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Published: September 9th 2015
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Well we are in to our last 10 days in Canada and having done six cities in a row we have decided to slow the pace right down and seek out some of the Canadian great outdoors. With that in mind and armed with maps, advice and booklets all from the very helpful staff in the Toronto tourist office we set off to visit an area known as Algonquin. It was a long drive but how beautiful. We booked into a little cabin by a lake and spent three days, swimming in the lake, kayaking and paddle boarding. Bazi also did the water trampoline and slide, who was it that said "grow older disgracefully" cos they had him pegged!! It was bliss, the nearest town was about a 15 minute drive away but we didn't bother with the town or anything remotely resembling shops, cafés or bars we just totally enjoyed chilling. Sitting out one evening listening to the sounds of the night time we heard something large shuffling about. Of course in the pitch black you magnify everything by a thousand times until in the end we had decided there was a slobbering man eating humongous 25 foot bear eyeing
us up for supper. Was it our imagination or the wine, mmmmm not sure!! After three nights there we ventured to the Bruce Peninsular which is another national park and equally as lovely. We have another cabin still by a Lake and our nearest town is called Lions Head. We did want to stay in Tobermory which is lovely but as it's Labour weekend here all the accommodation was booked. I think it is called the Bruce Peninsular after the trail which runs from Niagara to Tobermory, a mere 890km and if you walked for eight hours a day you may just be able to crack it within 30 days.
Tobermory is a small town although it has a ferry that runs from it across to Manitoulin Island which we had planned on going to but unfortunately we are running out of time, maybe it's fate and we will have to return to do all the bits we have missed?? The town is the capital of tourism on the peninsular but having said that it has a population of 1,200 people only, it is built round a quaint harbour, it has some nice shops and restaurants and we have
booked to do a sunset dinner cruise on Monday evening. Apparently you can go star gazing on board as the night skies here are fantastic. There is very little light pollution and the stars are incredible. Apparently you can see the Milky Way amongst other things so we are looking forward to that. We got on one of the tour boats and took a trip out to Flowerpot Island, I think on hindsight we should have got off on the Island and spent the day but we just did the return trip and although it was nice to get out on the water it was a bit of an anticlimax. The Island is famous for it's natural rock pillars and yes some of them resemble flower pots! The trip also took in a couple of shipwrecks and as the boat was a glass bottomed boat you could see the remains of the ships however the water is so clear you can also see them from above as well. There are lots of boats offering diving and snorkelling trips as there are a total of twenty two shipwrecks to discover. We did ask about marine life but were told that you
probably wouldn't see any as the fish were at a depth of about sixty feet. The boat trip is the number one tourist attraction and whilst we found it a bit of a non starter I think you really need to get off the boat and spend a couple of hours on the Island hiking and swimming to fully appreciate it. We are spending our evenings around the fire pit. Bazi the fireman is in his element, wood to collect which covers the hunter gatherer instinct and more importantly the challenge to make sure you end up with a roaring fire using just one match! So far his ego is in tact and we have thoroughly enjoyed watching the flames dance with a vino collapso, this whilst wrapped up in our thoughts of yet another wonderful day being had. What a great way to spend your life. Think we are being too spoilt and could easily call this home, it's idyllic. Days on the beach which I know sounds crazy as we are inland but all the Lakes have beaches on them, proper sand, crystal clear water and nothing with teeth to tentacles that want to get you. It's fantastic
to just get in and swim with no fear. It's super relaxing and probably a really good idea for us to kick back for a week before the chaos of New York.
Well we went on our sunset dinner cruise tonight on the Chi Cheemaun ferry boat. It's name actually means Big Canoe. The cruise was at 8pm and unfortunately the sun had already set before we left the dock which we were a bit annoyed about and when we asked it was the last trip of the season and from now on they only do one a week and it's at 6pm so it looks like we fell unlucky. The room where we had our dinner was at best a canteen and the food average and cold so all in all we were disappointed. After dinner we made our way up to the top deck for some star gazing with a chap who gives talks and explains which stars and galaxies are which and where they are etc. We were looking forward to this as we have been sat every night having our fire pit looking at the Milky Way. We had a bit of a chat with
him and he was very excited as a light dome had appeared in the sky and then shooters came off it, gradually it built and built until in the end what we were actually seeing were the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis to give it it's technical came. We couldn't believe it, another OMG OMG moment. How incredibly lucky are we, to be able to stand on the top deck of a ship with all the lights off 100km into Lake Huron and see a natural spectacle, have it explained to us and see the different colours of the dancing curtain was unbelievable. We must have done something good in a previous life cos someone is definitely looking out for us this year!! What a phenonomen and a magical experience for us, we were left a bit speechless. Whilst we were there we also saw the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, the North Star, Saturn and so many more but as excited as we were about all of these they didn't touch the excitement we felt over seeing the Northern Lights. A disappointing start to the evening but what an incredible end!
Well it's our last day in Canada, boo
hoo so we have made our way back to Toronto as we have a morning flight to New York. We are both looking forward to our stay in NY and the list of places that we have prepared to visit is huge so I just hope we have time to fit them all in. I say this and yet in some ways we go with a heavy heart as it means it's our last stop before home. We just absolutely can't believe we have only a week left and we are both feeling a little melancholy.
Canada has been beyond doubt an incredible experience. We have met some wonderful people, see some spectacular sights, shared some of it's triumphs and it has shown itself to be true to it's origins and cultures.
Winston Churchill once wrote "There are no limits to the majestic future which lies before the mighty expanse of Canada with it's virile, aspiring, cultured and generous hearted people". Well done Mr Churchill, you summed the country up tres manifique or really well to us
It's been a deam.xxx
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