Field trip: Trip to Newboro!

Caitlin suggested a sudden sleepover! We went to Newboro for supplies. I was looking for some special spices, but we knew that they have goodies. I bought Caitlin, Jordan and Aster these. It is an amazing story of Syrian refugees who came to Canada, and created Peace by Chocolate. Refugees just want a life. They work hard, and contribute to society. They pay taxes and support their communities, grateful to be here.

Their story is amazing, moving to Antigonish, N.S. and it warms my heart. There is a movie about them and how they devise a plan, and create this flourishing company.

And lunch!

This dude stopped in the road, after turning.❓❓❓❓❓❓❓

We giggle at these signs. People drive so quickly. 

I like looking up for sale properties. 

25 acres for sale $879,000
waterfront, 3 BR, 2 baths

Joe just loves this. It was a delightful drive through the canopied country roads. 

Only to be shocked with this jerk who passed us while we turned, forcing the UPS truck to pull off the road and slow down. People are in such a hurry. Nascar track wannabes.

Trip to Newboro

 Monday afternoon, we had a mission. One last Christmas present. It was a last-minute decision to go there, not made until after lunch. Off we went. We took our masks, and water bottles. 

This is a lovely store, Kilborn's. We popped on our masks. I was really stressed out, and found it difficult to breath. They have no clothes, including winter boots, that fit me. Sad to say. I've wide feet. We fetched a basket, and made our planned purchases. There was lots of sparkle!

We ate at the Stagecoach Inn in the past, but we'd had lunch before we left the house. That is safer these days.

The sun shone. I could see lots of birds on Big Rideau Lake. The problem is where to access the lake view. The Portland Bay Conservation Area wasn't great for that.  

We passed this house in Portland with two suspicious flags. I snapped them on the way home.

I'd seen them before. One can find them online. 

From there, we headed to Smiths Falls for the shoe store, for winter boots for me. They are closed on Mondays, which is the way around here in tourist country. Ah well. It was a nice drive. Back home it was.

I found more decorations. This was a lovely scene. It'd be lovely in the dark, but we don't tend to go out at night.

 We have the same bears, the dark brown pair on the left↓! 

On the way by Rideau Ferry I'd seen ducks as we drove over the bridge. We stopped on the way back for a look. Walking out on one dock, they were not amused. Off they went.

Just as I snapped it, the duck on the upper right rose up and flapped its wings and I missed a lovely shot. You'll have to use your imagination.

This was our view in summer, when we'd eat on CC's patio. They are closed on Mondays, and it was REALLY cold.

Lovely to see them before they fly south!

Saturday drive to Elgin: on to Chaffeys Lock & Westport

 From Elgin we went to Chaffeys Lock, followed by Westport. This was the second leg, here was the first. It's fun seeing the landscape without the leaves out. The first photo shows the limestone. The next, a delightful old home.

      

The old hotel, formerly Opinicon, has been bought, and refinished. 

    

There is another one, Hotel Kenney. There was a fun TV show, Salvage Kings, who visited the Hotel Kenney, and found some amazing treasures and a ghost, trying to clean out the place. That hotel is on the canal system.

It is quite pretty in season (see below)! We had lunch there one summer, prior to COVID! I hope they manage to make a go of it. The problem is getting staff. They hope to be a wedding venue, to add to their services. 

These old locks still function well. It is a wonderful lock system right from Kingston up to Ottawa.

This was a mill back in the day. When we last visited it was an art gallery. 

There was a couple walking where I was headed at the end of the pier. You can see them in the 2nd photo, below.

I walked down to the end of the harbour, as well. I could see birds off in the distance. I spotted a heron during one visit.

It was bitterly cold, with winds whipping up at me off the lake. I didn't drag my zoom with me, but I did get some video. It was a pair of eagles soaring above the geese and ducks on the water.

Chaffey's Lock from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's a nicer visit in summer, but it was peaceful. What's with the red candle, though?!

    

It is the end of snowmachine season. The trails, created over defunct railway lines, are closed. The next photo is a hunter's tree stand. Hunting season, thankfully, over.

 

I like this house in Newboro!
    

Finally, Westport! 

From there, home! 

It is a big day in Ottawa, Thursday, with President Biden visiting. There are many police at the airport, security everywhere. Ottawa has had a freezing rain warning. We had rain overnight, which I expect will continue, despite the blue indicating snow here. I hope all goes well.