Misty for you

It was very misty leaving Tobermory. Actually it was more wet than misty. There is only so much interest you can gather from mildly undulating roads through pine forests whether they are National Parks or not. It is probably better to speak of the highlights than the low points though and the highlight was clearly a warm, cinnamon roll (don't they love their cinnamon here in the US) at our morning coffee stop somewhere between Tobermory and Toronto.

                     

The weather did clear up. It turned out to be bright and shiny for our entry into Toronto. We architecture spotted the CN Tower, (the lakeside hotel was in its shadow, so it wasn't difficult), the Liebskind, the Calatrava and the Mies. They were all quite well done with the Mies showing incredible contemporarity, even if probably over 50 years old. We dined with friends and colleagues from London who advised us to go for a stroll in the park.  As we have been getting ferries in our blood recently, we took the ferry to Toronto Island for a stroll in the park. Very nice, but pretty well all closed up for the impending winter. No one seemed to have told the butterflies though. Even though it is almost the middle of October and Toronto does get very cold in the winter, it is on the same latitude as the South of France.

 

                 

Next stop onto Niagara-on-the-Lake which is where we were advised to stay the night. When we got there, the reasons behind the advice were obvious. A lovely little town with a lot of real history. It was also pretty obvious why last minute bookings for a Saturday night would not work here. Never mind, the weather had been fine. What was new to us was the rather plush Canadian wine Chateaux that abounded in the Niagara region. Look that up when we get back.

               

               
 

We were slightly dreading the visit to Niagara Falls. However we had a sunshine filled day and there was very little gross tourism. You had nonetheless to close your eyes to the ridiculous Casinos in abundance on both sides of the Falls. In the end we spent all day there, helped by the weather. We walked across to the American side, so we could see the Falls from both sides and it was worth it. Of course one has to have the trip on the Maid of the Mist whilst there. Much more impressive close up. However how could one have a blog photo of the Maid if you were on it? So we went on the Hornblower from the Canadian side instead for the full 4D experience.

                
  
OK, it's 20$ and touristy, but boy don't you get misty and soaking wet. Much better than any Log Flume. But on the Environmental subject again; never mind all that malarkey about towels on the floor to save on the washing or whatever, how about turning the Falls off after the nightly fireworks? More seriously there is so much waste here. The portions are too big. The plates and bowls for breakfast if you get it in the motels are made out of polystyrene; the cutlery out of plastic. The milk in cafés and restaurants to put in your coffee is always in the pre-packed capsules as is the whipped spread. If it is in the motel it comes in one of those sealed plastic bags with sweeteners of various sorts, stirrers and a whole host of other paraphernalia that you just throw away. All to save on someone washing up, or the water needed for washing up?

          

         

         
 

Onwards and a misty morning in New York State to get to Corning, home of the Corning Glass Museum. In order to get our full set of Great Lakes we detoured slightly to see Lake Erie and then travelled what would have been a wonderfully scenic road if it hadn't been so misty (raining). We did our trip through Europe passing Naples, Warsaw, Leicester and the small town of Wales amongst others. Autumn was here and, with the mist and not an insignificant little wind, the leaves were now falling. Pumpkins abound but can you get Pumpkin Pie here? Pumpkins also abounded at the Museum, glass ones. Doubtless they will start on the glass Christmas trees shortly. Anyway, a fun museum and well worth the visit. we could have stayed longer, but we could say that of many places we visited...

 

We are closing in on New York now and we are asking ourselves lots of questions and putting off answering them till we get home. We are catching the last of autumn in a log cabin in the Catskills Mountains chosen for its scenic rides. No mist on the ride at all; in fact it's quite warm which is posing a slight problem. We have been wearing many layers in the cold weather, which left inviting room in our panniers and top-box for 'things'. Now it's got warmer again, we just have to sweat a bit.

                         

 

Paul & Francoise