Canada - September 2014

Second trip to Canada this year but first to manitoulin where Gaynor has lived for the last 35 years.
Monday 13th
Arrived Toronto , met by Gaynor and Hanna. Stayed in Holiday Inn nearby after taking Hanna to station.
Tuesday Niagara.
Drove to hotel who did not have my booking but who found us a room. Walked to the falls. Spectacular. Did quite a bit of walking around to get our bearings and to help us to decide what to do tomorrow.
Wednesday
Niagara experience day pass. Well worth the money. Went on the Hornblower first to the base of the falls. What a thunderous experience. The pass included an all day hop on hop off on the Wego bus so the next visit was to the white water walk. Not sure what to expect but the rapids were well worth a visit. On to the flower clock where we decided that we wouldn' even get off the bus. However on the return journey we stopped at the Whirlpool. Again - amazing. Should have taken the opportunity to cross over the river on the cable car but chose to go onto the glassblowing place where we watched a glass maple leaf being produced from start to finish. Next the 4D experience. History of the geology of the area and how the falls had formed and another soaking. Finally the walk behind the falls and our 3rd poncho of the day. Damp musty tunnel took us to where we could look out at the water falling like a curtain past a window. Then out on to the platform where we could see behind the edge of the Canadian falls. Once again a spectacular sight and a deafening sound.
Thursday
Moving on to get at least half way to Manitoulin. Discovered that I had mixed up the dates of my hotel booking and luckily the receptionist noticed it otherwise I would have been paying for Thursday and Friday as well. Stopped at a place called St Jacob and went to a Menonite produce market. This was where we were originally going to be staying but we decided to move on further to reduce travel time on Friday. Found a motel which was very like one in Tailem Bend in Australia. However local Chinese takeaway was good value.
Friday
Zigzagged up the peninsular to Tobermory where we were getting the ferry over to the island. Made good time and had time to look around the settlement before boarding. Ferry trip was just short of 2 hours and was very smooth. Apparently it had been quite rough the previous day. Once we reached the island there was still an hours drive to get to gaynor's farm. A beer was very welcome by the time we got there. Floyd was waiting with one ready almost.
Gaynor's house is full of character with extentions built on at various levels. 
Saturday
Woke up to a change in the weather -raining and considerably colder. After a lazy morning, was taken on a trip around Gore Bay where the local museum has an art exhibition by a local artist - Christie bell Pearson. Very good . Bought a print. Gaynor's niece was doing a Saturday job at the museum. Supper was at a place called Silver Water - a charity fish supper. Gaynor and Floyd seem to very well known in the area. Floyd then drove to his 'man shack' - alias his hunting shack where he and his mates spend a weekend hunting, drinking and playing cards. 
Sunday
Relaxed morning. Made picnic lunch and went to see Bridal Falls. Not quite on the scale of Niagara but very pretty. The salmon had reached the pond below the falls on the last stretches of their life cycle. We followed the river down stream to KagAwong where it flowed into the lake. Many fish were struggling to swim up stream - some following a route that would only take them to a small mill /hydro plant. KagAwong is a small community on the edge of the north side of the lake. Yet another art gallery with some beautiful pictures again painted by a local artist.  After our picnic we drove to Providence bay and walked along the board walk. Everywhere we go we meet someone that Gaynor knows. The art gallery, the local store at the falls where we were served by a past pupil, the cafe in Providence bay.
Monday
Did some gardening for Gaynor in the morning. Went to Misery Bay in the afternoon. Gaynor is the Vice President of the Misery Bay park group which keeps the park centre open in the the summer months. She took me around the park pointing out geological changes, plant life, animal trails etc. the we followed the trails to the lake side, around the bay for quite a distance and then through the woods. Seemed to be walking for hours. The centre itself had animal skins, animal skeletons, fossils and activities for kids.