Muskoka Lakes - Quebec

14 August – It was a two hour drive following the Burstow’s instructions to get to the cottage. The last part of the drive thru Gravenhurst was very familiar as we have been to David and Chrissie’s Muskoka cottage at Lake Muldrew a couple of times before with Lynne and Paul. The cottage is built on a cliff 40ft above the lake with wooden stairs leading down to the boating/swimming dock. The carpark above the cottage had been enlarged since our last trip and was ideal parking for “Ernie”. David had even ensured we had power. It was a great welcome!! David and Chrissie were looking after their two smaller grandchildren, Matt and Josh. The day was overcast but warm so we went for a tour around some of the lake with Matt water skiing behind. Just after we got back, a heavy rain storm came thru. It only lasted a couple of minutes but flooded around the RV. Kathy and Craig arrived from Uxbridge after work and we had a late dinner.

15 August – A late start and a big cooked breakfast before our first swims in Lake Muldrew. The only way to get into the water is to dive off the dock. The water is luke warm and slightly tea coloured, a bit like a west coast river. Beautiful swimming though. We went for a walk to a cottage that was being raffled and was having an open day. Back at the cottage we had more swims. Around 5:00pm Geoff (Kathy’s brother) and Joanne arrived (Matt and Josh’s parents) with Joanne’s sister, Christina and a little later Dan, Janet and their adult children also arrived making a total of 15. I cooked a huge pork loin rib (which we had picked up very cheaply!) on the barbeque, Val made a salad and Chrissie produce some fried rice and we all sat down at an enlarged table on the deck for wonderful noisy meal.

16 August – We had breakfast in “Ernie” to ease the congestion in the cottage. The day was hot and we spent it swimming, talking and sunbathing. After a late lunch we said a sad farewell to Kathy and Craig as they were returning to Uxbridge for work tomorrow. In the early evening we watched the PGA Championship golf with David and then we all watched a movie with pizza and wine.

17 August – We went down to the cottage for breakfast before say our farewells and thanks to David and Chrissie. We have decided to take a northern route to Ottawa a few days away. The Muskoka lakes area is huge and we are still in this area for our overnight stop at Arrowhead Lake. After lunch we walked down to the sandy beach for a swim and then back to our camp via the Stubbs Falls.

18 August – After heading north today we turned east and into the Algonquin Provincial Park which covers a large area and has many camps. We chose Lake of Two Rivers as it has an Old Scenic Rail Trail. We set off on our bikes just as it started to rain. It was still warm so we carried on around several lakes to the end 12.5kms away. On the way home we stopped at a dam and I slipped during the dismount and landed hard flat on my back It took me a while to get back to my feet and back on the bike for a painful ride back.

19 August – I stiffened up in the night and struggled to get out of bed. Fortunately driving was not too bad and we enjoyed this beautiful park. After a fuel and propane stop we headed to another great Provincial Park at Bonnechere. The camping, boating swimming and canoeing at these parks makes for great family holiday destinations. It was just a short “hobble” down to the beach for a swim. The back is still very sore!

20 August – My back felt a little freer this morning and we drove in gloomy conditions. Our Navigator (Val) decided it would be only slightly longer and useful for future planning to head briefly out of Ontario and thru Quebec to pick up some maps and info on the Quebec Provincial Parks, so we crossed the Ontario River into Quebec. Two problems with this scheme. There were no towns big enough to have a visitors centre and the river crossing back into Ontario turned out to be via a $12 ferry ride! The Provincial Park at Fitzroy was not very inspiring with a beach facing a huge power dam. Soon after we arrived it started to drizzle which got heavier and eventually it teemed for several hours.

21 August – My back is still a bit sore but coming right hopefully. It was only a short 25 mile drive to our camp in Ottawa but we stopped for a shop on the way which all went slightly to custard. Firstly the Wal-Mart we stopped at did not have fresh fruit or meat and we had to find another grocery shop that did, and the LCBO (state run liquor shop) on our GPS had closed. All a bit frustrating. The camp is great though, hopefully a short bike ride to the bus stop to take us into the city tomorrow.

22 August – We decided to take “Ernie” to the park and ride bus station where we caught the bus for a ½ hour ride into the centre of Ottawa. The bus dropped us off near the parliament buildings. These are quite a sight forming a three sided square with lawns in front. Beautiful architecture. Our tour up the “Peace Tower” the centre of the main building did not leave for an hour, so we spent the time walking past the High Court building and a lovely church with the modern city in the background. The security getting into the parliament buildings was very tight after their tragic shootings a few months ago. The foyer is a series of beautiful arches and we took a lift up passed the bells to the top for views of Canada’s capital. The city is quite small with the Ottawa River running thru it. Back down into parliament square and a walk along the river, passed the Fairmont Hotel (built to fit in with it’s beautiful neighbours) and down to By Ward Market. We had a great lunch at a restaurant overlooking the street market which we walked thru before passing Ottawa’s version of Notre Dame Cathedral. We followed the Ottawa River to where the Rideau Canal joins it with a series of locks lowering the boats down to river level. The operation of the locks was fascinating, all done by hand. Back on the bus to “Ernie” and the short drive to our camp. What a great day!!  

