Canada
We visited Canada, specifically the province of Ontario, in the 'fall' (autumn) of 2002. We were based in the small village of Golden Lake, about 90 miles west of Ottawa on Highway 60. We visited Ottawa and Algonquin Provincial Park and many of the towns of Renfrew County otherwise known as Ottawa Valley. We also traveled more widely through Ontario, visiting the joint townships of Kitchener and Waterloo, Niagara Falls and driving along the American side of Lake Ontario before crossing the St. Lawrence River and re-entering Canada at Kingston, a journey requiring several days at least.
We were totally unprepared for the huge distances and the time that our journeys would take. For example Ottawa to Niagara Falls is 335 miles and takes a day on good motorway type roads but reaching more out of the way places on more common two way roads can take a long time. The beauty of the scenery, friendliness of the people that we met and the easy going atmosphere all help to make the time and distance pass more easily. We learnt the error of misjudging distance on our arrival at Toronto Pearson Airport when the 250 mile drive to Golden Lake through the Algonquin Provincial Park which had sounded such a pleasant way to get to know the country as soon as we arrived when we had planned it, turned into a five hour slog, first through the rush hour traffic and then the gathering dusk. However, if one is prepared to accept the distances involved and put in the time to do it, driving in Canada is not difficult.
Accommodation appeared to be readily available and followed the north American style - that is to say large rooms, large beds, large meals but modest prices. Booking ahead seemed to be unnecessary (although we were out of season in out of the way places) and the people we met were so friendly that we wouldn't be surprised if they took you into their own home for a night or two if they thought that you wouldn't have a bed for the night.
Kitchener-Waterloo Niagara Falls
Kingston and the St Lawrence River
Golden Lake
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A panorama photo of our
holiday home |
Panorama of the yard
out back |
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A foggy early
morning in Golden
Lake. Looking east along Highway 60 to the main crossroad. |
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The main crossroad Golden Lake looking southeast. Lake Dore Road joins from the left, Kokoms Road to the right leads past ... |
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... the old garage workshop. That is a model T Ford rusting away and that is a hand cranked gas pump! |
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Continue down Kokoms Road and you arrive at an area known as the 'reservation', an area of land and housing set aside for the The Algonquins of Golden Lake |
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The attractively named Lovers Lane typifies the beauty of 'the fall'. Photographs don't do justice to the wonderful colours. |
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The houses on Island View Drive enjoy beautiful views over Golden Lake. |
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On Golden Lake looking back at the shoreline the beauty of the colours of the leaves can again be seen to advantage. |
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A house nestles amongst the trees at the water's edge. |
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Returning to Island View Drive. |
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A short drive west along Golden Lake the tepee at Golden Sands Vacationland resort is strictly for the tourists. There is nothing wrong with the quality of the hospitality, however. |
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Another view of our wonderful holiday farm house, this time from the yard looking back towards the house. |