Canal watching

Today we decided to have a look at the Welland Canal. This is part of the St Lawrence Seaway which joins the Atlantic to Lake Superior. The Welland Canal joins Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. We had intended to stop at Thorold but somehow were past before we realised - another day!  Anyway coffee called as we were coming to Welland so we left the 406 south and found a parking place opposite the Palais de Justice and parked free due to a kind Canadian who passed on his ticket. The canal looked nice there for a walk but coffee was still calling and we went in search but found none! The place was almost deserted - we assume that somehow or other the word was out that the Kings from Raphoe were on their way and most people went into hiding! We did find the Welland murals - or some of them.

These murals depict colourful scenes of the Niagara Region. Seemingly new murals are added periodically but the original ones started in 1986. We saw the ones near the canal but there are many more which we will see another day.





Coffeeless - and worse cookieless! - we went on to Port Colborne. And obviously a messenger had been sent to warn the locals that Raphoe Kings were on the way as, again, there were very few about - only the brave! Having parked, I had reason to go to a Drugstore and I caused hilarity as I tried to fish out some change to pay for my purchase. I said," What are these things?", referring to coins. The Canadian shop assistant was very helpful and asked me where I was from. When I said "Ireland", she immediately shouted to the other assistants and pharmacists, "We have an Irish lady here!" I think that was the warning call because when we went back out again there was nobody on the street!

It was now too late for coffee so lunch was in order. We made our way alone along historical West Street and found "Canalside" and discovered that this was where they were all hiding! Maybe I'm just paranoid and people were just off the streets in order to have lunch. And a good lunch it was! I have discovered that Canada is a good place for soup. I thought it was just British Columbia where I had several different soups but it is obviously Ontario too! Anyway soup was called for as we were frozen and in need, not just of our fleeces but our raincoats too - for heat and shelter from the wind.

When we left "Canalside" we were really lucky to be just on time to see the Clarence Street Bridge, one of the few remaining lift bridges operating on the Welland Canal, raised to let a huge ship through.

The view from the bridge up the open canal.

The ship - I'm surprised Jim got it all in the photo.








According to our tourist information we were not to miss lock 8 and Lock 8 Gateway Park. So we crossed Clarence Street Bridge and headed off on a walking/cycling path along the canal in the hopes that there would be an opportunity to see lock 8 in operation. It was only later that we realised that we should have checked at the Visitor Information Centre for ship schedules. At any rate we were enjoying the walk and the fact that we didn't have a dog to poop-scoop after as one man did (he must have had his lunch and was happy to brave the Kings. Though if he had had his lunch why did he want to clean up after his dog? Geoffrey, you do not want a dog!). When we arrived at the second jack-knife bridge (jack-knife because of how it opens to let ships through) we could see a ship in the distance. We entered Lock 8 Gateway Park and proceeded to try to locate the elevated viewing platform which was, in fact, a nicely landscaped raised area giving a really good view. I initially thought the viewing area was what turned out to be a children's playing area (Jim despairs of my eyesight - so do I!). We had to wait some time but the ship/oiltanker eventually came through and the complicated operation was explained to me by my knowledgeable husband who had spent many hours in Athlone with Brian and Carol as I held Exam conferences. But it was a lot lot bigger than Athlone!

At Lock 8 waiting for his ship to come in!

Here it is!

There it goes!

And it's just gone as we legged it back to the Clarence Street Bridge to just about catch it going under - and it was quite a fast walk! By now the weather had improved so first the raincoat came off and then the fleece and then I had to put up with the heat or the locals would have sought serious refuge!!





We said goodbye to ships and locks and canals and headed home via Fort Erie where again coffee was hard to find. Rick and Eva say we need to try Tim Horton's for coffee and donuts (Irish - doughnuts!) but drive-in is quite intimidating! We will do it at some stage.

Forgot to add the photo of the rainbow yesterday evening:

And Oli tells us that the red bird is a Cardinal! Rick and Eva say we are listening to bluejays in the mornings!