 

23 August – Ottawa and Montreal are quite close together (200kms) so we had a slow start to the day as we will only cover a short distance as we are breaking the journey. We followed the Ottawa River to a Provincial Park at Voyageur. Already the signage is mostly French and a lot of the people in the camp are speaking French. We sat at the beach but did not swim.

24 August – As we only had a short distance again to get to our camp in Montreal, we went for a 10km bike ride around this huge park on the banks of the Ottawa River. On the road and about 10 miles from our destination on a multi laned highway we heard a huge bang followed but a couple of large thumps. It took a bit of manoeuvring to get to the nearest exit and into a side road in a light industrial area before we could eventually stop and investigate. The rear right hand tyre had blown the tread off wrapping itself around the exhaust pipe and bending it up into the wheel well. The wheel well was also damaged. Val got on the phone to the road assist people (this comes free with our 5 year guarantee) and they were helpful sending a local guy around to fix the tyre problem. The young guy that arrived could speak no English and had no jack or compressor. He had to phone his boss and eventually after about 2 ½ hours we were back on the road with our spare tyre fitted. The camp we are in is very like an NZ camp. Much frustration with the internet!

25 August – We started early (comparatively for us) and decided to fix the tyre issue before going into Montreal city. There was a Canadian Tire (a mix of the Warehouse and Bunnings) near the park and ride where we would catch a bus to the subway. Perfect! Except they did not do large vehicles. A guy helped us, in very halted English, to contact a tyre place that would help about 6 miles away. Off to this place where another guy who spoke good English sold us a tyre and fitted it. Back to the park and ride and we just missed the bus so waited for ½ hour. The bus ride took us to the subway and we caught a train right into one end of the old Montreal town. As it was 2:00pm lunch was our first priority. After a great very French filled roll we wandered this beautiful area with its great French style buildings and cafes. The Hotel de Ville (town hall) was great with beautiful gardens. There were many squares with churches and gardens. The place had a very Parisian feel. It took us back! Back on the subway and then the bus to “Ernie” and a 3 mile drive to the camp, a trip of 1 ½ hours. We have decided that there are less people able to speak English here than in France.  It almost seems a point of pride not to speak or understand English in Quebec.

26 August – We set off and drove N/E to what we thought was a Quebec Parc Natural. The roads deteriorated and we realised that there was still 25 miles to go up gravel roads to reach this supposed camp site in the Natural Parc. At the small village of Sainte-Alexis-des-Mont we took the visitors centre lady’s advice and drove to a small camp at Lac Cache. Today is spaghetti special day so we took the locals advice and booked for dinner at the camp restaurant overlooking the lake. On the way back we tried to borrow a crow bar from the handyman to straighten the exhaust pipe. NO NO NO was his reply. Not very helpful! Lorraine. The camp ended up being a great place to stay.

Just as we got back to “Ernie” he arrived with the lady who booked us in for dinner and we suspect the only English speaker in the place. The NO NO NO was that he could not speak English. He raced away and returned with the “grande” crow bar. Val pushed and I pulled and we got the exhaust back into the shape it should be. After taking the crow bar back we went for a great swim in the warm lake. The spaghetti dinner was great and we were served by our friendly English lady,
Lorraine.

27 August – As we have no information for camping in Quebec (not for the want of trying!) we have decided to drive until we want to stop for the night and then see what shows up. We headed back down to the St Laurence Seaway and followed the shoreline looking for a camp. I spied an old building with “camping” written on it and Val made enquires in the not very hopeful looking place. An old man, who spoke only French, showed us to a great spot overlooking the Seaway. As my back was feeling “not bad” we decided to repair the wheel well damaged by the tyre blow out. We had bought some bits and pieces from Canadian Tire and I very am happy with the fix. Every so often a huge freighter sailed passed us on its way to the great lake ports. (Chicago, Milwaukie or Duluth.)

28 August – We followed along the St Laurence Seaway to Quebec City passing thru beautiful French like towns all with huge catholic churches many built in the style of the Notre Dame. On the outskirts of the city we stopped for what will be our last shop in Canada this year. There is a shuttle that goes from this camp into the city which we explore tomorrow. Hopefully we can publish this blog today at the camp.