Tag Archives: Canada

Posts from Base Camp

Ontario food experiences in late 2025

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

As we near the end of 2025, I’d like to share some of my local food experiences (and a concert) over the past few months.

Rayhoon Persian Eatery, in Burlington, Ontario

Every time I’m in Burlington, I make sure that I visit its vibrant downtown core. It’s always very busy and there are many dining options. One of my favourites is the Rayhoon restaurant, which specializes in Persian cuisine. It also has a great location in the “Village Square”. On this occasion, I ordered Fesenjoon, which is a rich stew featuring chicken, butternut squash, pomegranate molasses and ground walnut. I like the sweet and sour contrast…definitely more sour than the typical “sweet and sour” you find in Canada.

Very rich and tasty Fesenjoon, at Rayhoon in Burlington, Ontario

In September, I had some al pastor tacos at Chúuk in Pickering. If you like pineapple, this is the taco for you. And it’s not the only Mexican option in suburban Pickering. I loved the pollo con mole at Cielito Lindo.

Al pastor tacos, at Chúuk in Pickering, Ontario

Back home in Kingston, I saw The Grapes of Wrath perform an acoustic concert at the intimate Broom Factory. They were very popular in Canada through the late 1980s and early 1990s, so it was nice to see them in such a cozy venue. I had interviewed the two other members of the group in the mid 1990s (when they were in an offshoot band called Ginger), so I think the circle is now complete!

The Grapes of Wrath at the Broom Factory in Kingston

I lived 11 months of my life in Brockville, so I feel somewhat more connected to it than other similarly-sized Ontario towns. It doesn’t seem to have changed very much since my last visit, but I was happy to see some interesting food options on King Street.

Pho Hut on King Street in downtown Brockville, Ontario

We had intended to visit another restaurant, but it was closed on Mondays and we ended up at the Pho Hut instead. Their menu was quite large, so I can’t really tell you what I had…the picture below will have to do.

My main course at Pho Hut in Brockville, Ontario

From Brockville, we moved on to Ottawa again. Blog regulars will know that I find myself in Ottawa quite a bit. This is not the first time that the Chateau Laurier hotel features at the top of one of my posts. Anyway, on this trip, we went to an old favourite for dinner: Khao Thai, on Murray Street in the Byward Market district. It is a little more upscale than your typical Thai eatery, and the quality of the food has always been excellent.

My main course at Khao Thai in Ottawa

Not every Ottawa dining experience has been exquisite. Before leaving the city, we had lunch at a fairly well-known diner. The Reuben sandwich was fine, but a bit more balance between the sandwich and the fries would have been appreciated. Seriously, what’s with the grotesque amount of fries?

French fries, with a side of sandwich, at an unnamed Ottawa diner

Coming up next on the blog: an interesting hobby that can (and did) scratch the travel itch…at least for a little while…

Posts from Base Camp

Unusual postcards from my friends (Volume 3)

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

I recently posted two blog entries (#1 here, and #2 here) about unusual postcards that I received from my friends. Those entries covered the 1988 to 1998 period. But there is more…a lot more! Today’s post includes postcards from 2004 to 2018.

Chairman Mao inspecting produce – sent from Beijing on May 24, 2008

This time, the Communist postcards focused on East Asian leaders of the 20th century. Here we have Mao Tse-Tung inspecting produce in China, and Ho Chi Minh sharing some stories in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh regaling his followers – sent from Ben Thanh on October 14, 2007

Speaking of inspecting food, there appear to be some fairly stringent registration requirements for today’s cover photo…which naturally features a tuna vendor at a souq in Oman. The neighbouring stall specializes in mutton, but this fellow is definitely offering tuna.

My friend only made it to Santa Fe, New Mexico, but sent this card anyway on September 14, 2016

I’ve never been to New Mexico, although I had planned a ski trip to Taos (the premier ski area in New Mexico) at one time. And Colorado has always held a fascination for me, given its mountains and the “rocky” history of the NHL’s Colorado Rockies in the late 1970s. So, I’m happy to share two postcards from New Mexico and Colorado that display some synchronicity.

