BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC

Subject: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 01:27 AM

It's only a couple of months now until we (Himself and I) flap our wings and fly to Canada. We will be spending a few weeks in Toronto because our son lives there, but will also be hiring a car and travelling north from Toronto. We have friends in North Bay so will be visiting them......could even drive through Orillia on the way! Before we fly back to Oz we will be in Victoria, BC, for a week. Any suggestions for meet-ups, etc?

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Beer
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 04:25 PM

If you can veer to Quebec let me know.
Adrien
have a great trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 04:42 PM

[e-mail] is a folk music person on Vancouver Island. And my friend Sherryl has a handle on music in Victoria. I will pm you her info.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 05:37 PM

PM received, thank you Dorothy! Shall check out other links too.

Adrien, we're not sure if we will get to Quebec but I will let you know if it looks like happening.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 08:13 PM

If you are going from Toronto to North Bay, it might be nice to check out Algonquin Park. It will be gorgeous in the fall. Also, there are some fine musicians in the Bancroft area.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Beer
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 09:18 PM

There are also some great musician's in Ormstown Quebec every Friday night. Just 1/2 an hour from the Ontario border.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 10:36 PM

There is usually something going on every week with the Victoria Folk Music Society: click here for a good time!

Tell them that Cicely Fox Smith sent you.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 01:25 AM

Thanks, Charlie! Lots of links and information there.

Dorothy, Algonquin Park looks beautiful. We are visiting in autumn because it's my favourite season, and autumn colours in Oz, lovely as they can be, aren't the same as in Canada.

Ad, Ormstown sounds interesting! I don't know if we will get that far east, but I will keep it in mind.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 09:13 PM

Jeannie-

And next year Judy and I are planning to revisit Victoria with Bob Zentz. At this point we don't know when but it will be great fun!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 09:21 PM

The Bruce Peninsula is beautiful in autumn, as is the Ottawa Valley.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 11:25 PM

The Bruce Peninsula is beautiful, I have just looked it up!   It's driveable from North Bay where our friends live.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 10:27 PM

JennieG...Take a look at Tobermory, the Bruce Peninsula National Park, Singing Sands, Wingfield Basin, St. Margaret's Anglican Church Cape Chin, Black Creek Provincial Park, Lion's Head, Hope Bay (my summer place is there), Cape Croker Indian Park, Wiarton...in other words, get off Highway 6 and take the back roads, like the Forty Hills Road and County Road 9.

Happy trails!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Elmore
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 11:19 PM

If you're going to Vancouver bring lots of money.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 01:14 AM

On Vancouver Island, visit Campbell River and take the ferry to Alert Bay (First Nations museum and some great totem poles!), also Telegraph Cove (old fishing port and cannery town, lots to do incl. whale- and bear-watching, kayaking et al), Cathedral Grove (huge trees), Tofino (beautiful and lots of wildlife/outdoor activities), and Coombs for 'Goats On The Roof' (quirky store and cafe with, you guessed it, goats on the roof! Touristy but fun, and the store has lots of nice stuff to sell. Also excellent ice-cream!).

If you're a culture-vulture, over in Ontario there's a fantastic theatre in Stratford which specialises in......aaaahhh yup - Shakespeare! Saw 'Henry V' there in June this year, absolutely superb eh!

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 09:54 AM

Interesting things to do and places to see, please keep them coming!

Backwoodsman, when our son first went to Canada early in 2005 he sent me back some earrings, the little card with them tells me they are made from the first legal organic hemp crop grown in Manitoba in the late 90s, and then it says - 'ears to history! I seem to remember he bought them in Tofino.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 04:59 PM

Not long now - only a couple of weeks to go. While I am not looking forward to the long flights, I will be so glad to be in Canada again!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: gnu
Date: 20 Sep 12 - 08:32 PM

Bon voyage! I hope everything goes smooth and that you have a great time in Canuckistan even tho you are not visiting the best of it. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 03:36 AM

Gnu, I'm sorry we won't be getting to your part of the world......but Canada is such a big country, it would take a whole lifetime to see it all!

