Well we started the day with a fortress and cemetery ended it with another two. This is at the Halifax Citadel just up the hill from our hotel, the fourth fort to be built on the site and it is very impressive. As we were leaving we followed a huge white limousine out of the site.



Norm has always had a fascination with the story of the Titanic and last year when we were in Belfast we visited the Titanic Museum. Today we completed the circle and visited the Fairview Cemetery to visit the gravesites of those who drowned on the Titanic to pay our final respects and it was overrun by tourists as it has been since the movie apparently. Such a shame, it was a lovely peaceful place apart from the tour groups and guides so this picture gives a better perspective of the place….and a couple of bikes as well. We beat the limousine to the cemetery



A tip from Sharen and Ken was to visit Peggy’s Cove as they had been bussed there from their ship and what a treat it was. It’s a quaint old time fishing port locked in time and the many little communities and coves on the way there are also delightful. This is actually at Peggy’s Cove



And so is this one and we met the limousine coming into the cove as we were leaving



One in French Village



And then lunch at Mahone Bay and this is the quirky little main street. We lunched in the Pub to the right (first floor)



A view from the balcony across the water to a couple of summer houses literally floating on the water and moored….told you it was quirky and yep you guessed it, the limousine trailed in behind us so we’ve obviously seen all the ‘must sees’



And if money is no object you can own your own island. This was just off the shore coming out of Mahone Bay



Annapolis Royal Fort is directly opposite our accommodation tonight as well as two ancient cemeteries. It is beautifully maintained



A view across the inlet. Would have liked to stroll along the boardwalk at sunset but we just didn’t have time



And this is a bird sculpture at the front of some magnificent gardens we were too late to get into

Bits and Bobs:



Another interesting Canadian road sign



And finally a shot for Kevin of the two bikes and Louisiana rego plates in the car park at the hotel this morning. That would be the underground ‘heated’ car park….something Louisiana residents would be unlikely to even imagine. Ha ha

Last night’s Accommodation:



Cambridge Suites Hotel, Halifax
1583 Brunswick Street
Halifax Nova Scotia B3J3P5

Lovely spacious room and nice and private with sink, fridge and microwave so possible to be self-contained if you want to be. Seemed funny to be so quiet after a few B&B’s with less than soundproof walls. The restaurant was nice, staff helpful and dinner superb. There is also an onsite pub but we didn’t visit. There is also a business centre as well as a mini mart with snacks, TV dinners and all the things you forget to pack Very impressive. Yet another comfortable bed and lovely hot shower. Parking underneath so we were very warm by the time we headed off.

Another lovely day for riding and beautiful roads for bikes. We wound our way back out over the Seal Island Bridge and the Causeway and onto a magnificent combination of forest and coastal views. We felt like the day was full of ‘snapshots’ of all sorts and we feel a bit saturated with the beauty we have been moving through the last few days…and probably a bit tired from some big rides as well.



From the restaurant at breakfast we spotted this cruise ship coming into the inlet I imagine where Sharen and Ken’s had done the previous day



We had decided to go and have a look at the reception centre on the right with the large fiddle in front but once the ship docked we declined the opportunity and got on the road. Cape Breton is apparently known for their fiddlers and there is much playing of fiddles throughout the area. I figure they need fast fiddle music to dance to and stay warm in the depths of winter…but I could be wrong



Lunch at Sherbrooke Village a quirky little place which also had a pioneer type village museum but we figured we didn’t have such an exploration in us today and given we got in at 6pm tonight I’m glad we didn’t.



A really pretty house as we headed out of Sherbrooke Village



Typical snapshot glimpse of what we experienced today on the road



And another one. We saw many settlements with a combination of well-kept permanent homes, others which look like holiday homes and a good number in some spots abandoned as well as many ‘For Sale’ signs.



Nola following a typical school bus onto a mini version of the same sort of bridge as the Seal Island one on yesterday’s entry. We were talking to a trucker when we had a coffee this afternoon and he told us he had a truck and Pantech lift up and blow over on its side in a hurricane once. Not an experience I’d like.



We have seen small and large glimpses of quiet little streams and galloping rivers and everything in between as we have travelled today. This was the West River which Norm took the opportunity to take a shot of since I needed a break



And one of me – Norm is not to be trusted with a camera obviously. Not to worry, the nap did the trick and I felt much brighter to get in even with the Halifax traffic and bridge all of which felt pretty huge



The Halifax Bridge compliments of the internet.

Bits and Bobs:



Living in the State of Victoria we were compelled to take this one especially since we missed it a couple of days ago



Norm is not a great fan of celery so this sign appealed to him where we lunched today



This sign in the men’s loo also appealed to him



And this one appealed to me where we stopped for a coffee this afternoon. I’ve felt like that sometimes when I get to a loo

Last night’s Accommodation:



Holiday Inn Sydney Waterfront
300 Esplanade
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P147

Lovely spacious room and nice and private. Seemed funny to be so quiet after a few B&B’s with less than soundproof walls. The restaurant was nice and staff helpful. There is also an onsite pub but we didn’t visit. Yet another comfortable bed and lovely hot shower. Parking out the front.

We started off our day with a yummy breakfast at our accommodation and heard lots of great tales about a former owner who was the right had man of Alexander Graham Bell and then we headed to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and here was I who in my ignorance thought his inventiveness had been confined to the telephone! We also caught up with Sharen and Ken at the museum for a coffee as they had left their ship to tour the Museum. Really must explore our Bell family history, photos of Alexander at different ages reminded me so much of my Pop and his Dad as well as my brother Bryan.



The Bell girls…..and the sign says it all. Ha ha.



Celebrating the centenary of the first Canadian flight of the Silver Dart



And a sculpture of the Bell’s on the waterfront. I loved that they were totally devoted to each other

Happy to report the weather was much friendlier today and we didn’t have to add dri-az-a bone pants or other extra waterproof gear against the chill factor and the ride was awesome.

We followed the Cabot Trail around Cape Breton so saw scattered fishing villages and little settlements, magnificent mountains and plunging cliffs and valleys as we rode beside soaring birds riding the thermals beside us. The National Park part of the trip had some great viewpoints to take ion the awesomeness of the views. Truly breathtaking. Without doubt one of the most spectacular motorbike rides we have been on and the roads were great. Beautiful camber, hills and lots of corners and all but a couple of sections had an excellent surface. Ahhhh!!



