Blogs from Canada, North America

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North America » Canada March 28th 2024

Canada's vast landscapes, from the rugged Rockies to the serene lakes and the expansive prairies, offer some of the most breathtaking views in the world. What better way to immerse yourself in this scenic beauty than by traversing the country on a luxury sleeper train? This unique luxury sleeper train across Canadatravel experience combines the romantic allure of rail travel with the comforts and opulence of a five-star hotel, offering an unforgettable journey across Canada's diverse terrain. Here are tips to help you choose the perfect luxury sleeper train experience across Canada, ensuring your voyage is as splendid as the scenery. Determine Your Route: The first step in selecting your luxury train experience is to determine the route you wish to take. Canada's most iconic rail journeys include... read more

North America » Canada » Ontario » Ottawa February 18th 2024

We set out this morning from Ottawa around 11 am after Shelley did some morning work. I had finished my shift at Tunney’s Pasture at 2 am and woke up around 9 am or so. We were mostly packed and ready to go with just a couple of things to do before we left. We hit the road and made our way south. The weather was cold and we had received a fresh dumping of snow the previous evening. The roads were mostly bare though, which was nice. It was a very pleasant drive down towards the border. When we arrived, Shelley popped into the Duty Free to use the facilities. From experience, she knew that once we went around the bend, there was going to be a long line up of cars waiting to cross ... read more
Maggie
Random truck

North America » Canada » Ontario » Niagara Falls October 26th 2023

Let's just say we are glad we don't live anywhere near Toronto because of the traffic. We arrived here in Niagara Falls by 4. Had dinner with Ted & Jane Guthrie and Keith & Pauline Mueller in prep for tomorrow's Marriage Encounter. The weather was lovely - like 70 - so we walked down to the Falls after dinner. Hence these photos. This is probably the end of this blog. We will be WAY too busy with the M.E. event, having blessings heaped on us and, we pray, 11 couples, 2 anniversary couples, and the other 3 presenting couples. Back home on Sunday night.... read more
Falls 2
Falls

North America » Canada » Ontario » Ottawa October 25th 2023

Rumor has it that today’s steps numbered 16500 (David did more, going up and down to the car just now). Boy, my tootsies need a rest. So we left Brigitte’s lovely little ski place around 9 am (oh yes, he did climbing up and down those steps more than I did too – but then he’s a golfer and is used to it!). We headed to Lac Simon, half way to Ottawa, as that was touted as a birding site. It was drizzling when we arrived, but the walk was sheltered in large pines and oaks. Just saw some hooded mergansers (everything looks quite different out of breeding colors, but it was an amazing place – obviously a very popular camping place. The end of the lake, as with so many in Quebec, is sandy, with ... read more
02 camp beach
02 keeping dry
02 the camp

North America » Canada » Quebec » Mont Tremblant October 24th 2023

October 24, Tuesday Today was a lots of walking and exploring day – chilly, like 50, but sunny for much of the day. NO RAIN, that’s really all that matters. We enjoyed a lie in – the bed is very comfortable! Till about 7:30 ish, and were off on a 4.5 mile walk. Both coats, hat and gloves were needed to start with, much less to end! It was probably a mile too long, but at least there was only about 450’ change in elevation. It mostly followed the river, which was nice. LOTS of mountain bike trails off to the sides, but we sedately followed the biking, walking, cross country trail. When it’s snowing, this entire place must be hopping indeed. There’s much more to do than ski, obviously. Only a few chickadees and a ... read more
1 early walk
1 mamma deer and babe
1 On our walk

North America » Canada » Quebec » Mont Tremblant October 23rd 2023

We were away from our lovely spacious Montreal flat by 8:15, fortunately heading away from the main flow of traffic. Within 30 mins we were out of the city and into the calmer countryside. As we drove northwest towards the national park, we realized that we were indeed late for the leaves, but the tamaracks were still brilliant. Kent Ohio has some of these artic wonders – deciduous but with needles. A local told us that the recent rains and winds made everything fall a bit early. Once at the park we dutifully paid our entrance, even though no one was there. The roads were sometimes paved, sometimes not, but were a lot better than the state parks in upper Michigan where we go looking for petosky stones. We were soon rewarded by seeing a Rough ... read more
02 RUFFED GROUSE_InPixio
03 HORNED LARK_InPixio
04 TAMARACKS AND LAKE_InPixio

North America » Canada » Quebec » Montréal October 22nd 2023

Another long day of adventures in French-speaking Montreal. We didn’t rush to awake, which made for a lovely lie-in. We walked the 3 blocks to the closest Metro station, Cadillac, and figured out how to ask for 2 day passes, and which line and platform and even negotiated the change of lines half way in. We were about 8 stops to the east of where we wanted to go in the Old Town, also called the Old Port, full of cobble-stoned streets and shops that didn’t look very busy. The Basilica was busy with morning mass until 12:30. A kindly lady saw us reading our maps, asked where we wanted to go and gave us a hint. We walked past the Basilica and just wandered a few circles in the Old Town until it was after ... read more
1 Snooty Englishman
1 Snooty Frenchwoman
1 Square opp Basilica

North America » Canada » Quebec » Québec City October 21st 2023

Boy, there’s no rest for the wicked OR the weary in this house. The bed was very comfy but David awoke naturally at 6 instead of 7’s alarm, so up and at ‘em we were, having breakfast before driving the expected 3 hours to Quebec City. Why? Because it’s due to rain in Montreal all day, but less so in Q.C., and more there on Sunday. So the GPS took us south out of the city across the St. Lawrence thru a tunnel. LOTS of road construction but eventually we were driving in the countryside. Actually this southern route highway was probably a new road, usually paralleling existing roads between small towns. This highway is now full of industry and buildings, but we still saw lots of farms and one field of giant Charleroi cattle. By ... read more
2 Looking from Cablecar
3 Colors at the Falls
3 Montmorency Falls 80M

North America » Canada » Quebec » Montréal October 20th 2023

Nous sommes ici, enfin. It's been on the bucket list for a long time - to drive northeast in the fall to see the colors. So when we agreed to help present a Marriage Encounter in Niagara Falls Canada, we also decided to spend a week wandering. Last night, after an 8 hour or so drive from Kent OH, we arrived at the home of Ted & Jane Guthrie in Brockville Ontario. We enjoyed a lovely ribs dinner, and then Zoomed to participate in a Bible study. We were pretty beat when we climbed into bed, after all the driving. And I do mean climbed, as the guest bed is set up high so storage is beneath. Still, it was an honor to sleep under two gorgeous homemade quilts Jane has made. Jane always participates in ... read more
1 St Joseph Oratory in Montreal atop a hill
1 St Joseph Oratory
2 St Joseph Oratory inside

North America » Canada » Quebec October 20th 2023

I continued to visit places all around the region. A- Ferme Regis in Joliette: this was an old farm turned into a fruits and vegetables store. All around the store, that looks like a big barn, are history pieces like various old gardening tools and tractors. It's like shopping in a museum. B- Apple picking in St-Jean de Matha. With the start of fall season, comes the harvest season for most of apple varieties. Apart from being an industry in itself, many orchards allow visitors to pick their own apples. It's now a tradition and a family event in my country. C- Migrating birds. With fall season comes the migration of many birds. Some are small and cute and some are noisy and let their presence known. Check this group of Canada geese and ducks on ... read more
Old tractor at ferme Regis
Apple picking
Little frog in spinach leaves




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