Maritime roadtrip - Guelph, Ontario to Magog, Quebec

 

I stayed over at Nicola and Dave's in Guelph and we were up bright and early. On the road by 8:30 and took the 407 right across Toronto.

Then it was on to Hwy 7. Drizzled or rained all the way but

we listened to the radio (driver chooses), chatted and

stopped in Perth for coffee and a visit to the LCBO .

We popped in to Almonte (where the river was impressively high) to see Emma on her last day of work at the Art Shop. Some really interesting pieces of rug hooking mounted on porcelain. I also bought a pair of shoes at Vamos.

So nice that both the girls were home and we got to catch up with the whole family in Pakenham.

Wine, chat, an excellent sweet potato chilli, hot tub and lots of dog cuddles/entertainment.

Not so early getting on the road, 10am, and this, I suspect is the first of many silver church spires. The one in Pakenham.

Nic has come to the "dark side" and actually defied the GPS (I regularly argue with it and it is rare that the car GPS and Nic's phone agree anyway) (at one point Nic "gave the finger" to the rather insistent google maps on her phone) so we could get down for our first glance of the St Lawrence, at Cornwall.

Lunch, in the car, overlooking the St Lawrence. Still drizzly. We have a cooler in the car packed with pate, cheeses, crackers, boiled eggs, dips, carrot sticks, grapes and dates.

Into Quebec and across the river south of Montreal for a period of boring highway driving through the flat, agricultural St Lawrence valley.

The landscape started to get more interesting, hills and forests, conifers contrasting with the mist of early spring, green foliage

The first  of many. Translation; "I am unpredictable"

Still some snow on the ski runs.

We drove into Magog, Quebec at about 3pm, checked in and then went for a walk as it was not raining and we wanted to stretch our legs. This is our hotel from across the river

We commented that this must be a very busy place in the winter (ski season) and summer - lots of condos, boat slips, boat houses.

Lake Memphremagog with ski hill.

Loon

We climbed that tower for a view up the lake. The boat is also a restaurant and cruises the lake which is 50km long. There are 7 lighthouses on the lake and a serpent like monster has been sighted as recently as 2000.

Up Merry Road from the lake there is St Patrice Catholic Church (not a silver spire but a beauty non the less)

Saint Patrick (390-461), patron saint of Ireland, but also of engineers, is both a historical and legendary figure. Born in England or Wales, he became a monk and then a bishop and went to Ireland, where he evangelized. He founded the first diocese of the country, Armagh, in 455. Legend has it that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. The color green and the shamrock thus became the symbols of Ireland.

The parish of St. Patrick was given the shamrock as its patron saint at the time of its foundation, in reference to the Irish origins of the first parishioners. However, it should be noted that the name is used in its French form, a way of pleasing the many French-Canadians already present in Magog at that time

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version). From the church's website.

Getting a little hungry so we headed to the bustling downtown

took a night off from the wine drinking

and had delicious French Onion Soup and

not so french, nachos.

Flora and Fauna

 Since I got back I have been working in the garden, trying to get a head start before I leave it again for 2 weeks.

The cold frame already has lettuce, garlic, beans and peas, germinated and growing. In pots, more beans, peas and kale.

Pansies in pots. I can't resist them, so colourful and hardy. Some on the fence and some in the front garden.

The tulips and daffodils that I planted two years ago are spreading nicely but, unfortunately, it looks like they will be at their best while I am away. Rick and Wyatt will get to enjoy them.

I hadn't realized that the Heather would be a spring flower but I like it so much that I bought another one. Also the golden Hens and Chicks. Northland Nursery lured me in again. I intended just to get native plants for the bank but picked up a couple of things for the flower beds too.

When you buy straight from the farm, you get multicoloured eggs.

Speaking of eggs; this couple thought my clothes pin basket would make a good nest. I shooed them off

but they were back again later.

I bought the basket in so they will have to continue house hunting.

Lots of activity on and around the feeders. Female Goldfinch.

White Throated Sparrow.

House Sparrow.

Red Winged Blackbird.

The colour looks like it has been painted on.

Brown Thrasher.

Less common, for me

a Red Bellied Woodpecker.

He looks like a totally different bird when you can't see his

red head.

Using his tail to balance on the suet.

Plenty of these, grey and black varieties, raiding the feeders

and the Chipmunk has returned.

 

No pictures, but I also had an Eastern Towhee under the feeder (just saw him once) and a large rabbit (I didn't see even one last year)

Off next on a maritime roadtrip with Nicky. Posting will probably be sporadic as there is a lot of driving to do.

Cigi visit (warning: there will be grandchild pictures)

 First, a follow up to the last blog post. The following are pictures Rick took (with his much better camera) when we went to Long Point and walked along Hastings Drive.

Four immature Bald Eagles, taken from the Causeway.

Egret, taken from the Causeway.

As we were walking away from the marsh viewing platform we saw a Kingfisher hovering. When he dove, Rick fired off some quick shots but

he was just too fast to get a clear photo.

 Last week I went to Toronto to help Chris with Cigi while Jason was away. Then Chris and Cigi came to my place for a couple of days.

We went to see Simon and Daniele a couple of times and Cigi gradually got used to the dogs. We ate at Willies and then fed the hot dog bun to the ducks and geese at the pier. But of course, I had forgotten my camera.

I made up for it at the park. She loves to swing.

Happy on the teeter toter as long as I, on the other end, kept it bouncing up and down. Good leg workout.

Had to investigate all

the activities

and

the various

slides.

We checked out

the fishing boats. Smelt fishing season has begun.

Supper of Perch Snack at Knechtels. She would happily live on french fries. We also had breakfast at the Dover Dairy Bar. Hitting all the high spots.

Purple Finch. Mornings were spent on the front porch watching the birds. She is good at identifying a Robin and a "Gackle" (Grackle) and chasing off "Gwirels" (Squirrels)

 

 They went home on Friday and I went to a J.J.s Hook-In, my first in months!

Chris just has the whipping left to do on Tristan, designed by Sarah Skrlj, and Martina Lesar dyed her up a beautiful purple for that.

Jan is just starting to put in the dark background on this large, self designed piece.

Then it was down to the Port Dover Harbour Marina

to help Rick with some boat chores.