Scattered communities like this (on the way to Cheticamp) were common



A detour off the main road found these fishing boats out of the water, an unexpected bonus



Early into the National Park this was the view…and the promise of awesome roads to come



White Point, an active fishing community though tiny (a tip from last night's host)



The Neil’s Harbour Chowder House (another tip from last night’s host) very quirky place and delicious lunch



Looking back to the village in Neil’s Harbour



A protected shore as we head south



Even a road cutting looks great



We had a ferry ride between Jersey Cove and Englishtown and the wind was giving the ferry a beating and it was struggling to straighten up to the shore which didn’t deter cars from driving off. Unbelievable! We didn’t have to wait long until it was our turn



Shortly after that we crossed an impressive bridge but couldn’t get a photo as there was roadwork happening so this one is compliments of the internet.

We were glad to get to our hotel as even though the kilometres were down a bit today the maximum speeds varied from 50 – 80 for the majority of the day so a lot slower travel than yesterday which had big stretches of 100 – 110kms so my knees were getting a bit stiff by the time we got in.

Bits and Bobs:



We found these growing wild along the side of the road heaps yesterday and more today. We call them Easter Daisies at home but they no doubt have a different name here

Last night’s Accommodation:



Broadwater Inn and Cottages
Route 205 East 975 Baddeck Bay Rd
Baddeck, Nova Scotia – B0E 1B0

(Our room was to the right of the main building and you can see our deck) A nicely maintained complex. Nice and cosy room attached to the main house. Plenty of room to spread out and nice and warm on a cold night. Breakfast included in the dining room in the main house which was a treat. Plenty of room to park and glimpses of the lake across the road and a relatively short trip back into the town proper for dinner. Helpful and friendly hosts. The bonus was the interaction at breakfast with our host and learning all sorts of great stuff re the history of the area and the involvement of Alexander Graham Bell, his colleagues and their families.

Well we had a lovely sunny day but the wind chill was pretty brutal. Fall really is coming and we had many layers on and the hand grip heaters cranked up well.



One of the last rural glimpses of Prince Edward Island. The soil is really red like the area Norm grew up in and the potatoes look terrific….in face we also saw a HUGE pumpkin out the front of a farmhouse yesterday and it literally spread out wider than a chep pallet…I kid you not!



A statue at the base of the Confederation Bridge on Prince Edward island called ‘The Quartermaster’ to honour the Marine and Rail personnel from across the Island who ensured safe passage for people and freight to and from the Island before the bridge was constructed



The Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island (shot compliments of Wikipedia). By the way there is no charge to go to the Island but the charges on the bridge to return are as follows:
$44.50 – car
$17.75 – motorcycle
$7.25 – for every extra axle



Morning coffee in Amherst and here is an example of the local pink sandstone in some of their public buildings (the front one badly needs cleaning as you can see) then since Norm’s GPS gave up the ghost this morning we mucked about for nearly 2 hours trying to get a replacement with no luck. We finally rang the Bike people in Boston where we are getting the bikes serviced and they are arranging one to be there for him when we get there on the 23rd



A fuel stop in Truro where we had traffic lights to get into this huge site with fuel stop and restaurant, truck parking and for good measure a Freightliner Dealer’s workshop, so a work shot.



We were grateful to get to Baddeck and had a yummy dinner and now getting ready for bed so we’re ready for another big day tomorrow. This is a little lighthouse we passed on our way to our accommodation taken from the wharf when we went to dinner



And a wider shot in the moonlight on our return

We enjoyed a lot of time on the Trans Canadian Highway today and it was a terrific piece of infrastructure literally going up and down over a mountain range and beyond. Signs to say to expect winter conditions for big distances and many miles of snow markers each side of the roadway and signs to be aware there can be snow blowing across the road as well. Happy to say we didn’t experience any of that!

Bits and Bobs:

I missed the (one of) Midland Truck Depot on the way off PEI, this is a rreally very polished fleet we have seen throughout Canada. A light almost wedgewood green metallic livery with a white stripe. Probably more on the green side than grey and without doubt every one we have seen looks great. Good to see.



The last of our PEI signs. Haven’t seen this one anywhere else, I note that one of the sponsors of the sign is MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) Makes sense.

Last night’s Accommodation:



The Sonata Inn
3 Grafton Street
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A1K3

A stately building beautifully maintained with lovely facilities. Large room, tea and coffee making facilities, guest laundry (we found after doing our washing by hand DOH!) roomy dining room and mezzanine sitting area with DVD library. Breakfast included (delicious) free parking and helpful staff. Sounded a bit freaky hearing so much noise from other suites but didn’t detract from the experience overall. Good value for money.

The day dawned sunny but was soon cloudy and rain forecast to come in from the south west by lunchtime so we headed north to explore the world of Lucy Maud Montgomery and ‘Ann of Green Gables’ the creation of Ms Montgomery.



The farmhouse which inspired the home of ‘Green Gables’ in the book



Ann’s room as described in the book



A couple of things which DO exist are the ‘Haunted Forest’ with a scary man obstructing the path or so he said



And ‘Lovers Lane’ with me looking towards my lover



The Ann of Green Gables Museum home of an Aunt and Uncle of Ms Montgomery. She is said to have stated that this was her favourite place on earth

We have just loved the country scenes throughout Prince Edward Island. The land is obviously productive and this is all framed in incredibly beautiful undulating country well treed and scattered with picturesque houses and farm buildings. Real picture book stuff. What a treat to these former farm kids to experience.



A combination of farmland and fishing scene on the way to Cavendish. We hoped the colourful buildings may have a coffee shop amongst them…no, all fisherman’s sheds and no coffee in sight



One for the grandkids. This was in Kingston and the sign said ‘Haunted House’



On our way to downtown Charlottetown for coffee and we discovered the Fire House with the 1929 fire truck out for a polish



St Dunstan’s Basilica. The first Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown founded St Andrews College the first post-secondary institution in the colony in 1831 which was re-located and re-opened in Charlottetown as St Dunstan’s College (later University). The University Board of Governors base is next door.



