Onwards into the Heart of Ontario

Just as Montreal was home to me for my adult years in Canada, Toronto was the city of my teen years. Montreal was a time to visit with friends, Toronto is a time to visit with family and friends from high school. Driving around Toronto was like driving around a clean, orderly US city, and driving around Montreal is a cross between a typical North American city with forages into the Europe culture. I love the architecture of both cities – old stone houses, brick mansions, Victorian houses with gingerbread balconies, and a canyon of new apartment and business buildings.

While in Toronto, I got to spend time with family, visit old haunts, and reconnect with nieces and their children who have grown into young adults themselves.

Christine and Donna - my Toronto hosts
Donna and I went to high school together

My niece Pat's son, Sean, and myself

relaxing at their pool

Then hitting the road again, I headed up to Thornbury on Georgian Bay, a part of Lake Huron. What fun it was to take back roads, through the Caledon Hills, and into Mennonite country. One has to drive very carefully here… at every hill I had to slow down (having seen sign that warned of horse driven vehicles) and sure enough, there I was toodling along, and then I realized that the car in front of me was not a car, but a horse driven buggy clopping along. Luckily he pulled over and I went on. Then as I came up and over a hill and Georgian Bay opened up in front of me, and, as Liam puts it, I knew I had reached my destination. Thornbury is a small town, with no McDonalds or any evidence of the chains and franchises that dominate the retail culture, just local businesses and lovely old homes. I went for a walk today and there is a dam and a fish spillway where the salmon can come to go up river to spawn. It is so rustic here.... you can walk to downtown, the harbor and up and down tree lined streets to see 200 year old houses with widow walks on them.

Canada in Bloom

Lilacs, they're everywhere

Bleeding hearts and lilies of the valley

Ever since I arrived in the North East, I have been surrounded by lilacs in bloom, lilies of the valley and bleeding hearts, all the flowers of my childhood that I have missed. As I was driving from the Laurentians to Toronto I passed fields of dandelion puffs, that made the fields look misty and huge hedges and gigantic bushes of lilacs. It is so very green here, as I look out the window of the apartment that I am staying at, all I see is the tops of trees. In the winter, you can see all the houses, but now, just trees.

Being back in Toronto, the city of my high school years, I have gotten to re-visit teen memories. My old house, my high school, my old neighborhood. I keep driving by streets and thinking "I had a friend, a boy friend, a cousin, who lived on this street", but sometimes I can't remember who exactly. Today, my youngest brother came to see me, and we went out to lunch, then went to visit my parents at the Mount Hope Cemetery. We stopped and got flowers and put them on their graves. I must admit to feeling a little sad at living so far away from them. Tomorrow I am having lunch with one of the dearest persons in my life, my godfather. Donley Mogan has been a big part of my life. When my father died, I was 21, Donley became my go-to person, and has been there for me through my divorce and other ups and downs that came my way.

Being Beyond Technology

Undermount - Somewhere in the Laurentians

North West of Montreal

Don and Pam, My hosts

On Monday, when I left Montreal, after the most wonderful time spent with dear friends, and my special hostess Cornelia, I headed off into the Laurentians (the oldest and most ground down of the mountain ranges in North America) to visit a friend who is a international business man, and imagine my surprise when I arrived at their farm and the only technology was the telephone. What a great escape from the modern world. They have created an oasis of hospitality, civility and good friendship. On Tuesday, we went into the Village of St. Sauveur, or what used to be a village, having grown since I was here, to once again have smoked meat for lunch. What a treat! I was very torn, because they also had poutine, but the smoked meat won out. then we walked around the village.... where years ago, we had rented a ski house for the winter. Francois went to Baby Bears ski school here.

Cousin Murray and Patsy

Now on Thursday, I am on the road again, having passed through Ottawa, the nation's capital, yesterday to visit a dear cousin and his wife that I had not seen for many years. (again, no wifi) We had a wonderful time, and as it starts to warm up, Canadian, being Canadians are all outside. I, for many years, lived in a country where the moment it gets warm, everyone goes outside and lifts their face to the sun.

Crevier, my name in Quebec

I took the above picture, mostly for Steph and Francois. This was my name when I lived in Quebec and I forget that no one here knows me as Donley. Next stop was Belleville, Ontario, just outside of Toronto visiting my neighbors who lived across the street when my children were born. The great bonus of this trip is and will be the reconnecting with friends and family that has taken place. Tomorrow I am off to Toronto to stay with a friend from high school.

Cornecopia of Blessings

Monique, and Habs Fever

Sam Keene once said that life is a series of beginnings without endings. This trip has really driven that home as I meet up with friends, some new, and some that go way back into the dark reaches of my life. I have had a lifetime of friendships with some truly wonderful people and am so grateful for the circumstance has brought them into my life.

