day in NY. Yesterday we walked up 5th Avenue, past all the expensive stores...Prada, Gucci, Cartier etc., as we oohed and aahed. Mhairi tried on a $500 belt at Lord and Taylor.
The rain started as we got to FAO Schwartz, a great toy store, so we hung out there for a while. Our plan was to go into Central Park, but it was raining too hard so we went back 5th Avenue to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). What a great place...saw Picasso, Matisse, Gorky, etc., all who Mhairi had studied in her art class. She took about 700 pictures...Ceilidh ended up reading on the second floor.
The rain had stopped when we left and we came home. Ceilidh's friend Tessa invited us to dinner; she and her mum and sister are here for six weeks and have rented an apartment. It was great to see familiar faces, have some good food and catch up. Sounds like they will have a great summer.
I forgot to mention earlier that our subway stop is Grand Central Station. It is quite beautiful in there, and every time we go, one of us says "It's so busy here, it's like Grand Central Station" and we all think we are very funny.
Today we are picking up some souvenirs and then Mary Poppins. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. Tomorrow we pick up our trailer from the campsite and then head to the ocean. I will be glad to be away from the garbage-y smell!! There is so so so much more to see here though!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Two Days in the Big Apple
Hello!!
Lots to tell over the past two days; I can't quite believe we have only been here two days! We drove in from Newburgh (90 minutes) uneventfully, but noticing the traffic steadily increasing. Paid a lot in tolls (probably $25 altogether), including one we drove up to but couldn't find anywhere to drop cash. We, being honest Canadians, even pulled over and tried to find a human to pay, but there was nobody. Hopefully we will not be extradicted.
Took us about 20 minutes to drive the 5 blocks to our hotel once we were in the city; but managed without damaging the car, us or anyone else. I canNOT imagine bringing our trailer in too...there is just no way to widen the streets here; it is pretty much concrete horizontally and vertically!
After we dropped our bags off (the room was not yet ready), we headed out for a walk. Made it to a burger place that had BOTH veggie and soy burgers, so went in and had lunch ($40 for 4 burgers and fries). It was HOTTTTTTTTTTTT and humid but on we trudged, making it to Times Square, which is actually a LOT smaller than I thought it was going to be. How people celebrate New Years there is beyond me. We investigated tickets to a show, and ended up going with Mary Poppins ($480--gulp), but we figured, if we are going to do it, let's get good seats and enjoy. We are going Sunday afternoon. So, that was Mhairi's wish taken care of. By this time all of us were feeling hot-and-tired-and-if-another-human-touches-me-I-cannot-be-responsible-for-my-actions.
Got a latte on the way home just a block from our hotel, which is quite possibly the best coffee I have ever had (at least on this continent).
Went to the hotel and checked in. The room is great; it used to be an apartment, so there is a galley kitchen. Got some groceries, since we plan to breakfast and like eat dinner here.
Went for a walk after dinner and headed to the Empire State Building, only a few blocks away. Did the obligatory "tourist shopping" and enjoyed our evening. Girls spotted purses that they wanted to think about before buying.
Slept well, and I was up and out at 7 for a latte (unfortunately, Starbucks) while everyone else slept. We got off to a late start, not sure what would be open on the Fourth of July. Everything, except the good coffee place, apparently. As we were walking, we came across Macy's and went in. Advertised as the biggest store in the world, we looked on 5 floors and every one of them was ladies clothing, accessories, etc. Dennis went to Starbuck's (one of four in the store) and read his Peter Robinson murder mystery quite happily while the girls and I explored. Mhairi picked up a cute t shirt (50% off--go Mhairi).
Walked up to 5th Avenue again to buy the bags, and then took the subway down to the very bottom of Manhattan where you can see the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, the statue is on an island, and it is kind of unspectacular from the shore. The wait for the ferry over to there and to Ellis Island was HUGE, so we decided to leave it. Had a couple of pretzels to nourish us and then walked up Broadway, past the huge sculpture of the Wall St bull, and realized we were close to Ground Zero. Had not planned on going there, but as we were so close, we took a detour (past a beautiful church which I had to go into). So, I have to say that I was surprised at Ground Zero. I had expected a huge US display, as they do so well. However, there was chain link and fabric all around, so you couldn't really see into the site, and it all seemed very business as usual. What struck me was that the site was actually small, and every building around it was completely open and seemed absolutely untouched. If I hadn't know where we were, it would have looked like another building site. The thought of two scyscrapers occupying that space was almost unbelievable.
As we walked up to find a subway station, we noticed Century 21. A friend had mentioned this store to us as a bargain hunter's dream. We had forgotten the name of it, until Dennis (!?) remembered. The tag line on the store is "bargains worth fighting for", which gives you an idea of the concept. The girls perked up immediately. In we went. Dennis found a corner with his book and the kids did some shopping. Ceilidh got jeans and shoes, Mhairi got two pairs of shorts, a hoodie and a belt. It was insane...and there are only change rooms on one floor. Mhairi came up with a brilliant strategy; to try on the shorts, she put a dress on, took her shorts off, tried on the new ones and then took the dress off. We were all impressed, and Ceilidh used the same technique, saving us about 2 hours in the change rooms!
Walked on up into Little Italy (I could have stayed there a long time) and had pizza at Lombardi's THE place to go. It was SO VERY GOOD and everything was really fresh. By this time we were all spent and took the subway home.
However, it was the Fourth of July and we wanted to go out to the fireworks. Debated between watching on TV and going in person; decided on the latter...big mistake!
There are a lot of people in New York. Every one of them went to the fireworks. There are more police officers than the entire population of Kitimat. Every one of them was working. We walked out of our hotel room the two blocks to the viewing site (did I mention it was raining?) That site had been closed. We ended up walking from 39th Ave to 20th Ave where we had a beautiful view of the FDR parkway, almost completely obliterating our view of the fireworks. It was a bit like getting up at 3 am to see sunrise at Haleakala in Maui, only to find it fogged in ("This NEVER happens here!") So, we walked the 19 blocks back to the hotel and watched the Boston fireworks on TV (which will make Jim laugh since he suggested those fireworks in the first place).
I am quite mixed in my feelings about NY. It is really dirty and there are garbage bags stacked along the sidewalk for pick up, so there is this pervasive garbage smell all the time). I think London, Paris and Rome are all much cleaner. However, there are so many iconic symbols here that are quite thrilling to see in real life, and there certainly is a buzz of energy. We have all felt perfectly safe here (other than crossing the street, where we have adopted the same strategy as the locals, which seems to be "see a chance take it" which has worked fine until the time I stopped to take a photo in the middle of an intersection), and we must look like complete hicks since we spend half our time looking up! I had also assumed a lot of flag waving and the like, but it has all been quite low key.
