Heading North Along the West Coast

Heading North Along the West Coast

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Three months after settling back in our Tiburon home we decided to dive into a road trip across Canada and then return via the USA. We leased a new hybrid plug-in Kia Sportage and took off on August 4, 2024. First stop was two nights in Ashland, Oregon, a city that blends a vibrant arts scene with a beautiful natural environment. It’s primarily known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, but maintains a small-town atmosphere despite its cultural richness. We went…

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Beautiful British Columbia and Banff National Park

Beautiful British Columbia and Banff National Park

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On our 9th day we left the US and enter Canada at the Vancouver border. We were invited to stay with another former IVSC friend and hiking buddy, Vern Blair, and his lady friend Pat. His elegant but comfortable home in North Van is the setting for several films over the years. We ferried to the City to explore on foot, and bicycle the perimeter of Stanley Park, the jewel of the city. We hiked a few trails in the…

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Dropping Down into Montana

Dropping Down into Montana

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It was a shame to leave Banff with its incredible scenery. But we still had places to go and people to see! Dipping down into Montana was a heart-warming experience. In Kalispell, Mary’s college friends Teri and Larry Iwersen were adamant we stay over with them for a night on their 5-acre gentleman’s ranch with impressive vistas of Glacier NP. Teri is the rancher, so to speak, mostly because of her yen for equines. She was once a prize-winning barrel-racer…

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The plains of Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba

The plains of Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba

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Saskatchewan is unique among Canadian provinces for having borders that are based on lines of longitude and latitude rather than natural geographical features. Historically known as the “breadbasket of Canada”, it remains a major agricultural producer of wheat, canola, and other grains and is also the sunniest province in Canada.  The capital was renamed Regina (Latin for “queen”) in 1882 to honor Queen Victoria. The city boasts numerous parks and greenspaces, with all its trees and plants being hand-planted. We…

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It’s Lake Time in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan

It’s Lake Time in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan

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A Colorado friend from my music days lives in Minneapolis. When I mentioned to Julie we would be passing through the Land of 10,000 Lakes, she invited us to visit her and musician-husband Dale Menton at their rustic summer cabin on Woman Lake in northern MN. It’s one of a four-lake chain that also includes – get this – Child Lake, Girl Lake, and Little Woman Lake. To add to the curiously adorable names, not far away are Man Lake, Baby…

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Ontario

Ontario

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Ontario is the most populous province in Canada and second largest by total area. With over 250,000 lakes (claiming far more than Minnesota with 10,000 lakes) these contain one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. It’s a multicultural province, with a significant portion of its population being immigrants from around the world, concentrated mostly in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas. We arrived back in Canada with a stop at Sault Ste Marie. We had just missed seeing a ship clear…

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The French “English” City – Montreal

The French “English” City – Montreal

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After a round of golf on the Thousand Island Parkway, we made tracks to Montreal. As a large city I didn’t feel it necessary to book a hotel in advance. But once again, we were plagued with the problem of a Thule roof carrier keeping inner city garages off limits with our 7-foot clearance. Since staying in the historic district was not going to work we ended up in a suburb 30 minutes away. Luckily the mid-rise Holiday Inn was…

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The French City in Canada – Quebec City

The French City in Canada – Quebec City

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Quebec City, the capital of Quebec, is a historic and charming city known for its French-speaking culture, cobblestone streets and well-preserved fortifications. It’s one of the oldest cities in North America, founded by the French in 1608, and retains a strong European feel. We opted to stay outside the old city but we spent most of our time within the walls. The heat wave finally broke when we arrived so it was much more enjoyable walking around the lovely old city. The…

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New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

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On the drive to PEI we began to see some colorful foliage in New Brunswick. It’s is a Maritime province in eastern Canada known for its vast forests, rugged coastlines, extensive river system, and a unique blend of English- and French-speaking cultures. We touched on the south part of the province 40 years ago, amazed by the Bay of Fundy with the largest tides in the world. This time, driving north to south, the countryside was very pretty. We didn’t…

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Nova Scotia and the Highlands

Nova Scotia and the Highlands

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Almost completely surrounded by water, Nova Scotia is famous for its high tides, lobster, fish, blueberries, and apples. It is the world’s top exporter of Christmas trees. The coastline totals 8,400 miles, double the width of Canada; incredibly, there are 5,000 lakes in the province; we only saw a handful, probably because we mostly followed the coastline. The largest lobster ever caught in the world was in Nova Scotia, weighing 20.14 kg (44 lbs 6 oz). And yet, fun facts…

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Maine

Maine

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Maine’s landscape is best known for its jagged, rocky Atlantic coastline (all 3,478 miles of it, including 4,000 islands), mountains, forests (90% coverage) and picturesque waterways. It is celebrated for its wild blueberries and excellent seafood, especially lobster and clams. We experienced all of it when we visited Deer Isle, south of Acadia National Park. Our nephew, Jeff, lives at the southern end of Stonington with his family, having moved there at the start of Covid, buying a 100-yr old house, sight unseen…brave souls!…

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Heading Home – Massachusetts to Ohio

Heading Home – Massachusetts to Ohio

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Boston was a terrific stopover for 3 days and worth so much more time. It’s rich in history, culture, and educational institutions. From the JFK Library and Museum, to Boston Common, to Concord and Lexington we try to absorb it all but only touched the surface. Across Massachusetts via Hwy 2, a Blue Highway that we always enjoy. In Albany we have the pleasure of staying with my step-sister/cousin Pat and her spouse, Marion. They always show us a good…

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West of the Mississippi

West of the Mississippi

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Once we left Columbus we were bound for St. Louis, my birthplace. Based on my cousin, Geri’s recommendation, we were staying at 21C Museum Hotel in downtown. Boutique hotel meets contemporary art museum, it is an uber-cool concept, a re-imagined YMCA with a gymnasium that now serves as gallery space. We spent an hour after checking in roaming several floors which included the art deco indoor pool from a century ago. Being back in St Louis was wonderful! The city…

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