karen the adventurer

So up and out early for our next adventure, we stopped at Orillia town centre for a very quick wander around. It's the cutest town, with loads of really pretty shops, all independent with very friendly staff. Liz was in her element introducing us to all her friends in the shops, I felt like celeb !!! img=https://photos.travelblog.org/Photos/106177/975905/t/9429469-Continues-to-opposite-side-of-road-0.jpgContinues to opposite side of road Every year the town have a different sculpture design made out of tin that local shops and organisations sponsor a local artist to decorate, this year as it was a maple leaf design and there were about 20 dotted around the high street, a touristy photo opportunity obviously. It took a couple of hours to drive to our little B&B and when we arrived we were all shown to our rooms which were al ... read more

Today we had our last breakfast in the hotel (Best western) and we had th funniest waiter ever, gay as Christmas and as camp as a row of tents ??? Julian, he described himself as aggressively happy ?, and he was not kiddin, it was like being at a stand up comedy night. He Whispers to us that if we didn't like the scrambled egg or omelette at the buffet he could get us eggs anyway we wanted. I really didn't mind as the buffet was HUGE, but us seemed churlish of me not to go along with it. So egg sunny side up was presented to me with added bacon for good measure. Sadly it was time to leave Quebec City, I really have fallen in love with it, such a chilled out, arty city, ... read more

So Connie and myself caught the train to Quebec City, to be greeted by the worst taxi driver in the world. He clicked open the boot and just sat in the taxi, when we didn't open it he got out and just stood there, not offering to lift our cases in, so we asked him if he would put them in, which he did. Silence in the taxi for the 5 minute ride, he stops outside the hotel and asks for his money, which I give him ....... and take my change, he clicks his boot open. And just sits there ? So we get out of the taxi leave the door open, take out cases out and leave the boot open and walk away .........what a ****** liberty ?????? We were greeted by the loveliest ... read more

I woke early and was in the queue for the free trip around the Parliament by 8.20 am, there already 50 or so people in front of me, but the tickets are time specific and are gone by 9.30, so that's why I'm here so early. My tour starts at 9.50 so I'm happy. The tour is really interesting, based on our HOP, and House of Lords, it looks very similar, it's very beautiful, with huge marble floors and pillars. There is a painting of every Prime Minister for the past 150 years, even if they were only in the job for a few weeks, l Was looking at them and deciding what kind of a person they were, some were obviously very pompous and "important" while others seemed friendly and laid back, and a couple ... read more

Another sunny day greeted me, and today was going to be the day I intended to do the one thing that I imagine when I think of Canada ....... kayaking on a lake with nothing but trees either side of me. It was boiling hot, the water on the lake was as flat as a sheet of glass, and I set sail ???? it was exactly as I'd imagined, just me and nature, paddling gently along with the only sounds coming from the wildlife in reeds and trees along the riverside. I saw a family of Geese, fish that jumped up out of the water, a sea snake that was about 3 ft long ............... and a crocodile .....ok I made the croc up but everything else is true. It was a 8 mile round trip ... read more