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Ontario-area Forum Members
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We've just arranged a vacation in September at a time-share resort in Collingwood, some 35 or so miles northish of Toronto. Not just Peg and me, but also Helen and Attila. Assuming the rest of the party has no objections, I wouldn't mind meeting up with folks from the area -- like Rob! -- for dinner or some such.
-- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak. 
Collingwood is a five-hour drive from Ottawa, but I think I can make the time.
(Don't know whether I'd be up to carpooling - I like traveling alone - but it's always a possibility.) -- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
Outside Rob, I'm the only other forum goer I noticed from Canada. I don't think I'd be able to make it... Montreal is a little too far away to be easily done.
When exactly is this in September? I have a long weekend in the end of the month were it might be doable. -People may die, but ideas are forever. Je suis Charlie. 
If the ferry were still running, I'd be tempted to come up from Rochester.
-- Sucrose Octanitrate. Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode. Quote:Seraviel wrote:I'm in Windsor (south western tip of Ontario). I might be able to make it, won't know for sure until closer. ___________________________ "I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin
We're up here in Ottawa as well - let us know when and we'll see what we can do. Even if it is a meet up at the Zoo or Aquarium.(This offer comes equipped with...wow...nearly a five year old in September...)
All my friends are going to Canada...
I meant that as a joke. But it's just depressing how true it is. ________________________________ --m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
Sorry, Rob, for some reason Ottowa got confused for Ontario when I tried to pull up where you were out of my spotty memory. Everyone else, well, we have 5 months to figure things out. If it happens, great, if it doesn't, oh well.
-- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak. Rev Dark Wrote:We're up here in Ottawa as well - let us know when and we'll see what we can do. Even if it is a meet up at the Zoo or Aquarium.I still have that coin set that I bought for the Darkling the year he was born. It would be rather funny if we both had to go to Collingwood for me to get it to you... Dartz Wrote:All my friends are going to Canada...You're welcome to come along, you know. Canada's big enough for a few more visitors. -- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012 ECSNorway Wrote:If the ferry were still running, I'd be tempted to come up from Rochester.You're closer than I am, even going around the lake - Rochester to Buffalo, across the Niagara River, take the QEW to Toronto and the 400 to Barrie, and you're almost in Collingwood. Bob Schroeck Wrote:Sorry, Rob, for some reason Ottowa got confused for Ontario when I tried to pull up where you were out of my spotty memory. Everyone else, well, we have 5 months to figure things out. If it happens, great, if it doesn't, oh well.We'd better make this happen - I've already asked one of the local acts to autograph a CD for you to take home. -- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
Oh, well, in that case I'd better tell Peggy we're already booked one night that week now.
EDIT: Peggy says, "Oh, okay. ... Who're these guys again?" -- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak.
Okay, that's one... Before I go after more: Bob, are you flying or driving to Toronto? (There are a lot of acts local to Ottawa...)
-- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
We'll be driving up from our friends' place in Allentown.
Edit: Pennsylvania, that is. The one Billy Joel wrote a song about. -- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak.
Let me know if your route passes through Rochester or Buffalo, Bob. We could do lunch or something.
-- Sucrose Octanitrate. Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
Our prospective route does take us near Rochester on route 90. We'd have to time it right, and I'd need to clear it with everyone else -- I'm not going to be the driver, so I can't do it by fiat (or Honda, for that matter). We have five months to work it out, though.
-- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak.
*nod* Allentown to Rochester is about 4.5 hours, and I live right near where 90 passes south of the city. So it depends on the timing, like you said. (And on the day of the week... it's hard for me to get away, weekdays, although with this much advance warning it won't be that hard.)
-- Sucrose Octanitrate. Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.
Friday. We're using our timeshare at a resort in Collingwood, and it's a Friday-to-Friday week there.
-- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak.
Some notes that may come in handy - I'll update this irregularly between now and September as I think of things.