Since I arrived in Montreal, I have been having a busy time just connecting with old friends. I had a lot of phone numbers, but in a couple of cases, I just rang doorbells and it was fun to see the surprised, then happy reaction. Lots of big hugs. Needless to say that after seventeen or more years, we have all changed some, and some more than others. I always wonder, if I am thinking that they have changed, aged, what are they thinking when they see me. We all say the same thing..... "You have hardly changed, I would have recognized you anywhere." What has changed is that we are all now grandparents and the children I knew years ago, are now themselves parents. Some of the children have changed so much, I would not recognize them.

Driving around Montreal has been an adventure. It is spring and the road repair from winter is well underway.... construction everywhere. Every time I set out on one of my well travelled routes, I get detoured and taken down all different side streets. The bonus of that is that I will go by a street and thing... "that's where Mon Oncle George lived" bringing back memories of many New Years day parties with the French side of the family, and I have seen all the houses that I lived in. I have driven by the schools my son and daughter went to, including the Marcelines, that was totally by accident...actually I was lost at the time.

Today we went shopping downtown to Ogilvys and Holt Renfrew, two establishments for Montreal retail therapy. They look the same from the outside, buy they are so chic and trendy inside I did not feel that I was in the same stores

I knew years ago. Fashion here is very European, and the shoes, though costly, are beautiful. Very tempted. I have to keep reminding myself of what I have at home, and the fashion differences between Montreal and San Jose. On thing I will be doing is raiding the grocery store for things I cannot get in California. Off to have dinner with more dear friends.

MONTREAL

Yesterday morning, we left Mansonville. as we drove away, I could see all the fields and hills, covered in snow looking absolutely gorgeous. The trails on the ski hills as we drove by the different ski centers were sparkling white. Coming into the city, I followed Cornelia in her car, I saw so many sites - some strange, some sentimental:

• a fence made entirely of old bicycles - quirky but novel
• first St. Hubert siting - yummy
• sign for the Granby Zoo - family outings
• the Montreal skyline - I almost cried..
• the Atwater Market - going strong

Once we settled in, I took Cornelia's dog, a little Australian Terrier - Jack, out for a walk and went over to my old neighborhood, just a few blocks from where she lives. Our house is still there, looking as cute as ever. I wanted to knock on the door, but not exactly a Canadian thing to do. Wandering around I saw that although some things had changes, a lot had not. what fun.

I have been getting through to old friends, and the reconnecting has started. Dinner tonight with a dear family friend, lots of catching up to do. I am properly armed for these encounters, thanks to Stephanie, who put together a "Brag Book" for me before I left San Jose.

To add icing to the cake, last night the Habs won their home game, and there was celebrating in the streets near by. Although I do like the San Jose Sharks, my heart will always belong to the Montreal Canadiens (the Habs) and it is very exciting to be in Montreal right now. Many are driving around with Mtl Cdn's flags flying from their car windows. Off to see more of Montreal.........

Snow on Mother's Day

Snow and blossoms in May

(click to enlarge and see the snow)

Well it has been four weeks on the road, and here I am on Mothers Day, happily watching it snow ,while we are inside, cosy with lovely classical music, hot tea and good books. Just another quiet country day.

I must admit, I do miss my San Jose family on Mother's Day. I miss getting a hug from those who still hug, which at the moment is everyone. I missed not going to church this morning and seeing many familiar faces and sharing in the worship. This year I did get to spend a pre-Mother's Day with the Connecticut branch and that was a treat.

That aside, I am having a great adventure that just gets better all the time. I have spent the last few days with people who have known me for a very long time, and it has been such fun catching up and sharing how our lives have been going. We have all, naturally, aged, but only a little, and everyone is, thankfully in reasonably good health. And now it is on to Montreal, and more reunions.

Mansonville and Surrounding Sites

Side by side - Canada & Quebec co-exist

Typical French Canadian house with painted tin roof,

Built 1850's, Mansonville, Que

Covered Bridge Road



As advertised, the Covered Bridge

Inside the Covered Bridge

I went into Mansonville today to get a smoked meat sandwich, unique to this area. It is delicacy introduced to this area by the Jewish delis, instead of corning the beef, they smoked it....yummy. The other big regional treat is poutine but that is so-o rich, I'll have to work up to it. http://electron.mit.edu/~gsteele/poutine/

After running errands and I took lots of pictures of Mansonville- with no hint that it is within miles of the US border, no fast food places, no US franchises, just a sleepy little French Canadian town, stuck somewhere in the last 150 years. Then I headed off onto some of the local country roads and found a covered bridge.

It is all very quaint and picturesque, everywhere I look it is so beautiful, and seems timeless. Mostly, I just love the greenery. After the big storm that blew in yesterday, things are so crisp and clear.

Notes from the border

The barrier for tighter security

Mementos of an active time

Years ago, I used to bring Francois and Stephanie to the country to visit Cornelia and they loved to go outside and play in the bushes. In those days it was wide open, not gated like in the picture. They would go beyond the bushes and when I would ask them where they were, they would yell back, "I'm in Vermont!" or "I'm nowhere!" .... if they were in the no-mans land between the borders.

