Niagara-On-The-Lake Or Bust, 2010
Well, I made sure we got a big
scooter when we did buy one (explained here). It isn't a maxi
or
'power' scooter but it can carry two--as long as you don't go on a
major highway.
Our first trip was to Niagara-On-The-Lake. Google maps promised a 3 hour and 3 minute trip. With a stop for coffee, a stop to buy lunch, a stop to eat lunch, swapping drivers every 45 minutes of driving (to un-numb our butts) and going past the B and B twice until we found it , this stretched to closer to 5 hours. However, we stayed there one night, went 'antiquing' the next day, then went for dinner and headed home the day after that. The way home may have been shorter as we only stopped for a snack--when you see the breakfasts, you'll know why.
The passenger held the camera and did his-or-her best to snap interesting things--sometimes at some speed (all pictures with nothing in them--courtesy of digital shutter-lag--have been removed).
In the spirit of early trips--although in my haste to surprise Cheryl, I missed the 'T'. In my mind I kept hearing the line of a song that went, "Monte Carlo, or bust my suspension...'.
(I'm in my less-geeky Scorpion helmet, new that morning.)
Stop number one was in 'our chairs' upstairs at the Timothy's coffee shop in Oakville. (Our first scooter outing was to Oakville...to these chairs.)
The exterior (the window above is behind the 'P' sign below).
The next section of the road apparently has (or had) the highest density of millionaires in Canada.
As is our habit, we hit road construction (although, of course Canada has but two seasons: winter and road construction).
Next up: Burlington. It was nice on Lakeshore Road instead of the highway.
The arch here is the Burlington Skyway, which is on the highway that we had to avoid. Although the scooter is rated for highway speed, it's nicer to slow down and we took the old lift bridge over the Hamilton Harbour entrance. The lift bridge is made up of the two 'towers' beside the arch of the Skyway. We cheat here with this picture as it was taken on the way home two days later.
Going under the Skyway and over the lift bridge. Cheryl did a great job as backseat photographer.
The bridge 'deck' above felt like quite the adventure under the scooter--it will be hard to stay upright on that when it's wet.
After a stop to buy lunch, it was picnic time in Grimbsy.
Right beside this park was quite the house.
Right after lunch we hit the first of wine country.
Then hit another lift bridge at the end of the Welland Canal at Port Dalhousie.
Ah, we didn't bust!
Our first trip was to Niagara-On-The-Lake. Google maps promised a 3 hour and 3 minute trip. With a stop for coffee, a stop to buy lunch, a stop to eat lunch, swapping drivers every 45 minutes of driving (to un-numb our butts) and going past the B and B twice until we found it , this stretched to closer to 5 hours. However, we stayed there one night, went 'antiquing' the next day, then went for dinner and headed home the day after that. The way home may have been shorter as we only stopped for a snack--when you see the breakfasts, you'll know why.
The passenger held the camera and did his-or-her best to snap interesting things--sometimes at some speed (all pictures with nothing in them--courtesy of digital shutter-lag--have been removed).
In the spirit of early trips--although in my haste to surprise Cheryl, I missed the 'T'. In my mind I kept hearing the line of a song that went, "Monte Carlo, or bust my suspension...'.
(I'm in my less-geeky Scorpion helmet, new that morning.)
Stop number one was in 'our chairs' upstairs at the Timothy's coffee shop in Oakville. (Our first scooter outing was to Oakville...to these chairs.)
The exterior (the window above is behind the 'P' sign below).
The next section of the road apparently has (or had) the highest density of millionaires in Canada.
As is our habit, we hit road construction (although, of course Canada has but two seasons: winter and road construction).
Next up: Burlington. It was nice on Lakeshore Road instead of the highway.
The arch here is the Burlington Skyway, which is on the highway that we had to avoid. Although the scooter is rated for highway speed, it's nicer to slow down and we took the old lift bridge over the Hamilton Harbour entrance. The lift bridge is made up of the two 'towers' beside the arch of the Skyway. We cheat here with this picture as it was taken on the way home two days later.
Going under the Skyway and over the lift bridge. Cheryl did a great job as backseat photographer.
The bridge 'deck' above felt like quite the adventure under the scooter--it will be hard to stay upright on that when it's wet.
After a stop to buy lunch, it was picnic time in Grimbsy.
Right beside this park was quite the house.
Right after lunch we hit the first of wine country.
Then hit another lift bridge at the end of the Welland Canal at Port Dalhousie.
Ah, we didn't bust!
Time for another coffee!
Back at the B&B, this will be our deck for picnic dinner for one night and the next two breakfasts.
Picnic dinner...
Day 2 and NOTL breakfast #1... very arty...
Let's not compare the scooter to the Goldwing and the other big Honda in downtown NOTL...okay, let's. Who had the bigger adventure?
The owner of the Goldwing left his keys in the ignition. We saw him later and I asked about that. His friend (owner of the other big Honda) said, "Did you do that again?" I guess you don't expect theft in NOTL.
It's Monarch migration time in the parking lot of one antique place...
Toronto was very clear across the lake from the parking lot of another antique place...
What else would the phone look like in the Irish/Scottish store?
Snack time (no lunch required after such a breakfast).
Then break time before dinner.
After a great dinner, we explored the old town in the twilight.
Toronto from across the lake.
Day 3 and NOTL breakfast #2... very arty again...
B&B cats.
One does a Garfield impression.
We use OUR parking spot for the last time.
Homeward bound via old Highway 8.
Then retracing some of our steps on Lakeshore.
Break at Oakville with Toronto in the background (see comment on previous day about lunch and breakfast).
Downtown Oakville.
Back in Toronto and the Canadian National Exhibition--signaling the end of summer--is in full swing.
Back in Big City traffic.
With a final arty self portrait.