Cheer
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 12:08 PM

Bon voyage! I hope everything goes smoothLY and that you have a great time in .ca
cheer
dennis

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 12:32 PM

Lucky you, JennieG - we had the best three weeks ever in BC and ONT this June. You will have a great time in a wonderful country with friendly people.

ENJOY!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: ragdall
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 04:45 AM

Hi Jennie,
I sent you a PM.
Have a wonderful safe vacation.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 06:02 PM

PM received and replied to, rags! and thank you.

Backswoodsman, we have been to Toronto a couple of times, and to BC for a short visit some years ago, and been so impressed by the friendliness and good nature of nearly all Canadians we have met. On our last visit to ON I had the misfortune to fall and break my arm and the hospital folks couldn't have been nicer. I fell in love with Nurse Doreen.....if I could have bottled her and brought her home, I would have. The kindness of those people to a slightly clumsy Aussie was very much appreciated.

Cheers
Jennie

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: gnu
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 07:49 PM

"nearly all Canadians we have met"

We are so nice we'll beat the crap outta him for yas... So, who wasn't nice? Point him out eh.

Unless it was at Don Cherry's restaurant eh? That's just Don. Don't pay him no never mind. He's got a mouth but it don't really bite 'cept yer ears.

(ahhhh Canuck joke... eh)

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 09:38 PM

I've heard that Don Cherry's a really nice man if you meet him in person, gnu. He just plays the "bad boy" for the cameras.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: gnu
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 10:22 PM

The bad boy? I'll tell ya about the BAD BOY. Sanderson signs a deal fer... wait... we can't talk hockey... that would be rude.

JennieG... enjoy our country. Folks are mostly nice. Just don't talk hockey unless yer Cherry with it. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 22 Sep 12 - 11:35 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know Don Cherry, is he something to do with hockey?

Actually gnu, it wasn't a he, it was a she - a young chicky who served us in a sandwich shop wasn't rude, but her manner stopped just ...this... much short of insolence. Our son's Canadian girlfriend was with us, and said dismissively "oh, she's French, they're like that".

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Sep 12 - 02:06 AM

We only encountered one rude, ignorant Canadian in the whole three weeks we were over there - that was the male morning desk-clerk in our hotel in Banff - but we only had to deal with him for half a minute so it hardly wrecked our holiday!

Otherwise, we constantly commented on the friendliness, cheerfulness, politeness and great service which we received from the fine people of BC and ONT. Same when we were in ONT seven years ago.

Canada is a wonderful country, and the Canadians we met were, apart from the Banff miserable-git, fine people. One A-hole in a population of 35 million is a pretty good score, AFAIC!

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Cats
Date: 23 Sep 12 - 05:59 PM

I arrive in Victoria on October 26th and leave on 4th November. Thanks for th4e hints above, they have been a great help to me too. does anyone know of anything that I shouldn't miss in that time?
song sessions? Storytelling?

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: gnu
Date: 23 Sep 12 - 06:19 PM

JG... last thread drift post... The Cherry, better known as Grapes, IS hockey.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 03:44 AM

Ah, thank you gnu! Hockey is a closed book to me, I'm afraid......except that when I have seen it on TV, during the winter olympics for instance, it looks somewhat less than gentlemanly. Might see if we can take in a hockey game while we are there.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 05:15 AM

Legalised thuggery masquerading as 'sport', when there's nothing sporting about it.
My one and only dislike where Canada's concerned. But I believe that if you don't like something, you don't need to watch it, so I don't. I can live with that.

Otherwise, a grand and wondrous country and people.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Sawzaw
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 09:54 PM

BC is the best.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: gnu
Date: 24 Sep 12 - 10:06 PM

Canucks are as cool as anyone else... no more... people are people no matter where you go.

On the ice... not so much... we play real hockey so thug anyone who don't. And I mean that in the most polite way. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Sep 12 - 03:37 AM

Gnu, I genuinely believe that Canadians, certainly the ones I've had dealings with during the times I've spent over there, are amongst the most engaging, friendly and genuine people on earth - take credit where it's due, my friend!

