From Here To There... Archive

Tour de Ontario

I did a mini-tour of Ontario this week. I left work on Wednesday afternoon for Westport, Ontario, I was doing an Operators Information session on Thursday morning. The advertisement of operator contracts for our sites are now done through Public Works and Government Services Canada, if it wasn't bad enough with our own delays in getting contracts issued, it now has another level of bureaucracy involved. From Westport it was on to North Bay for a repeat session for the Marten River site. I did one back in April for Marten River, but we didn't receive any bids, so repeat if necessary.

The drive from Westport to North Bay was good, the weather was great and I saw a moose up around Algonguin Park. Westport is situated on the Upper Rideau Lake.

It was the calm before the summer storm, the town of Westport gets quite busy starting this long weekend, there is a lot of boat traffic since it is on the Rideau Canal.

Heading Back

I did the bidders conference in North Bay and we had one person show up, may end up doing this one again. I headed up to the Marten River site afterwards and found that the blackflies were out in full force. Good thing I had my bug jacket, but didn't get it on until a couple had feasted. The weather was sunny and 20 degrees for most of the drive back. Being the long weekend, the OPP were out in full force, I counted about 30 cruisers that I saw between North Bay and Major Mackenzie where I got off the 400. I only saw one of the new cruisers, the retro black and white versions.

A Couple of Islands

I'm off to Manitoulin Island this week for another site operator search. The destination is Gore Bay, on the north shore of the island. Waiting to cross the Swing Bridge at Little Current. It is only a one lane bridge.

I went out to the site at Burnt Island, not really an island, it is well connected to the main island. A popular place during deer season.

The closest town is Silver Water. I saw this sign.

Here is the sign in proper context.

It was a beautiful day on the island.

Sunset over Gore Bay.

Looking out to the North Channel.

Gordon's Lodge in Gore Bay.

See the bird on the rock?

A close-up.

Went for a drive after dinner.

Not sure what type of birds these are. I think they are Sandhill cranes.

Lots of deer out in the fields at dusk.

The Lodge from across the bay, my room was in the building on the right.

A lighthouse out on Janet Head.

Light on!

Light off!

Wildlife was abundant on this trip. I saw a black bear run across the highway just outside of Sudbury. I also saw lots of deer and Great Blue Herons on the island.

Back to Marten River

I left Gore Bay this morning and headed to Marten River, I had some work to do at our site there. I stopped at the Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong. The height of the falls is about 35 feet.

There is a path down to the bottom.

Looking up the river towards the falls.

Looking down the river.

Another picture of the Swing Bridge.

A Google satellite picture of the bridge while it is in the open position.

It was a scorcher in the Sudbury area.

The view from my hotel room tonight.