Last of Ottawa and on the road to Barrie Ontario

Friday night the 20th we had an absolutely first-class Italian dinner at Mama Teresa Restaurante on Somerset Street in Ottawa. This was the kind of meal with many Italian servers hovering about you and the absolute perfection in serving and preparation for all of our different dishes. Here is the outside of the place as you walk up ...

Tyler and Dannielle left on Saturday and that is when we toured Parliament in the last blog. Saturday night we hit another pub-like place right next to the Lord Elgin Hotel called Browns Social House. Great selection of pub food, good service and music to please any generation.

Saturday night we had a bit of a thunderstorm but as the hotel is this massive granite mountain with foot thick walls we didn't think much of it.

Sunday morning our daughter was to fly out of Ottawa to Toronto and then on to Dallas. She got a call from the airline that the flight was cancelled and a later flight arranged. Not having looked at the news we took her over to the airport a bit after noon and wondered why the traffic delays going to the airport. Wow. 

This was the road to the airport. We soon realized that about ten hours earlier a massive windstorm had hit the area, killing nine and leaving a hundred thousand without power. The reason for Leigh's cancelled flight was obvious ... if it was on the ground when this hit, the planes wings were somewhere in the next province.

You can see that most of the metal light poles were just snapped off and the airport was running on emergency generators. Our daughter did get off late and then spent the night in Toronto without luggage, courtesy of Air Canada, but did get back to Dallas the next day ... luggage a week later.

After all that excitement, we headed over to Barrie ... about 300 miles of two lane, winding road. Then realized that I had left my camera in the Starbucks at the hotel ... rats! We called the Lord Elgin and they had retrieved the camera and would send it to our niece's house near Gravenhurst ... wonderful service!

The road trip from Ottawa to Barrie, while beautiful, was much longer and very tiring driving and almost eight hours later we arrive at our Airbnb in Barrie. We had intended to see if we could stop by our good friends in Bobcaygeon on the way but because of all the previous week's events we were just plain exhausted.

 Ottawa Wrap Up

On Saturday after the ceremony, we had a day to explore with Leigh and show her some of the Ottawa where we had met and socialized some 50 years ago. Jo-Anne worked for the government on a special project or commission in the building below.   She worked in the black and white office building on the right and then whisked me off to the hotel basement on the left for our first disco dance together in July of 1972.

Everything is so close here. The view above is one block from our hotel and two blocks from the Ottawa Parliament. We went over to the parliament buildings, but they were mostly closed due to it being Queen Victoria Day.

Parliament Hill is really a special place for the British influence in North America. Above is the center government building and the eternal flame honoring the founding of Canada in 1867.

Then we went over to the tulip presentation in the south part of Ottawa. There were millions of tulip blooms mostly the gift of the Netherlands. In WWII the Holland royalty moved to Ottawa for security and because of that hospitality they annually give and maintain these magnificent tulip gardens in Ottawa.

OK we are here for the beautiful display of tulips but as I am crouching in the ground for the best shot of flower petals I realize I am alone. Then turning around I realize what the real draw is here ... probably the best fudge we have eaten in years.

 Laid to Rest

On Friday the 20th we said our farewell to Jo-Anne's dad Major William George John Martin (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, Retired)

The Ceremony was held at the Canadian Military Cemetery in Ottawa, their equivalent of our Arlington in Washington DC.

After we assembled, the military Padre said a few opening comments about our father and then Jo-Anne received the urn and proceeded to the gravesite.

Where she and I placed it alongside her mom, Helen.

Then the bugle played and the bagpipes sounded the farewell to a former dedicated, loyal, and honorable soldier.

After some final words from the Chaplain we then chatted a bit about the super life of our father (mine for the last almost 50 years), exchanging many memorable moments he and mom gave all of us. Then some final photos before we departed.

All in all a perfect day with the temp at about 80 an some nice clouds ... really special and beautiful ceremony to bring final closure after so long. 

 Ottawa

Our primary purpose of this journey was to bury Jo-Anne's father who had been cremated about 18 months ago but because of Covid it prevented us from coming to Ottawa. That ceremony was completed on the 20th and I'll get to that in another blog.

