Blogs from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, North America - page 2

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Well – here we are again kind readers. I have missed you. It has been five years since Tanya and I embarked on our Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Within weeks of returning from Spain I was researching other long distance walks – I knew I needed more. I soon realized (using the “scaredy squirrel” guide for all potential danger) that there are very few long walks with the infrastructure and safety of the Camino. About three years ago I started to plan a walk commemorating my Dad and more specifically his service during WW II. I applied for and got his military & medical records – somewhat redacted – about a year later. I start off ambitiously thinking I could take 3 months and walk the entire route the Canadian soldiers followed. I soon realized I ... read more

This post has the same title as the one just before our Australia trip last Fall. Tomorrow morning early we fly to Vancouver to meet up with Ken & Jan who have kindly offered to put us up for the night and entertain us. And get us to Vancouver Canada Place to board our Star Princess ship on Saturday August 18. Great to be able to put in a family visit on this next adventure! We also look forward to meeting up with Geoff and Joy, and Mark and Kathy, our Australian friends with whom we have talked about this Alaska cruise for several years. That day is here now! The very long-standing friendship between Marion, Joy and Kathy predates any of them having met their current husbands, before kids, before middle age, before senior privileges. ... read more

Deep River to Hawkesbury Deep River is famous for being the place where Canada's nuclear industry started and Chalk river has a reactor that produces medical isotopes. I pedalled through these towns after high tailing it out of buggy old Ryan's gifts and camping. Signs appeared warning of slow moving troop vehicles. CFB Petawawa was next up. Over the fence there was a sandy road where camo painted Humvees with heavy machine guns were raising dust clouds as they raced along. Our Canadian army training - perhaps they were getting ready to go peacekeeping in Mali. The base seems like it is pretty big. I never did see the town as the highway bypasses it completely. The highway was flatter and therefore easier to ride but the 1 foot wide paved shoulder had been turned into ... read more

I've made it to the nation's capital! Ottawa definitely moves at a slower pace than Toronto. I got here on Saturday afternoon and couldn’t find any reasonably priced restaurants open. And most of the touristy things had closed down by 6PM. It’s not my first time in Ottawa, but it is my first time on a weekend. As one of the ladies walking behind me down Sparks Street said, “Ottawa is all work and no play.” Maybe. My Saturday morning began in Toronto. I got out of my dorm and took the streetcar down Spadina and then to Union Station for my train to Ottawa. I didn’t get any food along the way because most main train stations in large cities have abundant options for food and beverage. Toronto is an exception. They had a Tim ... read more