Today we are heading into Central Park and uptown...maybe the Museum of Modern Art. We are hopefully meeting up with Ceilidh's friend Tessa, who is here studying at the Alvin Ailey Dance School.
Maryse, they publish Metro and 24 here too, and Mhairi and Ceilidh have dutifully kicked each 24 stand they have seen!
Lots to tell over the past two days; I can't quite believe we have only been here two days! We drove in from Newburgh (90 minutes) uneventfully, but noticing the traffic steadily increasing. Paid a lot in tolls (probably $25 altogether), including one we drove up to but couldn't find anywhere to drop cash. We, being honest Canadians, even pulled over and tried to find a human to pay, but there was nobody. Hopefully we will not be extradicted.
Took us about 20 minutes to drive the 5 blocks to our hotel once we were in the city; but managed without damaging the car, us or anyone else. I canNOT imagine bringing our trailer in too...there is just no way to widen the streets here; it is pretty much concrete horizontally and vertically!
After we dropped our bags off (the room was not yet ready), we headed out for a walk. Made it to a burger place that had BOTH veggie and soy burgers, so went in and had lunch ($40 for 4 burgers and fries). It was HOTTTTTTTTTTTT and humid but on we trudged, making it to Times Square, which is actually a LOT smaller than I thought it was going to be. How people celebrate New Years there is beyond me. We investigated tickets to a show, and ended up going with Mary Poppins ($480--gulp), but we figured, if we are going to do it, let's get good seats and enjoy. We are going Sunday afternoon. So, that was Mhairi's wish taken care of. By this time all of us were feeling hot-and-tired-and-if-another-human-touches-me-I-cannot-be-responsible-for-my-actions.
Got a latte on the way home just a block from our hotel, which is quite possibly the best coffee I have ever had (at least on this continent).
Went to the hotel and checked in. The room is great; it used to be an apartment, so there is a galley kitchen. Got some groceries, since we plan to breakfast and like eat dinner here.
Went for a walk after dinner and headed to the Empire State Building, only a few blocks away. Did the obligatory "tourist shopping" and enjoyed our evening. Girls spotted purses that they wanted to think about before buying.
Slept well, and I was up and out at 7 for a latte (unfortunately, Starbucks) while everyone else slept. We got off to a late start, not sure what would be open on the Fourth of July. Everything, except the good coffee place, apparently. As we were walking, we came across Macy's and went in. Advertised as the biggest store in the world, we looked on 5 floors and every one of them was ladies clothing, accessories, etc. Dennis went to Starbuck's (one of four in the store) and read his Peter Robinson murder mystery quite happily while the girls and I explored. Mhairi picked up a cute t shirt (50% off--go Mhairi).
Walked up to 5th Avenue again to buy the bags, and then took the subway down to the very bottom of Manhattan where you can see the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, the statue is on an island, and it is kind of unspectacular from the shore. The wait for the ferry over to there and to Ellis Island was HUGE, so we decided to leave it. Had a couple of pretzels to nourish us and then walked up Broadway, past the huge sculpture of the Wall St bull, and realized we were close to Ground Zero. Had not planned on going there, but as we were so close, we took a detour (past a beautiful church which I had to go into). So, I have to say that I was surprised at Ground Zero. I had expected a huge US display, as they do so well. However, there was chain link and fabric all around, so you couldn't really see into the site, and it all seemed very business as usual. What struck me was that the site was actually small, and every building around it was completely open and seemed absolutely untouched. If I hadn't know where we were, it would have looked like another building site. The thought of two scyscrapers occupying that space was almost unbelievable.
As we walked up to find a subway station, we noticed Century 21. A friend had mentioned this store to us as a bargain hunter's dream. We had forgotten the name of it, until Dennis (!?) remembered. The tag line on the store is "bargains worth fighting for", which gives you an idea of the concept. The girls perked up immediately. In we went. Dennis found a corner with his book and the kids did some shopping. Ceilidh got jeans and shoes, Mhairi got two pairs of shorts, a hoodie and a belt. It was insane...and there are only change rooms on one floor. Mhairi came up with a brilliant strategy; to try on the shorts, she put a dress on, took her shorts off, tried on the new ones and then took the dress off. We were all impressed, and Ceilidh used the same technique, saving us about 2 hours in the change rooms!
Walked on up into Little Italy (I could have stayed there a long time) and had pizza at Lombardi's THE place to go. It was SO VERY GOOD and everything was really fresh. By this time we were all spent and took the subway home.
However, it was the Fourth of July and we wanted to go out to the fireworks. Debated between watching on TV and going in person; decided on the latter...big mistake!
There are a lot of people in New York. Every one of them went to the fireworks. There are more police officers than the entire population of Kitimat. Every one of them was working. We walked out of our hotel room the two blocks to the viewing site (did I mention it was raining?) That site had been closed. We ended up walking from 39th Ave to 20th Ave where we had a beautiful view of the FDR parkway, almost completely obliterating our view of the fireworks. It was a bit like getting up at 3 am to see sunrise at Haleakala in Maui, only to find it fogged in ("This NEVER happens here!") So, we walked the 19 blocks back to the hotel and watched the Boston fireworks on TV (which will make Jim laugh since he suggested those fireworks in the first place).
I am quite mixed in my feelings about NY. It is really dirty and there are garbage bags stacked along the sidewalk for pick up, so there is this pervasive garbage smell all the time). I think London, Paris and Rome are all much cleaner. However, there are so many iconic symbols here that are quite thrilling to see in real life, and there certainly is a buzz of energy. We have all felt perfectly safe here (other than crossing the street, where we have adopted the same strategy as the locals, which seems to be "see a chance take it" which has worked fine until the time I stopped to take a photo in the middle of an intersection), and we must look like complete hicks since we spend half our time looking up! I had also assumed a lot of flag waving and the like, but it has all been quite low key.
Today we are heading into Central Park and uptown...maybe the Museum of Modern Art. We are hopefully meeting up with Ceilidh's friend Tessa, who is here studying at the Alvin Ailey Dance School.
Maryse, they publish Metro and 24 here too, and Mhairi and Ceilidh have dutifully kicked each 24 stand they have seen!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
New York State
NOTE: I HAVE MOVED THE PHOTOS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG. THEY SEEM TO BE BETTER THERE.