Coincidentally, it is also been 50,years since we met here in Ottawa, romanced, got married and had our first apartment here in 1972. Because of both of these occasions ou daughter Leighanne joined us here to see the places her parents have talked about for all of her life.

So for the 18th and the 19th we showed her most of our old haunts including our first apartment which was right on Elgin Street about 10 blocks from the Canadian Parliament.

From here Jo-Anne could walk to work. Alot of memories from that time as we tried to initially set up the place as newlyweds.

The little town of Clayton is really picturesque and right on the Seaway. The hotel was perfect and the food superb either in the bar or in the restaurant.

Here's a shot of the closest island we could see from our fourth floor porch ... in the howling rain, waves and fog.

And a night shot of the little downtown.

On Tuesday morning, the 17th, we packed up and after a nice breakfast headed north about three miles to the Canadian border. With all the Covid protocols I had spent a lot of time setting up their ArriveCan apps on both of our phones. We rolled up to the border check point and we were the only car there ... and one semi was in the truck lane. The agent asked for our NEXUS cards, scanned them, and said, "Have a nice day." About 20 seconds at the border ... close to a new record.

Then up the 401 highway east for about 50 miles, take a left on the 416 for another 50 miles and we were in Ottawa.

At this point our hotel room changing got worse as we got into the Lord Elgin hotel. I had specifically reserved a "park view" room with two queens and we walked into the "dumpster view" room on the back side of the hotel. Down to the desk. After apologies we got a new room and went back up only to find that it had only one bed ... jeez. Down to the desk ... with Jo-Anne sitting on our luggage in the hallway. New room ... finally what I had originally asked for.

Time for the pub next door.

From Olean and another nice Hampton stay we hit I-86 to I-390 up to Rochester NY and then slowed down and decided to take the lakeside road 104 to the east. We had hoped to run along Lake Ontario but the road was mostly inland with a few glimpses of the lake.

Then up highway 3 to Clayton on the St Lawrence Seaway. This is a nice road through rural upstate NY especially the Oswego area however we didn't get many pics due to on and off rain and we kept trying to race an ominous black and white roll cloud that looked like it could generate a tornado at any moment.

We got into Clayton and the Harbor House hotel om the Seaway in a 50 MPH 50 degree rainstorm ...wow. By the time got the bags out of the car with hotel help I was soaked to the skin ... and brrr.

As the storm broke we were able to get some dark shots off the balcony. Actually the first room we were given had a broken air unit so we were given a comp to the best room in the place and they helped us move.

This is still the first room and Jo-Anne with her toast ...

And then my toast to our adventure so far and to going to Ottawa the next day!!

 Whew! A bit of catchup here and not a hot dog in sight ....

Actually I'll try to bring us up to date on the Great Canadian Adventure so far. Tonight, the  15th of May we are in Olean NY after a couple of not so picture worthy days; but getting here.

We left Bardstown on Saturday after packing up our two light backpacks for the trip.

Then hit the Bluegrass Parkway to the east until Lexington and the horse capitol of the country. Out of there we took I-64 to I-79 to the north toward Weston WV. The total miles from Bardstown to Weston was 336 miles. This was all interstate at about 75 MPH and smooth with 95 and partly cloudy weather. Smooth except for this oddly shaped interstate hookup on the way to Weston ... kinda reminded me of the last colonoscopy ... ooo.

Really nice stay at the Hampton in Weston and then north on I-79 to Morgantown and then right on I-68 until we crossed into Maryland and took a break at this rest stop.

Spectacular view of the water and hills from our vantage point about 2000 feet up. Up here it was about 70 degrees which was a big relief from the last few 90 degree days ...pretty day.

After that we continued east until we got to US 219 and headed north. We wanted to do some slow two lane driving but underestimated the trip time. While a really scenic run up 219 to Olean New York through the poor Appalachian coal country, we didn't get into there until about 4:30 ... well past our normal happy hour stopping point. Long day and very tired.

 We left Paducah about 9 on Friday but not before a short tour of the riverfront ... I think Jo-Anne said "Wow really smells like fish!" Yup.

There is a really nice park on the waterfront where you can watch the barge traffic and imagine the side wheelers docking here with western explorers in the 1860's.

