I didn't brave the crowds at Molson Park that day. Watched the live telecast instead, and I didn't even notice Neil was playing a Taylor (shame on me!). I LOVED that he chose to open with Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds" though, and his wife did a lovely job with the harmonies - just took a minute or two for that Moxied, moshed-up rapped-up crowd to get into vintage Canadian folkie mode. There was a lot of awkward shuffling in front of the stage at first. Then he went to the piano and crooned out his brand new "When God Made Me", accompanied by a choir from California. That literally brought tears to my eyes ... (oooooo Neil now I know why I always loved you Neil!)   

But when all the artists gathered on stage to join in with the grande finale "Rockin in the Free World" (which he dedicated to all us Ontari-arians) - well, did anyone else hear that?!? All went well till the final chorus - and then I think the guitarists started missing a chord change! INstead of going back to the G at the beginning of the line "keep on rockin in the free world", I swear they were holding the E minor. It sounded like doo-doo! That line is repeated umpteen times and the performers were glancing at each other nervously not knowing what was wrong .... and some of them had even stopped playing/singing thinking (or wishing!) the song was over.

I was just mortified .... oh puh-leeeze guys, this is in front of the WHOLE WORLD eh? GET IT RIGHT!!!!! But Neil was such a good sport - when the final chord sounded (they did get the sequence right finally) he was just dancing across that stage laughing his head off!

ANyway, I'm sure I'm right about that chord change, but none of the reviews I've read even mentioned it. What, the snarly ole critics were being kind for once?!? Or maybe my ears had a glitch that day? JUst wondered if anyone else heard it, so we could compare 'notes'!

sIx, your post got me all misty-eyed! We used to skate across the bay as little kids too - but my best memories are a few years later, walking across it at night with my boyfriend, under those sparkling stars, with the golden lights of the city splashing across the ice at our feet --- so romantic! Those trainyards are still there, but the CN station has been closed for years now and they've cleaned the area up alot. One of the old engines was repainted and made into a "monument" at Centennial Park. Remember Centennial Park?

I think you'll LOVE this painting - Big Fun on Kempenfelt Bay. See the old City Hall in the background? I set it as a desktop background - looks kinda surreal!   

I think you'll enjoy this bit of nostalgia too ... bet you can find your old school/church/favourite parks there.

And LH, ok Orillia is blessed with 2 beautiful lakes - Couchiching and Simcoe (Kempenfelt Bay is one "finger" of the latter) - BUT .... Kempenfelt Bay is the deepest part of Lake Simcoe - over 100' in places - and therefore has the VERY BIGGEST AND BESTEST whitefish around (if you can reach them at that depth that is!) Can Orillia beat that huh huh huh?   ;~)