Today a driving day, about 7 hours into New York state, about 90 minutes north of NYC. We thought it would be easier to stay at the KOA here in Plattekill and then get an easier day as we drive into Manhattan! We can leave our trailer here for the four nights we are in the city and then come an retrieve it when we head to Portland.
What a great campsite, with two pools and even a TV which luckily means we can watch "So You Think You Can Dance", which we all like.
Forgot to mention a truly Canadian moment from last night...as we were jostling away from the fireworks, we saw none other than Peter Mansbridge! Got a photo too, which we will post soon. Jim is an amazing photographer so those ones of Ottawa are all from him (wait til you see the one of the Snowbirds over Parliament Hill!)
I don't know how much we will be posting in NYC since I am not sure whether we will have wireless, but I will try to keep people posted...we have each come up with the ONE thing we want to do in NY so we at least we get those things done. Mhairi's choice is to see a show on Broadway, and Ceilidh wants to do that too, but since Mhairi chose that, she has chosen shopping. Dennis wants to go to Little Italy, and I want to go either to MOMA or Ellis Island.
From here on in our trip slows down a bit, since we have multiple nights at most places from now through to our home exchange in August, and the long driving days are broken up. The kids have really been amazing on the journey...so far Mhairi has liked Sault Ste Marie best, Ceilidh has liked Ottawa (Parliament Hill and seeing the PM...the Prime Minister, not Peter Mansbridge), Dennis has enjoyed Therese's great cooking (me too!), and for me, it has been the way we have all got along and adapted to this life on the road.
Today a driving day, about 7 hours into New York state, about 90 minutes north of NYC. We thought it would be easier to stay at the KOA here in Plattekill and then get an easier day as we drive into Manhattan! We can leave our trailer here for the four nights we are in the city and then come an retrieve it when we head to Portland.
What a great campsite, with two pools and even a TV which luckily means we can watch "So You Think You Can Dance", which we all like.
Forgot to mention a truly Canadian moment from last night...as we were jostling away from the fireworks, we saw none other than Peter Mansbridge! Got a photo too, which we will post soon. Jim is an amazing photographer so those ones of Ottawa are all from him (wait til you see the one of the Snowbirds over Parliament Hill!)
I don't know how much we will be posting in NYC since I am not sure whether we will have wireless, but I will try to keep people posted...we have each come up with the ONE thing we want to do in NY so we at least we get those things done. Mhairi's choice is to see a show on Broadway, and Ceilidh wants to do that too, but since Mhairi chose that, she has chosen shopping. Dennis wants to go to Little Italy, and I want to go either to MOMA or Ellis Island.
From here on in our trip slows down a bit, since we have multiple nights at most places from now through to our home exchange in August, and the long driving days are broken up. The kids have really been amazing on the journey...so far Mhairi has liked Sault Ste Marie best, Ceilidh has liked Ottawa (Parliament Hill and seeing the PM...the Prime Minister, not Peter Mansbridge), Dennis has enjoyed Therese's great cooking (me too!), and for me, it has been the way we have all got along and adapted to this life on the road.
Canada Day in the capital
What a day! The weather was absolutely PERFECT...not too hot, but sunny with blue skies. We headed in to Ottawa on the bus (incredibly good service) to go to Parliament Hill to see the PM, GG (well, at least the small dots in the distance were supposed to be them!) and the Snowbirds fly past. Jim got some amazing pics which I will try to post. The crowd was a sea of red and white...it was really quite something. We then walked to the Natural History Museum (all museums are free on Canada Day) and saw terrific prehistoric bones and replicas of dinsaurs (with a very enthusiastic security guard giving us all kinds of information), and lots of mammals. As we went from floor one to two, we somehow neglected to inform Mhairi. About 10 minutes into the second floor, I asked "Where's Mhairi?" Several nervewracking minutes later, Dennis heads down to reception, where a VERY teary Mhairi is waiting. The good news is that when she couldn't find us, she went right up to the helpful security guard and asked for help. Valerie (J and T's 16 year old daughter) kindly gave Mhairi the rest of her bag of gummi bears!
Some bigs hugs and tears later, we were on our way.
We came home to Orleans for a swim, dinner and a nap, and then off to Ottawa again (one day pass lastest the whole day) by bus for the fireworks. As luck would have it, we had to use the "loo". The kids were all allowed in the Chateau Laurier to pee (!!) but I had to find a porta potty. In a crowd I estimate at over 100,000, do you know how many porta potties I found? 8.
Total. I waited in line for 45 minutes, and, 5 people from the front, the first firework was shot off. I left the line, and raced back to find the group. Nearby were some bushes....after checking they were not inhabited, Jim and Dennis stood sentry...
The fireworks were spectacular, with the Peace Tower silhouetted against the sky...it was really quite a moment.
Then, home...on a very crowded and hot bus. I did manage to stand beside a young man and woman and got to eavesdrop on their drama for quite a while (she was dumped, the guy she was with obviously loved her, her heart was broken by this other guy, he wanted to comfort her, she only saw him as a friend...the age-old story).
So, today, we pack up and leave chez Miles and head back into the States, to stay a night in a campsite outside NYC and then into the Big Apple.
Some bigs hugs and tears later, we were on our way.
We came home to Orleans for a swim, dinner and a nap, and then off to Ottawa again (one day pass lastest the whole day) by bus for the fireworks. As luck would have it, we had to use the "loo". The kids were all allowed in the Chateau Laurier to pee (!!) but I had to find a porta potty. In a crowd I estimate at over 100,000, do you know how many porta potties I found? 8.
Total. I waited in line for 45 minutes, and, 5 people from the front, the first firework was shot off. I left the line, and raced back to find the group. Nearby were some bushes....after checking they were not inhabited, Jim and Dennis stood sentry...
The fireworks were spectacular, with the Peace Tower silhouetted against the sky...it was really quite a moment.
Then, home...on a very crowded and hot bus. I did manage to stand beside a young man and woman and got to eavesdrop on their drama for quite a while (she was dumped, the guy she was with obviously loved her, her heart was broken by this other guy, he wanted to comfort her, she only saw him as a friend...the age-old story).
So, today, we pack up and leave chez Miles and head back into the States, to stay a night in a campsite outside NYC and then into the Big Apple.
Monday, June 30, 2008
More Ottawa Sights
June 30...a workday for Jim and Therese, so we took Caroline with us into Ottawa for a trip to the Museum of Civilization, "tourist shopping" (as Mhairi calls the search for keychains, maple candies and the like), and Parliament Hill.
