Our Ontario Peeps

Ontario was a splendid two weeks full of visiting friends and family that we don't get a chance to see too often. Our Ontario tour started off with a bang in Picton, as we were there for a wedding for our friends Jarrod and Alexa. The wedding was perfect, and we got to spoil ourselves for a night by staying at the hotel the reception was held at--beautiful in itself (and a big treat after months of very basic guesthouses in Asia). Lucky for us, we also got to snag Jarrod and Alexa for an extra night and had a great post-wedding chaos visit.

Jarrod and Alexa, looking might fine and happy

Cameron giving marriage advice: "It's easy, quit work and lolly-gag around, fun as can be!"

We left Picton and back tracked a little bit to Peterborough to visit family. Jane and Ian, with their little ones Evan and Kate hosted us for a couple nights and we had a great visit--kept busy by the kids endless energy! Cameron was the official "rotten hotdog" and just couldn't get a hold of the ever changing rules of tag. We had great weather and went on a nice bike ride around Peterborough local trails, and checked out the awesome Canadian Canoe Museum on our way out of town. Thanks guys!

Unforunately we didn't get any pictures of Evan, Jane or Ian, so here's Kate representing the entire McIntyre family

A nice scenic drive through Kingston and and north from there, took us to Ottawa to see friends, Dana and Charlie. NOt only did we have a lovely visit with them, but our visit was filled with "our Nation's Capital" highlights. We took a tour of parliment, ran along the Rideau Canal and Gatineau Park, saw the Museum of Civilization, checked out the National Art Gallery, and Byward Market. We went to not one, but TWO sugar shacks and stuffed ourselves silly on pancakes, sausage, eggs all ladened with maple syprup--top that off with maple syrup pie and cake, and it was a little slice of heaven!

In "OUR NATION'S CAPITAL" (our personal slogan while in Ottawa)

Making taffy on snow, just like Little House on the Prairie

Enjoying pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs, potatoes all smuthered in a very healthy dose of syprup...in OUR NATION'S CAPITAL (or at least, very close by)

We pulled out of Ottawa and took the northern highway to Capreol, a small town outside of Sudbury. Friends from my time working in Sudbury, Laila and Frank, live there and have just built an "off the grid" house on a lake. It was great to see them, and also get a tour of their new house that runs on solar power! The property is gorgeous and we went for a lovely walk along the swollen river. Good food and good chats.

Beautiful piece of property, and the river was wild with run-off

Back down south to Toronto, a city we've both been to and this time around we decided not to sight see so much, but just relax. Thanks to Jaci and Larry and their very lovely house, we were in perfect comfort and spent a great couple days lounging around with them. We had a great dinner with Auntie Ida and cousin Jessi at their place, after Cameron slaved away making lasagna and ribs. Marie and Jeff, more cousins, met us for coffee downtown and we saw Cameron's old coworker, Aria, for a gigiantic meal in Greektown.

Easter rolled around and the Easter Bunny met us at Auntie Ida's place. We had to work hard for our chocolate, and successfully made it through various tricky challenges to earn our eggs from the Game Master (aka Auntie Ida). Off to St. Catharines for an Easter dinner! There we saw everyone for a great dinner--thanks for having us Auntie Vickie and Uncle Paul, and for making the drive down Uncle Ron!

The Easter Bunny spoiled us rotten...we're just finishing our chocolate now!

A good couple days in St. Catharines soaking in our last moments in a house I feel like I know very well (Auntie Vickie and Uncle Paul have since sold in the week since we left!). We then spent a day in Welland, near Niagara Falls, for another Easter dinner with more family--good visit with all the Karners.

The happy gang at Easter dinner

Thanks to everyone for having us, especially on such short notice for most of you. It was lovely to visit you all and we look forward to our next visit in Ontario.