14746

Great Britain / Italy / Slovenia: Day 18 - Crawley

We had a long journey back from Canada. Our two flights had a big time gap in between, so we decided to explore one of the towns near the Gatwick Airport and our choice was Crawley in West Sussex county. We didn't see much there, only strange people, so visiting a bar was soon one of our choices. We didn't stay for long, since the planes usually don't wait. Easy Jet took us to Venice Marco Polo Airport, where we started our journey back to Slovenia. We reached it just before midnight.

Previous days of our trip to Canada: Day 17, Day 16, Day 15, Day 14, Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3, Day 2 and Day 1.

 

Tickets for today: Train ticket and plane boarding pass

 

Memorial Gardens in Crawley

 

Exploring the city centre

18th day - Over London back to mainland Europe

GeoCache found:
- Munchk1n's Mission - Take 2, GC31GP1, that received a visit by trackable items "The Keyfob", TB5HV77, "Travel Bug VALENTIN", TB6RV75, "Travel Fish Geocoin Rainbow Trout", TB59XCZ and "Loon", TB7EBX7

14745

Canada: Day 17 - Goodbye Ontario and Canada

Our planned vacation in Canada ended, so Polde took us to Toronto Pearson International Airport, where we boarded the WestJet plane to Gatwick Airport in London.

Previous days of our trip to Canada: Day 16, Day 15, Day 14, Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3, Day 2 and Day 1.

 

17th day in Canada - Au revoir

GeoCache found:
- Medium Coniferous, GC8CPQ7, that received a visit by trackable items "The Keyfob", TB5HV77, "Travel Bug VALENTIN", TB6RV75, "Travel Fish Geocoin Rainbow Trout", TB59XCZ and "Loon", TB7EBX7

14744

Canada: Day 16 - Food^2 and Relatives

Another easy day was ahead of us. We had a family gathering with some outsiders like me at Soklich's house in Orillia. An easy day after a while was welcomed. In the afternoon we said goodbye to our hosts John and Cornelia and on the way to Barrie we made a stop in Horseshoe Valley, where Joe jr. and Erilynn made us great dinner. The day was finished with totally full stomachs. Big thanks to all.

Previous days of our trip to Canada: Day 15, Day 14, Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3, Day 2 and Day 1.

Before lunch John took us to an electric car meeting in Orillia with his Tesla Model S

16th day in Canada - Easy Day 

14743

Canada: Day 15 - Cycling from Barrie to Orillia, Boat Trip on Lake Couchiching

Rok and me were spending our vacation in Ontario, Canada. Today we rented the bicycles in Barrie and started riding to Orillia. We used the Oro-Medonte Rail Trail, an abandoned rail line turned into a trail which gives users the opportunity to explore Oro-Medonte along the way. In Orillia we visited the Soklich family where we spend the rest of the day. In the afternoon we also did a nice boat trip on Lake Couchiching and into a channel that leads to Sparrow Lake. The rain interrupted our plans, so we had an early beer back home.

Previous days of our trip to Canada: Day 14, Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3, Day 2 and Day 1.

Cycling in Canada

All the time we had Lake Simcoe on the right side

Leaving Barrie

At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the Simcoe lake was called Ouentironk ("Beautiful Water") by the Wyandot people.

In September 1996, the last Canadian National train passed through the township. In 1998, the land used for the railway was acquired by city council for a shared-use recreational trail stretching from Barrie to Orillia.

Cycling was quite boring, as we had only long straight sections without any climbs and drops.

From Barrie to Orillia - Garmin Connect

We stayed in a house on Couchiching Point

Ready for a boat trip

Nora Jane was our boat

The channel leading to the Lake Couchiching

Captain of the boat

Ready to rock 'n roll

The lake is very shallow on many places, so we had to be extra careful. Its maximum depth is only 12 meters.

See you on the way back birdie

The lake is 16 km long and slightly less than 5 km wide with a surface area of 33.75 km2.

We passed some islands. Here we have Heron Island on the left and Nadie Island on the right.

Big Chief Island

The cormorants destroyed the vegetation on Ship Island.

The Trent–Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre-long canal route connecting Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, at Port Severn.

Swing bridge was the place where we turned around our boat

We entered the Port of Orillia

Exploring the bays of Orillia

Back in a home channel

Time to sleep. Big house had many rooms.

15th day in Canada - Around Barrie and Orillia

GeoCaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "Travel Bug VALENTIN", TB6RV75, "Travel Fish Geocoin Rainbow Trout", TB59XCZ and "Loon", TB7EBX7):
- Hanging around the Oro-Medonte Rail Trail, GC2HEV3
- Wedged, GC3EH51, where I retrieved trackable item "The Keyfob", TB5HV77 and it stayed with me for the rest of the day
- OMRT#11 Erica's Got Cache, GC42284

14742

Canada: Day 14 - Canoeing in Algonquin Park Day 3

Rok and me were spending our vacation in Ontario, Canada. It was our last day in the Algonquin Park and after the breakfast, we started returning back to civilization. We had some easy paddling ahead of us with only one passage to walk, only the wind wasn't our best friend. We finished our canoe trip before noon and after we returned our gear we started our truck and returned back to Barrie. On the way we also made a quick stop in Huntsville.

Previous days of our trip to Canada: Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3, Day 2 and Day 1.

We packed our stuff and paddling was again ahead of us

From Tepee Lake to Joe Lake with Joe Island on the middle

Passing Gibraltar Rock

 

Last passage and we reached the Canoe Lake

Man could easily spend a week in the wilderness like this

We stopped on the way to see the Tom Thomson memorial stone cairn on Hayhurst Point.

 

Totem pole was erected in 1930 to further memorialize Tom, famous Canadian artist.

Bye bye Algonquin Park

Algonquin Park Canoe Trip Day 3 - Garmin Connect

Returning back to Barrie on King's Highway 11

 

Our truck Chevrolet 2500 brought us back home. We returned the vehicle back to Metka and Joe.

14th day in Canada - Canoeing in Algonquin Park and driving back to Barrie

GeoCaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "Travel Bug VALENTIN", TB6RV75, "Travel Fish Geocoin Rainbow Trout", TB59XCZ and "Loon", TB7EBX7):
- Tom Thomson’s Spirit of Algonquin, EarthCache, GC2BYPZ
- HHS - Stroke of Genius (Un coup de génie), GC45TRZ