December 12th - Cincinatti, then on to Nashville

December 12th - Cincinatti, then on to Nashville

While in Cincinatti, we wanted to take a look at the river front walk which follows the Ohio river for about 5 miles. We didn't have time to cover the whole length of it, as we also wanted to visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre.


Impressed by what they had done to the riverfront area, with its life sized chess set and checkers board, its bench swings, and numerous activities for children, we spent some time taking it in, noticing the personal touches along the way. At a balmy 18 degrees, we couldn't believe how warm it was - even the breeze had an early Fall feel to it. Although it was overcast, it felt great to be outside in short sleeves again!

We loved the sentiment on this sign among the paving stones

We strolled along to the suspension bridge and crossed over the river into Covington, Kentucky. The John Roebling Suspension Bridge, linking the two cities, was the first one to be built over the Ohio River.


On the way over, a woman, who was in the middle of her morning run, told us about a picturesque historical area on the banks of the Kentucky side of the river, so we decided to pay it a quick visit as it was so easily accessible. The area was reminiscent of our time in Savanna, a couple of years ago.The buildings were beautifully preserved by the current inhabitants, and the tasteful decorations added to the ambiance of this historic district.

   
   


 It was also good to see some colour in the leaves as we thought we'd seen the last of the Fall just a few weeks ago! 

 

As well, it afforded us some really good views of Cincinnati from the other side.
 

We were pleasantly surprised to see a connection between Covington and John James Audubon - especially as we have made use of many of the publications under his name in our exploration of nature. 

 

Making our way back to the Ohio side of the river, we arrived at the museum just before it opened. The familiar story of slavery in early U.S. history was presented with the emphasis placed upon the perseverance and bravery of those individuals who escaped, or helped the escapees on their journey to freedom.

 

Slave Pen - used to keep slaves until their auction

Manacle used for keeping slaves chained

It was a little disconcerting to be reminded of how our inhumanity towards others still raises its head albeit in different guises, as the exhibits about modern day human trafficking portrayed. When we see evidence of people who are out of alignment with whom they really are, it serves to remind us of the importance of spreading as much compassion and love as we can in our small way. We spent about 3 hours in the museum, and realized that we could have spent all day there.

Some modern workers for freedom

Although it's true that Canada has had its problems, we felt proud of the part our country had played in the Underground Railroad movement. 

                               

Just outside of the museum, there was a memorial to the Berlin Wall, with part of the wall on display. 

Cincinatti - Nashville

Leaving Cincinatti, with the promise-to-self to return one day to see more of this picturesque city, we made our way over to Kentucky, which struck us as a state that would be awesome to visit in the summer when the leaves are still on the trees. The terrain is quite hilly and there was an abundance of farms and small ranches to take in. 

Feeling fortunate to have missed most of the road works of which we had been warned, we enjoyed the four hours it took to reach Nashville, Tennessee, and we're looking forward to exploring this city over the next two days. 

Afternote...

When we arrived at the hotel, we were informed that the boiler had burst and that they had arranged for us to stay in another hotel (in the same chain) near to the airport, 6 miles away. It's not the best hotel, but it is a place to lay our head, the linen is clean, and the bed comfortable, so we drifted off to sleep with a feeling of appreciation for those comforts, knowing that there are so many out there who lack even those basic needs!

December 11th - Destination: Cincinatti, Ohio

December 11th - Destination: Cincinatti, Ohio

West Lorne, Ontario - Cincinatti, Ohio

                                       

After spending time with family and friends over the last few days, we began our journey south to Panama City, Florida, for our two-week house sit. We crossed the border at the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor to Detroit. 

Downtown Detroit, from the Ambassador Bridge

It was probably one of the easier border crossings - the only 'glitch' being the temporary inability to remember the last three digits of our licence plate number! A pleasant customs officer smiled benignly and waived us through without further ado.





This first part of the journey was uneventful as we traveled through mainly flat countryside in Michigan and most of Ohio until we hit Dayton, when the flatness gave way to a more hilly terrain. The roads were excellent and the weather superb for traveling. 




We stopped at a Tim Hortons (had to give it a try) just north of Dayton. They are billed as Cafe and Bake Shops in the U.S. and you can tell you're in the States because of the very high bill boards. This one is a little blurry, but you'll get the idea. They are great because they can easily be seen from the highway. 





We love these road trips where we talk about our plans, about how fortunate we feel to have so many awesome friends, and always appreciating the scenery through which we pass. It also gives us a chance to listen to Christmas songs on the radio, as well as some of the CD's we have brought with us. 







We're staying overnight in Cincinatti before moving on to Nashville for 2 nights. It feels good to be back in the good old U.S. of A!


                                   

Manitoulin Island - and the Cup and Saucer Trail

Manitoulin Island - and the Cup and Saucer Trail 

Elliot Lake is aflame right now, with the fall colours at their peak. A little late this year, they are still splendid and the view from our balcony fills our hearts with gratitude for where we live. 

For the last couple of years, the Cup and Saucer Trail on Manitoulin Island has been recommended to us - and we've attempted to go there with various friends, but each time we planned the trip, something occurred to prevent it from happening. Today, however - with the possibility of seeing a panorama of colour - we were finally able to cross it off our bucket list! 

The climb was worth it!

The Cup and Saucer Hiking Trail is a trek that should not be missed if you ever get the chance to visit Manitoulin Island. You get to see an amazing view of the island from the top of 70 metre high cliffs, which make up part of the Niagara Escarpment. One brochure describes it as 'an intermediate to advanced hiking trail, but the scramble up to the top is well worth it' - a description with which we wholeheartedly agree!! 

