The focus for the month was to work in as much time with the Kiehl & Madison as they both started their new jobs at Nordstrom's. So whenever they had a day or more off, some sort of activity was planned, either in Toronto or out at the campsite.
Some of the city sites included: the CN tower, market, subway, Toronto waterfront, as well as just chilling at the newlyweds' new digs. |
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Joint adventures at the campground included: shoreline walks along Lake Ontario, hikes around the park trails, seeing huge steelhead Salmon jumping up stream and just chilling around the campfire.
On some days Kevin and Theresa were left on their own to explore. Theresa had researched the Waterfront bicycle trail that meanders from one waterfront park to another along Lake Ontario. It is part of the larger cross-Canadian trail that is 15,000 miles from coast to coast. Several sections of the waterfront trail, as well as the cros Canadian trail were explored with Kevin on his Touring Bock with Zin in tow and Theresa on the Green Machine (willed to her by Steve Cope after his epic cross USA trek where Kevin and Theresa surprised him and joined him for the last 1/3 of the journey).
There were also lots of community shared facilities for soccer, hockey as well as other sports including (to Theresa's delight) Pickleball!!!! Theresa discovered the 'Abilities Center' that would allow guests to come and play Pickleball. Kevin and she managed to attend the open play on two days during their stay. Canadians love the sport and play it year round indoors and out.
The weather for the stay was amazingly perfect for late Sept thru mid-October in Canada (well above normal). Sunny days were perfect for biking or hiking and the cool nights were spent by a nice campfire! The last few days turned a bit chilly as the grill was cleaned and all outside items were once again stowed for the return trip home. The park was also preparing for its closure for the season at the end of the month. No doubt the Smitanic will return to this park on the next visit north.
Although Canada is very close to US in many respects there are some subtle nuances that were noticed on the month-long visit:
- kilometers vs miles (so it was good to have run many races to help with this translation)
- $ca vs $ us was about $1CA = $.75 US so good thing most places take cards (not Costco), though the banks will charge a fee
- Large Grocery Stores are amazing such as Loblaws much like a Wiegmans
- Booze and wine and beer are not sold in grocery stores, there are LBCO and Beer stores much like ABCs in NC
- One can earn Air mile points for purchases at most stores including LBCO
- Drivers are very bad, cut and turn in front of you, are very impatient, do not stop at stop signs / lights, will jump yellow lights
- Signage & information is lacking, got to be a good guesser
- rules are not for everyone ... bikers were on hiking trails that noted no Bikes allowed, hikers went on trails marked “do not enter” guess it's just a guideline...
- A Hwy Collector is a 3-4 lane pre-exit for several upcoming exits, so you better know in plenty of time when to enter the collector to then get to your exit
- bathrooms are called washrooms
- Excuse me is Surry (vs. sorry)
- no 'on your left' when passing a cyclist or walker... a bell is used.
- you wait in a Queue not a Line (however if you leave even the slightest gap folks will butt in)
- Canadians seem to be in there own zone. They do not notice if they are blocking the way, they stop in the middle of an aisle or trail or road and do not move. But generally one on one they are very friendly and helpful.
- And in Pickleball once the game is over all players exchange fist bumps rather than the US tradition of butt of racket bumps.
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