TRAVESE BAY RV RESORT - OUR SUMMER HOME

This is our summer home (mid-May to mid-October) These are the ponds directly behind our RV. This park has 3 sections (South [which is beyond this group of RVs], Center [the group of RVs in the picture is where our site is], and North. There are 172 sites at this time, and the park can grow to 350 sites with adding another section. We have woods to our south and north, and across the pond and road is a meadow and another group of woods. The woods can be enjoyed by the walking paths through them.

Across the street from this lot, our truck and rv can be seen. Most sites are landscaped. Ours has minimal landscaping at present, but over the next two years, we will put pavers and landscaping.

This picture was taken from our back yard. The building to the left is the office and clubhouse. This clubhouse, on the bottom level, is used for breakfast, dinners, movies, and other entertainment.

The upper level has the office, main library, weight room and lounge. The lounge is actually in a sunroom/porch. When doing exercises, you are looking out at the beautiful forest.

This is typical of the many landscaped common areas. This one divides the road going to the office--right is for entering and left is exiting. They have a full time landscaper as the park has about 90 acres.

This is the pond in the south section. There are a number of apple trees which have been filled with apples this year.

There are many apple orchards in the area, and we have been eating a variety called Honey Crisp, and it is the most delicious apples I have ever had. Their fresh pressed apple cider is soooooo good.

This is the north side view of our site. This huge evergreen graces our front yard. Behind it is their standard shed which is wonderful to have. Our site is 50' wide and 80' deep. We have a small grass lawn in the backyard that ends about one foot from the pond. We have six or so ducks that have been spending time in the pond. We even had a blue heron and a seagull visiting.

This is the south side of our site, and as you can see, our neighbor has really landscaped their site nicely and have a special eating area with grill on the side and in the backyard a patio which faces the pond.
This is another view of the ponds behind us. The pond beyond this one abuts our property, and we so enjoy the sound of cascading water from the water fountain.

This is the south clubhouse. Another just like it is at the north end of the park. The windows in the center is where the laundry is and to the left of the door is where private bathrooms with showers are. The windows to the right is where there are tables and chairs for cards and other games, a big screen TV, mini library and a game center with puzzles, board games, and cards.

When I walk Wubie, he loves to stop at the side of the clubhouse and roll around on the smooth concrete. He also likes walking on the various paths through the woods.

This is the view of the tables and chairs side of the room. To the left of this picture is a mini kitchen so that folks can have drinks and snacks while here.

Another view of the south pond. Walking around each of the three sections is a good 30 minute walk.

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN

Across from the main business district is a view of the beach and west Grand Traverse Bay. When traveling to Front Street, which is the main street for shops and restaurants, we have a wonderful drive along the shores of both east and west Grand Traverse Bay.
The shops along one side of front street. There are usually many strollers looking in shop windows and shopping in these unique stores.

A look at the old fashioned clock along the sidewalk.
Stopping to pet the puppy.

Along the other side of the street, there are places where you can stop and spend a few quiet moments at the Broadman River.

End of summer sales are still in progress on this very fall-like day.
This is a side street off of Front Street with a view of west Grand Traverse Bay.

Looking down this street is an old "State Theater" which has been converted into more specialized movie showings of films from around the world.
Another view of the Broadman River adjacent to Front Street with boardwalks for viewing the river.

GRAND TRAVERSE BAY - OUR NEW SUMMER HOME AREA

We decided earlier this year to find an area of the country to spend our Summers in our RV home. After getting two wonderful introductions to the Grand Traverse bay area by two of our RV friends from Michigan, and especially our dear Gulf Waters neighbors from Cadillac Michigan, we settled on this wonderful area.

Grand Traverse Bay has natural beauty, mild Summers, very rich culture, 18 wineries, fantastic restaurants, the famous Interlochen Center for the Performing Arts and more. It has everything we would dream of for a Summer location.

The center of the Grand Traverse Bay area is half-way between the Equator and the North Pole at the 45th parallel, and is surrounded by most of the largest bodies of fresh water in the World.

PARLIAMENT HILL

Parliament Hill is where Canada makes its laws. The complex has beautiful Gothic Revival architecture. We took an expertly guided tour

The Peace tower has a 53-bell Carrillon that plays a beautiful concert at 2:00 PM every day.

This is the chamber of the House of Commons.

The Queen of Canada.

Relief in the halls of Parliament

Neogothic Ceilings

The chambers of the House of Lords. The Lords come from all walks of life and are nominated by the Prome Minister and confirmed by the Queen.

This elaborate ceiling has back-lit tiles representing various aspects of the regions and laws of Canada. This particular one shows the import tarifs put on US goods entering Canada before NAFTA.
This is the chamber where the Prime Minister holds Cabinet Meetings.

OTTAWA - BYWARD MARKET

One of the streets that border the ByMarket. Saturday is the big day with the market being extremely crowded whereas on weekdays, it is only crowded. Many people who live in the city come here for their produce, meats, fish, and so forth. Some come on their bikes, others walk, and many take the bus. It is a great place.
People strolling in the market area. There are crafts and stores that sell all sorts of goods besides food. Many excellent restaurants are in the 4 block or so area. Right in the center of the marketplace, there is a building housing ethnic foods like Moroccan, Italian, Chinese, Lebanese, French, Middle Eastern, and Japanese.

Many stalls are in tents while many others, like this grocery store, are permanent in the district. As a matter of fact, the next time we visited the Market this store had a sign on it saying they "went fishing until August 22."

These are some of the tent stalls. This part of the market is only open June through September.
An Irish Pub where we had an excellent lunch and dined on second floor patio. It felt like a bit of Ireland inside.

One of many farmer's stalls selling luscious raspberries and blueberries along with tomatoes, squash, peppers, and many fruits of the region.

Flowers and plants were a big hit also, When we were on the bus out of the city, several people had a bouquet of flowers.
Grapes to the right, starfruit in the middle, and an unknown at the end.

This is at one end of the ethnic building and is the French Cafe. We resisted the first time we visited but indulged in a French lunch and pastry on our second visit.
Many creative and delicious cakes.

People were buying these pastries at a rapid rate. What a surprise!

What great looking breads.
The famous Sacher Torte from Vienna.