Fall is Finally Here!!

[Grumpy]

I just finished mowing my dusty weeds, I mean lawn, but if I had tried to do that at 3 O'clock in the afternoon the last time I mowed I would have gotten heat stroke. Good fishing weather is finally here.

Grumpy

[Big Gills]

I agree Grumpy. I love fall in Ontario. Looking out my window I see the trees are really changing colours nicely. I am on the 12floor so I get a nice view. We are in for a cool 50's+ degrees this week and sunny so it will be beautiful weather for viewing the colours. Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated the 2nd Monday in October so that is coming up next weekend and we always go for a nice drive through the area and up to the Gatineau Hills in Quebec to look at the beautiful fall colours. My favourite time of the year! Oh yeah and lets not forget the turkey dinner.yummy!

[Grumpy]

Margie, that sounds interesting and nice. I am surely not an expert on Canada so i didn't even know you had a Thanksgiving. Tell us more about the Canadian Thanksgiving, history, fables, customs, FOOD, etc.

I have visited your area and it is beautiful. In the fall of 1971, my wife's first year in the States, the first vacation we took was up to New England (I was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC) to show her the fall colors. We were also going to see my sister in Michigan, so as a side trip we went from Maine into Quebec, then to Ottawa, passed thru Toranto and spent our last night in Canada in London. I called my sister to let her know we would arrive the next day and when she asked were we were at, I told her London. She was shocked and said: There is no way you can get from London to Michigan in one day. Then I told her it was London Canada and she about killed me when we did get to her place.

I have also been in Alberta, Saskachuwan, and BC on different trips when I was younger; however, all my travels in Canada have been close to the border. Maybe I'll take a trip north next year just to see more of your fine country.

Grumpy

[RoadToad]

It's almost hockey season, so yeah, let's talk about Canada, eh?

My family's from New Brunswick, on my mom's side. We drove up the east coast all the way to Nova Scotia once, camping along the way. The Bay of Fundy is just beautiful. What I remember most is the Flower Pot Rocks, and especially Five Islands. The tide there goes out so far you can barely see the water's edge. We walked out on these huge mud flats and dug up dozens of longneck clams. Yum!! Driving around in New Brunswick, it seems like every other mailbox has the name Cormier on it, and I'm related to most of them. I'd love to go back up there some time.

Go Flyers!

[Big Gills]

Hey Grumpy you have seen alot of Canada. Most Americans dont even know we are up here. hahaha Just kidding folks. On a high school to Florida the kids down there thought that polar bears and Eskimos walked around. THey had no idea that we had large cities with high buildings etc. I was shocked that they would think that. Did you and your wife get to Niagara Falls when you down in the Toronto area? Its south of Toronto on the border. My favourite place. Just love those falls. It is funny about London, I am use to it but we use to have fun with it too. There is also a Paris Ontario so that was also one to tease people with. You both took a very nice tour of eastern Canada.

We have been celebrating Thanksgiving as long as you folks have I think. Canada and the US are the only 2 countries in the world that celebrate this holiday. Mainly I think cuz the early settlers were just so darn thankful that they survived the journey across the Atlanta from Europe and got some food to eat when they got here. We have the tradition turkey dinner with all the fixings and pumpkin pie for dessert. we have it earlier up here as our harvest is earlier due to the weather. This is a very busy time for farmers up here. Some are too busy to even stop and celebrate the holiday as they are harvesting. I like it as we decorate with pumpkins and corn husks everywhere and squashes. Since Halloween is coming up it coincides nicely with the 2 holidays so close. All the government offices, stores, and most restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving Monday as it is an offical holiday.

[Big Gills]

You know Road Toad, the Maritimes are such a beautiful spot and the best fish and seafood you will ever get. Years ago I was done with a friend visiting her family in Saint John, New Brunswick. Yes alot of french in New Brunswick, the Acadians. You are from good stock there. You will never find a nicer kinder people than the folks from the Maritimes which is all four provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. They would give you the shirt of their backs to help you. The Newfoundland people opened their homes to the passengers of flights that wanted to land in NYC and Washington. There were stories written in magazines by the Americans about how well they were taken in and treated. Just darn good people down there. I would love to head back there again for a holiday and some good lobster. The name Cormier is very popular here too. A friend of mine married a Cormier.

