Here we found a campground which was open. We used our bicycles to ride along the river and the thousand islands - just so beautiful - and visited small little Gananoque.

For this 45km ride it took us only 2 hours thanks to the support of our electric motors (pedelecs). Just wonderful machines.

The drive from Rockport via Kingston (the town with the most inprisoned) and using a ferry  to Prince Edward was one of our most scenic drives so far. Flowers and trees blooming, the meadows so green and the lake in blue color.

The town of Picton is the center of the island and is worth seeing. Nice buildings and cosy Cafes and Restaurants. You can feel the region is rich.

Bicycle tour through "Prince EdwardCounty":

At fantastic  weather conditions we biked along the lake Ontario from Salmon Point to Bloomfield (25km one way). Along flowering gardens and trees we really enjoyed this ride - practically no traffic on the roads.

Bloomfield a nice little village with a lot of art boutique´s and a nice cafe.

Our bicycle´s (Riese und Müller) with electric drive assistance helped a lot - especially at wind from ahead.

Cobourg was founded in 1800 mainly from British Loyalists (Scots and Irish). It lays embedded in the Northumberland Hills and has a very nice harbour and old British style  brick houses. We parked overnight i at the harbour and enjoyed the quietness (at this time of the year).

In summer Cobourg is famous for it´s "Game festival" with Scottisch Music and "Highlander Games".

The largest city of Canada is an ethnic, sub-cultural and hyperactiv „human stew“. The many emigrants reflect a tolerant patchwork of many districts, e.g. China town, little Italy, etc. Chinatown with it´s colourful adds and it´s plentyful markets, or few streets away Kensington with it´s tiny, multi-coloured houses and hippy style bars, cafe´s and boutiques - here we liked it most - a place to spent the whole day.

The large and achitectually interesting Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a MUST. The presentation of the „First Nation history“ is very informativ and delightful honest and self critical - super interesting!!!

Toronto is a bustling city - for us two days are enough and than we are looking for quiteness.

We stood north of the International Airport in Brampton at the "IndianLine" campground and took the bus and Metro to the city.

Of course we visited Festo Canada in Toronto and I spent oen full day. It was a plessure to see the old collegues and to discuss and see the progress under the leadership of Thomas Lichtenberger. The economic crises seam over also here. I wish Thomas Lichtenberger and his team all the best for the future.

Unforunately we had no time to make pictures of the nice building.

After long and increasing problems with heavy wearing of the front tires we decided to see a Volvo sercie station in Toronto. An alignement was required. The service station did a good job and after 1.000km we will know if it was the cause of effect.

The guys of the garage were super friendly, lent us the service wagon over lunch and brought us coffee and a bangel from „Tim Hortons“. Thanks thousand times.

Everybody was exited with our „baby“ and wanted to be on the foto in front of the vehicle.

On the way to Niagara we stopped in Beamsville to fill our „vine cellar“. At the vinery „Thirty Bench“ we stopped for a whine trial and we stood overnight - driving was too dangerous. The Riesling is first class - but also in price. At the big houses of the vineyard owner to see „they are not starving“. But the qualitiy is superior.

Since I have a cousin (whom I never met so far) in Canada it was a must to meet him. Zeno with his wife Margot lives in Niagara. He left Germany in 1952 and established a business in logging. He is today 82 and still very fit. It was exiting to meet him and Margot for the first time and it was an excellent happing. Both showed us the Niagara area and we got a first glance of this very touristic region.

Thanks Margot and Zeno - was a wonderful time.

Wow!! - what a sight!!!

There are plenty of waterfalls with much more height but non with so much water.

Niagara has the highest water flow of more than 1 million bath tubes full of water per each second!! The thunder is overwhelming.

The sight ist fantastic.

But.... unfortunately the touristic industry has spoiled most of the enviroment: Fast Food chaines, Casinos, sex shops, and  one focus only: ..$$$$$$$.... 