Colorado Corporate Culture card – sent from Denver, Colorado, on April 23, 2018

The card from Roswell reflects that town’s association with unexplained space events…although the aliens depicted there are somewhat stereotypical. I suspect any alien life forms would look quite different. Perhaps they would have the head of a deer, the body of a human, and small roller skis on their feet?

??? – Sent from Ontario’s Georgian Bay region on July 3, 2017

Finally, here is yet another postcard featuring sheep. While the last one was from New Zealand, this one is from Cyprus. Cyprus is a small island just south of Turkiye in the far eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first time I’ve mentioned Cyprus in this blog…but will it be the last?

Foreshadowing? This was sent from Cyprus in March 2018 (although the postcard was printed in Ireland!)

Next year is shaping up to be an exceptionally interesting one for travel. I’ll have some more details in upcoming posts!

Posts from the road

A Toronto Surprise

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(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

I recently had to visit Toronto to renew a passport. It was supposed to be a quick, surgical strike, although I left enough time before and after my appointment just in case there were unexpected delays.

It’s amazing what you can find in a big city!

After my train arrived, I decided to check in early at the passport office. Happily, they were able to process me right away…and after maybe 5 minutes I found myself with more than 3 hours until my return train departed! Now what?

What to choose on Dundas West…HotHot Rice Noodle, BigBelly, or Mom’s Pan-fried Bun?

I decided to walk in the direction of a couple of record stores I used to frequent in the area around Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue. But, along the way, I noticed a lot of unusual restaurants. It started with “Unholy Donuts” (see photo at the very top of this post) and continued in the same strange vein.

The Village Idiot (or L’Idiot du Village) is bilingual!

I took this strangeness as a sign: I needed to have a uniquely Toronto food experience. How else could I interpret it? Rather than head south from Dundas Street, I continued west until I got to Kensington Market.

After all these years, “King of Kensington” still means something!

It was a grey and rainy day (a rarity this year). The closer I got to Kensington Market, the more I began to crave a comforting old favourite: the pastel de choclo (Chilean Corn Pie) from Jumbo Empanadas on Augusta Avenue. I’ve written about Jumbo Empanadas before. In fact, I’ve written about it a lot. Would it still taste the same? Would Jumbo Empanadas even still exist?

My latest photo of Jumbo Empanadas

Thankfully, the answers were “yes” and “yes”. I took the additional spicy salsa ($0.50 extra, but worthwhile) and enjoyed my beloved corn pie. It is apparently similar to Mexico‘s pastel de elote or England‘s corn pudding, but I cannot vouch for that. I just know that the various tastes (sweet, spicy, salty) and textures really work for me.

My pastel de choclo (Chilean Corn Pie) from Jumbo Empanadas

To complete the experience, I had an Inca Kola (a.k.a. “Golden Cola”). While I find it too sweet on its own (it’s not too far from cream soda), this Peruvian drink worked pretty well with the corn pie. Who knew?

My view of Augusta Avenue, from my table at Jumbo Empanadas

Kensington Market looked just as scruffy as it always has. While many old favourites were there, I saw some new and inspired places too …including “Rasta Pasta”, a restaurant tackling Jamaican/Italian fusion!

Rasta Pasta, on Kensington Avenue (Toronto, Ontario)

I might have to give Rasta Pasta a try next time I’m in the Market. Not all their dishes are fusion, but I think the fusion part of their menu would be really interesting. Their Rasta Pasta is gnocchi in an Alfredo or marinara sauce, with Jamaica’s national dish, ackee & saltfish. And their Reggae Lasagna is layers of ricotta, mozzarella and steamed callaloo (similar to kale or spinach) with a spicy tomato sauce.

A cheesy institution on Kensington Avenue (Toronto, Ontario)

After ambling around the Market for a bit, I headed back to the train station via the record shops. As it turned out, I didn’t see anything of interest for my collection…and I know better than to force the issue. Besides, I can always order things through my local record store in Kingston.

