Day 17 - July 2nd - Ottawa to Wellington (nr Belleville, Lake Ontario,ON) 296km

We left Ottawa feeling like we had only scratched the surface of this cool city. We had not yet been to Steve’s (Harper) place, had not visited any museums (except the Art Gallery for free air conditioning and a nap on Canada Day) and had not had a real Montreal Smoked beef sandwich at Dunn’s on Elgin Street. To be continued...

Meanwhile we headed 3 hrs south west to Wellington, The home of Sarah and Mark, Dwayne’s daughter whom we were told we ‘must’ go and see! I couldn’t help feel that there was something wrong with heading west after so many grueling days driving East. Regardless, my whining was short lived as we pulled into the charming little village of Wellington right on the Northwest shore of Lake Ontario. 

Dwayne has been a friend of Jenny’s mum and dad’s for about 50 years. He gave an eloquent speech at our wedding and has provided Jenny and me with about 5 cars over the past twenty years (which have all been awesome). Jenny last saw Sarah in about 1982 but you would think it was only yesterday when we met up this afternoon and spent a day on the beach together with her and two of her three daughters.

Lake Ontario, Wellington, ON

It’s 11:52pm and I am looking quite pathetic sitting in our trailer in a beach chair tapping away at the computer. What is even more ridiculous is the fact that we are parked outside Sarah and Mark’s house and Jenny and Ryan are asleep in their beds on either side of me. Just shows how keen I am to keep you informed as we progress on our trip.

So, what’s next? We are seriously reconsidering heading further south (and away from Quebec) to see Toronto and Niagara Falls. Way too many kilometers in the wrong direction. We are thinking of spending tomorrow here and then maybe heading abc up through Kingston (lots to see there) and back to Ottawa to finish what we started.

That will also give us an opportunity to spend maybe a day or two in Montreal before starting our French course next Sunday...