#124 Jul 2015 Yes, I "Flew" the Airplane!

Our next destination was Woodstock Ontario. We debated about taking the 401 highway or paying the toll to bypass Toronto. The 401 was no problem! After passing Toronto we stopped at a rest area to absorb the fact that we had driven the 401 with an RV towing a car for a total of 54 feet in length.

Richard and Linda welcomed us to their home and the church parking lot. Eikle and Sheila, Keith and Pauline also arrived. We met new friends whom we had previously known only via Skype during LME meetings. A fun evening getting to know one another.

Richard is a private pilot and a member of the Woodstock Flying Club. 

He offered to fly us over Woodstock and really get to know their neighbourhood. Richard is a careful, experienced pilot and we lifted off the grass runway on a beautiful, sunny evening.

 

After a few minutes Richard asked if I would like to fly the plane. Well, I was in the co-pilot seat!

With some trepidation I passed the camera to Ralph and prepared to learn – quickly. I took the “wheel” and learned how easily the plane responded to every little movement. Ralph was seated directly behind me and could not move enough to use the camera but the response of the plane is engraved on my brain. Fantastic!

The fields and city were beautiful in the evening light.

We flew over Richard and Linda’s home and the church parking lot. We spotted our motorhome. A very special view!

Ralph had been concerned about signs of wear on the right front tire of the motorhome. Richard went the extra mile to find a mobile technician. Finally, the third person had the right tools and the front tires were switched left and right. Ralph heaved a sigh of relief and thanked Richard profusely.

We have been to Niagara Falls previously but couldn’t be so close and not experience the thrill again. The spray from the falls can be seen and felt long before seeing the falls.

 

The Canadian Falls are as spectacular as we remembered.

The International Bridge can be seen beyond the American Falls.

 

Towards evening the rainbows were impressive.

We never tire of the beauty of Niagara Falls.

Riding the Incline Railway was a must to get up the hill and back to our car.

#123 Jul 2015 City of 1000 islands

Our next two stops were to visit friends that we know through Lutheran Marriage Encounter. LME weekends focus on strengthening Christian marriages. We have attended two weekends and been involved with planning and administration since the early 1990s.

Ted and Jane live in Brockville Ontario. They made us very welcome and we squeezed our motorhome onto their driveway. We got to know one another better over good food and sightseeing.

Brockville is considered the eastern gateway to the 1000 Islands, an archipelago that straddles the Canada-USA border in the St. Lawrence River.

The Brockville waterfront provides a view of North America’s great inland shipping route where gigantic cargo vessels weave their way through the Brockville Islands.

 

Including the shoals and rocks 1,864 islands range in size from over 100 square km to islands occupied by a single residence or outcroppings of rocks that are home to migratory waterfowl.

The 1000 Islands Observation Tower provides a fabulous view of some of the islands.

 In 1937 the Ivy Lea Bridge connected Ontario Canada and New York USA.

A boat cruise provided a closer view of the islands.

Beginning in 1900 George C. Boldt set out to build a full size Rhineland castle on picturesque Heart Island.

It was to be 6 stories with 120 rooms complete with tunnels, Italian gardens, a drawbridge and a dovecote.

The powerhouse was designed in the fashion of a medieval tower. In reality it was intended to house two generators to supple electricity to the entire island.

The design of the Alster Tower suggests a defense tower similar to those on the Alster River in Germany. It was intended for the entertainment of guests.

In January 1904 tragedy struck when his beloved wife Louise died suddenly. Boldt commanded that all construction stop. For 73 years the castle and various structures were left to the mercy of wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals.

Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and improving the Heart Island structures.

Since the late 1880s, during the Gilded Age, wealthy people have built retreats on the islands.

Others built houses that seem to defy gravity and the power of the river.

In Brockville The Statue of Justice stands proudly atop the Brockville Court House.

Historic Downtown is well maintained and utilitzed.

Completed in 1860, the Brockville Railway Tunnel was Canada’s first railway tunnel. Initially built to link two rivers it became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, which joined two oceans in 1885.

#122 Jul 2015 Highlights of this Trip

Along the east coast of North America we have learned about the early seafarers and explorers who crossed the Atlantic in search of the riches of India. Instead they found the riches of North America and explored the New World.

Ralph and I also explored new lands and the people who settled them along the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida and up the East Coast.  

This six month portion of our trip was an experience of a lifetime.

Cowboy Mardi Gras Parade in Bandera Texas (post 64)

The many faces of New Orleans (post 68, 69, 70)

The ravages of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast (post 71)

Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast (post 73, 74)

Florida Everglades and Key West (post 75, 76)

Orlando Attractions with Family (post 77 to 82)

The Old South Plantations and Slavery (post 85, 86, 87, 88)

Sand Dunes, Seashells and The Wright Brothers (post 89, 90)

The Civil War and The American Revolutionary War (post 91)

 

Flight 93 and Ground Zero (post 97)

The Big Apple (post 98)

Newfoundland Labrador (post 105 to 112)

Nova Scotia (post 104, 115, 116)

New Brunswick (post 103, 117)

Prince Edward Island (post 118, 119, 120)

Quebec city (post 121)

Now, when we look at a map of North America the names and places have memories for us.

We often recognize the setting:

Watching the news

Reading a book

Ignoring TV ads until we say “wasn’t that in ----“

From this point, our route was into provinces and states which we had visited on previous trips.