Canada

A day of whitewater rafting

We came to Canada for a visit with family and friends. During that time we were able to find time to go whitewater rafting with three of our grand children and my daughter Jennifer.

We started our day with registration and an orientation at Wilderness Tours explaining the safety requirements and equipment.

After orientation, we waited for our bus to take us to the starting point of the whitewater tour. The drive on the bus took about 20 minutes. The guides played some Abba music and sang songs. It helped everyone get into a great mood for the day.

We arrived at a beach area with a building which contained our safety equipment. Everyone was issued a life jacket, helmet, and a paddle. We then headed down to the boats to begin our adventure. Jordy, our tour guide, explained how we were to paddle and where to sit when going through the rapids.

We headed out on the water and slowly paddled towards a bend in the river. Just after the bend, we arrived at our first set of rapids and didn’t know exactly what to expect. It was an adrenaline rush and the kids thought it was “awesome”.

After surviving the first set of class 3 rapids we were completely wet. The waves crashed over the front of the boat soaking both Tyty and Ray. The water was warmer than we expected. We paddled along until the next set of rapids and would go through the process again.  We stopped after one set of rapids and went to shore to have a photo opportunity. The boys took the time to look for crayfish with our guide.

Our guide Jordy with Tyty and Keenan along the rocks looking for crayfish.

We were able to stop at one set of rapids and get out of the boat and walk up the trail to do some body surfing through the rapids.

Rapids in the Ottawa River that we body surfed down

After body surfing the rapids, we stopped down stream for a BBQ along the river at the base of Garvin’s Chute, which is a 20’ waterfall. They had a cabin and benches set up with a BBQ already prepared for us. The kids had a chance to relax and take a break from all the paddling.

Tyty taking a break in the boat at lunch time.
Shantaya enjoying a hot chocolate

We enjoyed hot chocolate and some tasty food before we headed back down river.

Jennifer, Tyty, and Keenan relaxing on shore after lunch

Once we were back on the water we did some floating in the current between rapids. The kids enjoyed this time to swim and splash around.

Floating in the current in the Ottawa river.

After we finished the last set of rapids we headed to shore, where they had a cold beer for the adults and juice for the kids.

Everyone having a cold drink before heading back to Wilderness tours

We enjoyed a cold drink before walking to the buses to head back to Wilderness tours. The day was very enjoyable and it was a day we will treasure forever.

“Good bye and have a great day.”

Netherlands

Cheese and Clogs

We went to a small factory called “Cheese and Clogs” they make cheese and wooden shoes. This small factory in the rural area of  Netherlands was quite interesting.

Cheese and Clogs factory in the Netherlands

We began our tour through the cheese area of the factory. A woman explained the process they used to make their cheese. She explained some of the different cheeses and how the process was done.  They even had some large cows on display.

Ray with a couple of cows on display in the Cheese and Cclogs factoryWe then went to a different area of the building and we were met by a clog maker.

Clog maker explaining how clogs were traditionally made

He demonstrated the traditional way of making a clog and a was very entertaining while explained the history of the clog.

He kept everyone laughing and enjoying the demonstration. Afterwards, we went to the shop where clogs and cheese were available for purchase.

Wooden clogs for sale at the factory

Shelley couldn’t resist trying on a pair of traditional wooden clogs.

Shelley trying on a pair of traditional wooden clogs

There was also a great selection of cheeses available.

Assorted cheeses on display at the Cheese and Clog factory

We explored the store and tried several different samples of gouda cheese. They were very tasty and we decided to buy a few different types.

After exploring the store we walked around outside the factory. The outside of the factory was quite impressive, they had wooden carved tulips on display.

Wooden carved tulips on display at the Cheese and Clog Factory

We also came across two very large clogs on display outside.

Two large wooden clogs at the Cheese and Clog factory

It was an enjoyable time exploring the factory and seeing the making of a clog.

“Tot ziens en een goede dag”

Netherlands

A visit to Amsterdam

We went to Amsterdam for a few days and toured this wonderful city. We walked through the streets of Amsterdam and were amazed to see the number of bicycles being used. There were separate bike lanes on every sidewalk and if you were not careful you could easily be struck by a cyclist.

Cyclists on Amsterdam cycle lanes

There were bicycles parked and locked everywhere in the city.

Bikes parked and locked along the streets of Amsterdam

There is a saying in Amsterdam that there are more bicycles than people in Amsterdam. Bike theft is also a major problem, the police estimate that each year approximately 80,000 bikes are stolen.

We walked along the historic red district of Amsterdam. There were many coffee shops which sold Marijuana, sex related shops, and a few prostitutes displaying their wares along the way.

We went through the older section of Amsterdam where there were beautiful architectural buildings.

Anne and Shelley in historic Amsterdam
Amsterdam Train Station

We came across a beautiful building that was converted into a high-end mall.

Historic building converted into a Mall in Amsterdam

We decided to go in and look around. The inside of the mall was very elegant and there was a large chandelier hanging in the center.

Crystal Chandelier in mall

We then came to an area of Amsterdam where there were old traditional style homes.

