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There's an election coming so I've been told,
But I'm sitting on the fence 'cause I'm not very bold.
I'd be a politician if I could get elected,
But would a "Teddy Bear's Picnic" be rejected?
Sept 10th. - Marigold didn't get one inch closer to N. Vancouver today. Spent the day in Cornwall getting lots of chores done.A new chair was presented to Pat - please take notice in future pictures - this is similar to the one given to Jenny by Miriam. The old one was recycled in an automotive junk pile. It was time to do laundry, have a hair cut, grocery shop and send the blog.While on the computer in the library a siren went off and everybody was ordered to evacuate the building.It turned out to be a false alarm due to a technical glitch.At least we didn't lose any work in progress on the blog. Cornwall is a terrible place for one way streets and parking meters, but at least we're grateful we got all this done today.
Sept 11th - The area along the St. Lawrence river between Cornwall and Kingston is known as "Thousand Islands".Sometimes we were looking at an island and other times at New York State, as the river is getting narrower now.To qualify as an island it must be above water 365 days per year and have at least 2 living trees.As we didn't know much about this area, a woman at the tourist info centre suggested a route, so cutting inland at Brockville, Smith Falls was the first interesting stop, as it is the centre of the Rideau Canal, running 200km between Kingston and Ottawa.Lunch was had on the banks of the canal and then we had a stroll around the old town.Afterwards it was on to Perth via Westport.Many people have put a lot of time and effort into restoring the lovely mellow stone buildings.It is a great little town with a lively main street, where we found a very nice pub serving a good variety of draught beers, and so supper was eaten there - fish and chips!Another thing we liked about it was the lack of parking meters.
Sept 12th. - The night was spent parked in a vacant building lot next to a primary school.It looked perfect as we thought we'd be up and away before school started.Upon awakening though, about ten cars had parked around us and a bunch of trainee carpenters started to work on a small building close by.Sometimes you just can't win!
Heading north, Renfrew was on the way to Algonquin Park.It's a beautiful park, but unfortunately for us there was a low fog lasting most of the day.Does anyone remember John and Janet Foster's great TV nature series?Most of it was filmed there.Considering the amount of good weather we've had, we cannot grumble too much.Jenny says she has finally seen an hydrangea other than white.All through the eastern provinces there were lots of white.Getting back into Ontario, pink was seen again.Pat doesn't see plants!
Sept 13th. - Stayed in the bush for a change hoping to see some wildlife, but perhaps it's hunting season and they've run away.The only wild animal to be seen was a raven that didn't like us being there, circling and crying out above.This is cottage country for people who can afford to have a second home by a lake, or they can go to Algonquin Park.Journeying today under cloudy skies, my intrepid travelers crossed over to the western side of Southern Ontario, aiming for Kincardine on the shores of Lake Huron.They almost made it before the rain started, so we'll see what tomorrow brings weatherwise.Tropical storm "Ike" is supposed to hit late afternoon! Oh by the way we saw two ladies sitting outside at a garage parking lot selling their homemade pies today. They looked nice but we didn't need one!
Sept. 14th - Kincardine was a bit disappointing even though we got to walk the beach right on the shores of Lake Huron during a brief spell of clearer skies.Continuing south to Goderich we passed a sign espousing itself as "The Prettiest Town in Canada".Pat and Jenny scoffed at that as they hadn't really seen anything of note so far in that regard.Lo and behold did they have to eat their words!Even though it rained much of the day, visiting Goderich turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip.Probably the reason we found it so fantastic was the way it was originally laid out with a great octagonal circle surrounded by shops, library, theatre, cinema, pub, coffee shop and book store etc.Everything was within a short walking distance radiating from this centre.Free parking everywhere and lots of public space such as parks and beaches.It was this attention to public access that drew us the most - there were few or no houses on the waterfront giving a freedom you rarely find elsewhere.Even the beaver are free to wander across the road in front of us!That was a lovely surprise.Lots of hanging baskets and flower beds supplied by the town, and also homeowners had gone the extra mile too.Park benches and children's playgrounds were everywhere.As a treat we had a coffee mocha and a cheese danish in order to relax and soak up the ambiance.
Sept. 15th. - 'Twas the night of the tropical storm "Ike".The wind blew the rain in driving sheets across the roads and parking lots, wave after wave.The flower baskets got blown apart and scattered all over.Darwin's theory says it's the survival of the fittest, so we went to see a movie.A new film was showing - Burn After Reading - which was a convoluted story, but good entertainment.On the road to London today, to visit some friends, there were many flooded fields and part of the road was closed.At Grand Bend the waves were crashing in from Lake Huron and some wind surfers were taking advantage of it.
Goodbye from Mr. Ted, leader of the Picnic Party, and his two volunteers.
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