What do you do to mark the occasion of your 20th wedding anniversary when life seems to have upended all your previously used methods of planning and going? With Covid and family caregiver responsibilities hovering over us since 2020, leaving calendars riddled with only intermittent short periods of time freed up for escaping, the window for taking a trip, and even for planning to do so, seemed to close almost before it was opened.
In the years leading up to our 20th anniversary, we’d imagined we’d plan a trip to some exotic place we’d never been before, probably in Europe, but before we knew it there was no time to do so, and post-Covid travel was chaotic and expensive. Instead, we got creative and found what we decided would be the next best thing – still somewhere we’d never been before, but somewhere we could drive and somewhere that “felt” a little European. Voila, Oh Canada! Turns out it wasn’t the next best thing, but rather, THE best thing because we had a wonderful time together. We recalled our wedding vows where we pledged to each other to “make my home in your heart from this day forward.” That vow works for vacations too. Vacation isn’t really a place; it’s the fun of being together.
When we decided on Canada, at first we zeroed in on Quebec. We’d read and heard many times that if you can’t get to France, try a trip to Quebec, particularly Quebec City. We chose that as the place to be on our anniversary. Then we began filling in other places we’d like to see on this trip. Dan had never seen Niagara Falls, so that’s where we decided we’d launch our tour. From there we headed northwest to the edge of Lake Huron. We’d seen a photo of the shores there that compared it to something you might see in Croatia. Next we headed over to Canada’s capital, Ottawa, for some Britishness. Then on to Quebec where we ventured beyond the Frenchness of Montreal and Quebec City to Saguenay Fjord northeast of Quebec City for an area that would inspire thoughts of Norway’s fjords. We even found other delights along the way that transported us elsewhere, like the chimney cake we found at the Budapest Bakeshop in Niagara-On-The-Lake, views of the Laurentian Mountains that reminded us of the Scottish Highlands, and the interiors of more than one basilica named “Notre Dame” that could have been sitting in about any continental European village. Yet, it was all Canada. So over ten days and about 3,300 miles driven, we had quite “The Grand Tour.”
American Falls with boat coming back from up-close look at Horseshoe Falls on Canadian side of Niagara Falls
Crazy people getting wet viewing Horseshoe Falls
White lights on Horseshoe Falls. This was the start of the light show.
Until finally, a rainbow of lights on Horseshoe Falls
American Falls at night
View of Georgian Bay from the Bruce Trail. Smoke from the wildfires provided an orange sunrise-look to the sky even though sunrise was actually 2-1/2 hours earlier.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Halfway Rock Point—half-way to what or where we didn't know
Indian Head Cove
Indian Head Cove with Overhanging Rock on the other side
The Grotto is a large sea cave carved into the limestone shoreline along Georgian Bay. Inside the Grotto there is a pool of water with an underwater passage to the exterior of the cliff face. It is possible to climb down to the cave's large opening. Fortunately, Dan decided he didn't need to go down there. Whether he is showing his age or IQ hasn't been determined.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Indian Head Cove
Natural Arch
Big Tub Lighthouse
Big Tub Lighthouse from the Ferry
Cove Island Lighthouse
Dan took a photo from near the back of the church prior to us moving forward toward the altar. The stars on the ceiling reminded us of our own little Sacred Heart Church (formerly Cathedral) back home in Raleigh.
Apse area and altar. Lots of statues and stained glass.
Stained glass on the rear of the Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
The Parliament Building was being renovated while we were in Ottawa so cranes and scaffolding were all around it. In some sections, what looks like windows is actually large tarps that have been printed with windows and walls to make it look like the building.
We stopped at the shore of Lac Georges on our way up. It looked nicer once we got some elevation and could look over it.
Approaching the peak we looked back and could still see Lac Georges to the northwest from higher up and farther away.
Clouds started forming to the west as we got near the peak. This panorama shows other mountains in the Laurentian range.
Clouds started forming to the west as we got near the peak. This panorama shows other mountains in the Laurentian range.
Aspens along the trail near the junction with the next mountain trail we would climb (Le Chouenne).
Old Hotel and Old Church in Tadoussac. The 1984 film The Hotel New Hampshire, based on the 1981 John Irving novel of the same name, was shot at the Hotel Tadoussac. The Old Church was built in 1747.
Leaving Tadoussac, looking west toward the Fjord du Saguenay.
View of Fjord du Saguenay from the ferry
Deuxième lac du Séminaire (Second Lake of the Seminary)
The shore of Eternity Bay with the Saguenay River in the background.
The small waterfall at points along its way to Eternity Bay.
Southern end of Eternity Bay
The view from the Giant Lookout above Eternity Bay and the Saguenay River.
This is Rue du Cul-de-Sac, a street made famous by the colorful umbrellas hanging above it. It also has a view of the Château Frontenac overhead.
Parliament Building on a day when it wasn't pouring down rain.
The flag of Quebec with its four white fleurs-de-lis (lily flower)
French King Louis XIV