Magical cheese in Kensington Market (Toronto, Ontario)

Next up…more strange postcards? More local travel experiences? Or maybe…a sneak peak at my 2026 trips? It’s all coming soon to this blog!

Posts from Base Camp

Unusual postcards from my friends (Volume 2)

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

My previous post featured a bunch of unusual postcards sent to me by friends between 1988 and 1998. As I had so many, this post also features cards sent to me in the late 20th century!

Four postcards for the price of one, from Northern Ontario

While there really isn’t a unifying theme for all of the postcards, there are at least a couple each in the categories of bones, communism. and the Netherlands. The 1998 postcard at the very top of this post shows an ossuary in Rome, Italy. Kind of creepy, yes. But not as creepy, I think, as the inclusion of such bones in the postcard at the very bottom of this post!

The card says New Zealand has more than 50 million sheep! (1999)

First, though, are a couple of old reliable subjects. In many Canadian small towns, you will find the biggest something or other. In Mundare, Alberta, you can see a giant sausage. In Vegreville, Alberta, you will find a giant Ukrainian Easter Egg. And so it is not surprising that the postcard from Wawa, Ontario, includes a giant Canada Goose (a.k.a. cobra chicken). And I suppose sheep farming is a fair topic for a New Zealand postcard.

Greetings from Restaurant Puri Mas in Amsterdam! (1998)

I’m always wary of businesses that promise something “you will never forget.” For example, I will never forget the food poisoning I suffered in Glasgow, Scotland, that necessitated a visit to the Emergency Department. But my friend assured me that this Indonesian restaurant in Amsterdam was very good.

“I arrived by boat, and as it turns out, I’ll be staying in Groningen for a while. Everything else is fine.” (1995)

Speaking of the Netherlands, it seems that one of my friends ended up spending more time in Groningen than originally anticipated. As you can see, the boat has not moved in quite some time.

The (extensive) information on the back of this Soviet-era postcard is entirely in French

This postcard from “Kiev” is from the days of the U.S.S.R. But my friend did not get this card in Kyiv (a preferred Ukrainian transliteration)…or even Europe. Instead, he found a shop in Laos (!) that seemed to specialize in postcards from the Communist world. This seemed to be a theme in Southeast Asia, as the card below from Singapore was also concerned with communism.

“Communist-inspired riots” occurred on May 12, 1955 in Singapore (1992)

And then there’s this card from Bali, Indonesia. For a place that is often described as a paradise, it was unsettling to see the skulls and uncrossed bones adorning this otherwise peaceful card. There’s even a guy waving in a friendly way! Is it for real, or is it just an act to lull us into a false sense of security?

Bali, Indonesia – a tropical paradise? (1994)

Do I have more unusual postcards? Of course! I will share some of them in the weeks ahead. But first, watch for a fun Toronto adventure that I didn’t expect to have…

Posts from Base Camp

Unusual postcards from my friends (Volume 1)

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

I’ve been doing some cleaning and sorting, after doing some home renovations. What struck me was how many interesting and…unusual postcards I have received from friends over the years. It’s partly my fault: I try to send interesting things to my friends too.

Agadir, Morocco – where you can find the biggest couscous in the world! (1998)

This post, and several more to come in the near future, will include some of the more unusual postcards I’ve received. The first two posts are entirely from the late 1980s and the 1990s. In a nod to Spinal Tap, the photo at the very top shows (of course) Druids at Stonehenge (1997).

Azrou, Morocco – where you can find a police station! (1997)

One of my favourite travel experiences was visiting friends in Morocco for two weeks at the end of 1996 and the beginning of 1997. I even managed to ski while there! But I only had time to see a tiny fraction of what that country had to offer. Fortunately, as you will see, a steady stream of postcards allowed me to see other aspects of Morocco.