A lovely old walking street in the University area



Peake’s Wharf where we had a beautiful ‘Moos’ ice-cream



A bonded warehouse in the prohibition days



A lighthouse along the waterfront beyond what looks like a Governor’s residence (coat of arms and flags all over the place)



An example of some serious real-estate on the water’s edge. This wasn’t far from the Governor’s residence (see above) and the historic Beaconsfield House

Bits and Bobs:

Forgot to say yesterday once we were on the main highway that we were blown away by the huge numbers of 5th wheelers and caravans and Winnebago’s of all size and description heading west. Really must be considered the end of the summer holiday season



A sign to discourage drink driving we haven’t seen anywhere else. We have also seen some other interesting signs only on Prince Edward Island so if it’s dry when we leave tomorrow I’ll try and get them

Today’s weather was a huge improvement on yesterdays and it felt soooo good to feel the warmth of the sun. We had beautiful views of quaint farm buildings and fields as we headed out of Grand Falls and then sparse communities spread through the mountains where the farming gave way to logging activities and miles and miles of beautiful forest with much water lying about in streams ponds and lakes. It was a bit daunting heading for the mountain stretch to read the sign ‘Expect Winter conditions for the next 138 kms’. There was also no fuel for that stretch (and nothing other than forest also but it was a pretty ride. Thankfully we didn’t encounter any snow but a bit of mist and VERY cold weather with the grip heaters cranked right up and lots of layers of clothes.



A cute little Church on the side of the road, one of many we saw today

Would have loved to get a shot of the changing autumn leaves in the high country (they have obviously experienced icy conditions to start the change) but we had a lot of kms to make and there weren’t too many wide spots to pull off to park up. As we gradually descended to a lower altitude the temperature improved and yippee as the day progressed we could turn the grip heaters back to 3 instead of 5 all day yesterday and thinking they weren’t working. Lovely!



A road works maintenance yard. The salt storage shed is the pointed one on the right and the large storage shed has the vinyl / tarpaulin type material over a metal frame like a lot of new barns,



We were blown away by the Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. 13 kms long!!!!! Unbelievably impressive. It is apparently the longest span bridge which sits over ice. Doesn’t give much of an idea really and doesn’t really show the highest section for larger ships to pass underneath



A shot from under the bridge (2 lanes only) and the speed limit was 80kmh today according to the electronic sign so I imagine it can be reduced if needed. Also a number of traffic lights across to stop traffic if needed

Bits and Bobs:



The New Brunswick version of a weighbridge sign



Bus stop ahead. Have also seen them with a red light instead of amber and that is a school bus stop.



Finally got my ‘Moose” sign. There are several versions of these. Just a moose, a moose with ‘attention’ underneath, a colliding moose and car asking to avoid collisions and one the same as this but with flashing lights and a warning to reduce speed at night.



And finally a sign before many bridges warning of bridges icing up before the roadway

Last night’s Accommodation:



Hilltop Motel & Restaurant
131 Madawaska Road
Grand Falls (New Brunswick) E3Y1A7

A lovely warm welcome from the staff and a lovely warm comfortable room. Good facilities, comfortable bed and parking for the bikes. Great restaurant onsite where the food was good and service great also. Good value for money.

Well today was definitely on the side of endurance rather than enjoyment. The day started off pouring rain and with much water pooling on the roads and continued that way all of the day when it wasn’t hailing (and man did that sting the old shins through the merino long johns, draggen jeans and waterproofs) and then had some fog thrown in for good measure as we climbed higher as well as the rain and or hail up until the last 50 KM when it dried up briefly and then alternated light rain with dry patches. The fact that we had strong wind all day meant the road was largely dry for the last run into Grand Falls and the waterproofs were more or less dry.



We started the day with a ferry ride across the St Lawrence River. The Ferry attendant asked “did the GPS send you here?” and when we said “yes” he replied “they haven’t figured out there is a bridge up the river a bit, but the ferry saves you about 43 kms anyway” and with the way the weather looked we were grateful



A look back to the old city skyline of Quebec and the ship Sharen and Ken will climb on today and then travel (in the dry) to meet us in Boston. To the far right the steam / smoke is from a paper mill. We’ve seen quite a few in Canada and also a huge timber mill today as well.



Also because of the weather although we travelled through what was probably some of the most picturesque country we have seen on this trip our cameras were safely tucked away in the dry and even had they not been they wouldn’t have done justice to the first up intensive farming mixed with forest areas and then high country grasses water and marshland broken up by rocky crags and then tree covered hills disappearing into lakes. Ahh…what a shame. Anyway this is a brief shot where we stopped at a truck stop for lunch and sat for the first time at a diner style counter to eat so we didn’t drip all over their café floor. The soup was hot and welcome.



And here are the Grand Falls where two rivers merge and there is a barrier to hold back water depending on the season and how much is needed for power generation and how much damage can be done with the ice as it breaks up. Our Motel is on the top right hand edge of the view




And one from below the falls of the canyon walls with a bridge over connecting two sides of the town

Bits and Bobs:

Saw some great road signs today but will hopefully come across more of them another day when it is dry enough to stop and take a photo.

Last 2 night’s Accommodation:



Le Port-Royal Hotel & Suites
144 rue Saint-Pierre
Quebec City QC G1K8N8

Quirky little Hotel with a Pub and Restaurant attached and car parking out front. The original building was built in 1860 and was a market for 75 years specialising in coffee tea and chocolate and has undergone a number of transformations since. We are in the original hotel building and have a lovely stone wall facing onto the square with a killer view across the square to the old part of Quebec (as you have already seen). Staff is very helpful and friendly. Good facilities in the room including a cook top, microwave / inverter oven, fridge and sink. Nice spot to drop for a couple of days and on the doorstep of the old city.

Last nights Dinner:
The current restaurant at the Hotel (Le Quay 19) has been open for 3 months and was hopping last night. Their Chef won the Quebec Master Chef competition and the food was delicious, a reasonable cost and all the staff were friendly and attentive. Good value for money. They are currently showcasing a local artist (spectacular sailing paintings all for sale) and plan to change artists and paintings every 3 months. Nice touch.

The view of the square from our window last night



Dinner with Ken, Norm, Nola and Sharen in what is supposed to be one of the oldest houses in the old city which was very quaint inside, and the meal was beautiful as well. Decided to take a photo as we left but it was raining when we left.



