The Canadian Maritimes

One of the goals for this year's travels was to seek out cooler temperatures and avoid any semblance of a hot summer.  We eventually wandered to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and found a magical place filled with very hospitable people..

Oscar told the lighthouse keeper at Spencers Island, NS that he was afraid of the dark.  So the keeper gave Oscar a special campsite where he could feel safe in the glow of this 1904 lighthouse.

Oscar was enthralled by the workmanship of the tall ships at Lunenburg.

While he's not really one who chomps down on bones, Oscar was tempted to do just that when he came across this vertebrae of a whale.

His favorite part of each day was watching the world turn as the sun descended to the horizon.  we talked about tall the wonderful things we saw during the day.

Everyone was so excited to have Oscar the Smiley Dog visiting their province.  Prince Edward Island even sent out a special welcoming committee in honor of his arrival.

While he never found Anne, he did find Green Gables.

 

We enjoyed beachfront sites so we could be lulled by the lapping of the waves, but occasionally the weather has other ideas.  This blustery weather was spectacular, although not the most relaxing for sitting out and feeling the blood pressure go down.

Oscar couldn't get enough of the seafood.  He decided I should buy one of these fishing boats so we could catch our own each day.  It was then and there that I though we'd best head for home before he started calling me Captain Ahab and looking for fresh whalebone for himself!

Flesh and Blood Cousins, and more . .

After Eggfest Ontario, Oscar and I crossed into the Province of Quebec.  The first thing we noticed is all the bilingual street signs, which had been English and French, changed.  They became French only, hmmmmmmmmmmm.

French is the birth language of my mother, Helene LaForce, who was born in Quebec.  Our quest on this leg of our journey was to connect with some cousins and look a bit into family history.

Cousins!  Jean, Peter, Monique, and Andre'

(I also met Denise, Sylvie, and Jacinthe)

Jean, Monique and I took a trip to Upton, where my mother was born.  Here, Oscar and I are in front of the home she was born in, in 1924.  It's still in the family. (We got to go inside)

St Ephram's church, where mom was baptized, maintains a parish cemetery which holds some treasures.

Family plots may include many remains.  Here is the resting place of my great grandparents Urbaine and Elmire, my grandparent Antonio and Rosa, along with numerous others.

While Oscar hung out with Raymond (Monique's husband) I perused a family genealogy that traced my family lineage back to 1585, to my Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Pierre Pépin, of St Laurent de la Barriére, Saintonge France. His wife, Franciose Prieur, was born in1575.

  My 7XGreat Grandfather, Guillaume Pepin was born in France in 1610 and buried in Trois Rivereéres, Quebec in 1697.

My family line is filled with prolific Catholics where having 15 or even 18 children was not unheard of . . . . I'm number 298 in line since Pierre Pépin.  (whew)

And the journey continues . . .

Ontario and EggFest 2016

After Niagara Falls, we went north, into Ontario, to meet some fiberglass cousins at "EggFest Ontario".  It is always nice to meet kindred spirits who travel with these unique rolling wonders.

Here's a sample of some of our fiberglass cousins . . . 

Little Joe

Uhaul

Patriotic Boler

Coca Cola Trillium

The Wonder Egg always feels right at home with its cousins.

Oliver - Boler - Casita

As usual, Oscar made lots of new best friends.  Here is his favorite buddy from the rally.

The adventure continues . . .

Pete is a Wimp!

Hey folks, it's me, Oscar writing this entry.  Pete went out somewhere so I thought I'd hop online and tell you what an absolute WIMP he is.  This is payback for him taking me to the worst groomer I've ever had dealings with.  Payback is hell buddy . . . 

So here it is, Pete drove me to Niagara Falls, where I've been telling him to man up and go over the falls in a barrel.  He's just been hemming and hawing on me. One excuse after another.  "I have a hangnail." or "I'm afraid of heights." (says the retired pilot) I think he's just having an attack of sissyitis.

I even showed him how calm the water looked as it headed for the edge.

And how fun the slide down the water slide would be.

He'd have nuthin' to do with it, I tell ya.  He dangles me over the edge, so's I could look down and he mumbled something about rocks.

I told him not to worry, his head is way harder than any of those little pebbles, way down there.

Why he wouldn't even put on one of those red raincoats and go for a ride on The Lady of The Mist.

I think he was ascared.

Little ole Annie had more courage than scaredy Pete.

Well, after just about giving up on helping Pete find his manhood, I came across another idea.

(It worked for Nik Wallenda back in 2012)

Ya think he'll go fer it?

Notta chance . . . cuz he's a WIMPO!!!!!

Whose land is it?

Can anyone ever really "own" land?  As I cross this nation and stand amongst giant, 2000 year old Redwoods, I realize we are but a whisper passing through this place we call "our land".  Oscar and I visited one small area in "our land" which has been contested by four nations during recorded history;  Iroquois, French, British, and Americans all believed they were the possessors of this small corner of earth.

Peering over the earthen fortifications at Fort Niagara is the French Castle, built to resemble a trading house so the hostile Iroquois indians wouldn't think it was a military fort.

But when you get up close to the "trading house" you notice impressive outcroppings, not intended for guests to view the surrounding area from their penthouse rooms, or to allow Rapunzel to let-down her golden hair.  They were cannon emplacements commanding a wide view of the surrounding area for defensive and offensive purposes.

Daniel Hyacinthe-Marie Lienard de Beujeau - French Commandant of Fort Niagara 1749- 1751

His bedroom and study area was opulent for the time and place of his country's "ownership"

His soldiers did not share the same luxury.

Currently, the US Coast Guard Commander, at Coast Guard Station Niagara, viewed here from Fort Niagara, has nice a accommodation in "his country's land"

(tough duty, if you can get it)

After pondering all of this, Oscar the Smiley Dog ran into the former French Castle, scurried up the stairs to the Commandants quarters, hopped up on the bed and declared "This is MY land"

 Sheeesh

Fletchers Trailer Sales & Service, Inc.

Soooooo, where do old, vintage trailers, such as this Shasta "tin can" go for a chance at a new life?

They go to Fletchers Trailer Sales & Service, Inc. in Trumansburg, NY

Fletchers has rows of used, vintage trailers just waiting to be renewed so they might get back out on the road and give people pleasures of the great outdoors.  Here is a row from the front.

and from the back

As you stroll amongst these rolling treasures, you can almost hear them talk to each other about the places they've been and the families who have owned them over the years. Oh, the stories they could tell!  Here is a sample of the treasures to be found at Fletchers.

Avalon with cool Jalousie windows 

Serro Scotty Highlander

and his little brother, the Serro Scotty Sportsman was there also

These old fellows gathered around all day wondering who would be the next lucky one to be given a new finish and a new family to have fun with.

A very intriguing trailer was also found in this magical place. This low riding, raisable hard sided trailer was ahead of its time . . .

The COMPAK!

The Compak Keuka tows in the collapsed position for easy towing and then raises into a functional trailer for camping.  This one is serial number 002 and Fletchers is selling it, as is, to anyone who desires to return it to useful service.  What a head turner it would be.  It also comes with the original owner's manual. 

Anyone looking for a rare, classic trailer for refurbishing,  should call 607-387-5838 and ask for "Fletch"

He'll be glad to help.

Fletchers Sales & Service, Inc.


The adventure continues . . .