A Dairy Queen visit was obligatory!
M'off - an inspection of the north american colonies
- Thread starter Greg Masters
- Start date
A Dairy Queen visit was obligatory!
Confession time: we didn't wake early enough to get the train to Toronto, so we have had a lazy day around Barrie, Wasaga Beach and the Blue Mountain ski area.
Wasaga Beach
Our alarm is set for early tomorrow morning!
Wasaga Beach
Our alarm is set for early tomorrow morning!
It most certainly did, when Britain waived the rules….. or summat like that.
Nice trip 
We arose in good time to catch the GO Train to Toronto.
We exited Union Station through its Great Hall into a pleasantly warm city.
As it is very nearby, we headed to the 1,850 foot high CN Tower - still very impressive but now demoted from tallest to 10th tallest building in the world.
Queues were short, so Mrs M headed up. (I've been up top before but, these days, I'm not keen on heights).
For those queuing in lines, they lay on cooling fans.
Mrs M snapped the views from on high...
The Fairmont Hotel
At ground level, I couldn't help notice that the fashion style of choice for young ladies is 'Camel Toe'...
We headed to St Lawrence Market...
From the market we took an early lunch - calamari for me; crab cakes for Mrs M.
Attachments
Toronto has e-bike issues just as the rest of the world does. Modified bikes and masked riders paying no regard to traffic rules...
The city's architecture is a real mix of ancient and modern.
We headed to Yorkville - once grungy, now upmarket.
We found a pavement bar and watched the world go by over an afternoon drink...
For now our day is done - we're back on a GO Train heading back to Barrie. But we'll return to Toronto in a day or two.
The city's architecture is a real mix of ancient and modern.
We headed to Yorkville - once grungy, now upmarket.
We found a pavement bar and watched the world go by over an afternoon drink...
For now our day is done - we're back on a GO Train heading back to Barrie. But we'll return to Toronto in a day or two.
A lazy day today BUT we hit Tim Hortons!
Coffee and a small box of Timbits...
Supervised cousin's haul of home grown garlic...
and set alarm for another trip to Toronto tomorrow.
Coffee and a small box of Timbits...
Supervised cousin's haul of home grown garlic...
and set alarm for another trip to Toronto tomorrow.
Another early start taking the GO Train from Barrie to Toronto.
The train is ridiculously cheap - CAN$20 for the pair of our return fares.
We started off at Toronto Railway Museum...
Coal teeming towers
and passed by the Rogers Stadium...
before checking out Paddington's (as recommended by @Arsey )
The train is ridiculously cheap - CAN$20 for the pair of our return fares.
We started off at Toronto Railway Museum...
Coal teeming towers
and passed by the Rogers Stadium...
before checking out Paddington's (as recommended by @Arsey )
Attachments
Then we headed further east to the old town Distillery District...
A waterfront lunch...
And rounded out the day with a harbour cruise...
A waterfront lunch...
And rounded out the day with a harbour cruise...
We're back on the train now but...
there's been a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game;
Qualifying for tomorrow's Toronto IndyCar race;
and a massive bible-thumpers' convention.
Cheap as the train is, it's rammo'd!
there's been a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game;
Qualifying for tomorrow's Toronto IndyCar race;
and a massive bible-thumpers' convention.
Cheap as the train is, it's rammo'd!
Good report, Greg - great pics. 
Since I'm flying to Vancouver for the first couple of weeks of September, I Googled your train trip...
A ticket costs more than my entire flight and car rental package...
I'll be driving to Banff
Since I'm flying to Vancouver for the first couple of weeks of September, I Googled your train trip...
A ticket costs more than my entire flight and car rental package...
I'll be driving to Banff
Then don't book Business Class for your flight and use the money you save for the train ticket.A ticket costs more than my entire flight and car rental package...
Business? I wish...Then don't book Business Class for your flight and use the money you save for the train ticket.
We took a rest day today.
Tomorrow we leave Barrie and head south-west…
Tomorrow we leave Barrie and head south-west…
Mrs M and I have checked in to our hotel.
Here's the view from our room...
Not too shabby.
Here's the view from our room...
Not too shabby.
We have rented a car in Toronto on a one-way rental to the USA. It is on Illinois plates. That might be helpful later.
During the drive to Niagara, we stopped for coffee. Guess where?
I saw some dodgy sights at our hotel check-in...
It seems that our hotel is hosting The Annual World Santa Claus Congress. A clear oversight on our parts in not bringing suitable clothes
We toured the now-closed Tesla/Westinghouse power station and drain tunnel. Interesting!
Mrs M caused a few sparks...
Then down 130 feet to the turbines ...
before walking the tunnel that drained the turbine water.
During the drive to Niagara, we stopped for coffee. Guess where?
I saw some dodgy sights at our hotel check-in...
It seems that our hotel is hosting The Annual World Santa Claus Congress. A clear oversight on our parts in not bringing suitable clothes
We toured the now-closed Tesla/Westinghouse power station and drain tunnel. Interesting!
Mrs M caused a few sparks...
Then down 130 feet to the turbines ...
before walking the tunnel that drained the turbine water.
The tunnel emerges to spectacular views of the horseshoe falls...
After the power station, we toured the tunnels behind the falls...
And then the complete falls...
Until you are standing next to the falls, you cannot appreciate their majesty.
After the power station, we toured the tunnels behind the falls...
And then the complete falls...
Until you are standing next to the falls, you cannot appreciate their majesty.
Wow - just a fabulous trip report 