I really enjoy hearing our GPS try to pronounce things like Blvd Jeanne d'Arc ("Gene Dark"), and Laurier St ("Lowrear"). The kids are in hysterics with it. Anyway, we went to Museum of Civilization, which is actually in Hull, Quebec, across the Ottawa River from Ottawa. It was terrific, especially the Canadian history floor, where you go east to west through 1000 years of civilization, from the Vikings in Newfoundland to the fisheries in BC, through New France, 18th century Ontario, the Saskatchewan early farming, and buffalo hunts. Like most museums, it feels like the eyes and brains fill up far before the end of the exhibit; it was much like the old town in our Royal BC Museum, but much larger, with sights, sounds and a HUGE display of amazing artifacts.
Ironically, when you arrive at the museum, the first exhibit is a First Peoples' exhibit, featuring West Coast tribes: Haida, Tsimshian, Nuu Chal Nulth, etc., which seemed almost like being home again. Not a single dream catcher, though! And no mention of the Iroquois, Blackfoot, Sioux, etc...Each of the west coast tribes' displays were in a "house" designed as they would have been by that particular native group and there were some magnificent totems as well, and a couple of amazing Bill Reid sculptures.
In the New France area, a docent showed us the typical dress of those arriving from France and how unsuitable it would prove for the eastern winters. The adaptations of native dress were also there, so the kids saw how traditional native garb was modified for the whites, and Mhairi and Caroline dressed up as young ladies, with a cape and muff and wooden shoes.
Tomorrow is Canada Day and all the museums are free, so we may check out the National War Museum, which Dennis and I really hope to see. I think we will go to the fireworks too, although the forecast is for rain.
After our museum trip, we went to the Byward Market for lunch (Dennis screeched to a halt at the first sight of the word "Tandoor"). Then on to Parliament Hill for a brief walk around the buildings and to the boutique where I got Canada-themed playing cards (one of the things on my list).
Home for a swim in the rain, and a quiet evening...
Happy Canada Day everyone!
I really enjoy hearing our GPS try to pronounce things like Blvd Jeanne d'Arc ("Gene Dark"), and Laurier St ("Lowrear"). The kids are in hysterics with it. Anyway, we went to Museum of Civilization, which is actually in Hull, Quebec, across the Ottawa River from Ottawa. It was terrific, especially the Canadian history floor, where you go east to west through 1000 years of civilization, from the Vikings in Newfoundland to the fisheries in BC, through New France, 18th century Ontario, the Saskatchewan early farming, and buffalo hunts. Like most museums, it feels like the eyes and brains fill up far before the end of the exhibit; it was much like the old town in our Royal BC Museum, but much larger, with sights, sounds and a HUGE display of amazing artifacts.
Ironically, when you arrive at the museum, the first exhibit is a First Peoples' exhibit, featuring West Coast tribes: Haida, Tsimshian, Nuu Chal Nulth, etc., which seemed almost like being home again. Not a single dream catcher, though! And no mention of the Iroquois, Blackfoot, Sioux, etc...Each of the west coast tribes' displays were in a "house" designed as they would have been by that particular native group and there were some magnificent totems as well, and a couple of amazing Bill Reid sculptures.
In the New France area, a docent showed us the typical dress of those arriving from France and how unsuitable it would prove for the eastern winters. The adaptations of native dress were also there, so the kids saw how traditional native garb was modified for the whites, and Mhairi and Caroline dressed up as young ladies, with a cape and muff and wooden shoes.
Tomorrow is Canada Day and all the museums are free, so we may check out the National War Museum, which Dennis and I really hope to see. I think we will go to the fireworks too, although the forecast is for rain.
After our museum trip, we went to the Byward Market for lunch (Dennis screeched to a halt at the first sight of the word "Tandoor"). Then on to Parliament Hill for a brief walk around the buildings and to the boutique where I got Canada-themed playing cards (one of the things on my list).
Home for a swim in the rain, and a quiet evening...
Happy Canada Day everyone!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Ottawa Sights
Hey! Our first full day in Ottawa yesterday and it was fabulous. It was almost the perfect day. I know some out there will find that surprising when I describe it, but others (ie mothers) will appreciate it, I am sure.
I did seven loads of laundry at the local laundromat and cleaned a week's worth of clothing, sheets, towels and kitchen cloths. Note to others..when doing seven loads at the same time, choose washers near each other. For me it was a bit like playing that card game where you have to remember where the cards are to make a match...and you know my sense of direction is not so good. I had to try to check on the machines that were mine and not filled with others' clothing. Anyway...came home and cleaned the trailer which also felt SOOOOO good.
About 3 pm we headed into Ottawa..we being the four of us, Jim, Therese, their youngest daughter Caroline, and Therese's nephew Matthieu. We did the whole touristy thing in the rain (although it did let up and was just grey...but a very warm grey). Ottawa is humid and they have bugs. In Victoria when it is grey like that it means cool or even cold, but not here, apparently.
So, Ottawa is a compact city and most of the "touristy" things are in walking distance. It was quite surreal seeing all those things that we have only seen in on TV and in photos. In fact, the whole time I felt quite choked up...seeing the Parliament Buildings and Parliament Hill, the National War Monument, and the statue of the five women who lobbied to get women the vote. I hope to get some photos up today.
We also saw boats coming through Colonel By locks, allowing boats up the Ottawa River to the Rideau Canal. Jim and Therese are great hosts, and navigated us around so we could see all the sights.
On the way home (about 7 pm), we passed by the RCMP Stables where the Musical Ride happens, and, it was just starting. So, out we hopped and, got to see that too! The Musical Ride is one of my all time favourite things, and seeing it in Ottawa is amazing. There were even pipes and drums. Then we came home for a late dinner and fell into bed.
So, again for those who are from Ontario, this will seem like a nobrainer...but the most fascinating thing for me so far is how quickly and easily people switch from French to English, in the same conversation. I am just thinking how great my understanding is, when I realize I am hearing English...the signage is way more prominently French than in BC, and it all seems SO much more bilingual. I feel like a bit of a moron...perhaps I should just say a couple of "Zut alors!"
Today, Sunday, is the girls' perfect day. We are here in the sun and the girls have been in the pool for hours...something they have been dreaming about for months. It is a great down day...and just what they deserve after so many long days in the car...
