Seeing these poppies before they bloom remind me of creatures from a fantasy world.
Photo: poppies in my parents’ backyard, June 2008 by WH
Long way down
No kidding.
Photo - Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid - May 2008 - LV.
Posted by Lisa.
Happy Canada Day!
When I was on the plane flying east last week, I was lucky enough to snap some shots from the air of western Canada - showing off the vast green and mountainous area of the western part of Canada. On our national holiday, it reminds me of how big Canada is! Hopefully I’ll be able to have photos from eastern Canada from a future trip. (photos: from the air June 2008 by WH)
The Okanagan Valley as seen from the air.
The Rockies as seen from the air.
The Prairies as seen from the air.
The beginnings of Georgian Bay, ON as seen from the air.
Roadside Eats
This is the first post in a new category on Recommendations: places, sights and experiences we’d recommend in our travels near and far.
It’s hardly a secret. Anyone who drives regularly north from Toronto on the traditional cottage holiday trek - along Highway 11 to Muskoka or Algonquin or further still - will know Webers and their charcoal barbecued hamburgers. Will have probably stopped for one a time or two.
There are plenty of places to choose from on the side of the highway, but none draw quite the business as this small (in size, if not in scope) hamburger joint, where the eating is done on bright picnic tables in a field out back, or inside old CN train cars that line the lot. A bright orange pedestrian bridge provides a beacon for hungry drivers, leading from one side of the highway to the other, built specifically for Webers’ customers, who fill up parking lots on either side of the multi-lane road: the east side busy on Fridays as travellers make their way north, the west parking lot packed come Sunday or holiday Mondays. When I go, it’s mostly on my return, when nobody minds lining up, still caught up in the relaxed and unhurried cottage mode.
From what I’ve heard, the hamburger itself is worth it - Kevin and I stopped earlier today so that he could have his first taste, and I heard nothing but raves. The veggie burger and fries, too, hold their weight. What’s part of the charm, though, is the tradition - stopping at Webers after a weekend relaxing on the dock. It’s one last reminder of cottage country before you return to the city. With a full belly, to boot.
Photo: The remains of a meal at Webers - taken today - LV.
Posted by Lisa.
The long weekend
It’s the beginning of another long weekend in Canada to celebrate July 1st, Canada Day. As many friends head out to cottages in Ontario and Quebec or to cabins or summer houses in the eastern or western provinces, I still have my dream of a the perfect way to start a long weekend.
A VW bug was a dream acquisition as a teenager. A perfect small car for me and my friends to be able to zip off to see a concert or find a cool place to shop or just to drive somewhere. I always stopped to check them out in parking lots when I was15. Years later when Volkswagen introduced newer models and the “Bug” disappeared from the car lots, I stil held onto my dream of driving a cute little Bug with the trunk in the front.
But the reality, I never learned to drive, and I took my money intended to take lessons and went on a trip to the US. As I grew older, moved, went to journalism school and travelled when funds were available, driving became less of a focus and certainly living in a large city with transit made it easier to not need a car.
I still wish I could drive, so I could increase my opportunities to travel. I would probably indulge on my own to drive somewhere for the day, on a whim or planned in advance. And when I was recently in Kamloops, I spotted in the parking lot a bright yellow VW bug for sale. My dream is still alive!
Happy Canada Day!
photo: 1973 Lemon yellow Volkswagen, Kamloops BC June 2008 by WH
Note to readers: This is the 100th post of GTS!