Another card from Morocco – but I can’t speculate on who these people are, as my friend taped a Moroccan highway toll receipt over the explanation on the back! (1998)

It is impossible to see everything in the world, but having friends send along some highlights and personal impressions is certainly a cost-effective and interesting way to cover places I’ve missed. And in some cases, I received postcards from places that I ended up visiting later.

The card says this is a “Typical Moroccan Souk” – not sure I agree, as I never saw a single watermelon at any of the Moroccan souks I visited! (1997)

I’m not going to name my friends in these posts. But I know many of them read this blog, so it will be interesting to see if these postcards tweak any memories (actual or misremembered) about sending them! I say “misremembered” because sometimes more than one of my friends has been to a particular place. I’m looking at you, Rome and Berlin!

“Attention! You are now leaving West Berlin!” And the card quite rightly asks…”Well…how?” (1988)

As we advance further and further into the digital age, postcards are becoming more and more rare. But I still receive them regularly: a few of my friends share my affinity for postcards, and make a point of sending the odd and the incongruous whenever they travel. They even apologize when the only offerings are generic and conventional. (Or they don’t – see below).

No apology on this one (1988).

Due to this quest for quirks, I suspect that my postcard collection is getting progressively stranger even though postcards are harder to find these days!

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia – one of the few hotels that offers “Noble Lodging” (1998)

Finally…if postcards aren’t quite your thing and you would prefer some more conventional travel content, I will try to include links to previous posts that cover the same territory or theme as the postcards.

Posts from the road

Calgary, Alberta

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(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

I recently spent nearly a week in Calgary. Ordinarily, that would provide me with at least a couple of blog posts. But that wasn’t the case this time. I was playing in the Canadian Bowler Open, probably the pre-eminent lawn bowling tournament in Canada at the moment. And I did so much bowling over the course of the tournament that I just didn’t have the time to properly experience Calgary.

The Calgary Lawn Bowling Club

The event was hosted by the Calgary Lawn Bowling Club, which must surely win the award for the coolest looking clubhouse in Canada. But, more importantly, they also have the best greens I’ve ever played on in Canada. It was an absolute pleasure to bowl there. Every rink was fast and true. I hope to return again soon – possibly for next year’s event.

This hare made several appearances on Calgary’s west green

Anyway, my observations of Calgary are basically limited to the area within a block of the club and within a block of my downtown hotel. I’ll talk about the club area first. It’s in Calgary’s Spruce Cliff neighbourhood.

Poplar Park in Calgary, Alberta

The club is a peaceful oasis, but so is the small nearby Poplar Park. But to get to Poplar Park, you have to pass a strip mall with a cool local business: Pie Junkie. They focus on pies, but also on savoury variants. No less than three times, I enjoyed the Peach Habanero BBQ (chicken) handheld stuffed pie. It had a great burn and replenished whatever nutrients I was losing in all those matches.

Pie Junkie: “Stress can not exist in the presence of pie” (Calgary, Alberta)

My hotel was not as peaceful, although that is to be expected given its downtown location. Two blocks north of the hotel was a Safeway supermarket, where I picked up snacks (and lunches, when I wasn’t stuffing myself at Pie Junkie).

My hotel in downtown Calgary

Calgary’s downtown is interesting: at one time, the Calgary Tower defined the city’s skyline. At 191 metres in height, it towered over Calgary just like the CN Tower did in Toronto. However, in recent years, the Calgary Tower was surpassed in height by other buildings. The Calgary Tower isn’t even visible in the photo below of downtown Calgary (taken from my hotel room).

Downtown Calgary, as seen from my hotel room

On my last night in Calgary, I *finally* decided to look around my downtown neighbourhood and grab a bite to eat. I found a great locally-run restaurant called Tre Vietnamese Kitchen. I had a coconut peanut satay chicken noodle soup (see photo below), and it was pretty spectacular. Just like the handheld pie at Pie Junkie, it was both spicy-hot and flavourful. I wouldn’t hesitate to have it again, especially after a hot day on the greens…or on a cold winter’s night. Anytime, really.