I did seven loads of laundry at the local laundromat and cleaned a week's worth of clothing, sheets, towels and kitchen cloths. Note to others..when doing seven loads at the same time, choose washers near each other. For me it was a bit like playing that card game where you have to remember where the cards are to make a match...and you know my sense of direction is not so good. I had to try to check on the machines that were mine and not filled with others' clothing. Anyway...came home and cleaned the trailer which also felt SOOOOO good.
About 3 pm we headed into Ottawa..we being the four of us, Jim, Therese, their youngest daughter Caroline, and Therese's nephew Matthieu. We did the whole touristy thing in the rain (although it did let up and was just grey...but a very warm grey). Ottawa is humid and they have bugs. In Victoria when it is grey like that it means cool or even cold, but not here, apparently.
So, Ottawa is a compact city and most of the "touristy" things are in walking distance. It was quite surreal seeing all those things that we have only seen in on TV and in photos. In fact, the whole time I felt quite choked up...seeing the Parliament Buildings and Parliament Hill, the National War Monument, and the statue of the five women who lobbied to get women the vote. I hope to get some photos up today.
We also saw boats coming through Colonel By locks, allowing boats up the Ottawa River to the Rideau Canal. Jim and Therese are great hosts, and navigated us around so we could see all the sights.
On the way home (about 7 pm), we passed by the RCMP Stables where the Musical Ride happens, and, it was just starting. So, out we hopped and, got to see that too! The Musical Ride is one of my all time favourite things, and seeing it in Ottawa is amazing. There were even pipes and drums. Then we came home for a late dinner and fell into bed.
So, again for those who are from Ontario, this will seem like a nobrainer...but the most fascinating thing for me so far is how quickly and easily people switch from French to English, in the same conversation. I am just thinking how great my understanding is, when I realize I am hearing English...the signage is way more prominently French than in BC, and it all seems SO much more bilingual. I feel like a bit of a moron...perhaps I should just say a couple of "Zut alors!"
Today, Sunday, is the girls' perfect day. We are here in the sun and the girls have been in the pool for hours...something they have been dreaming about for months. It is a great down day...and just what they deserve after so many long days in the car...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Bienvenue a Ottawa
Bonjour! We arrived in Ottawa yesterday about 8 pm...5000 km of driving in 7 days is...um...a lot each day. However, it was worth it to get here to enjoy four days! So, an embarrassing story follows at the end of this entry, but you are supposed to read the interesting geographical information first.
We have driven 5000 km, as I said, but honestly, the TOTAL population of the cities and towns we have come through (except Ottawa) can't be more than a few million. Where the heck are all the people?? Considering about 300 million live in the States, they sure are crammed into some specific corners. We have driven through miles and miles and miles of evergreen forest, arid scrub land, ranch and farm land, trees and lakes, and then more trees and lakes...it really makes me see how incredibly BIG and uninhabited we are. We only took a wrong turn once (unlike in France and the UK, if you remember!), excepting when we left the Soo and the GPS was SURE we were driving through the fields, even though we were on the number 1, and kept repeating "Recalculating rowte. Make a legal U-turn. Recalculating rowte..." until it realized we were actually on the highway.
KOA, for Liz's benefit, is Kampgrounds of America. The Americans really like their Ks and use them every chance they get, which irritates Ceilidh since she sees it as an insult to her initial, but I quite like (KKK notwithstanding). So you have Korner Kafe, Kwik Karry, Komfort Inn, and so on. In fact, you can rent Kamping Kabins at the KOA.
So, we arrived at Jim and Therese's home in Orleans (right near Ottawa) and did make-your- own pizza. The girls went in the pool, and we visited. Dennis had about 5 beer to recover from all the days of driving, and I had a girlie drink (it was orange). The girls disappeared to play guitar hero with J and T's youngest, Caroline, and when I went downstairs to check, Mhairi's "character" was Lars Umlaut, who weighed about 300 lbs and had a penchant for head butting his guitar. Charming.
BP, we will look for pickled wild garlic...after we spend the day doing laundry and cleaning the approximately 1,000,000 dead bugs off our car. Why did nobody mention how humid and buggy it was here?!?!?
OK, OK...I know I need to tell you the embarrassing story...in our campsite in Medora, North Dakota a few nights ago, there was a fierce storm (thunder, lightning, pouring rain, the whole bit). I don't like these at the best of times, but I really thought we would be some lightning magnet in our trailer, until Dennis pointed out it was fibreglass. Anyway, he had to go out to put up the awning, which was flapping alarmingly, and came back in soaking wet. It was after midnight at this point...but I had been awake so long, I had to pee. I REALLY did not want to go over to the washrooms...so I told D I was going outside. He stood at the door while I went out into the pitch black. No word of a lie, JUST as I started, a truck pulls in to the campground and into the campiste next to us, its very bright headlights sweeping across the blackness, over the Canadian girl peeing on the grass. I could hear Dennis, as he saw the truck, say "Oh...Kerry" in a tone of both pity and amusement....When I got back in the trailer he was on the bed, collapsed in laughter. I guess they will have a good story to tell too...
So, I will post again in a couple of days, once we have seen something of Ottawa. Love and miss you all...
Kerry
We have driven 5000 km, as I said, but honestly, the TOTAL population of the cities and towns we have come through (except Ottawa) can't be more than a few million. Where the heck are all the people?? Considering about 300 million live in the States, they sure are crammed into some specific corners. We have driven through miles and miles and miles of evergreen forest, arid scrub land, ranch and farm land, trees and lakes, and then more trees and lakes...it really makes me see how incredibly BIG and uninhabited we are. We only took a wrong turn once (unlike in France and the UK, if you remember!), excepting when we left the Soo and the GPS was SURE we were driving through the fields, even though we were on the number 1, and kept repeating "Recalculating rowte. Make a legal U-turn. Recalculating rowte..." until it realized we were actually on the highway.
KOA, for Liz's benefit, is Kampgrounds of America. The Americans really like their Ks and use them every chance they get, which irritates Ceilidh since she sees it as an insult to her initial, but I quite like (KKK notwithstanding). So you have Korner Kafe, Kwik Karry, Komfort Inn, and so on. In fact, you can rent Kamping Kabins at the KOA.
So, we arrived at Jim and Therese's home in Orleans (right near Ottawa) and did make-your- own pizza. The girls went in the pool, and we visited. Dennis had about 5 beer to recover from all the days of driving, and I had a girlie drink (it was orange). The girls disappeared to play guitar hero with J and T's youngest, Caroline, and when I went downstairs to check, Mhairi's "character" was Lars Umlaut, who weighed about 300 lbs and had a penchant for head butting his guitar. Charming.
