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sweeper

sweeper

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Went for a bit of a drive this week, my step Daughter Graduate from Guelph U, Ont CA (with Honors) today and as I drove there (and Back) I saw some exits I recognized. Colonie, Baseball Hall of Fame and everyone in the great Toronto area. Out in 11+hrs on Monday, back in 9. Traffic on Rt NY Rt 7 killed us and an hour+ and trying to cross the border @ Lewiston. Coming home was sMoooth sailing except for a lost toll ticket, we had to pay the max anyways.
 
Congratulations are in order, well done to her. Hope she enjoyed her years in The Royal City.
I love Guelph, having passed through as well as visited many times for family reasons. Now our sole family connection is a granddaughter at U of G, but that won't be the only reason we revisit there. I have favourite restaurants, a bookstore, bakery and pub still among those city streets. We often take the long way home from "up north" just so we can meander and stop a while in favourite places near and far.
Glad you both made it home okay, you missed some nasty weather.
 
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I have been east of Saskatchewan only a very few times. But in September of 2017, Kathleen and I spent a week in Montreal for my 70th birthday. Loved that city. Great sidewalk cafes and public markets. Fantastic food and old architecture. Amazing churches and cathedrals on seemingly every corner. As Mark Twain once observed, “You can’t throw a brick in Montreal without breaking a stained glass window.”

I could easily be tempted to leave rural Preeceville, and move to the very cosmopolitan city of Montreal.
 
Sweeper - Congrats on your daughter's graduation. I know she is the one who put in the work but I'm pretty sure your support was truly valuable to her success. As to being nearby, if you ever want to paddle a stretch of the Susquehanna, just let me know. If you're a baseball fan the HOF is just 10 miles from our house; the river is a mile as the crow flies. The waters are placid and run through pastoral settings. Nothing to get the heart racing but a nice experience nonetheless.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper
 
She has four MORE years there. She was accepted into the Veterinary Program last week. Hopefully, that graduation will be in the spring and I can throw a canoe on the car and head North afterward or the Susquehanna on the way back.
Check out "Broken English Bistro", great Polish Food, from a family run business.
 
Four more glorious years! So you'll be back for more too. Find a parking spot downtown and then...
Check out The Round Table, Guelph's board game tavern & café on Essex St. where there's fun for the whole family.
Then stroll over to enjoy a good pint and burger over at The Albion, in the shadow of the Basilica on the corner of Norfolk St. and MacDonell St.
Save room to stop in at Eric The Baker across from the Market Square on Carden St for a French pastry and great coffee.
And finally, browse the used books in Janus Books on Paisley St.

Thanks, we'll check out Broken English!
 
We did 'The Shakespeare Arms' (Walking Distance from the hotel) the first night. It had good food, a good selection of beers and darts but the guys shooting looked out of my league.

I'll pass your recommendations on to my daughter.
 
There is paddling in the area, tho' it might not be to your liking. We are in farm country after all. I myself have only done a little of it.
The Speed River that flows through the city, complete with ice cream shoppe and canoe/kayak rentals is an option, but the river is often too shallow.
Guelph Lake Conservation Area, part of the Grand River Cons. Area (GRCA) has a sizeable water body, but the wind often kicks up waves.
The Grand River itself is a pleasant pastoral river passing through communities large and small with no WW, but there are dams. This would require a shuttle. There are rentals etc.
The tributary Nith R. is best tackled in spring when there's pushy water.
Luther Marsh Wildlife Area, part of GRCA, sits in the Grand's upper valley and permits paddling, but only after July 31st after bird breeding/nesting.
There are other conservation areas with pleasant day paddling opportunities in the region too. Entrance fees etc apply.
Cootes Paradise in Hamilton is free to access and to day paddle.
Waterford ponds south of Brantford provide a nice way to spend a couple hours in a boat next to a town.
Just some ideas if you're stuck with a boat on top and have nowhere to go. I'll help with shuttle if needed.
Or do as I do and go north.
 
Sweeper, You could have stopped in at turtle pond to paddle on your way by. it's open near the bubblers.
Turtle
 
Sweeper,

I would put Woolwich Arms above Shakespeare- better food, more taps. Next time.

And as Odyssey noted, there is paddling in the area. I'd give the Speed a miss, but Grand is much "grander". Lots of options for day paddles in the Guelph/K/W area. ( And if you get a chance to visit U of G during the University Royal open house, check out all the cool exhibits: One winged hawks, cows with windows in their sides so you can watch the 2 stomachs work...( was a great way to spend an entire day grossing out your kids for free!).

And next time, rather than crossing at Lewiston, cross at Thousand Islands and treat yourself to some paddling amongst the Islands, Rideau Canal or Frontenac Highlands. Hell -make a trip out of it and head a little north to Peterborough and the Canoe Museum...

So many ideas so little time...

Bruce
 
Pook After the 11 hour drive to get to Guelph (Walking Distance from the hotel) was very important. The Wooly Pub looks like a winner.

I've been over the 1k Island Bridge a few times usually when headed to Algonquin and stopped in P'trboro a couple years ago on the way home. I hope to get my wife to Frontenac or Kawartha this summer.

@Brad I cut my paddling teeth on the Merrimack & Contoocook Rivers of NH, not wilderness rivers. I was thinking of it being a jump off for Killarney or Temagami but it might be too early and still have ice up there.
 
Yeah, there's still huts on the ice up there, but feel free to give me a heads up next time you're comin' to town (September?), I'm 45 minutes away.
It's a 5 hour driving jump off to Temagami. We can work something out.
 
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