Today, of course, with all that has happened security is tighter and one stays put on this side of the border. No more poking around or Homeland Security might show up. It is a lovely misty/rainy day in Quebec. A day designed for the road weary to do nothing but loll around and read and take a long soak in the tub.

Jay Peak in the distance with snow on the trails

When Stephanie (7-11 mos.) and Francois (almost 3) were very little we rented a house in the country near Jay Peak and went every weekend to ski. Every Friday I would pack up everyone, including a pre-made dinner for when we got there - a 2-3 hour drive depending on traffic and weather. One time we got caught in a storm and had to walk the last mile, going back a forth with a sled to bring the children and the food.

This trip to date has surpassed my expectations, and I am forever grateful that I took this time to fulfill what began as a day dream, and then became a "bucket list" item. To those who questioned the sanity of doing this alone, it has been a great experience and confirmed my belief that being over sixty, actually pushing seventy, and on one's own, should no be a limiting factor.

Arriving in Canada

Early Morning, Goose Pond NH

Tuesday morning, I got up early, the Wards still adjusting to US time from their recent China trip, and had the great pleasure of sitting quietly, and enjoying the stillness of Goose Pond. I cannot remember the last time I sat and looked at water that was perfectly still, and looked like a mirror. I t is so peaceful and rural here.

After a wonderful breakfast and wrapping up my visit to the Wards (Vickie and Steve) I set out for the Canadian border and Georgeville where I was to have lunch with dear friends from Montreal, Paul and Nancy Amos, who I have not seen since 1993.

Driving through Northern Vermont was such a treat. I love this part of the world. The greenery, the mountains, the meandering rivers and the highway that cuts right through it all. Sometimes they just cut through the hills and you go through this rock corridor that is 50-60 feet high on each side. Finally I crossed the border, said goodbye to the US and entered into Beebe, Que. Beebe is unique in that some of the houses, the local church and theatre are partly in Canada, and partly in the US. You park your car in one country, walk around the buildings into another country to enter, without going through any border control. They do hover though in case anyone wanders off.

As I arrived at the border crossing, I knew I had arrived in Quebec. A very cute, smiling border guard welcomed me with a big "Hello/Bonjour" and I knew I was home. We chatted in Franglais, that mixture of French and English that locals use and since I was the only one crossing we talked about California, my road trip, the places I had been etc. The whole time we were chatting he is looking at me, and then looking at my passport, the birth date right there in front of him. Finally he said, "All by yourself, you did this?" "Yup" I said, then he gave me a very flirty grin and said, "Wow, you are very adventurous." I agreed, and then off I went to Georgeville to have a wonderful lunch with the Amoses and got to catch up on news of friends etc.

Late in the afternoon, I took my leave and headed off to my next stop, a converted Canadian border crossing house on one of the back roads along the Quebec/ Vermont border.

The house at the end of the Cdn road

Years ago, Canada and the US decided to shut down the border crossing at many of the tiny back country roads for security purposes and economics. My friend Cornelia bought one of the border stations, and has converted it into her country hideaway. I was last here about thirty years ago and since then she has done updates and additions to the property that make it a uniquely special place.

My plans to go to Montreal got delayed a bit, as my friend that I will be staying with, had to go out of town on business, so she rerouted me to her country house. So here I am tucked away in the country surrounded by forest, rolling hills and Jay Peak off in the distance. There is still snow on the trails and I have had flashbacks to when the kids were small and we would ski there. It is so quiet here, I plan to take walks, read and just relax until Cornelia shows up.

To get there, I decided to take the scenic route, and needless to say, Liam (the GPS) got his knickers in a twist, constantly trying to reroute me onto the route he had planned. Finally he gave up and came on board with my plan. After that we got along just fine. He is doing extremely well with all the little country roads, including the unpaved ones. The weather alternates between sunny, with puffy clouds, and thunder storms. So it's naps and reading for me, for now.

More Family time in CT

Zach, first soccer game of the year

Zack & team on the job


Cooling off in eighties weather

Feeling the sting rays at the Mystic Aquarium

Still in Wethersfield where the weather has been in the eighties. Yesterday we watched Zack play soccer and have fun with the slip and slide, and today we went over to Mystic, CT to the Aquarium.

Tomorrow I am off the Goose Pond, NH, an off the beaten path spot in New Hampshire to visit with friends I have not seen in 25 years. I hope they don't notice that I am no longer in the first blush of my youth. Then on to Georgeville, Que, another bucolic rural hideaway in the Eastern Townships South East of Montreal, then nearby Mansonville, also, well off the grid, .

I will be going to New Hampshire to visit a couple I have not seen in a very long time. The last time I saw Vickie, I was living in Austin, TX... so twenty-five years ago. Amazing that I have been living in the US since 1985, and it only seems like yesterday. Same story with friends in Georgeville, Que.

Family Time

Walking at the Hartford Reservoir

with Francois, Terry and Zack

We went for a 5 K walk in the woods and around the reservoir.

Zack rode his bike. Nana brought up the rear.
This was a good change from sitting in the car.

One of my favorite things to do is hang out with family
... in California, and now in Wethersfield.