We were impressed of the IMAX movie „the Falls“. It shows the history of Niagra Falls and the dramatic scenes of the humans who challanged the nature. Some survived but most died.

This one is the most seen of all IMAX movies and it is definitely worth.

Here the visit of my old friend Boyd de Waard was planned. Boyd is the Managing Director of Bosch Rexroth Canada. It was a pleasure to meet him again after 12 years. He showed us Rexroth and took us to the famous Welland Canal. Boyd and his team modernised the locks and put in new hydraulic systems. A juge order over years.
In the first half of the 20. Century the Welland Canal was technically one of the most difficult and interesting project world wide. It links the lake Erie with the lake Onntario and has to over come 100 m height difference at a length of appr. 50 km. It uses 8 locks for this task. Juge ships are passing through to connect the Atlantic with the cities around the big lakes.It runs parallel to the Niagara river.

We stood over night at Susan´s and Boyd´s garden in Prot Colborne (a small and beautiful town directly at the lake Erie). We undertook interesting visit and made bicycle tours together. It was a very good time - thanks Susan and Boyd for this excellent time.

The tour along the River Niagara is easy but interesting and uses only bike roads. Niagara-on-the-lake is very touristic and you miss nothing if you don´t see it.

Overnight stay:  parking place in the centre of St. Jacobs.
N 43° 32.353‘  /  W 080° 32.984‘ 

-  quite und special place for motorhomes.

St. Jacobs is the center of the Monnonite settlement who live here as well as in the surrounding farms and villages. Mennonites had to leave Switzerland in the 16. century because of their religious believes. They wandered through Europe up to Russia and back to Holland and Northern Germany and left Europe in the 19. Century for Pennsylvania / USA and later to Welland / Canada. They call themselves Mennonites after their Dutch leader Menno Siemens.
They have built up beautiful farms and business around St. Jacobs and live very modest and simple. Some use only traditional tools and transport and clothes. Others live the normal, modern live.

St. Jacobs has used the attraction of the Mennomites to built up a lively place with art galeries, museums, restaurants. In summer the place is packed. We had a wonderful, peaceful time.

The farmers market is one of the biggest in Canada and a must see. The food stuff is just gorgeous.

Stay overnight at Campground „Elora Gorge Conservation Area“
N 43° 40.252‘  /  W 080° 27.159‘  -  great campground

Elora and Fergus are two towns mainly founded by Scottish settlers and both lay along the „Grand River“. South of Elora is the deep and picturesque gorge which the Grand River has   washed out through thousand of years. The huge campground lies in a recreation park and we felt on top of the world.

Many beautiful birds, nice BBQ and a long bicycle ride along the Grand River on a bike trail - what do you want more. 

Stay overnight:  quite parking place directly at Grand River and walking distance to the centre.

N 43° 41.022‘  /  W 080° 25.419‘ 

Elora is worth to stay one day. Nice old buildings, beautiful landscape at the Grand River, nice shops and restaurants - good and peaceful town.

We cycled from Elora to Belwood using an old railtrack. The tour (both directions) is around 50 km long. The tour passes through Elora and Fergus and through farmland and forest area to the Belwood lake. An easy and enjoyable ride.

We stood overnight at the marina (N 44° 35.170‘  /  W 80° 56.638‘).

Owen sound had a bad reputation in the 1950es. It was the main supply harbour for the northern Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Large ferry and goods harbour with many rough men and call girls - a lot of alcohol and a lot of problems. This finally lead to an alcohol bann which was only lifted in 1972. Due to road construction to the north the harbour became obsolete. 

Owen Sound converted into a artist city and touristic place and is today worth seeing. The town with his enviroment offers 7 water falls as well as museen and art galeries.

Bicycle Tour along the Georgian Bay:

The Georgian Bay is part of the lake Huron and only this part is nearly as big as lake Ontario - Huron is than 2 times bigger than Georgian Bay.

We took a small road along the see and the whole tour was accompanied by bungolows and villas. You feel like being in „Paradies“ - huge, green and fine cut meadows and marinas in front. Unbelievable how the people live here. We rode 25km an only saw houses and gardens.