We love this time of year when, the ground under the canopy of trees is covered with the fallen leaves that create a carpet, lighting up the forest floor as the sun breaks through. It's truly magnificent.






Someone once said, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away". This was certainly our experience, today, as each new vista presented itself with even greater glory as we proceeded along the path on the edge of the various cliff faces. 

We sat on rocks that jutted out above the valley below to eat our picnic lunch, taking in the sheer beauty of what was displayed before us.  

Too many pictures were taken on this trail to be added to this blog, so we've created a slide show for those of you who may be interested to see all of them. Here's the link: Cup & Saucer Slide Show. 

After we had completed the trail, we headed for one of our favourite spots on the island - Kagawong. Two years ago, when my sister and her husband visited us, we took them to the Bridal Veil Falls where we watched the salmon reaching the head of the river to spawn and die.

Salmon at the head of their spawning ground

We thought we were too late, this year but - lo and behold - there they were! Huge specimens reaching the end of their lives after mysteriously returning to their spawning grounds, they thrashed around continually until they gasped their last breath and their gills became motionless. It was fascinating to watch the cycle of life being played out in full view - and to know that other animals (bears, racoons, and wolves etc.) would complete the recycling once all of the humans had retreated.

Apart from the Falls, Kagawong's magnetism pulls us back each year, and we took a quick tour of the small town, once again, before moving on to the village of Sheguiandah, where we had seen a fish ladder in the spring. 

Ready for Halloween

Fish Ladder 

We had made a note in our calendar to visit at the end of September to see the salmon leaping. Once again, we thought we had missed it this year, but to our glee, they were still making their way upstream to their spawning grounds on this side of the island. However, the water level was much lower than normal (a phenomenon we have noticed elsewhere this year) and they were unable to reach the ladder, staying in the lower part of the river, just below a footbridge. 

Finally, before returning home, we took a quick detour to another favourite place on the mainland, just south of Espanola. The little hamlet of Willisville affords a view across to the La Cloche Mountains and is worth the short trip up the steep hill road. 





When we first moved up to Northern Ontario, just over two years ago, a friend remarked that there is 'nothing up there except rocks, lakes, and trees'. Our response was unhesitating and immediate... 'YAH!!!'  

We continue to feel that 'YAH' each time we visit Manitoulin, and each time we return home after exploring our great Northern heritage. 

The Jigsaw of Life

The Jigsaw of Life 

While house-sitting in this beautiful location in West Lorne, we've had time to complete a few jigsaw puzzles. Our hosts showed us about 30 different puzzles to choose from. We avoided the 1000-piece puzzles and went for the 500-piece ones - as these seemed less daunting!! That being said, we did progress to a 750-piece challenger towards the end of our stay. 

The first puzzle we finished (500-piece)

It's been years since we've attempted jigsaw puzzles and we only became addicted to them again as a result of frequent visits to our family in Ajax. From those visits, we have rekindled the fun of doing them - from the laborious initial sorting to the exciting placement of the very last piece. 


Those of you who also enjoy jigsaws, will understand the gamut of emotions undergone while solving them. It usually starts off with fervour and anticipation of completing the edge first. Then comes the obvious bits that are easy to identify and place within the perimeter. 


It doesn't take long to lapse into the frustration of looking for that one piece that will tidily complete an area -  it's usually found when you're not looking for it! And there's always a time when we begin to refuse responsibility - when we're convinced that their MUST be a piece missing. It can't possibly be our problem - it's someone else's! 

4 Seasons - we thought this one was neat!

We find that, to alleviate these mixed emotions, we step away from it at times, get involved in something else, and then come back to it later. We have often found that we locate that 'key piece' when we are refreshed - and when we come at it from a different perspective. 

Days Gone By - another 500-piece

And then...  there's that sky!!  That's when we have sometimes quietly cursed the creator of the puzzle - why so much blue, without any different hues or shades?  Not even a cloud or two, for a clue! It's the part of the puzzle that is usually left until last - and then it's a case of trial an error, testing every piece in all of the possible nooks and crannies that are left. 

Lo and behold, the point of no return is reached as you race to find the final few pieces that lead to the ultimate triumph! Oh, how the tension and excitement builds when you can see the end in view! Finally, satisfaction is reached and the picture is complete. 

A Moment in Time - our favourite (750-piece)

During our two weeks here, while we've been doing these jigsaws, I have found myself reflecting on how this experience is so much like life, itself. From cradle to grave, we repeatedly go through a similar catalogue of emotions - and often react in comparable ways.

We start off with excitement about future possibilities, applying ourselves willingly to reach the goals we have set for ourselves. Then, when things don't work out as quickly as we'd hoped, we fall into frustration, blaming self or others, complaining that we must be missing some skills or resources that are preventing us from reaching our target. We can even find ourselves in convincing mode - where we persuade ourselves that there is some grand design that is deliberately thwarting our path! 

Sometimes, we feel the need to step back from issues for a while, and come back to see things from a different angle. At other times, we find a solution in a different place from where we were looking for it. 

However, just like with the jigsaw puzzle, if we accept responsibility, and continue to apply patience, we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel and the fuller picture comes into view. When we finally reach our goal, we can look back and see that everything fits perfectly in its place and we can rest in the satisfaction of a job well done - until the next time! 

The jigsaw of life can be challenging at times, for sure; but if we change our approach and take life piece by piece, maybe we can actually enjoy the journey. By keeping the end in mind, accepting the ups and downs, and moving gradually towards whatever we have defined as an improvement in our current experience, maybe we'll discover the truth immortalized by John Lennon: 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans'.

You'll notice a 5th puzzle at the front - this was our bow to ease and relief  - 8 pieces each!!