My coconut peanut satay chicken noodle soup, at Tre Vietnamese Kitchen

When I walked a few blocks the next morning to catch an airport bus, I stumbled across a National Historic Site called the Lougheed House. It resembled a grand old mansion that you might find in many small Ontario towns…except that it was in downtown Calgary, which is (relatively) a much younger city.

Tre Vietnamese Kitchen on 8th St SW in Calgary

I didn’t get a chance to visit Lougheed House this time around, as I was toting a very heavy suitcase and was racing against the clock to get to the airport on time. I learned the hard way that Calgary’s public transportation has some very good aspects…and some frustrating ones. Transferring from the frequent LRT trains to buses in the downtown core would be one of the frustrating ones!

Lougheed House (Calgary, Alberta)

The next time I visit Calgary, I will do some more advance planning and seek out some more special attractions. Maybe I’ll stay longer too. On this visit, I got the feeling that there was much more to be seen…but I just didn’t have the time to do it.

Posts from the road

Global cuisine in Ottawa

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(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Yes, I’ve done a few posts featuring food in Ottawa. But I often find myself there, and the food offerings are just about as diverse as you would expect in the nation’s capital.

My dinner at The Greek Souvlaki Shack

Sometimes it’s best to take recommendations from others. I don’t often choose Greek food, partly due to my aversion to heavy doses of garlic. But one of my work colleagues suggested trying The Greek Souvlaki Shack on Bank Street, and I was happy with my large salad-laden plate. And a ton of cheese don’t hurt!

East Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa

So…about that garlic aversion. I really don’t enjoy how garlic overwhelms other flavours. I can’t avoid it completely, but I try to keep it to a minimum. I would much rather be immersed in incendiary peppers, because at least the burn disappears before long. Garlic just…hangs around. Sometimes for days. I don’t want to taste the same meal over and over again once I’ve finished it!

Centre Block (Peace Tower), Parliament Hill, Ottawa (under renovation)

But I do make some exceptions to my anti-garlic doctrine. And one of them is for Ethiopian food. I just have so much fun with the flavours, diversity, colours, and rituals of Ethiopian food that I can overlook the often garlic-heavy dishes.

The Hareg Cafe, on Bank Street in Ottawa

In Ottawa, I’ve enjoyed my meals at the Hareg Cafe, at the northern edge of the trendy Glebe neighbourhood. On this occasion, I went for the vegetarian platter. And I enjoyed the flavours, diversity, colours, and rituals just as much as ever.

Vegetarian Platter, at Hareg Cafe in Ottawa

I never make or buy injera “bread” at home, and Kingston has no Ethiopian restaurants, but that makes injera even more special every time I have it. The sourdough flavour is one of my favourites, and of course I still love eating with my hands. I’m not so good with chopsticks, so it is nice to have some skill in scooping food with injera!

The Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa

Speaking of chopsticks, I had to use them at the Maht Korean restaurant on Kent Street. I’ve eaten there before, but this time I decided to try something new…Korean Fried Chicken!

Spicy Boneless Korean Fried Chicken at Maht in Ottawa

As you can see from the photo above, this is not a light meal. And this is the boneless version, so it’s even heavier that it first appears. The coating is not too different from Kentucky Fried Chicken (although I haven’t had it in ages). But the sauce is entirely different. I opted for the spicy version…and I got what I asked for. You can see the rich, deep red sauce on the far right.

West Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Like most authentic Korean restaurants, complimentary kimchi and pickles are provided too. With kimchi delivering the usual spicy umami taste experience, my tastebuds had a full-on assault. But be careful – if the chicken comes right from the fryer, it can burn your mouth if you’re not careful!

Coming up: more Canadian content…including a trip out west!

Posts from the road

From Smiths Falls to Flesherton

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(Ontario, Canada)

For the last two-and-a-half months, I have been criss-crossing Ontario…mostly to play in tournaments. As a result, I haven’t had as much pure “travel” time. Special experiences, sites, and food have been squeezed in when and where possible. Here’s a sampling of what I’ve been up to.