We had a coffee in a golf club and discussed if such a villa would be an alternative life for us. We both came quickly to the conclusion - NO.

We know that after short time we would not see anymore the beauty but the daily routine. We feel it is better to travel to such „Paradieses“ - see them for few days and than carry on to the next one.

Hiking tour to the „Indian Falls“:

Few kilometers north of Owen Sound (at road nr.1) is at the left side the entrance to the falls. The hiking route (1 km) along the river bed is quite, nice and interesting. The falls (4o m height) with a deep gorge can be seen from top and from bottom and shows the  different geological stone segments (Canadian shield and American Shield). A place to recommend and not many people.

We stood overnight at the marina. But hier it was loud - because of the nearby mill which works day and night.

A better place would be the parking place near the library (N 44° 44.918‘  /  W 79° 53.136‘).

Here was the home of the Huron (or better Wendat) Indians. The French Missionaries (Jesuites) converted some of them and tried to learn them the European way of life. The converted had many advantages. So it lead finally to problems and revolts and when the Iroquois Indian attacked the French had to leave this place. Many were killed (6 Missioneries, many of their French helpers and many Wendat´s). The French burned their settlement and left for Quebec. Today everything is rebuilt (an excellent museum) and for the 6 martyr a huge basilique is built where thousand of pilgrims are coming year by year (including the Pope). The converted Wendat´s and the French helpers (who also were killed) became a wooden cross. We find this quite macabre.

Here we found a small but beautiful campground: King´s Portage Park owned by Glenn Kreitzer (81 years old) - we stood 3 days.

N 44° 53.068  /  W 79° 45.906‘

The campground has direct water access and after 2 years we used our kayak again. It was a pleasure to paddle along bays and islands to Honey Harbour. The only unfortunate thing was the week end and the many Toronties also using their (huge and motorized) boats. All tried to capsize our canoe but none succeeded - next time we bring torpedos.

The route leads along the lake Huron and is rather boring (woods ..... woods .....  woods) but surprisingly much traffic.

Killarney Provincial Park:

We planned to to stay few days here. This park (directly at the Georgian Bay) is supposed to be  the juwel of all Ontarian parks. The campground is at lake George. Unfortunately no electrical connections and only places under the tries. Since we cook electrically we either need sun shine (solar panels) or electrical wire). The other draw back: the places are quite far away from the lake - and we wnated to use our canoe. So we decided to carry on - we drive to the tiny village Killarney - stood overnight at a lovely parking place behind the church (N 45° 58.130‘  /  W 81° 30.826‘) and had a good dinner at the marina.

From here we continued our journey along the lake Huron. The next night (80 km before Sault Ste. Marie we spent at a „gost“ - campground (N 46° 16.714‘ / W 83° 42.890‘).

We saw the place (directly at the water) in our map und decided to drive the tiny road through the bushes. There were trailers with childrens toys and camping gear but no humans and no owner and no office. We decided to stay and see what comes. The next morning (after an extremely quite night) still no owner so we left with thanks for a free stay.

We stood overnight at the library in front of a nice park:

N 46° 34.741‘ / W 84° 19.892‘

We parked overnight at a parking lot near the river. The town is cosy and quite. We used this stop to „kill“ our „betting money“ and went to a good Italian restaurant.

N 46° 34.741‘ / W 84° 19.777‘

Next day we discovered a problem with our cooling box. It switched off because of low voltage (battery problem?). We contacted Germany (Langer& Bock) und tried to find the problem - no chance.  But since than the problem didn´t appear again. Hopefully it stays like this.

The KOA campground with it´s friendly and helpful owners was a good choice. The camp ground offers everything you need. 

We stood overnight at the campground in the park. An excellent place very near to the lake shore. The place was big enought to test the first time our new moskito tent. To erect it was a bit difficult - very instable ...... but afterwards we enjoyed to see the many moskitos outside while having a glas of wine inside. We have to admit the moskitos and the black flies are really enoying.

