July in Ontario

We like to explore - hense our years of RV travel. But now we are selling the RV and have to make our excursions by car. I had bought tickets for a play at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-lake for a Friday afternoon. We left home in the morning and after a stop for coffee/tea we continued our drive along the Lake Ontario shoreline. At Port Dalhousie (pronounced "dah-loo-see"), we got out to explore the harbour to look at the tall ships that were tied up at the quayside for a couple of days as they made their way through the Great Lakes this summer. The 3 ships we saw were going through the Welland Canal on their way to Cleveland, Ohio in time for the Fourth of July celebrations. The light drizzle stopped while we walked past the ships. We had lunch in a park overlooking the Niagara River as it enters Lake Ontario and walked around the flower-filled streets of Niagara-on-the-lake and looked at shops until we  went to the play "Major Barbara".

 

 The Unicorn

 

The Pride of Baltimore 11

 

VISITING THE TER HAARS AT BONNIE LAKE

 

 

It has been really, really hot and humid this past week so an invitation to visit our dear friends  Gerry and Dia at their place on Bonnie Lake, near Bracebridge, about 250km north of Toronto. Gerry has built several decks on their rocky lot and they make a wonderful place to move as the shade comes and goes on their site.

 

Yes! This thermometer is

                                                  right - it is 50C in the sun!!!!!

                                                     Jack is going for a kayak ride

Early morning mists on the lake - and the haunting call of the resident loon - she is swimming with her baby riding on her back

A DAY ON THE BOAT WITH THE KLOETS

Because we were already "up north" to visit the Ter Haars, we had made arrangements to meet our friends George and Ada Kloet. They had left home 2 weeks ago and drove their boat east on Lake Ontario to Trenton and then began taking the Trent River and the canal system through lakes and locks and by Thursday, July 18, they were in the town of Bobcaygeon. They had already traversed 33 locks as they made their way to Balsam Lake where they will meet their children and grandchildren for a week at a cottage. They sleep aboard their 28' boat.

We'll go this way   

 

A refreshing swim in REALLY deep water!

The wind-blown couple

A swim and lunch with wine at anchor in a sandy  sheltered cove

After a tour of Bald Lake, Buckhorn Lake and the Big Bob Channel, we are back in Bobcaygeon. George and Ada took us into the lock here and we were raised 8 feet to the level of the Trent River . Instead of heading to Fenelon Falls as George and Ada will do tomorrow on their way to Balsam Lake, we turn around and re-enter the lock and return to the marina at Bobcaygeon.

 

 

 What a great mini-vacation we have had - Thanks to our great friends!