Old style building in Downtown Amsterdam

Some of the buildings were slanted from years of settlement on their foundations. It was interesting to see how slanted some of the buildings were.

Buildings settled over time and leaning on another building in Amsterdam

At the top of most of the older style buildings, there were cantilevered pulleys. These were used to hoist furniture and other items up to upper-level floors.

Pulley used for hoisting furniture to the top floor.
Ray, Anne, and Shelley in downtown Amsterdam

Amsterdam was a very interesting and unique city. We enjoyed our time there and look forward to another visit in the future.

 

Netherlands

Amsterdam waterway cruise

We had a great time taking a  waterway cruise when we were in Amsterdam. There are approximately 1,500 bridges and over 100 kilometers of waterways,  which made it a great way to see the city.

Cruise boat tour in Amsterdam

We boarded the tour boat and we were met by a very colorful Captain called “Rudy”. He welcomed us on board and explained the history of Amsterdam.

Captain Rudy explaining the history of Amsterdam during the cruise.

Captain Rudy was very funny and entertaining with some interesting stories.

Shelley and Ray on a Boat cruise in Amsterdam

We began our boat tour in the main canal and saw some of the iconic buildings.

View of the modern art building in Amsterdam

The tour then headed down some of the smaller canals in Amsterdam.

A small bridge over a canal in Amsterdam

There is lots of boat traffic on the canals and it is used as another form of a roadway. It was interesting to see the system they had for when going under a narrow bridge opening. The Captain radios on a common channel to say what bridge and direction they are heading. If someone is coming the other way they would arrange for what boat had priority.

Some of the canals we went through were very narrow and the bridges were quite low.

View of a low bridge the cruise boat went under during the tour

Sometimes the cruise boat would hit the side of the canal wall when making a turn to go under a bridge.

Narrow canal that the cruise boat took during the tour

We enjoyed the two-hour cruise looking at the unique building throughout Amsterdam. Some of the buildings are built on pylons and have shifted and sunk over the years, making the buildings lean sideways.

Building shifted and leaning on another building in Amsterdam

There were some buildings built on the very edge of the canal making access to the building easy by boat.

Access from the canal to apartments and buildings.

We enjoyed the boat cruise and saw some interesting buildings from the canals. Our Captain was very entertaining and made the cruise even more enjoyable.

“Tot ziens en een goede dag”

Belgium

Ypres, Belgium and The Last Post

We went to explore the city of Ypres in Belgium and take part in the last post ceremony. The city is beautiful with a rich history and was even raided by the Romans in the first century.

We walked through the city of Ypres looking at the stores, shops and admiring the architecture. We came to a chocolate store which we couldn’t resist going inside and checking it out.

Ray, Anne, and Jim in the Belgium Chocolate store

After checking out the assorted chocolates we continued down the street toward the main plaza. We stopped at the main plaza and enjoyed a cold beverage at a pub close to the Cathedral.

St Martin Cathedral in Ypres, Belgium

After exploring the old quarter of Ypres, we walked along a path that followed the Kasteelgracht river. There was a stone wall that ran parallel to the river. We stopped to take a break and sat on the wall enjoying the scenery.

Shelley relaxing along the wall beside the river.

We walked the trail for a period of time and then headed to the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing.

Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres Belgium.

The Menin Gate Memorial to the missing was built-in 1927.  The gate is dedicated to the unknown graves of British and common wealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres battles and World War One. From 11 November 1929, the Last Post has been sounded at the Menin Gate Memorial every night and in all type of weather. The only exception to this was during the four years of the German occupation of Ypres from 20 May 1940 to 6 September 1944.

We arrived at around 6:45 pm and lined up along the sidewalk to wait for the playing of the last post to begin.

crowds of people gathered for the Last Post ceremony

The gate is very large and there is a hall of memory which contains the names of 54,395 Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ypres Battles but whose bodies have never been identified or found.

Menin Gate memorial wall with inscribed names of missing soldiers.

For us being at Ypres and seeing the Last Post was a very somber and emotional experience. It is one of those events that is surreal and will stay with us for a long time. By 8 p. m. there was a very large crowd present for the start of the Last Post.

The start of the Last Post was incredible, although there were crowds of people it was completely silent. The three volunteer firefighters marched to the center of the Menin Gate with a bagpiper. It was a stirring moment, with the acoustics of the gate making the bugles, even more vibrant.

Bagpiper and three volunteer firefighter buglers at Menin Gate

Flags were lowered by two individuals as the Last Post began.

Flag persons at Menin Gate Last Post

After the Last Post was finished, a former British serviceman walks to the center of the gate and recites a part of the ode of remembrance.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

The recital is followed by a moment of silence and then the sole bagpiper played a song.

After the bagpiper was finished there was complete silence and selected people began to lay wreaths at the memorial in the Menin Gate.

Person returning after laying a wreath at the memorial in Menin Gate

After people laid the wreaths at the memorial, the ceremony was finished and people quietly began to leave the Menin Gate. It was a very touching event and one that we will remember for years.

“Tot ziens en een goede dag”

Life is too short to wait for adventure!