Looking up the street to the funicular which pops up just outside of Sharen and Ken’s hotel – The Chateau Frontenac on the top left hand side of this shot



A view of the top of the Chateau Frontenac with a helicopter which was circling all day covering the Cyclist Grand Prix. Cadel Evans was riding but we didn’t manage to see him (we don’t think) in spite of witnessing many passes throughout the day



An early round of the Cyclist Grand Prix outside of the restaurant where we ate last night. It was very impressive and then when a tail ender was passing us two team cars both tried to overtake him and one bumped him and he fell heavily. He did well not to pick the bike up and throw it I thought



The restaurant today



The City Hall



A rear view of the Post Office which was a stunning building



Norm on the boardwalk outside the Chateau with the ship Sharen and Ken will board tomorrow



With the Cyclist Grand Prix on today there was no hop on hop off bus tours so we had to resort to walking. Oh dear, and who did we run into on our way back to the hotel? You guessed it Sharen and Ken so we started our afternoon off a little earlier then intended and here is a great mural we discovered in the fog last night, it tells the story of Quebec’s history



The only Mountie we have managed to catch up with so far



A nice spot for coffee in Our Lady of Victories Square(Notre dame Victories)



A quick shot inside the church before it closed. Apparently when the British were about to invade the French Colony of Quebec the locals packed the Church in panic and prayed they would survive. There was a massive thunderstorm and many ships of the British fleet sunk and they retreated. Pretty powerful this praying stuff!



Yet another attractive walking street in the old town below the walled city.



Yay!! When Sharen and Ken got back to their hotel who should they run into but Cadel Evans so of course an autograph was the order of the day

Bits and Bobs:



We have seen many different versions of this sign warning of falling snow. Don’t think I would like to be walking anywhere in these streets when the thaw sets in!

With predictions of thunderstorms strong winds and possibly hail we headed out ready for a day more on the side of endurance rather than enjoyment and within a few minutes were riding through road works with the road dug up and inundated with water. Not very friendly but we soldiered on and headed north east on the motorway and when it wasn’t raining it was pelting rain until we headed for Joliette for a coffee and we even glimpsed some patchy faint blue sky in the direction we were heading. We found some coffee and by the time we finished it had stopped raining and the sun was out

We had previously decided that the US and Canadian favourite pastime was to play golf given all the manicured courses we have come across ,both public and resort on this trip but today with all the many and varied Church’s, Cathedrals and Basilicas we have seen we think Church building is right up there as well.



Joliette Cathedral. With all the adjoining buildings this looks like a University / Seminary type arrangement but the road was ripped up so we couldn’t get all that close and didn’t really have time either



Joliette square with a water feature to the right. We had coffee at the end of this part of the square



Heading out of town Norm spotted a motorbike shop and I needed a bolt in the back of the Pillion backrest so we wheeled in there and got one and he discovered this Victory bike and the mini snowmobile which needless to say we haven’t seen in Australia



Sanctuary du Notre Dame Basilica du Cap at Cap-de-la-Madeleine. A relatively new building and very nice and HUGE! Had lunch at the restaurant



Inside the Basilica



The Visitation Champlain (I think) Church



Cute house not far from the church

Thankfully the weather stayed dry from lunch on but remained very humid and was hot when we got into Quebec as we negotiated one way lanes and barricades in place for a bike grand prix tomorrow



The yummy view from our hotel room and the tower to the left is the tower from the Seminary

Bits and Bobs:



A sign we don’t have at home – notice that there will be snowmobiles crossing ahead



And another one – a Weighbridge sign…love the old fashioned scales and weights. Cracks me up

Last night’s Accommodation:



Couldn't get back far enough to get the full 24 storeys in but we got two good bikes in so a bonus.

Intercontinental Montreal
360 St Antoine West (Ouest)
Montreal QC H2Y 3X4

Beautiful hotel, beautiful room (big), beautiful bed, fantastic and helpful staff, great restaurants and bar areas serving up delicious food and drinks and parking underneath and even the heating / cooling controls on the wall are connected to something and they alter the temperature as they are supposed to…what more can I say?

It’s been moving today to see and hear commentary about the 12th Anniversary of 9/11 and made us grateful for what we are free to experience both here and at home. Lest we forget.

We went on a hop on hop off tour this morning and didn’t enjoy it. The commentary sounded like someone reading from a phone book (the bit we could hear of it) but we enjoyed the company of some holidaying Canadians who are here to see the big ships which come in tomorrow…of course they do, we will be gone. That Murphy never rests. When we finally got off the bus and onto another for a short time found a brilliant guide. DOH, where was he when we needed him? The best bit about it was being on top of the bus and in the breeze as it has been a very hot and humid day. Severe thunderstorms predicted for tonight and tomorrow. Could be fun.



The lane behind our hotel…enclosed, looks awesome. Lots of shops here also and there are huge areas of shops underground in Montreal, 1,600 shops according to the guide



A cute sight from the bus, we saw several of these groups



And even cities have to receive brick deliveries…feel sorry for them with some of the skinny winding streets they have to negotiate in the old part of town



Liked the look of this silhouette sculpture of wolves



Also the awning with the Blues Brothers above this Jazz restaurant



We found bikes parked up in heaps of places throughout the city and even when they weren't in groups like this they were often in1's and 2's behind cars at intersections



This was a sculpture at the door of the Centre of Contemporary Art , looked like glass and turns out it was and apparently took 3 months to assemble here and will soon be removed to protect it from super cold weather. The exhibition it is part of has been so popular that it has been open 7 days a week. Very cool!



St Joseph’s Oratory (210m high) as we climbed the road to Mount Royal



A misty view from the top of Mount Royal over the Olympic Stadium and part of the city



Montreal’s Cathedral (a reduced scale mode of St Peters Basilica in Rome) and surrounds



Notre Dame Basilica (Montreal Version) looks a lot like the Paris one from the front



A quirky way to tour the city and I swear the front horse stood up straighter when I focused the camera

A bit of a dilemma this morning. Montreal had a forecast of 33c and humid but had been told if we stayed north of the St Lawrence River the road would be more curvy BUT there was a heavy cold front coming in from the north so instead we decided to cut and run and came into Montreal via the freeway / motorway / highway / parkway (whatever it is called here). We were in for a late lunch and got a tip from the bellboy who was rapt with our bikes of a great spot to go for yummy food. By the way the 33c hasn't eventuated and we had rain or drizzly mist and wet roads nearly all the way to Montreal. The roads only dried out when we were well along the city freeway and we still have low cloud with the tops of multi storey buildings disappearing into the mist.



Waiting for our table at ‘Olive + gourmando’ which was really hopping. We sat down at 2.30pm after waiting 10minutes for a table (seat about 50) and it was well worth waiting for DELICIOUS. People continued to queue for tables the whole time we were there and the lunch crowd gradually moved on to the afternoon coffee and cake crowd



We had just left the café when we saw this W Model Kenworth trying to see-saw his way around a corner and then shortly after we met him coming back to attack the street from a different angle and started pumping out something from somewhere. Certainly the right size motor for the job!



