Canadian Trip Day 16 - Woodstock, Cherry Picking, Apple Farm, Welland Canals, Vineyard & Niagara Falls

I woke up early in the morning, took out Tami's bike from the garage and off I went roaming for nearly 20 kilometres before we went out visiting with Tami.

Basically the road system is of grid plan and everywhere looks alike without much of landmarks for easy identification.

After a quick bite at Tim Hortons Tami set off to Woodstock, Ontario. Woodstock is a small historical city with a population of nearly 40,000 people situated at the southwestern of Ontario and about 128km from Toronto.

Tami bought a bouquet of sunflowers for Wilma from the main road of Woodstock she was expecting visitors from Malaysia and that is her playful dog, Shelby. We love her home made cookies.

Her home is more than a century old and she still maintains her house just as its original state. What a lovely home to live in.

It is cherry season, Tami took us to a cherry farm for an experience of cherry picking. There were lots of visitors swarming the orchard for an own picking of the sweet cherries.

A close up of the cherries.

Welland Canal is a ship canal connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

Welland Canal was originally built in 1829 and since then it has been rebuilt 4 times. There were many reports of sabotaging and accidents at this canal. The canal is closed during winter time and reopen during the spring when the water is back to good and safe.

On our way to Niagara Falls there were many promotions of Canadian wines we dropped by at two vineyards and came out with two bottles of classic ice wine.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small classic town with a population of less than 20,000 people such a beautiful town nicknamed as the Loveliest Town in Canada. Unfortunately we cannot afford to spend time in it but just passing by.

So near yet so far USA is just across the bridge what a pity some of us do not have US Visas to enter the border.

Our first feel of Niagara Falls from a duty free shop, the amazing sound and view of one of the natural wonders of the world.

The famous Horseshoe Falls.

The American Falls & Bridal Veil Falls.

We opted for a boat ride instead of a walk through tour of Niagara Falls. It is called the Hornblower Niagara Cruise.

The boat took us as close as possible to the breathtaking flow of water, power and mist that is the magnificent Niagara Falls. Within the Niagara Great Gorge journeyed past the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and into the very heart of the famous Horseshoe Falls.

What a spectacular experience of a lifetime

Prospect Point Park observation tower from the US side built for a better view of the falls.

Goodbye Niagara Falls you are truly amazing and we shall remember you.

Canadian Trip Day 15 - Goodbye Calgary & Our Last Destination Toronto

Margaret gave us a special treat at a Brazilian Fire Grill outlet called Bolero at Macleod Trail South of Calgary. It was a buffet eat all you can meal and if you love meat this is the place. The BBQ meats were awesome just too bad I could not consume too much. Thanks to Margaret for such a great meal and for being a great host I simply enjoyed the stay.

Also thanks to Margaret's mum for all the home cooked foods she had prepared for us. Nothing like eating at home especially in a foreign country where Asian food is quite difficult to find.

Bye bye Calgary I hope to visit this place again.

Toronto was our last destination and has a time different of two hours from Calgary.

A friend originally from Kulim, Tamijuddin picked us up at the airport and went straight to his house at Brampton. Lunch was already waiting for us. Nothing like a home cooked food prepared by his wife and the Nasi Beriyani was simply awesome.

So this is the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant, Brampton a relatively new and well planned community and it will be our base for the next couple of days.

Cheltenham Badlands, Caledon and locted exactly at GPS : 43.774069, -79.944778 at the roadside of Olde Baseline Road.

The Red Clay Hills has to be carefully taken care as it is a fragile formation and restriction access is ought to be carried out. 

Just imagine it used to be a river bed once upon a time, it used to be occupied by a large river and it got dry up over the thousands of years and now it is a red clay hills.

We were excited to see a wheat field and we insisted we to stop to have a closer feel and we did.

Me and an old school mate from Sultan Badlishah School, Kulim.

Terra Cotta Conservation Area is one of the most environmentally-significant areas in the Credit River Valley. The area comprises 504 acres of valleys, cliffs and bedrock plains mixed with diverse forests, wetlands and streams. This landscape provides a varied hiking experience with over 12km of trails.

We visited an apple farm as we were driving back to Brampton.

Actually the farm was already closed but our brother Tami managed to sweet talk the owner for us to have  a brief visit. Well done bro!

Our last stop for the evening was at Shalimar's home for a tea.

Canadian Trip Day 14 - Let's Go to Nose Hill Park

My plan for the day and this was my last cycling activity in Calgary. Nose Hill Park here I come.

The ride was to use as much cycling paths as possible and these are mostly found within the roads of residential areas.

The cycle paths are definitely longer comparing to the vehicular roads and zip zapping through residential communities. I was lost several times locating for the right connecting paths. Certain stretches of the paths are of severe gradients and can be tough for some cyclists.

I stopped at a petrol station for a quick bite and drink after a mind boggling morning ride. But thankfully I was already half way to Nose Hill Park.

Tim Hortons is Canada and Canada is Tim Hortons that is how popular Tim Hortons is...at the beginning it did not ring my bell at all what is Tim Hortons but after staying for a few days in Canada I realised that Tim Hortons is bigger than McDonalds and Starbucks. Tim Hortons is also found in Petrol stations. By the way Tim Hortons was a Canadian hockey player and the chain was formed in 1964. Tim Hortons died in 1974 in a car accident.

I was attracted by this nicely carved timber fencing of a residential development along one of the cycling paths at Shaganappi area.

This is the largest municipal park in Canada and North America. It is a natural environment park and a great retreat for city folks with an area of 1,129 hectares. There are numerous hiking and cycling trails in the park.

Basically it is a grassland with small groups of trees or rather it is insignificant as far as trees are concerned, coming from a person from a tropical country.

A popular haven for dog owners to hang out.

Truly a quiet and serene place away from the bustling city.

Nose Hill Park is home to some wildlife animals.

Jogging freely on the park on a summer morning is a commom sight and it is vast and interesting.

My share of a visit to  Nose Hill Park and why the name Nose Hill, it was many moons ago the people said that the shape of the hill resembles the nose of their Chief.

Gene and his dog named Roy. A popular partnership seems in the earlier years at this vicinity.

The couple were well known ranchers working very hard ranching this area. The existing development at northern outskirt of Calgary were the livelihood of Hanson and they shall be remembered. The development is continuing spreading northwards and in no time it will reach Road 566.

After a tiring adventure seeking ways to Nose Hill Park I was hungry as I was about to complete the mission. I decided to pull over to Cedars Deli at Panorama Hills for a Mediterranean sandwich. It was a healthy and awesome lunch.