Go Senators! Rah rah rah! They better get close to the stanley cup this year or I will kick their butts. I bet your Flyers will do well again this year! They are a tough group of players.

[Big Gills]

Hey Grumpy, do you remember where you were in Alberta? I lived in northern Alberta, Ft McMurray, the oil town for a couple of years in the early 80's and then another 15 years in Edmonton. Did you see the Canadian Rockies. Just beautiful. You have seen more of Canada than me as I have never been to Saskatchewan. I only have flown over it many times. I figure it is mainly flat farming country with nothing to see. But BC coast is nice isnt it.

I want to see the 3 big Great Lakes some day. Great for a holiday and fishing. I mean I have been to Lake Ontario and Erie cuz they are closer but the 3 big ones are beautiful I hear. Great cottage country. So you and your Mrs just come on up here and enjoy the scenery and fish that you can keep and throw on the grill.

[RoadToad]

.

[HURRICANEBOB]

OH its the weather....


OMG......I thought I had the chills from a flu.

[Grumpy]

Margie, when I was in High School, I worked for two summers at a private Boy's Camp on Flathead Lake in Montana. During the down time in between groups us counselors got to do some sight seeing. We visited the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National park and that area, but now that I have looked at a map, I can't figure out where we went in Saskatchewan so I may not have been there but it seems like I did (if that makes any sense). I had an Army retired friend that settled in Vancouver whom I visited several years ago and you are right about the beautiful coastal area there.

By the way, don't feel bad about the Americans not knowing anything about Canada, most of them don't know much about the geography and history of the United States, let alone the countries to our North and South. And, God forbid that you should ask them anything about Europe or Asian. I hope you get to see the rest of the Great lakes. I was born in Michigan and go there to visit my neices some times and go for some great fishing also but i don't fish on the Great Lakes, just inland lakes and rivers. Michigan and the surrounding areas have some beautiful sights to see and I hope you get a chance to enjoy them.

Grumpy

[Big Gills]

OH its the weather....


OMG......I thought I had the chills from a flu.

Oh Bob you silly goose get outside and rake some leaves. haha

[HURRICANEBOB]

Margie, when I was in High School, I worked for two summers at a private Boy's Camp on Flathead Lake in Montana. During the down time in between groups us counselors got to do some sight seeing. We visited the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National park and that area, but now that I have looked at a map, I can't figure out where we went in Saskatchewan so I may not have been there but it seems like I did (if that makes any sense). I had an Army retired friend that settled in Vancouver whom I visited several years ago and you are right about the beautiful coastal area there.

By the way, don't feel bad about the Americans not knowing anything about Canada, most of them don't know much about the geography and history of the United States, let alone the countries to our North and South. And, God forbid that you should ask them anything about Europe or Asian. I hope you get to see the rest of the Great lakes. I was born in Michigan and go there to visit my neices some times and go for some great fishing also but i don't fish on the Great Lakes, just inland lakes and rivers. Michigan and the surrounding areas have some beautiful sights to see and I hope you get a chance to enjoy them.

Grumpy

I know alot about Canada:
1. Canadian Club: My favorite type of crackers
2. Canadian Bacon: That guy from Canada that was the star of "Foot Loose".
3. Hockey: What I do when I get a bug caught in the back of my throat.
4. Canada Dry: Drought is bad everywhere.
5. Canadian Army: AKA US Army Reserve Reserve.
6. Maple Leaf: I have to admit it looks a lot prettier than a dandelion.


I could go on and on, but my meds are wearing off.

Oops: Forgot one CANADIAN GEESE: What you have when Wayne Gretzkey checks you from behind more than once.