BP, we will look for pickled wild garlic...after we spend the day doing laundry and cleaning the approximately 1,000,000 dead bugs off our car. Why did nobody mention how humid and buggy it was here?!?!?
OK, OK...I know I need to tell you the embarrassing story...in our campsite in Medora, North Dakota a few nights ago, there was a fierce storm (thunder, lightning, pouring rain, the whole bit). I don't like these at the best of times, but I really thought we would be some lightning magnet in our trailer, until Dennis pointed out it was fibreglass. Anyway, he had to go out to put up the awning, which was flapping alarmingly, and came back in soaking wet. It was after midnight at this point...but I had been awake so long, I had to pee. I REALLY did not want to go over to the washrooms...so I told D I was going outside. He stood at the door while I went out into the pitch black. No word of a lie, JUST as I started, a truck pulls in to the campground and into the campiste next to us, its very bright headlights sweeping across the blackness, over the Canadian girl peeing on the grass. I could hear Dennis, as he saw the truck, say "Oh...Kerry" in a tone of both pity and amusement....When I got back in the trailer he was on the bed, collapsed in laughter. I guess they will have a good story to tell too...
So, I will post again in a couple of days, once we have seen something of Ottawa. Love and miss you all...
Kerry
Thursday, June 26, 2008
We are in "The Soo"!!
Hi all
Thanks for your messages and emails. Our driving has gone really well. Weds. we drove through Minnesota, Wisconsin ("America's Dairyland"...we did not see one cow), which is only 100 miles across and into Michigan, where we stayed at the weirdest campsite. I should have known when I saw the stuffed deer's head in the "lobby". The site was almost deserted and yet the woman escorted us the 30 feet to our site in a golf cart. The girls rode in the golf cart with Snuggles, one of her three dogs.
However, we passed a peaceful night and then were on the road again and made it to Sault Ste. Marie! So, we are in Canada again! The KOA here is really nice, so the girls had a swim, and I went to the A and P (I have never shopped at an A and P) for groceries. They even have veggie stuff (Yay!!) With a LOOOOONG day of driving tomorrow, we will get to Ottawa and Dennis' friends Jim and Therese. The time it takes depends on who you ask...between 7 and 12 hours. Likely, since we are pulling our home, it will be closer to the latter.
That will be great to be in Ottawa, cuz then I can do laundry and get things sorted out and STILL have time to enjoy.
Really, other than the driving (long straight stretches of easy driving, with very little traffic), the days are packing up, driving, setting up. We have explored the Christian, World Beat, Latin, French and Kids stations on satellite radio, and now are into Business news (YAWN, but Dennis likes it). Tomorrow I can look forward to the BBC World Service. Here is a question...I see flags flying half mast in the US and Canada, but we don't know why. I know George Carlin died, but I didn't think that would account for it. Does anyone know???
Here is another advantage to taking kids across the country...mosquitoes really like their tender, juicy flesh and largely leave Dennis' and my leathery old skin alone..
Hopefully I will have some more exciting entries in Ottawa...
Miss you all
Love Kerry
Thanks for your messages and emails. Our driving has gone really well. Weds. we drove through Minnesota, Wisconsin ("America's Dairyland"...we did not see one cow), which is only 100 miles across and into Michigan, where we stayed at the weirdest campsite. I should have known when I saw the stuffed deer's head in the "lobby". The site was almost deserted and yet the woman escorted us the 30 feet to our site in a golf cart. The girls rode in the golf cart with Snuggles, one of her three dogs.
However, we passed a peaceful night and then were on the road again and made it to Sault Ste. Marie! So, we are in Canada again! The KOA here is really nice, so the girls had a swim, and I went to the A and P (I have never shopped at an A and P) for groceries. They even have veggie stuff (Yay!!) With a LOOOOONG day of driving tomorrow, we will get to Ottawa and Dennis' friends Jim and Therese. The time it takes depends on who you ask...between 7 and 12 hours. Likely, since we are pulling our home, it will be closer to the latter.
That will be great to be in Ottawa, cuz then I can do laundry and get things sorted out and STILL have time to enjoy.
Really, other than the driving (long straight stretches of easy driving, with very little traffic), the days are packing up, driving, setting up. We have explored the Christian, World Beat, Latin, French and Kids stations on satellite radio, and now are into Business news (YAWN, but Dennis likes it). Tomorrow I can look forward to the BBC World Service. Here is a question...I see flags flying half mast in the US and Canada, but we don't know why. I know George Carlin died, but I didn't think that would account for it. Does anyone know???
Here is another advantage to taking kids across the country...mosquitoes really like their tender, juicy flesh and largely leave Dennis' and my leathery old skin alone..
Hopefully I will have some more exciting entries in Ottawa...
Miss you all
Love Kerry
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Fargo, North Dakota
Hello Everyone
Yesterday we went to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was lots of fun. We saw Wild Horses, Buffalo and Prairie Dogs. I miss everyone lots I send you my love. Anyways the car ride not great but fine. Hope you guys have a great Summer Break (when is comes.)
-Mhairi Robertson-Jones
P.S. Thank you Sara, Ken, Riley and Tegan Ceilidh and I have watched Star Wars seven times!
Well Mhairi has covered most of the events. Before we left to see the buffalo, my dad and I were thinking of all the possible ways I could be killed, and stampeded by the bison!!!!!! Nice family convos hey!?
Everytime we get to our new campsite, (everyday), we are stuck between two HUGE RV's, and then there's our little trailer, it gets laughed at by the big scary big trailers.
Happy birthday Zoe and Taylor!!!!!!
Lots of love from
Ceilidh
From Kerry:
There you have the girls' perspective on things. We (and they) are doing amazingly well considering all the driving we have been doing. Fargo, North Dakota (and, no, I have not seen the Coen Bros., Frances McDormand or a tree chipper) is south of Winnipeg, also on the Red River and also home to mosquitoes. We are making really good time, and likely will have one more night after this in the US, then cross the border through Sault Ste Marie and on to Ottawa. We left Medora ND (as Mhairi mentioned) home to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was so COOL to se buffalo and wild horses, and the prairie dogs are so cute the way they pop out of their holes and chirrup to each other. I can imagine farmers hate them, but they are protected in the national park.
