Our Journey East ... Days 9-12 in TO

Greetings ... Tardy in getting the last few days online ... :} 

Spending a few days in our old haunting grounds was a welcome respite for Aug. 1 - 4, 2013.  Didnt know what to do but relax, sample the wines, and eat well :-)    Thursday night was a gathering to celebrate a birthday in the crowd.... how's that for timing ... BDay and 'Retirement' day on July 31.... Lobster bisque and Lamb Roast to die for.!

On the Friday night, John 'n Nancy 'n Alissa (daughter) 'n Steve headed north to Orillia to take in a throw-back concert ... the Happy Together Tour 2013.   

Astrid couldnt get past driving hours more, so stayed behind to catch up on Top Chef  online.

Dr. John Baird ... Culinary Artist

Al's Perch and a coupla Scallops

It was quite a show, and well enjoyed.  Although we arrived a tad late, due to the delay and commotion caused by Al's Lake Erie Perch.   Awesome fish and thoroughly enjoyed :-).   

When we arrived at the Orillia at the Casino Rama , it was a treat to hear some old classics.   I recalled, foggily, that my first big concert was in 1973 with Three Dog Night ... (Chuck Negron ... one of the 3 dogs) ... so my first and last involved them !

• The Turtles: “Happy Together” and “She’d Rather Be with Me”
• Gary Puckett & The Union Gap: “Woman, Woman” and “Young Girl”
• Chuck Negron: “One (Is the Loneliest Number)” and “Joy to the World”
• Mark Lindsay: “Kicks” and “Hungry”
• Gary Lewis & The Playboys: “This Diamond Ring” and “Count Me In"

Saturday morning included a trip down to the old Evergreen Brickworks market, off the Don Valley @ Bayview where the youngest Dimond entrepreneur purveys her Gourmet Ice Pops... Thank goodness for dogs in this world (think 'Three Augie Night'!)  Rather impressive pace of frozen delights crossing the counter to the lineup that lay beyond. Grabbed some fresh cheese, herbs, pops, and headed north and east, back to Pickering.

Janet ... Augie's Mom and Purveyor of the Finest Gourmet Pops

After a swim, a delightful evening was spent with Jack Baird, Dr. William Baird, and family ... it has been a long while, too long, and a most memorable opportunity to chat and enjoy.  

Back on the road again sunday, Aug. 4, in the a.m. ..... try for 9 am ...

Cheers

Astrid 'n Steve 

Our Journey East - Clarks Mills, PA and Day 9 into Toronto

Astrid and I spent a very enjoyable respite in Clarks Mills, Pennsylvania with the Heckman's ... one of Astrid's on-line gaming acquaintances.   Al and Kathy were a delight and we had a nice visit, great food, and we took away some recipes to try (we think we did .. Astrid may have left them there ! ha ) .... Al is quite the chef and a fisherman to boot, so fresh was the 'flavour' of the day... and the special brown beans were to die for ...

Zoe, their blue healer dependent, was excited to meet Connor and Ceilidh ... Connor not terribly impressed with the licky kisses :-)  ... Zoe was eager to show them her yard ... 10 acres of freshly mown lawn !

(Click images for enlargements.... )

Meet and Greet - Kathy, Astrid and the hounds.

New Friends ....

Zoe Heckman - Host

Welcome rest for the moho.

Many thanks for the short visit, it was definitely a port in the travel storm :-)   Great to meet fantastic people.   Up and back on the road in the late a.m.  ... with some Lake Erie Perch in the freezer  ... out the country roads up to Erie, Pennsylvania.  Astrid decided to grab a short sleep on the way, and we veered on to the Lakeside route for a ways... nice to have some scenery to view ... vineyards and ports on Lake Erie, south shore.

Port at Dunkirk (I believe)

Vineyards ... south shore of Lake Erie

Travelled for about an hour on the shore side route, then ventured up to i90 toll road and made it in to Buffalo and Niagara Falls area ... pic below over the many bridges with the Falls spray in distance.  Astrid overlooks the gorge as we cross the border ... once again we were lucky.  Notwithstanding about 45 minutes in line, the actual crossing took less than a minute !  Another nice border guard ... we must look harmless :-)

Spray from Niagara Falls in middle of pic ... over bridge in Buffalo, NY

View over the Niagara Gorge ... welcome back to Canada

Electricity Generating facilities for Niagara Falls.

Once in Ontario, we zoomed along and decided to get on the Toll 407 highway ... it was choked up with traffic as well ... stop and go .... and we are to pay for this ?   I checked on-line and the supposed toll with be $100 !! ... there will be something to say about that ... red lights not good.  Blood from stone?

Finally arrived at John & Nancy's place ... had a wonderful lamb dinner with Lobster bisque starter ... unreal after a long journey :)   Janet (sis) and Mel joined us for a fabulous night of chatter, good food, and wine.  We and the dogs get to relax a little by the pool ... and the travelling motion subsides.  Nice to be still for a coupla days.

We'll camp out here till likely Sunday, Aug. 4th, then head east.

Check out the route on Google Maps ...

Cheers for now...

Astrid 'n Steve