Vacation Update #1

Ingrid and I are on our Way to Winnipeg for Jonathan's baptism planned for this coming Sunday - in Saskatchewan, actually, where Luisa's sister and her husband and family live on their farm.

We set out on Saturday morning for Tobermory where we had booked a ferry to take us to Manitoulin Island. The ferry trip was notable for the beauty of the island views on the water, the numerous pictures of sea gulls that I took as they slowly overtook the ferry, the thick fog that settled in unexpectedly - at least for me.

On "The Island" we stayed at Willow Shores, a B&B run by Gord and Charleen Gorman. I can tell you straight off that Ingrid and I were both very happy with our stay there; we would definitely use it again if the occasion arose and I certainly recommend it to any friends travelling that route. Manitoulin Island, by the way, is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world.

Saturday night we had an unscheduled and unexpected treat. After fish and chips at a pub called The Musky Widow we were invited to attend a poetry competition put on across the road by a local Aboriginal theatre group, Debajehmujig.

Immaculate Conception Church, Manitoulin Island

We spent Sunday sight seeing and eating, starting off with the high point, mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, built to resemble a roundhouse and incorporating elements of First Nations culture into the liturgy and church architecture and furnishings.

Today, Monday, we had an uneventful but enjoyable drive to Sault St Marie. Ingrid and I have just enjoyed a jacuzzi in our new B&B. Up early tomorrow for a planned day outing on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train.

Good night.