There is a high flood wall that runs the entire length of the waterfront and it is painted with at least 30 murals of the town's history ... and this neat train above as well. And many restored historic buildings ... but still 95 and humid so not much walking.

Off to Bardstown Kentucky about 330 miles to the east. The Kentucky parkway highways are as beautiful as they were when I first came here in 1968 with no advertising and a hundred miles of forest and rolling hills. The Caddy is purring nicely and getting 24.7 MPG on the $4.25 gas.

Rolled into Bardstown which is the world center of bourbon whiskey and into a Hampton. The draw for this place is bourbon and one of the first visitors was George Washington who stayed and imbibed at the Old Talbot Tavern below.

Supposedly ol' George had a pint or two at this bar as we did but in the 1780's. Unfortunately the greeter was pretty rude and wouldn't let us eat right here as we had done a couple of years ago so we just had a beer and left. Bardstown is the home of many distilleries you can tour but with the heat and a long day we went back to the hotel.

The Hampton here is from the 80's and still has the original furniture.

And a nice Jacuzzi tub that was so old an rusted that even Bruce wouldn't chance it.

And finally to round out Friday the 13th a question ... "Why would anyone in their right mind try to steal the 1980 fireplace?"

 On Thursday we left the Tapestry in Little Rock after a mediocre breakfast and headed east on I-40 ... wow the trucks and traffic.  Then you take a left at West Memphis and go north on I-55. A lot less traffic and much smoother roadway. About noon we got hungry for our packed sandwiches and a fuel and bathroom stop. When the bladder got really full, I stopped at a Valero station at Turrell. 

This place was one of the filthiest joints we have been in ... tried not to touch anything and used a lot of sanitizer when we got back to the car. Obviously no health inspections in Arkansas. Memories of the comfort and convenience of the RV came back quickly .. ahhh but diesel is running about $5.25 on average.

Then back on the road and got off on I-57 and then smaller roads over to Paducah. This rather narrow bridge over the Ohio River ...

... and then some eye-challenging mustard fields with the Mississippi in the distance.

After our pretty smooth trip we landed in Paducah at a B&B we thought would be unique according to their website. This was the 1895 Washington Hotel which was supposed to be within walking distance of downtown shops and we had reserved and paid in advance for their adjoining guest quarters. Our room was to be on the ground floor with a private patio, private entrance, and parking nearby.

We parked out front on the busy street in a poor part of town, nowhere near the downtown shops. As we went in the clerk registered us and asked if we wanted breakfast ... well as a B&B of  course. She said  that would be $30 because of a new policy ... reluctantly we said OK not having seen the room yet and she charged my card. She also said that if we weren't going to give the place a perfect review to come talk too her first ... wow, first time we've been threatened about giving a perfect review! 

As we went over to the dilapidated building above we noticed the peeling paint and ratty lawn care. She then showed us the room which was in the top window you see above up a flight of 17 narrow stairs. After puffing up the stairs we looked at the room ... rusted sinks and dirty patio chair on a very unattractive tiny balcony. We said that this was nothing that was advertised and we were leaving. She said that we wouldn't get our money back ... at that point we really didn't care.

We then hustled over to the local Homewood Suites about a mile away and had a quiet evening.

OBTW you can read my review of the 1895 Washington Hotel on Trip Advisor and it was a bit less than perfect!

 On the road again!

After a three year break because of Covid and to recover from selling the "Flying Scotsman" we are on the road again. Jo-Anne's dad passed away in November of 2020 but we were unable to have him properly interred in Canada until now. He will be buried with full military honors in the Canadian National Military Cemetery in Ottawa Ontario on the 20th of May.

We departed Flower Mound this morning at about 8:45 and headed down I-30 toward Little Rock. Of course our first stop was Buckey's to say goodbye before we left the state of Texas. The trip to Little Rock was smooth and the temperature is about 95 ... so a hot one.

We landed at our hotel in LR at about 3pm. Interestingly gas was $4.29 as we left Texas and now in Arkansas it is $3.89

We booked the Hilton Burgandy Tapestry and it's quite a nice property. 

Nice touch when they welcome you on the TV.

The restaurant appears quite nice yet pretty pricy with dinner potentially costing about $80 so we opted for local fast food instead.

Really nice place near the center of Little Rock.

Off tomorrow to Paducah Kentucky.