Just a shame about your dreadful national so-called "sport" which should be a wondrous spectacle of athleticism and skill, but is actually an example of a collection of neo-Neanderthals giving a demonstration of the most base, degenerate behaviour imaginable on an ice-rink. But I avoid watching it, so in that way I avoid being offended. However I don't mind you guys enjoying it......it's a free country! :-). :-)

FWIW, my bro-in-law (who is an Englishman resident in Burlington, ONT) absolutely loves hockey, so maybe he knows something I don't!

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 26 Sep 12 - 02:03 AM

Canadians are lovely people (except for the aforementioned chicky in the sandwich shop) and we are looking forward to spending time among them again! In two weeks we will be there.

If only it wasn't on the far side of the known universe......those flights are so long.......if only I could cross the Pacific Ocean in a nice ship then cross Canada by train I would be a happy woman. But that would take longer and cost more than flying, so we're flying.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Sep 12 - 09:09 AM

It's a long way from the UK TO BC too, JennieG!
My Kindle and my iPod helped it pass reasonably quickly, and we got great views of Iceland, Greenland and an iced-over Hudson's Bay (I think it was Hudson's Bay at any rate). I guess the flight across the Pacific is just water?
But it's well worth the long flight when you get there!

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 26 Sep 12 - 06:37 PM

Yes, it's just water. Lots and lots of water. With sharks and all manner of nasty things in it.

15 hours from Sydney to Vancouver, couple of hours stopover, then another 4.5 hours to Toronto. That makes it one very very long day......plane leaves Sydney at 11.25am and we arrive in Toronto at 4.16pm the same day.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Sep 12 - 03:42 PM

Wow! My nine-and-a-half-hour flight sounds like a short hop compared to yours, Jennie?

Don't worry about the sharks - if you end up in the sea, they'll be the least of your worries! (But you won't end up in the sea of course!).

Have a great trip......wish I was going along too!

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Sep 12 - 05:30 PM

I don't even want to know how long that day is going to be, it hurts my brain just thinking about it.

Backwoodsman, nine and a half is nothing, a mere drop in the ocean of flights!   (probably shouldn't use that analogy when flying over water......)

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 08:54 AM

Well.......we've been in Toronto for over a week now, and this morning we are heading west towards Lake Huron, probably stopping in Goderich or Kincardine. It will be good to see something of Canadian life outside a Big City! Our friends who live in North Bay have given us several ideas for places to visit.

Not sure about going to Pelee Island though - another of their ideas - after the ferry became stranded a few days ago.......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Beer
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 09:23 AM

If you can go to Pelee do so. Little late for the birds I would expect but you should still see lots of Pheasants. Pelee is known as one of the top birding areas in North America. That is if birding interest you.
If you like Ketchup, before getting on the ferry that takes you to Pelee, you should visit the Heinz 57 plant. There is a little known souvenir shop there.
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 19 Oct 12 - 05:46 PM

We're in Goderich, what a nice town! Haven't checked out the harbour and lake yet, but will do so.

The Heinz factory sounds like fun, where is it?

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: meself
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:08 AM

Leamington. At least, that's where it was in my early days (back when dinosaurs were on the wain). Near Windsor/Detroit.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Beer
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 12:59 AM

In order to get to Pelee Island you have to go to Leamington because that is where the ferry leaves from.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 09:54 AM

"The Heinz factory"? Sounds like a great place to "catch-up" with old friends...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 10:02 AM

Groannnnnn.......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Beer
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 11:05 AM

Well said Charley.
lol.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: GUEST,Bob the Postman
Date: 20 Oct 12 - 11:19 AM

Ketchup Loves Potatoes
by Stompin' Tom Connors.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: Mooh
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 11:07 AM

Oh geez, you were in Goderich and I didn't know! I could have given you the tour.

Next time?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Visiting Canada - ON and BC
From: JennieG
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 11:20 PM

That would be lovely! We enjoyed Goderich, it's a lovely town, we stayed in a very nice B & B.

We're in North Bay now, staying with friends, and tonight the forecast is for wet white stuff......snow, real snow! Had fun tonight playing TV bingo with our friends, and I won $75. My friend has promised to take me to Walmart tomorrow; scoff ye not, we don't have Walmart in Oz and I am curious - in a sociological way.

Cheers
JennieG