My dinner at “My Place”, in Smiths Falls, Ontario

I like to play early season tournaments on the artificial grass surface in Nepean (Ottawa). At that time of year, most other Ontario clubs (which have natural grass) suffer from damp and very slow greens. As it is a two-hour drive, we often stop in Smiths Falls for dinner on the way home. And our favourite restaurant there is called “My Place.”

Canada geese, also known as cobra chickens, are much less threatening when they are young.

Despite the fairly anonymous name, “My Place” is clearly rooted in the cuisine of Czechia (Czech Republic) and nearby countries. Schnitzel and goulash are very well represented. I’ve never been disappointed with their food. And while dessert would have been too much, their desserts looked home-made and delicious.

The Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club has a beautiful location near Lake Ontario

In June, I went to a provincial championship tournament in Hanover, Ontario. It’s nowhere near Smiths Falls. But we had stopped in Hanover 10 years ago, on our way home from Goderich, so we looked forward to seeing what changes the intervening decade had brought. Sadly, the Dutch store on the main street was no longer there. But the Schultz Home Bakery *was* still there, and I managed to get a photograph this time!

Schultz Home Bakery, in Hanover, Ontario

But we didn’t stay in Hanover. Instead, we went to the nearby town of Flesherton. We found a freshly renovated hotel (Leela’s Villa Inn) offering large rooms and an included breakfast at the adjoining restaurant. The price was right and it was nice to stay in a quiet, small town that we had only passed through before. And apparently Flesherton is the home of former NHL player Chris Neil (for proof – see the photo at the very top of this post!).

The main intersection in downtown Flesherton, Ontario

Once again, the randomness of it all was very appealing. Stay tuned for more Ontario adventures, including a culinary tour of the nation’s capital!

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Travel Flashback: Harrington Harbour, Quebec (1999)

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

In the 1990s, Aeroplan (Air Canada’s loyalty program) had some great deals. The cheapest reward level would let you fly from anywhere in Ontario to anywhere in Quebec. Well, I found a nifty itinerary: a five-flight (!) odyssey from Kingston, Ontario, to Harrington Harbour, Quebec.

The airport in Sept–ÃŽles, Quebec

As one of my long-time friends had recently moved to Harrington Harbour, I took the opportunity to visit on the May 23 (Victoria Day) weekend. I flew from (1) Kingston to Toronto, (2) Toronto to Montreal, (3) Montreal to Sept-Iles, (4) Sept-Iles to Chevery (an 11-seat plane with a stop in Natashquan), and (5) Chevery to Harrington Harbour (by helicopter). Whew! I certainly maximized my frequent flyer reward on this trip.

This is how I arrived in Harrington Harbour! This helicopter travels to and from the mainland village of Chevery, Quebec

Harrington Harbour is a small fishing village (current population 205) on the remote North Shore of the St. Lawrence River. While it lies in Quebec, it is very close to the Labrador border…and it really felt like a Newfoundland outport. English is the spoken language, and the accent is similar to what you hear in rural Newfoundland.

View from the eastern edge of Harrington Harbour

While my itinerary was challenging, I did not have too much choice. Harrington Harbour is on an island near the mainland village of Chevery. But, even today, neither one is reachable by road. The only real choices are travelling by air or, between April and January, by boat. As you can see from the photos, there was still some snow on the ground even though summer was less than a month away.

The aptly-named Windbreaker Bridge in downtown Harrington Harbour. Notice the horizontal drawstrings.

As there are no roads to Harrington Harbour, there really isn’t a need for big cars and trucks. And there really aren’t streets either. Instead, there is a network of boardwalks upon which smaller vehicles (like ATVs) can navigate the rocky terrain. When the ships can’t access the town in the winter, neighbouring communities are accessible by snowmobile.

Looking east from Harrington Harbour

By 1999, I still hadn’t visited any of Canada’s northern territories. But when I look at the Harrington Harbour pictures now, I see a little bit of Nunavut in the rocky, treeless landscape. When you look at a map, this begins to make sense. Harrington Harbour is almost as far north as James Bay.