This building has been a hospital / hospice for a couple of hundred years. The partially demolished wall was to make way for St Pierre Street to the St Pierre River



An impressive couple of buildings at the end of St Pierre Street (goes down beside our hotel) onto the old dock area on the river. Across the river we found an ugly example of modern architecture (as well as a couple of other examples I won’t include here) and a massive silo arrangement with rusting metal and broken windows everywhere we looked.

Bits and Bobs:



An interesting ‘No Parking’ sign we found at the Ottawa Civilisation Museum – basically ‘Park here and you will visit court and the judge and their gavel will deal with you’



Have seen many of these throughout Canada, just missed one for Moose as well, and might find another one later on.



On our way to lunch Norm said “Oh I just had a terrible sinking feeling” when I asked what he was talking about he pointed to the sign above.



Spotted this on our way to lunch also. They were very small one way streets; perhaps it is to discourage racing through the streets….or excessive noise….who knows. Never seen one before.



On our table at lunch.

Last night’s Accommodation:



Minto Suite Hotel
185 Lyon Street North
Ottawa ON K1R 7Y4

The Hotel was a nice place to drop for a couple of nights. Comfortable space within the hotel and our room, lovely restaurant and facilities and the staff are great. Convenient with all we wanted to see. Small kitchen so possible to be self-contained if wanted. Couldn’t ask for more. Bikes are safely tucked away in the underground car park so happy about that and we were free to roam this great capital city of Canada. Taxi at the door all hours. Good value for money.

We also shared a lovely dinner in the adjacent Prime 360 Steakhouse with Sharen and Ken.

Parliament buildings (middle of three) day time



And at night



We did a hop on and off bus tour and found the Civilisation Museum, the left and right edges of the building represent the two Canadian mountain ranges the Appalachians and Rockies with the prairie land between represented by the grass. In the background you can see the back of the parliament buildings and the parliamentary library the round building



We got off the bus at the Aviation Museum which we enjoyed. This is in the foyer and is a plane originally used by the air force for initial pilot training but now only used by the acrobatic pilots (like the Roulettes at home)



We enjoyed our time in the cockpit of the same sort of plane



Notre Dame Cathedral (Ottawa version)



The Prime Minister’s Residence



A street view heading for the Market area



Convention Centre



The Hotel Fairmont Chateau Laurier with a War Memorial in the foreground



Locks on the Rideau Canal beside the Chateau Laurier – which is emptied out to 2 feet deep in the winter and locals can skate for 8kms!



Another Government building mirrored in its neighbour across the street

Bits and Bobs:



Having been born a ‘Bell’ Norm thought it appropriate that I include that I have my very own call / telephone box (many) in Canada!



The Cruising, the coffee, the company, what can I say…I’m lovin it!

The morning dawned clear and sunny and we headed out for breakfast. This is the main street of Wellington which used to be a tiny country town until tourism came to town but it hasn’t lost any of its charm. The café was to the left of our accommodation



Looking from inside the Red Poppy into the street. We loved the pressed tin walls and ceiling



A quick look at Lake Ontario behind our accommodation before we headed off



We crossed from Prince Edward County back to the mainland over this bridge. It was really steep on the other side and then a more gradual descent this side, I guess to accommodate yachts and other boats in the channel



Following a lot of productive farmland right down to the lake edge (not the sea which I’m finding it hard to get my head around) we found an impressive Church in Kingston



A view of a property on the road from Kingston to Brockville



Looking up to the Courthouse and Courthouse Square in Brockville



Tonight we headed to the ’Fairmont Chateau Laurier’ to celebrate Sharen’s birthday with drinks and dinner. They have a half day on their tour tomorrow and we have a lay day so we will catch up in the afternoon as well. This is in the restaurant as we had our dinner which was delicious! L - R Nola, Norm, Ken, Sharen.

Bits and Bobs:



Quirky décor at the Newsroom Suites.

Last night’s Accommodation:



Newsroom Suites
Prince Edward County
269 Main Street
Wellington, ON, Canada

Well the Newsroom Suites were an unexpected treat. Comfortable bed and space. Small dining bench and sink, fridge and microwave and other appliances so possible to be self-contained if you wanted to. Generous size bathroom and beautiful linens and towels. There are 3 apartments we were # 3 on the veranda. The other 2 are upstairs and the office and what looks like a big office so perhaps a local paper…who knows on the ground floor as well. Love the garden out front which is a delight and also gives good privacy. A quirky decorating feature are an antique camera and typewriter (similar to what I learnt on) ouch, pains me to say that. (above in the bits and bobs). Nice and cosy and comfortable. No meals on site but dinner across the street and breakfast only a couple of shopfronts away.

Last night's dinner:
Also enjoyed our dinner at ‘Pomodour’ (the sister restaurant of the one directly across the road which was booked out and only spot was at the bar at the front door…no thanks). As it was at Pomodour we sat at the bar (a broad single slice of a tree) but could get served straight away. Loved the industrial décor and sweet smell of wood as well as a DELICIOUS DINNER. Have enjoyed the Canadian cuisine more than the American so far.

Breakfast was had at the ‘Tall Poppy’….clearly not in Australia or no one would be game to dine there for fear of being ridiculed / criticised etc. but the meal was superb.

The forecasters were right it started raining overnight and didn’t let up for much of the day so we donned our waterproofs which worked well and gradually got ourselves into a manageable rhythm. We (well me) were grateful for the lower maximum speeds today especially on the concrete highways as they were very wet and slick and we were wary after seeing lots of shiny patches on the concrete yesterday so it was gently as we went. We planned to travel more rural roads away from large amounts of traffic and road spray and it worked well and also meant we saw lots of lovely little communities and some incredible real estate especially on any lakeshore we came across.



Glad we got some photos on our way to dinner last night because the camera didn’t surface until briefly at lunchtime today and when we got into Wellington. This is a Collingwood street scene. Attractive town with a population of approximately 19,500.



We liked this Mural in Collingwood. Happy not to see graffiti anywhere.



Look what we found on our walk back to our accommodation last night. The music out the back on the deck sounded pretty good!

It was a shame it was so wet today because we travelled through some spectacularly beautiful and productive farmland and even some leafy forest areas which were reminiscent of the UK. Norm was pleased we found some gently undulating terrain today with some corners as he has found the last few days with long long straight stretches of flat road mesmerising and not his favourite riding…I agree.



We had lunch at a bar and grill next door to the Art Deco style Roxy Theatre in Uxbridge and loved the quirky building behind as well. Note the curved (half tank) roof of the theatre which is the same as what was the old theatre at home in Traralgon.