We slept with the trailer door open (and the screen closed) one night, which the kids were NOT crazy about. They made us PROMISE not to sleep with the door open in buffalo territory, convinced that a buffalo would make its way into our trailer. When we got to Visitor Information in North Dakota, this guy asks us where we were from and then said he slept in his trailer the previous night and woke to find a bison scratching his back against the guy's trailer...Ceilidh's eyes were BUGGING OUT OF HER HEAD...and we slept with the door closed.
The road across ND is straight...I offer Dennis some helpful suggestions like "keep going straight" or "there is a bend in the road coming up". It is the opposite of driving in Britain...all divided highway, VERY quiet, and quite mentally untaxing. Dennis' back is improving and he has done all the driving. In case you wonder what adults do in the car for 7 hours, here is a partial list:
1. drive and knit (not at the same time)
2. listen to the radio. We got a free trial to XM satellite radio, and found Canadian news. It repeated three times in 7 minutes. We got bored. Now we are listening to each station for five minutes. We started with 40s music (Tommy Dorsey anyone?), went through the 50s (Teenager in Love), 60s (the Beatles, which was the only one we liked!), the 70s (Barry White), 80s (Beastie Boys), the 90s (unidentifiable), Top 20, Country, more country, and then more country, followed by Willie's Tunes (yes, more country). The lyrics I liked the best were "My man is like a train, makes his whistle stop and then moves on again").
3. talk about how far we have driven and where we are going to stop
4. explore the GPS, which is SO amazing and gets us to gas stations, camp sites, etc.
5. Try to remember the slogans on each license plate (Washington is the Everygreen State, Idaho is Famous Potatoes, Montana is Big Sky Country, North Dakota is Discover the Spirit, and Minnesota is 10,000 Lakes). Speaking of all these native names...there are highway signs in the shapes of war bonnets, arrowheads and other native symbols, but I have actually yet to see a native person. Hmmm...
Things I am grateful for:
1. the DVD players
2. air conditioning
3. having a trailer
4. air conditioning
5. the water in Victoria (it takes AWFUL in ND)
The scenery is amazing, and it is hard to believe in urban sprawl, pollution or land use issues in States will mile after mile after mile of farm and ranchland. The people in North Dakota are SO friendly, coming OUT OF THEIR STORES to say hello (?!) We got an oil change at the Honda dealership in Bismarck, where they fit us in, and only charged us $28!
We will all be glad to get a break from driving, and miss Canada. Thanks for your comments on our blog and the emails...I am assuming our house is standing???
Love you lots
Kerry
Dennis here ... what do I do? Keep the van and trailer between the lines and avoid controversial topics like chocolate chip cookies. (Kerry butting in again...The story here is that I handed Dennis a cookie..HOMEMADE...with only one chocolate chip in it...I told him since they were called chocolate chip that it was not false advertising)..we moved on to less controversial topics such as American politics and religion.
Yesterday we went to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was lots of fun. We saw Wild Horses, Buffalo and Prairie Dogs. I miss everyone lots I send you my love. Anyways the car ride not great but fine. Hope you guys have a great Summer Break (when is comes.)
-Mhairi Robertson-Jones
P.S. Thank you Sara, Ken, Riley and Tegan Ceilidh and I have watched Star Wars seven times!
Well Mhairi has covered most of the events. Before we left to see the buffalo, my dad and I were thinking of all the possible ways I could be killed, and stampeded by the bison!!!!!! Nice family convos hey!?
Everytime we get to our new campsite, (everyday), we are stuck between two HUGE RV's, and then there's our little trailer, it gets laughed at by the big scary big trailers.
Happy birthday Zoe and Taylor!!!!!!
Lots of love from
Ceilidh
From Kerry:
There you have the girls' perspective on things. We (and they) are doing amazingly well considering all the driving we have been doing. Fargo, North Dakota (and, no, I have not seen the Coen Bros., Frances McDormand or a tree chipper) is south of Winnipeg, also on the Red River and also home to mosquitoes. We are making really good time, and likely will have one more night after this in the US, then cross the border through Sault Ste Marie and on to Ottawa. We left Medora ND (as Mhairi mentioned) home to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was so COOL to se buffalo and wild horses, and the prairie dogs are so cute the way they pop out of their holes and chirrup to each other. I can imagine farmers hate them, but they are protected in the national park.
We slept with the trailer door open (and the screen closed) one night, which the kids were NOT crazy about. They made us PROMISE not to sleep with the door open in buffalo territory, convinced that a buffalo would make its way into our trailer. When we got to Visitor Information in North Dakota, this guy asks us where we were from and then said he slept in his trailer the previous night and woke to find a bison scratching his back against the guy's trailer...Ceilidh's eyes were BUGGING OUT OF HER HEAD...and we slept with the door closed.
The road across ND is straight...I offer Dennis some helpful suggestions like "keep going straight" or "there is a bend in the road coming up". It is the opposite of driving in Britain...all divided highway, VERY quiet, and quite mentally untaxing. Dennis' back is improving and he has done all the driving. In case you wonder what adults do in the car for 7 hours, here is a partial list:
1. drive and knit (not at the same time)
2. listen to the radio. We got a free trial to XM satellite radio, and found Canadian news. It repeated three times in 7 minutes. We got bored. Now we are listening to each station for five minutes. We started with 40s music (Tommy Dorsey anyone?), went through the 50s (Teenager in Love), 60s (the Beatles, which was the only one we liked!), the 70s (Barry White), 80s (Beastie Boys), the 90s (unidentifiable), Top 20, Country, more country, and then more country, followed by Willie's Tunes (yes, more country). The lyrics I liked the best were "My man is like a train, makes his whistle stop and then moves on again").
3. talk about how far we have driven and where we are going to stop
4. explore the GPS, which is SO amazing and gets us to gas stations, camp sites, etc.
5. Try to remember the slogans on each license plate (Washington is the Everygreen State, Idaho is Famous Potatoes, Montana is Big Sky Country, North Dakota is Discover the Spirit, and Minnesota is 10,000 Lakes). Speaking of all these native names...there are highway signs in the shapes of war bonnets, arrowheads and other native symbols, but I have actually yet to see a native person. Hmmm...
Things I am grateful for:
1. the DVD players
2. air conditioning
3. having a trailer
4. air conditioning
5. the water in Victoria (it takes AWFUL in ND)
The scenery is amazing, and it is hard to believe in urban sprawl, pollution or land use issues in States will mile after mile after mile of farm and ranchland. The people in North Dakota are SO friendly, coming OUT OF THEIR STORES to say hello (?!) We got an oil change at the Honda dealership in Bismarck, where they fit us in, and only charged us $28!