The wharf and fish plant in downtown Harrington Harbour

As a rare visitor from Ontario, I was welcomed into the community for a couple of special events. The first was a volleyball game. As with my high school exchange to Hinton, Alberta, this was a sport that everybody in Canada seemed to play.

The wind has calmed down a bit!

I also took part in the Victoria Day festivities. As you can see, a serious bonfire was built and it burned for quite a long time.

United Church in Harrington Harbour, Quebec.

While those activities were boisterous, it wasn’t hard to escape into complete silence. There aren’t any other communities on the island, so you can walk in pretty much any direction and be completely alone in the very northern landscape.

Victoria Day bonfire in Harrington Harbour

It is not easy for remote communities like Harrington Harbour to retain population. Having road access would likely create more opportunities and make it easier to keep people around. But, for now, there is still a 375 km gap east of Kegaska that is not accessible by road. I am not aware of a completion date for the extension of Route 138.

Stay tuned for more Canadian flashbacks…and, before too long, my spring trip to France!

Posts from Base Camp

Travel Flashback: Road Trip to Timmins (2000)

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(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

For today’s post, I’ve decided to go way back…25 years, to be precise. I was just starting my 2nd work career, and funds were relatively scarce for summer vacation purposes. We accepted an invitation to visit one of my law school friends in Timmins, Ontario, and hit the road in my (then) trusty Dodge Neon.

The non-existent community of Khartum, Ontario

Wikipedia describes the Timmins economy as “based on natural resource extraction.” In other words – lumber and mining play a huge role. More than 40,000 people live there, and it is the largest city in northeastern Ontario. As it is about a nine-hour drive due north from Kingston, we stopped overnight in North Bay before making the final push.

Eganville , Ontario – where french fries matter!

On the way, we stopped in small Ontario places like Khartum (which consists of a sign but no actual community), Eganville (home of legendary french fries), and Matheson (an important highway junction). And we also visited Rapides-des-Joachims, a tiny Quebec hamlet on an island accessible only from Ontario.

This local dog accompanied us throughout our visit to Rapides-des-Joachims, Quebec

While my friend’s house was in the city of Timmins, we didn’t spend too much time there. He also had a cottage just outside the city, and that turned out to be the base for most of our visit. Staying on a remote lake is a good way to experience this part of Ontario. Our only real “sightseeing” stop in Timmins itself was at the Hollinger Mine, where we went on an underground tour. The photo at the very top of this post is a restored typical miner’s house (a “Hollinger House”) from the glory days of mining in Timmins.

Ding Ho Restaurant in Matheson, Ontario. It’s still there, and still highly rated!

As a child, I had usually spent a week or so each summer at a friend’s cottage on Eagle Lake. It was about 45 minutes north of Kingston, close to the village of Sharbot Lake, Ontario. It was a special place, with neighbouring cottagers from all over Ontario and the northern U.S. I guess I wasn’t completely unfamiliar with cottage life, but whatever cottaging skills I had were already quite rusty by 2000. By now, they are probably non-existent! But I could still handle a canoe when we visited Norway in 2010.

About to enter the Hoillinger Mine in Timmins

Staying at the cottage was a great way to “get away from it all.” But all good things must end. Our circuitous route home took us through Ville-Marie (northwestern Quebec) and then through and around Ontario’s Algonquin Park. The pictures from that journey seem to be from a completely different era. And I suppose they are.

Near Kenogami Lake, Ontario

I’m particularly struck by a picture of a disused church (formerly known as St. Leonard’s Anglican Church) in the ghost town of Rockingham, Ontario. It had been abandoned since 1941, but the local community restored it in 1999-2000. The setting, at the edge of a thick forest, is very evocative. It’s well worth a visit if you find yourself in the area.

The former St. Leonard’s Church in Rockingham, Ontario

Coming soon: my 2025 travel destinations revealed!