Wellington is a gorgeous place and would be a great spot to drop and explore for a bit. What a welcome sight, this is the veranda directly in front of our suite tonight. Lovely! I really should have been sipping a cool drink while Norm washed the bikes (which were filthy disgusting) and he used the drink bottles we had been using and no longer will since one leaked over everything in my pannier.



And this is the view from the veranda to the main street and to the restaurant across the road where we will dine tonight. Even in a downpour (God forbid) we shouldn’t get too wet.

Bits and Bobs:

Interesting to see the different variation of road kill on the roads here compared to home. We have seen evidence of squirrels and raccoons with an occasional deer and even an eagle yesterday. A change from wombats, rabbits, foxes and the occasional wallaby or kangaroo….not looking forward to encountering a deer, moose or elk and in fact also not a bear or mountain lion. We Aussies aren’t used to NOT being the end of the food chain. We saw signs today to beware of deer n the spring and fall and it is the fall now.



A resident squirrel at our Collingwood accommodation



A sign on the door of the bar and grill where we had lunch today. Appealed to my sense of humour. You can also see opening hours.

Last night’s Accommodation:



Joseph Lawrence House B & B
492 Hurontario Street
Collingwood ON L9Y 2N1

A lovely stately home beautifully furnished and comfortable. Would be lovely to spend several days here. We had the Oxford room (1st floor) with ensuite which was tastefully decorated and comfortable and I could have stayed in the bed all day!. The common sitting area and breakfast room were lovely and the large side veranda sitting area a superb spot to sit with a glass of wine in the evening (shame I didn’t have one). The gardens are a delight and the owners own quarters are not intrusive on the guest space nor (I hope) the guest space on theirs. Our hosts were welcoming and helpful but left us to do our own thing so we were happy. Happy to recommend it and good value for money with breakfast included and my goodness what a breakfast it was...my first ever candlelight breakfast!

Also enjoyed our dinner at the ‘Admiral’s Post’ a pub / bistro but with a good menu and great service.

After yesterday being so cold we donned our merino long johns and long sleeve T’s today and were much more comfortable even without the Dri-az-a-bone (oil skin) over pants and along the lake views saw some spectacular real estate and many buildings reminiscent of the Lindel Cedar Home we imported from Canada in 1972 and other more palatial examples they also produced. Many look all year round residences but a huge number holiday homes only.

When we fuelled up this morning the attendant told Norm “you’re the second lot of Louisiana plates we’ve had here in two days, the first ones were two bikes and an RV up here huntin bear”. Norm asked “do you get many bear up here?” to which the reply was “ooh yeah”. Needless to say we didn’t stop for an afternoon nap outside of town anywhere today.



Working farm north of Sauble Beach on the way to Tobermory



Looking from the war memorial across the harbour at Tobermory. Saw a sticker equivalent to the ‘Buy Australian’ slogan we have on the back of a pick-up truck it said “still got a job? Keep buying foreign”. We have seen a lot of evidence of abandoned small acreage properties and houses and partially completed subdivisions today. This is largely an area reliant on summer trade so a 3 month window of opportunity. Must be tough!



An example of an old giant of a barn just north of the turn off to Lions Head in the process of disintegrating but still working with hay inside it and grain trucks lined up.



Looking along the cliff face from the marina in Lions Head



An enjoyable lunch was had at Wiarton Inn and this was the view across the street which was jam packed with cars and people …. good to see.



The front on view of the Inn…with a couple of good bikes to see as well…what a surprise!



Looking across Owen Sound where we had enjoyed the view (as also in Colpoys Bay east of Wiarton) where we rode between great cliffs and a couple of islands in view off shore as well so I assume carved out by glaciers many years ago.



We stopped for a quick stretch (and photo) in Owen Sound and the bike was surrounded by interesting wary looking individuals quite quickly. The guy in the red T shirt was full of a story of how his bike had been stolen by a crack dealer and he subsequently stole it back and so it went on ... Norm decided to let me take the photo by myself and he would stay with the bikes then we got out of there quick. We can only assume that tawdry people on motorbikes supply drugs in the area.

By the way the maximum speed we could travel today was 50 – 80 KMH and this wasn’t because of the condition of the road which was brilliant but those were the MAXIMUM speeds. The only positive is that we have had brilliant fuel economy!

Bits and Bobs:



Interesting parking sign in Grand Bend which we discovered last night says more than you might expect. The Council at Sauble Beach has instituted exorbitant parking fees increasing them over the last 5 years with a drop in local business then a minimal recovery initially but this last year a dramatic decline. They are currently $15.00 and a $25.00 fine if you park for over 2 hours and accommodation numbers there have reduced by 60% and a number of attractions didn’t bother opening for the summer (the ONLY season they have to earn an income). So much for supporting business! The only consolation the townsfolk have is that the beautiful Sauble beach will still be there when the bean counters in the Municipal Offices are long gone.

Last night’s Accommodation:



Centennial Motel
10 Sauble Falls Parkway, General Delivery,
Sauble Beach, Ontario N0H 2G0
351 Gratiot Avenue

A comfortable motel, well maintained, clean, comfortable bed and room to spread our stuff about to sort out and convenient to the beach. Our host was very welcoming and helpful which was good to experience at the end of a pretty big day. There is also a pool and hot tub but after a very cold windy ride we didn’t bother trying them out. Dinner and breakfast options handy. Good value for money.

We also enjoyed our dinner at the ‘Red Road’ restaurant an indigenous restaurant which had great food and service and also good value for money. No alcohol available (only coke products) but didn’t detract from the experience.

Well where we stayed last night ‘looked’ like the sort of area in movies one should avoid at night with some interesting individuals travelling back and forth and yelling for no apparent reason. I have to confess I felt relieved we could cover our bikes before they were there for too long and that they were still there this morning. DOH we had brought some disc locks for the bikes and forgot we had them! We really must be losing the plot. Detroit (home of the car industry) really is a dying city and the area we were in was quite empty and the hotel I’d say is part of a bid to renew things and they did it quite well. We were told today (not in Detroit) that there used to be 1.98 million people in Detroit and there are now about 980,000 which is staggering!



A hint of the Detroit skyline from behind our hotel…it looked quite attractive really.



We crossed into Canada over a massive bridge around Port Edward and were welcomed into Canada by a brusque young officer. Don’t know if he speaks any differently to people when he’s mad at them or he just has one winning way to do it. Didn’t impress either of us in fact the first grump we have come across on this trip.



