Canadian Coast Guard

My work in Quebec City was conducted at the Canadian Coast Guard base. I was invited to tour one of the Ice Breakers, the Des Groseillers. It's huge! Engine that operates one of propellers is the size of a small house! Lunch with the Commanding officer, Denis Coulombe was wonderful and I appreciated his hospitality. Difficult to take the photo of the ship from the dock, so I travelled to the terrace on the upper Old City to get better shots. Notice that the ship is larger than the building itself!


CCGS Des Groseillers

CCGS Des Groseillers beside Offices


CCGS Des Groseillers


CCGS Pierre Radisson


CCGS Martha L. Black

La ville de Quebec

I am back in Ottawa recovering from the travel frenzy that has been my life for the past 4 months. My last trip to Quebec City was busy and exhausting and I didn't even get a chance to sort through my photos. Rather than ramble on, I'll leave you to enjoy the photos of this wonderful city..


Rooftops of lower Old City


Terrace beside the Chateau Frontenac


Vieux Quebec


Funiculaire, between lower and upper old Quebec City


Place Royale, Vieux Quebec

Keys..remember those?

I've been travelling a lot in the past year and was almost convinced that keys, actual keys, were a thing of the past. Most hotels now use those magnetic key cards that get accidentally deactivated by cell phones, laptops, magnetic clasps on ones purse or generally at the drop of a hat! So I was pleasantly surprised to arrive at the Auberge St. Pierre in Quebec City and to be given an actuall room key.

Divine Intervention?

Now if your driving students require prayer..do you really want to advertise it?

A plus tard Victoria

As I gaze through the raindrops on the plane window, I bid adieu to Victoria and BC! It was a nice trip, and I feel I will see this City again. There was rain, rain and more rain, and now I head off to Ottawa where I hear the weather is....rain rain and more rain!!!!

Victoria at Night!

From the balcony around the hotel, I can see the BC Legislature, here's what it looks like at night. Yes this is a photo and is not a cartoon or touched up with photoshop. They actually have lights along the building and turn them on in the evenings. My question to them was, what about energy conservation? I was told that these are eneregy efficient lightbulbs..Hmmm..wouldn't the most energy efficient approach be to turn the lights off completely? Then again, what would I have taken a picture of without the lights?

Me..in Victoria

Walked to the Empress Hotel where I posed for a photo before catching the bus for a tour of Victoria.

Me posing in front of Empress Hotel

While on the city tour, saw 3 deer walking around

and some beautiful coastline.

We stopped at a harbour, can't remember the name, and to lazy to look it up. I posed for the "yes I was here" photo!

This Search and Rescue helicopter was flying overhead, searching for the person who'd sent out an emergency flare. Wonder if the Canadian Coast Guard SAR vessel was nearby?

I went to the BC Legislature where i had my photo taken in front the coat of arms.

...and finally...to end the excursion, a "Girlie Drink" for this weary parched traveller!!

..I don't have a problem, I'm just thirsty!

...Lisa...a few more for the collection.

Interesting Aquatic life

Saw this on the hull of a houseboat. I have no idea what it is, but it was really pretty.

Waterlogged

It was a museum of water damaged cell phones. Dave, do you recognize these models?

For Sale

Yes, you too folks can purchase this houseboat for $449K... That's some expensive lumber.



The one across the gangway is slightly cheaper at $327K, and had a more descriptive sign...


Here's my question..what is a "property tax" on a houseboat?
What part of the water does own own exactly?

AAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Saw this in Victoria...holy shit....I'm not ready for the holiday that has a big jolly fat man in red running around with hoofed animals and trying to fit his ass down chimneys...

Welcome to Victoria

After way too many hours on a plane, I have finally reached my destination of Victoria BC. Combination of long flight, generally being tired, 3 hour time difference and stress from yesterday's loss/theft of wallet scenario, I have a killer headache...but the need to blog supercedes the need to take advil and go to sleep.!! The DELTA rocks!! After the crappy hotel stay in St. John's it's nice to have a nice, clean well kept hotel with staff that are there to help you. Took them no time at all to find me advil, give me required sympathy..and kindness!!

Victoria Airport

View of Harbour from the Delta Hotel!!

Let's not discuss it...

YES..it is only October and yes the stuff you see is white and cold..and is a 4 letter word starting wtih "s" and ending with a "w"...'nuff said...

...stay tuned

Predicted weather for today in Ottawa...yes...that is S$#W.!!

I will be travelling to Victoria, BC and Quebec City in the next 3 weeks, so stay tuned for more entertaining tidbits from the road.

....Why couldn't the trip to Victoria be today?!!!

Goodbye ...a la prochaine

Today I bid a fond farewell to the province of Newfoundland, it's kind people, it's fog..and warm weather to return to Ottawa land of the much hot air and cool Weather.

I left St. John's at 6am and 17C and landed in Ottawa 5 hours later to 3C. Made me consider going back to St. John's.

How to parallel park a really big boat!!

Now this requires skill!



Pretty awesome if you ask me!!

Who knew...

That Paradise could be found in Newfoundland...

Cycling to Walk

While at Cap Spear Newfoundland, we met Ramesh Ferris. He's ridden across Canada in a hand cycle which he powers with his arms. (Trust me you don't want to try arm wrestling this guy!)

He's raising funds and awareness to eradicate polio and support the rehabilitation of polio survivor in poor countries. He stared on April 12, 2008 in Vancouver and will officially complete his ride on October 1st, 2008 with a final ride from St. John's to Cape Spear! Check out his journey at www.cycletowalk.com and show him some support! Way to go Ramesh! It wonderful meeting you and your entourage! I took this shot while his buddy Chris set up his camera to take the perfect photo.


Ramesh and friends at Cape Spear

To the End of the Continent

It's day 7 for me on the rock, and a beautiful one it was. The sun was shining, the weather was warm..and there was no work to do! So off we went to Signal Hill.

A small boat was made to look smaller by the vastness of the ocean surrounding it.

a fishing vessel coming into St. John's Harbour

The midday sun on the water, made the ocean look like a multitude of tiny mirrors.


The goal of the day was to visit the eastern edge of the continent also known as Cape Spear! So I can now say I stood at the edge of the eastern most point of North America, pretty far up a cliff.

Cape Spear Historical Lighthouse

Cape Spear Lighthouse

Me overlooking the Atlantic..

Me at the edge of the continent!

An hour and a half later in Newfoundland

So I've been in St. John's Newfoundland now for 3 days. I'm not going to discuss the hotel..suffice it to say that the Treasury Management Association of Canada and the Real Estate people have a corner on every single hotel spot in the city. So if you don't like where you are..hotel's answer is basically...suck it up..at least your not sleeping outside! Total stranger drunk guy on the elevator who gave me his glow in the dark halo, perhaps he was just trying to offload a really tacky convention gift and joke's on me!


There are some great views and opportunity for awesome photos. Views from Signal Hill are amazing and the plan is to go back at dawn to get shots at sunrise...we'll see if that actually happens. It all sounds good in theory until the alarm goes off..then all bets are off. So until then..here's how I saw St. John's so far this week.


St. John's Harbour, Newfoundland


Atlantic Ocean..can you see Europe?


Fort Amherst, Newfoundland


Cliffs at Signal Hill, St John's Newfoundland


The edge of Canada
Cape Spear, Newfoundland (easternmost point in Canada)