August 1-2, 2009 - Oh, Canada!

It's morning on the 8th day of our trip, and we're in Kingston, Ontario. We're feeling it. Joanna and I ran over to the laundromat and stayed close so nobody would hoark our clothes, eh. After laundry, we returned to the motel with a nutritious breakfast for our youngins'.


Note the dried slobber:


That's right - Tim Horton's donuts! What other way would you start a day in Canada?


Munch, munch, wimper, munch...

And for lunch - Ketchup and Dill Pickle chips! Joanna is demonstrating how you feel after eating Ketchup and/or Dill Pickle chips.

Ontario is where Joanna and I served as missionaries for our church (1991 - 1994). For the kids it was a lot of driving and listening to mom and dad tell the same old stories, but with sites. For us it was a sweet trip down memory lane. This is a nasty old rooming house I lived in in Trenton, Ont. We climbed the 3 flights of stairs. Our resident manager at the time was an old biker named Harvey "not-so" Smart - he was a violent, foul-mouthed, retired member of the Satan's Choice. But he loved us and we loved him.

My best haircuts were all in Canada, and all by old Portugese men who used this warm shaving cream and a straight razor to chave your neck and side burns. So I postponed my cut for our trip and Joanna took this picture. Naturally, the barber was a young Armenian who used cold alcohol and a straight razor... But he was an artist - best cut in years. And nothing makes you feel more like a man than to have your wife take your picture in the barber's chair.

Joanna's favorite lepruchaun, John Doyle, and his family. Richmond Hill, Ont.

I wish I could post the smell instead of the picture. Try to imagine sweat, curry, roach spray and sour Canadian cigarette smoke combined. Brought tears to my eyes, and a little shock to the kids' system. This is an old apartment building in Etobicoke where I spent a lot of time as a young missionary with a much smaller belly.

My first apartment - Etobicoke, Ont.

Joanna and I both had fond memories of eating out at Swiss Chalet. Not sure why we had fond memories - it was the worst meal of the trip. Jake and Lilly show their love for the special "Chalet Sauce".

Swiss Chalet gave us all the "Bob & Doug Face" - YUK!

Saturday night was our hardest hotel-find yet, with a rowing tournament booking up St. Catherine's. We had to drive 40 mnutes backwards to find a Motel 6 in Hamilton. They left the light on for us, but what a dump.

On Sunday we attended church in St. David's where Joanna lived for about 7 months as a missionary. She caught up with a few old friends and then we headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara-on-the-Lake is like Carmel-by-the-Sea, hence the many hyphens and gardens. Lilly and Jake demonstrate the sarcasm they have learned from their mother.

The sign tells the story of how American forces occupied this spot and as they retreated they burned the town to the ground. U-S-A, U-S-A!!!

We coaxed Sophie into the middle of the street for this pic; a risk well worth the picture.

Off to the falls! If Niagara-on-the-Lake is like Carmel, then the town of Niagara Falls is like carny-row at the State Fair. Lots of souvenirs, bong shops and smell.

The Falls are amazing, breathtaking, spectacular and awesome. For about 5 minutes.

The kids were more interested in swimming at the Lake (Ontario) so we found the best spot possible for a swim. Sadly, the beach was very rocky and there was a lot of litter and slime, so we skipped rocks instead. But it was a nice break from the road (with more road ahead of us).

This is where the Niagara River empties into Lake Ontario, and the fort on the other side is New York.

We loved Canada, with the memorable visits and great donuts. We were all glad we took a couple of days to see this part of the world. After Niagara we crossed back into the US and headed to Rochester, NY, our next stop.