We will all be glad to get a break from driving, and miss Canada. Thanks for your comments on our blog and the emails...I am assuming our house is standing???
Love you lots
Kerry
Dennis here ... what do I do? Keep the van and trailer between the lines and avoid controversial topics like chocolate chip cookies. (Kerry butting in again...The story here is that I handed Dennis a cookie..HOMEMADE...with only one chocolate chip in it...I told him since they were called chocolate chip that it was not false advertising)..we moved on to less controversial topics such as American politics and religion.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Howdy from Montana
Hi everyone!! We are en route. Only 2300 miles to Ottawa! So, first the details. We left bright and early Saturday am, stopping at Mile 0 to take a photo, then off to get the 9:00 am ferry. Made it to the Peace Arch crossing where I annoyed the kids by saying "I'm in Canada. Now I'm in the States. Now I am in Canada again!" while hopping back and forth across the international line. I thought I was hilarious, and we took photos. Took about an hour to get across the border, and then south to Seattle. I started driving after the border and found myself on a five lane highway with exit ramps galore...quite unnerving, but I did it. We then headed east through the Cascades and Snoqualmie Pass (and other vehicles did a lot of passing!) We stayed at the Ellensburgh KOA the first night...really tired. Dennis' back is improving, luckily, and he did ALL the driving today (apparently me braking around corners drives him crazy...who knew?)
This morning we were on the road by 7:30 and drove across Washington, Idaho (saw potatoes) and into Montana. We also crossed into Mountain Time. We have made it to Bozeman where there is an awesome KOA...Dennis and the kids are in the pool as I write this. It was a long day, but we figure we are 1/4 of the way! Janet, I have now seen THE MOST BEAUTIFUL native headresses to add to your dreamcatcher collection. Let me know how many you would like. They came in a range of native colours, such as ruby red, yellow and violent orange. I think they are authentic.
Tomorrow we head east (duh!) and close to Teddy Roosevelt National Park where I hope to see buffalo.
So far, the things we forgot to pack are:
1. a bread knife (do you know how many times a day you need a bread knife?)
2. any sort of sharp knife at all
So far the things that have been most useful are:
1. the latte machine (Beth, you are right...the rest stops are amazing and even have electricity so I hauled out my machine and made a latte much to the embarrassment of the kids).
2. the DVD players (the girls have watched 5 of the 6 Star Wars movies....THANK YOU BAKER FAMILY...and the Brady Bunch)
3. my knitting (and it has not been too hot!)
4. the GPS (although it says "Zee" and "rowte"
Well, it is 9:30 and time for popcorn. So far, only Beth has sent me an email...just saying...
Love Me
P.S. The kids have been GREAT!
This morning we were on the road by 7:30 and drove across Washington, Idaho (saw potatoes) and into Montana. We also crossed into Mountain Time. We have made it to Bozeman where there is an awesome KOA...Dennis and the kids are in the pool as I write this. It was a long day, but we figure we are 1/4 of the way! Janet, I have now seen THE MOST BEAUTIFUL native headresses to add to your dreamcatcher collection. Let me know how many you would like. They came in a range of native colours, such as ruby red, yellow and violent orange. I think they are authentic.
Tomorrow we head east (duh!) and close to Teddy Roosevelt National Park where I hope to see buffalo.
So far, the things we forgot to pack are:
1. a bread knife (do you know how many times a day you need a bread knife?)
2. any sort of sharp knife at all
So far the things that have been most useful are:
1. the latte machine (Beth, you are right...the rest stops are amazing and even have electricity so I hauled out my machine and made a latte much to the embarrassment of the kids).
2. the DVD players (the girls have watched 5 of the 6 Star Wars movies....THANK YOU BAKER FAMILY...and the Brady Bunch)
3. my knitting (and it has not been too hot!)
4. the GPS (although it says "Zee" and "rowte"
Well, it is 9:30 and time for popcorn. So far, only Beth has sent me an email...just saying...
Love Me
P.S. The kids have been GREAT!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Four days to go!!
Whew! What a lot of getting ready there is...living in the present and in the future is hard work. We are counting down lots of things right now; days Mhairi has at elementary school, days Ceilidh has at middle school, sleeps, days left where we live in something larger than a 15 by 6 foot box...
Our journey, which begins on Saturday (aptly, the first day of summer) takes us across the northern U.S., which will likely be faster and cheaper than across Canada. We will get to Ottawa around June 29, and enjoy Canada Day in our capital. Between June 21 and 29 is about 3000 km of road...Our first night will be in Ellensburg, Washington, but we don't have any other campsites booked for our journey there (which of course makes me entirely uncomfortable, and Dennis quite happy).
After Ottawa, we head back into the States, for a night outside NYC at a campsite, and then into the Big Apple itself for four nights (in a real hotel!) We will be in NYC for July 4, which should be quite exciting!
So, until our next blog, I go back to packing and cleaning...
Our journey, which begins on Saturday (aptly, the first day of summer) takes us across the northern U.S., which will likely be faster and cheaper than across Canada. We will get to Ottawa around June 29, and enjoy Canada Day in our capital. Between June 21 and 29 is about 3000 km of road...Our first night will be in Ellensburg, Washington, but we don't have any other campsites booked for our journey there (which of course makes me entirely uncomfortable, and Dennis quite happy).
After Ottawa, we head back into the States, for a night outside NYC at a campsite, and then into the Big Apple itself for four nights (in a real hotel!) We will be in NYC for July 4, which should be quite exciting!
So, until our next blog, I go back to packing and cleaning...
Friday, May 9, 2008
Getting Ready to Go!
Hi everyone!
We are at it again. Blogging our adventures, but this time staying slightly closer to home.
We are at it again. Blogging our adventures, but this time staying slightly closer to home.
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Montmorency Falls
the two white dots are the kids!
Danielle, Ceilidh and Mhairi
Moose and Baby
Funky Stores
...and you can see our car and trailer
Cavendish Beach
Confederation Bridge
Parking in NYC
Empire State Building at Night
Cool Display on 5th Ave
Maine beach
Hopewell Rocks New Brunswick
Mhairi vs. Polar Bear
Mhairi was found at the museum, unaware of the fate awaiting her in the mammals display
The Canadian Tourist
"The Moment"
I wish I had taken this picture!
Canada Day!
RCMP Musical Ride
The Ride begins
Notice the maple leaf "stencil" on the horse's rump
Sir John A.
For 10 points, what is significant about this man?
The Famous Five
Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards
National War Monument