A quaint little Church where we headed off Lakeshore Road (a lie except for a couple of brief glimpses) to find the Ipperwash Beach on the lake which was quite lovely and unbelievably rough.



The other side of the road shows some interesting contrasts. A farmhouse (hiding behind trees) and barns (old school) and a solar panel and wind turbines to the right (new school). These were the first of many and showed us that it wasn’t unseasonal but ‘normal’ for there to be a gale blowing and we saw many many more between there and our destination.

We have enjoyed the changing views today with farmland changing from huge expanses of corn and other crops, then to vegetable growing and later cattle which I assume are dairy as we have seen a cheese factory or two. Been interesting to see the variations in the barns as the type of farming has changed and sad to see some beautiful old timber barns literally disintegrating.



We detoured into the little lakeside village of Grand Bend which was an interesting mix of real estate from expensive to pretty scarily rough.



An example of a well-kept barn and silo complex and again the house hidden behind trees and given the wind likely so it is protected!



We enjoyed seeing the picturesque town of Goderich Ontario. There is a major refurbishment underway of the town centre and this is the Courthouse in the centre of (not surprisingly Courthouse Square) though it is in fact an 8 sided square surrounded on the outer rim by a collection of picturesque shops. Looking across at the Courthouse.



We arrived in Sauble Beach late in the day and checked out the beach after we checked in and where to get a meal. A very nice beach and the wind is nowhere near as rough as it was when we checked out the beach this morning when there were literally rows of white caps pounding on the shore … pretty impressive since it is a lake!



We dined at an indigenous restaurant on the beach and this is the tail end of the sunset.

Bits and Bobs:



The dogs in Goderich Ontario can apparently read as I found this on a shop wall. …. Okay so it was beside a pet grooming shop and it was too high for them to read anyway being my waist height but it appealed to my sick sense of humour.

Yesterday as we were trying to track down a toll transponder bracket and unlocked phone we parked in the car park around a massive shopping centre (J C Penny’s, Sears and several other brands) and the car park space was massive! Literally acres and acres but we could ride anywhere we wanted across car park spaces to get anywhere we wanted without having to steer around parked cars. It was scarily empty….almost looked deserted! The Auto shop had no cars being serviced and there was NOTHING parked anywhere near there and the stock in there was extremely limited. The few shops in the complex we went into were all but empty of customers and were loaded with stock with very few staff anywhere. It was eerily empty and we found ourselves thinking how we had previously thought retail business in Australia was slow but it’s nothing to what we saw yesterday.

We were also directed to a Lowes store looking for a transponder bracket (a Bunnings equivalent) which had good patronage and the car park area was reasonably full which led us to assume that people are maintaining their homes themselves rather than spending money on just shopping.

By the way, last night on the TV there was advertising for 0% interest for car purchases which is supposedly starting to stimulate some interest. Pretty grim all round really.
PS. We have seen many more examples of empty car parks around shopping centres today including in the one we finally got a phone … now we are in the process of getting it unlocked! No unlocked phones sold in Canada we are told. A security issue perhaps as we had to provide a verifiable name and address to apply for the unlocking.

Last night’s Accommodation:



Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Downtown
351 Gratiot Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226

The hotel is really very nice and has great amenities complete with restaurants and bars and gym and pool. Parking is available though we were told to park the bikes on the footpath adjacent to the rear entry where the parking attendants monitor the comings and goings so it didn’t cost us anything. We were pleased about both because it didn’t cost us anything and because the area looked like it has its challenges. All the staff were welcoming and friendly and the room and bed beautifully comfortable.

We had a 9.30am slot for breakfast and were quite grateful after what felt like a big day yesterday. The resort was a welcome sight to two weary travellers last night after finally getting all our bits and pieces sorted at the bike shop then grappling with the traffic and heading off for a pretty solid ride. I’m happy to report that the conclusion we had made about the interstate traffic yesterday was confirmed again today and that was that overall it was more predictable and not as fast or as pushy as on a lot of the motorways in the UK so we had the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the bikes without being under too much pressure.



We had hoped to see Meyer May House which was one of the last Prairie-style family homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright so headed for Grand Rapids (a huge city we hadn’t planned to explore) and mistakenly thought it was attached to the Voight House Victorian Museum…and it may have been but that was closed however the trip want wasted as the Museum was surrounded by many beautiful homes. The one above was a couple of doors down as an example though brick houses were in the minority.

The pressure today came from wasting close on 2 hours in a couple of bursts trying to track down another toll transponder holder because the transponders are much larger than we have at home and both carriers we brought are way too small. We got one at the bike shop but so far haven’t come across another bike shop. We were also looking for an unlocked phone for Norm to drop his sim card in it since the one he brought with him doesn’t work here and after being told at AT&T in Chicago that they don’t sell them but any Radio Shack would we found one this morning and nope they don’t sell them so we decided to try another one later in the day and you guessed it they didn’t either. Have had the same luck with the transponder carrier in spite of being redirected to many auto parts places so we will see tomorrow. Interesting to see all the shops which don’t sell unlocked phones compared to home where they are in supermarkets and roadside fuel stops at home.



Streetscape in Lansing.

Enough whingeing we have enjoyed the great views as we have ridden through densely leafy forests and acres of cornfields and many more broad-acre crops punctuated with picturesque barns and farm buildings peeking above the crops, just lovely. With time slipping away we decided to call in to the Oldsmobile Transportation Museum in Lansing as we figured we would be too late to get to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.



A very cool looking Oldsmobile (late 30’s or early 40’s but cannot remember exactly)



More from the Oldsmobile Transportation Museum – a 1908 and 1938 REO fire truck.

On the work side of things we’ve seen heaps more trucks today predominantly long bonneted Freightliners and Volvos. We’ve loved seeing lots of Freightliners painted the same colour as our Trucks, Light Stellar Blue including the different versions we have seen over the years. I have to say the sweeping striping on ours and detailing certainly enhances the effect.



After seeing lots of great vehicle combinations coming towards us it got too much for Norm and he pulled into a roadside break area to see if he could find any and was rewarded with this shot.

We have enjoyed seeing a huge variation of trucks freight and vehicle configurations today. Michigan is the home of ‘Michigan Mules’ which basically means you keep adding axles to increase the weight you can carry and we saw many different versions of that today including massive girders under escort and blades for turbines parked up for the night.



Shot this one when we fuelled up at a small servo, he was stuck while another truck fuelled up.



And another as we came out from having a bit of lunch on the way to Lansing.

