September October 2012

  Well I just looked back at my calendar for September and looks like we did keep sort of busy.   

Ian invited us to watch him move up in the scouting ranks.  Way to go Ian, We are proud of all our scouts.

A few members of the family had birthdays, some significant like turning 21, and 50, and others, that just got older.

Dad started to recover from his fall but still has his hip problems.  We still mixed in a trip to the dermatologist to take care of a little skin cancer.  All is well now. 

Alex entered the MTC to prepare for his Mission to Houston Texas.  By the nice letters that he has written to us and to his family we know he is ready to do a great job.   Keep going strong Alex.

We spent a good amount of time packing and getting started on our trip to Eastern Canada. 

On the 27th of September we arrived in Montreal and scurried around the huge airport passing through customs  and finally found our rented car.  By this time it was dark but with the  aid of the GPS we maneuvered our way out of Montreal and down to Brockville. 

I was happy that we were able to spend a couple of days with my brother, he was quite weak but we were able to visit and talk about our youth and times past.  We visited with Nicole and went down to Gannaoque Way to see their condo on the ST Lawrence overlooking the Thousand Islands.  It is a beautiful spot.  I am hopeful that Keith will overcome the infection he has and be able to be somewhat comfortable in the weeks ahead.

Saturday afternoon we headed back to Montreal, after losing our way a few times we were able to get our car returned and found our hotel in the airport.  We wandered back to find some supper in the airport and bumped into Ron and Afton coming out of Customs. I think we were all glad to see each other.

We spent the next day touring Montreal.  The day was wet and rainy.

Enlarge these pictures so that you can be impressed with my photography. Ha Ha

      

This little church was built in 1904 for Saint Andre Bessette, a Catholic priest who welcomed all who came to be healed and blessed. Father Andre lived in a little room above the Chapel. It became such a popular spot that soon a huge Basilica was built to accommodate all who came to be healed.

 

            

The walls of the Basilica  were lined with the canes and crutches of those who had been  healed.

 

        

At the Botanical gardens we wondered around in the rain to see these fantastic Chinese Lanterns.  They are made in Shanghai and then sent to Montreal each year to be assembled and placed in the Garden. Because it was a dark day we appreciated the lighted lanterns.  I think it would be a wonder to see them at night.   

 

We visited the largest underground mall in the world, nice when the temperatures are below zero in Montreal.

From the garden we could see the Olympic stadium. Later we stopped to see these water falls.

Monday morning we were herded on to our buses for the drive  up to Quebec City where we boarded our Cruise 

Ship, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.  Most of the passengers were from Quebec.  We quickly learned to

say “Bon soir” and “ Bon  jour”  to all those we met in the halls 

That night we started our journey down the St Lawrence.  Tuesday morning we sailed up a fiord to Saguenay.

This town is located in a depression in the Canadian shield  with a somewhat more temperate climate than the

surrounding region, allowing agriculture and human settlement to take place. 

 

The season was a little advanced and we were dazzled with the fall colours[Canandian spelling]. We were greeted

by this true “Quebecer”  He was dressed as the early “Coureurs de bois”, those early frenchmen that engaged in

the fur trade and opened up North America.  

     

A few Quebec  style homes that caught my eye.  The last one survived a raging flood.  The sloped roofs shed the

snow, the small windows keep out the cold air.

    

Scenes from Saguenay.

The next day was spent at sea, relaxing, learning more about Canadian History and of course getting plenty to eat.

Newfoundland.

 

Captain Cook the famous explorer who discovered the Hawaiian Islands and explored our west coast began his adventures here in Newfoundland, this is where he learned  to navigate and chart and make maps.  

  

Newfoundland is very rocky, but has a beautiful coast line, full of islands. Newfoundland is noted for its hospitality, we were invited to stop at this church for a snack, and to see their crafts.

Nova Scotia is a great place.  We docked in Halifax, and boarded a bus for a tour of the area.

  

At Peggy’s Cove, at the lighthouse photo stop we were treated to a little bagpipe music. 

In Halifax we visited a cemetery where survivors of the Titanic were buried. The graves were placed to represent a ship. The maritime provinces are proud of their history of rescuing those lost at sea.

 

 

Downtown Halifax, we visited a garden and walked around the high-rise buildings and harbor.

Sidney Nova Scotia was our next stop.  We visited a coal mine and drove out to the Fortress of Louisbourg.  This

fort played an important part in the fight between the French and English to claim North America.  It was

originally  built by the French in 1713.  The fort has been preserved and kept up very well.

  

The arch was the gate way to the Harbor for the fort.

The governors of the fort lived very well

Not far from Newfoundland and in the gulf of the St Lawrence is a little French Island named St-Pierre and

Miquelon.   This little rocky island was given to France after England won the struggle  to rule North

America.  France needed a place to dry the abundant Cod fish before sending it back to their markets in Europe,

England gave them this Island so that they could carry on their fishing business. What a charming place this is.  

The rain was pouring down but the colorful houses brightened up the scene.

        

Prince Edward Island did not disappoint us. It was just as I remembered, quiet and green, very pastoral.

We hired a cab driver and he took us on a tour around the Island stopping at all the best spots.

 

We saw churches, the lake of shinning waters, Anne of Green Gables house, lighthouses and beaches and beautiful ,well kept farm land.  The whole Island is like a garden.

Our last stop on the cruise was back in Quebec city.  More quaint houses, colorful trees and magnificent churches.

This last picture is of the basement chapel, of a huge basilica. all the interior was covered in brilliant little mosaic tiles. 

Typically the French farm families built their house along the river or road, next to their neighbors.  Their farms are narrow strips stretching back from their farm houses.  This waterfall, Montmorency Falls, is higher  than Niagara but not as large.

The famous Hotel Frontenac  named for the first governor of new France, Count de Frontenac, is huge.  We didn’t have time to look inside. we enjoyed walking around the upper town.

   

Our guide took us down to the old part of town, this is where Quebec City began.  This is the oldest walled city in North America.   A fun place to visit.  In a little shopping area we found a little corner of seasonal decorations.

Friday we left the ship, boarded a bus and returned to Montreal.  Saturday we were on our way back home.

Rain, rain has been the story since we arrived back in Oregon.      

Dad harvesting our giant pumpkin.

We took a train trip  with our seniors. It rained all day, the trip kept most of them awake.   We did see some nice fall colors.

That is it for October, we have no big storms to report.   Hope everyone has a happy Halloween.  We are looking

forward to Thanksgiving.  Love you all    Grandma and grandpa