Fill your tank at the border. Gas prices in the US have been at least 10% lower than gas prices in Canada for over a decade. If I did the conversion correctly, we just hit $6/gallon up here. (We have a lot more freeways than you do, but TANSTAAFL - gas taxes (are supposed to) pay for the roads.) Likewise, soda and snack foods cost less on your side of the border. We don't have a penny any more. If you pay cash, the change you get will be rounded to the nearest five cents. Credit-card payments still go to the penny. (Debit cards are popular here, but I doubt your bank is part of the Interac system.) Most fast-food chains are different, unless they're really big. Yes, we have McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Subway, and Denny's. I think those are the only US chains that established any notable market share in Canada. You're more likely to find a Tim Hortons (or Second Cup) than a Starbucks, or a Mr.Sub than a Quizno's, or a Swiss Chalet (or St. Hubert) than a Kenny Rogers' Roasters. Related: At Tim Hortons, a "double double" is a coffee with two cream and two sugar. The most common order in a Timmie's drive-thru is "a large double double." Related: Yes, you can find plain M&Ms if you look hard enough, but Smarties are far more common. Related: What Texans call "cookout" we call "barbeque." What Texans call "barbecue" we call "covered in sauce." -- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
Thanks for the advice about the gas and the penny -- that's news to me -- Rob, but it ain't our first Canadian rodeo. Peg has relatives in both Toronto and Orillia, among other Ontario locales, and we have visited a few times in the past. And we rarely do fast food chains on vacations.
-- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak.
Related: What are called 'Smarties' in the US are called 'Rockets' in Canada. Canadian Smarties are very similar to regular M&Ms with different colours (also they usually come in a box, not a bag). Also outwardly similar, Reese's Pieces. a bit of peanut butter in a chocolate shell with a candy coating.
And as Rob said FILL UP YOUR TANK ON THE US SIDE! Anytime some one crosses over to the sates around here (for shopping, food, Detroit's casinos, ect) they refill before coming back. Edit: ninja'd! ___________________________ "I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin 
I wish we had the political will to axe the penny in Civilian life. From what I've heard, the US Military has abolished it in the Commissaries.
But Civilian life? We're still stubbornly holding onto our Paper Dollars. I even think we'd still have the ha'penny if Congress hadn't been (slightly) more reasonable in the 19th century about things like "wasteful currency." Some of it may also be that a lot of places would have to make their sales taxes multiples of 5%, and they prefer to creep up by single percentage points if at all possible... if the loudest voices would let them raise taxes at all. Let's not get too much into that unless we make a Politics thread for it.... ''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.'' -- James Nicoll
News story on the radio this morning: because of government policies designed to keep farmers solvent, food prices average 27% higher in Canada than in the USA. Dairy prices are up to 74% higher.
So swing by a grocery store in Buffalo while you're filling that gas tank... -- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012 
I doubt you'd want to come down my way. Welland's in south-central Niagara, but it's well off the beaten path if you're taking the I-190 to the Peace Bridge to cross over and take the QEW towards Toronto (to say anything of going all the way up the I-190 to Lewiston, cross over to Queenston, then hook onto the QEW via Highway 405).
Still, I hope you do have a good trip.
Canadian lighthouse to U.S. Warship approaching it: "This is a lighthouse. Your call!"
I'd have to see it on a map with our route, Fred -- and talk it out with the others on the trip. If it's doable, I'll do my best to try to include you.
-- Bob --------- Then the horns kicked in... ...and my shoes began to squeak.
Considering that there's no longer a ferry service between Rochester and Toronto, you're going to have to drive around Lake Ontario one way or the other...
Options are swinging east and taking a bridge across the St. Lawrence (which would put you vaguely-sort-of-near to my end of the province) or veering west and taking a bridge across the Niagara (which would put you next-door to Welland). Knowing the Niagara Peninsula, veering west and making the detour to Welland would be much shorter than heading east and making the detour to Ottawa - one hour added to your travel time instead of eight. -- Rob Kelk "Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of the same sovereign, servants of the same law." - Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012 |
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