From here we started a hike tour along the lake shore. Unfortunately it rained and we were quite wet afterwards.

The drive along the coast line towards north is just beautiful. Hilly and full of bleau lakes and often the glims to the big lake Superior.

In the supermarket in Wawa Rita met Wilma and Luis - a couple originally from Bavaria (Passau). Wilma is since 20 years in Canada and has a lodge 30km north of Wawa at a beautiful lake. And Luis has visited Wilma. We where surprised by the Bavarian flag and a home made cake. Many thanks to you Wilma and Luis - we had a nice time with you.

Here the internet adress: www.Normandy-Lodge.com

N 48° 43.202‘ / W 86° 23.007‘

Here we stood overnight. Marathon has appr. 3.000 people and looks nead and clean. There is a big pulp and paper company and it seems enough income. We meet a young couple (students) from Toronto with a wonderful old but newly coloured school bus. They had a technical problem with the old buddy and to our enquiry of needed help they were confident of finishing it in 10 minutes. The next morning they were still there - the petrol pump was defect.

N 48° 47.807‘  /  W 88° 37.069‘

Zeno Wahl recommended to visit the Eagle Creek Canyon (near Dorion). Harvey Hamel and his son Jimmy have built up this beautiful spot. They have built two hanging bridges across the canyon. The longer one ist the longest in Canada - the shorter one is the longest in Ontario. There is a round hiking trial with the two bridges included plus steps (200) down to the ground of the canyon. Additionally since 2009 they have built a zip-line from top of the canyon to the bottom - 900 m long. You land beside a nice lake. The distance is done in 55 sec. which means an max. speed of approx.  55 km/h. This spot is a must see.

11 km from Eagle Canyon is the Quimet Canyon and Prov. Park. We travelled with our bikes and had to overcome steep slopes - but thanks to our electrical assistede bikes no problem. This Canyon is deeper and wider than the Eagle. Approx.  100 m deep and on both sides absolutely vertical rocks. On the canyon base is a sub artical climate and vegetation. The viewing platforms are breath taking - absolutely a must see.

N 48° 26.226‘ /  W 89° 12.814‘

We stood overnight at a parking place on the marina. Officially not allowed but nobody bothered. Thunder Bay is the economical center of Northeast Ontario - and that´s it. The next day we proceeded towards Winnipeg.

Recammendable is the restaurant: „Prospectors Steakhouse“. The portions are big und you can exactly choose how much steak you want - provided you know to judge the size of 1oz. 

We also visited the „Kakabeka Falls“ - very beautiful. From hier only forest und a boring route.

Half way to Winnipeg we stopped at  Vermilion. We stood overnight at the new marina - a fantastic place. What we oversighted: the transcandian railroad is only 100m away. And the trains are kilometer long and pulled by several very noisy locomotives. Over and above a crossing was just nearby and they have to horn at each crossing.  And this horns are so load a dead moose would wake up. We stood 5 times this night vertically in our bed. We will never forget Canadian Railway horns!!

We are now 11 weeks on tour and we reached the point to turn back towards east. We wanted to see northern Ontario, Quebec and Labrador and Newfoundland.

We changed to plan. As the famous saying: „Don´t loose your target - but adopt your strategy flexibly in order to reach your target“.

We will now continue towards west. 

We travelled weeks through forests and have seen little except trees. And the northern route back to Labrador would be even more woods. Of course we will miss now Labrador and Newfoundland - but everything you can´t have.

We continued from Lake Superior to Winnipeg. And we will use the southern route of Manitoba and Saskatschewan through the grasland (prairie) - something totally different.

We look forward to see Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC and Yukon. Perhaps also Alaska if time (visa) permits. Of course we try to get visa for one more year - but you never know if you get it.

Ontario was very beautiful - especially the lakes. But mostly all trails to the lakes are privat and not to be used - a pitty

Continuation of the travel report please refer „Manitoba“