Travel Blog: Ontario second time around

Since we are heading back, we are seeing some people we already have seen (a bonus) but we are also visiting people we didn't get to see going to the Maritimes. One of those stops was in Ottawa. We've been to Ottawa before but this time we got to stay in the country in a place called Osgoode. Our gracious hosts are people who we met last year when we were touring the UK. Travel often brings new friends and sometimes those new friends end up on your doorstep.

This is where we were staying in Osgoode - field of wheat, beautiful home and friends, monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. We were about 40 minutes from the heart of Ottawa but it was so peaceful. We loved it there. Besides our friends, one of the first things that greeted us was hummingbirds. What could be better?

In Gatineau, we were fortunate to see the Mosaiculture. All these sculptures are made with real plants. Look at the size and creativity here.

Time to remember...lest we forget.

The puffins we hope to see some day when we get to Newfoundland (not this trip but soon).

The snowy owls were great. There were lots more but these were a few of my favourites.

The bird tree was my all-time favourite. If you ever get to see this display, it is a must.

While in Ottawa, we also go to visit friends that we met on a tour of Israel and Jordan, and friends from youth group days in Victoria. There were others also that we missed because they were away.

From Ottawa, we went to Belleville and then Parry Sound and got to visit friends and family again. One of the highlights was the Island Queen cruise with members of the Presbyterian Church. We had an evening service of singing and message will cruising the Georgian Bay and seeing that it really is cottage country on many little islands.