Bits and Bobs:



This bank sign caught my eye in South Haven. Now maths may not be my greatest strength but I’d like the people looking after my money to make a bit more sense than this!

Last night’s Accommodation:



The Victoria Resort
241 Oak Street
South Haven, Michigan 49090 USA
www.VictoriaResort.com

The resort is set in a large lush shady garden and although relatively old is in excellent condition and has been lovingly maintained and decorated. There are a number of separate cabins and we were downstairs in a multiple dwelling where 3 small rooms are now a cosy bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. The furnishings are lovely, bed was cosy and comfortable and apart from a few plumbing and creaking timber noises which is to be expected from a building this old it was incredibly peaceful and it didn’t detract from our experience. Our host was very welcoming and helpful and our breakfast in the charming little breakfast room was a great start to the day. Good value for money.

Great value also was a delicious dinner at the Clementine restaurant / bar. Happy to recommend that as well.

We farewelled Sharen and Ken last night after dinner as we planned to head off before holiday sleep in time today and did so. After being quoted a cab fare of around $100.00 yesterday to get to the bike shop we got a cab to the station (about $7.00) train to Westhaven ($10.50 total) then cab (about $8.00) to the bike shop in West Chicago and arrived shortly after 10am to find a couple of great looking bikes waiting for us…..also mighty good to see they really did exist after all the horrified comments we had from people asking if we were SURE they existed and happy to report they do.



Nola getting ready to head off from the bike shop, her bike on the left and Norms on the right.

We had a lovely warm ride from West Chicago to South Haven and I have to tell you Robert at the bike shop had told us some of the highway was a bit poor but it was awesome to what we have in Victoria at the moment and I’m pleased to say they are using thick tar strips to coat cracks in the surface to keep the water out and stop the surface from deteriorating which has stopped at home. Enough of work….other than to say we saw miles and miles of rail yards and empty carriages sitting idle not to mention yards full of empty and ageing semi’s and skel trailers in transport yards on the way. We also saw many many lovely leafy suburbs. What a treat.



It was great to meet the team at Du Page Honda / Yamaha for the two of us and here is Robert (who we have dealt with to make this all happen) Nola and Norm



Lighthouse point on the Eastern shore of Lake Michigan at South Haven.



Looking up the river towards the picturesque town of South Haven and the drawbridge which is just out of sight. By the way as I walked to get back on the bike a couple had just landed a salmon around 2 foot long!

Bits and Bobs:



We have seen lots of people on motorbikes. The locals appear to be the ones without any sort of protective gear….even helmets and the tourists on bike tours are the ones with all the luggage and protective gear. We’ve seen a lot of both.

Last 3 night’s Accommodation:

Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel
221 North Columbus Drive
Chicago IL 60601 USA
www.radissonblu.com/aquahotel-chicago

The hotel was a delight from start to finish. This relatively new hotel being not quite 2 years old is in beautiful condition. Our room was lovely, the bed unbelievably comfortable and the restaurants serve delicious food and there are many places to sit and unwind. The pool and gym facilities are awesome and there is even a ‘tan’ track for guests more serious about their fitness levels than us. Every staff member was cheerful and helpful and we felt incredibly welcome and well cared for. A nice start to our break.



The Aqua building (designed by a woman …YAY!!)Bottom third is the hotel, middle third rental apartments and the top third private condominium accommodation.



Typical of some of the beautiful floral arrangements which were evident in the public areas. A lovely touch.

Where yesterday was hot and humid (31c) today after a brief wild thunderstorm last night is less humid (27c). Another good night’s sleep was followed by exploring more of the ‘Windy City’ on foot firstly and I decided again I love Chicago. The architecture is incredibly varied in style height and surface treatment and no matter which direction you look the vista is different but complimentary. Another feature is that there are many layers of road underneath the city floor so there are wide pathways for foot traffic in the CBD area and the gardens and plantings throughout this area (not just in the Magic Mile) are lush, varied and picturesque. A great look.



An interesting collection of buildings. The tall cylindrical glass one in the background with the telecom tower on top is the Trump Tower. We heard yesterday that the Trump Penthouse has been reduced to 31.5 million dollars to buy, a .5million dollar reduction….any takers?



We think this may have been a deterrent to jay walking and crossing the intersection on red. I asked if I could take their photo and was told ‘yeah that’s fine….so long as you’re not from some down-under type country’ to which I replied ‘I wouldn’t think so!’ Needless to see no one believed that.

We followed our morning stroll with an ‘Architecture River Tour’ (supposed to be the most popular city tour) which was both an opportunity to view the city from the water as well as another perspective from that height and ended up with way too many photos to choose from so have picked this one of some of the skyline.



A skyline view from the river. The tall black tower with two white telecom ariel's is the Sears / Willis Tower.

We closed our day with cocktails in the former Sears Tower now the Willis Tower but had our drink and walk around to take photos from the Hancock observatory on the 96th level for a spectacular view across four states. After the various tours I am totally confused about which is the tallest building in the city so you’d better Google that yourself. We returned to our hotel for dinner and finished organising our gear for tomorrow when we collect our bikes…..both excited and nervous about that.



A view to the north from the tower along the shore of lake Michigan.

Bits and Bobs:

We learnt yesterday that the Architect Burley Griffin who designed Canberra was the second trainee Architect taken on by Frank Lloyd Wright which didn’t really surprise us given the hint of Prairie House look of some of the original buildings in Canberra. Liked the connection!



A handy neighbour to have beside our Hotel if a fire breaks out!

We thankfully sank about 10 feet into the mattress and slept like we were never going to wake up…well except for a toilet stop or two and then to the alarm at 9am this morning. We had a delicious breakfast at the hotel then tried to convince ourselves that we were awake and functioning well enough to venture out and headed out to find a taxi. Thankfully we didn’t come to any harm and had a great day including a twilight tour of the city with an entertaining guide ‘Osiris’ then back to the hotel for dinner and bed.



This is what we found to the left of our hotel in North Columbus Drive when we ventured out..….a road closure for the filming of ‘Transformers 4’. I hope our grandchildren are impressed!



We visited the beautiful leafy suburb of Oak Park to see the work of the Architect Frank Lloyd Wright which was a real treat. This is the first home he built (1889)and subsequently lived in with his wife and family and also worked from when he built his studio (the octagon building to the left of the main home building.) It was a treat to walk through this incredibly practical, timeless and quirky building.




My favourite of all the houses we visited on the self-guided walking tour built in 1896 (Simpson Dunlop House). Incredibly picturesque and lovely to see it is preserved so well given it is privately owned.