So when Ruth's dad said that he needed to go in to the nearby town of Carleton Place for an appointment, we didn't hesitate to go along for the ride.
It's only about 42 kms (25 miles) from his house to Carleton Place.
We are just west of the city of Ottawa, Canada's capital.
About 100 kms (60 miles) north of the New York border.
Did you know that 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border? Yep, we tend to huddle as far south as we can get!
Carleton Place is a nice little town. It's around 9,000 people, and it's only really within the last ten years that it's started to become "busy", and especially with the recent building of a four lane highway to Ottawa, only 30 miles away. Now it's becoming more popular with commuters.
While Tony was at his appointment, Ruth and I walked around downtown.
Walking along the main street.
Ruth, and the Town Hall, built in 1897.
A beautiful home on the river, now a law office.
The (Canadian) Mississippi River in Carleton Place.
Looking back at the town hall.
They do a pretty good job of clearing snow downtown.
Good to get outside. Temperature a little above freezing yesterday, so perhaps spring is in the air. Today, we're going to do what is a very popular outing here in eastern Ontario at this time of year...we're going to the maple sugar bush! Yes, with daytime temperatures now above freezing, the maple tree sap is running, and they're boiling it to make the 2015 batch of maple syrup. Yummy!
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I didn't know about where the Canadians live. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely town.I love the Town Hall.
Yep, we all huddle as far south as we can get here in Canada! ;-)
DeleteThe Town Hall is beautiful and similar to many other building in other small towns in the area.
We're glad we can wait until the middle to the end of April to head back home. Since we've been coming south for the winter we find it cold even at that time of year.
ReplyDeleteBe Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
We came to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday so the trip is well worth it despite the weather plus the fact that we can't come and visit relatives in the nice warm months because we are working from May 1st to Sept. 30th. We will get back to the warm sun in the middle of April though when we head back to Las Vegas though! :-)
DeleteSo nice to get outside for a walkabout. Have been to Carleton Place and Ottawa a few times very nice area.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the fresh air I have been getting some here, need to get the exercise on a daily basis.
Yes, it is always nicer to be outside rather than inside, much more to look at! :-) Carleton Place is a really pretty town, there are some really nice old houses and buildings that have really been looked after well.
DeleteDon' think we've ever visited Carleton Place, but that will have to change. Super pics, especially of the town hall.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure both you and John would love it here. Make sure John has his kayak. ;-)
DeleteI love older towns and their buildings! The pics of the downtown look exactly like local towns here in PA - Mifflinburg and Selinsgrove - same style buildings. Looks like a nice place to live and/or visit. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are right Connie and Barry, the towns do look similar to some of those in the upper part of New York and Pennsylvania. I love the looks of these old buildings.
DeleteLove those old towns with all the brick building! Grace (in Tucson)
ReplyDeleteBrick and stone! Yep, they have a lot more character than most modern ones.
DeleteCute little town. I love real maple syrup. We're almost out of the jug we bought in Vermont last year.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago we bought a gallon in Vermont as well. We love maple syrup and won't use any of those table syrups ever, we would rather do without!
DeleteWhy don't they build buildings like that today? Today they are prefab, bits and pieces, put up then torn down and thrown away. Most of them look like hell anyway. We saw so many beautiful old buildings on our trip through the U.S. and Canada. I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteThey don't build buildings like this anymore because it would cost them too much money. Such a shame really as they have a lot more character than almost any new building built now. Hopefully towns and cities will appreciate these old buildings and will keep them up rather than let them fall into disrepair.
DeleteCarlton Place architecture is very representative of many if not most every town in Ontario & seeing your photos reminded me of home. Only ever been to Ottawa once & passed by Carlton one time many years ago. Maple syrup & sugar bushes bring back lots of fond memories. Happy to see the snow is slowly disappearing up that that way..
ReplyDeleteWe agree with you Al, most of the towns in the Ottawa area have gorgeous old buildings similar to Carleton Place and most of the town centers seem to be alive with locals unlike some of the towns we have gone though in the States where the downtowns are almost deserted.
DeleteHopefully most of the snow will be gone by the time you arrive back home, especially since your home is further south than the Ottawa area.
Until I started reading your blog, I never had a clue that we had a Mississippi River. And here I thought I 'knew' Canadian geography. That last pic could be downtown Lindsay, Orangeville...Mount Forest. They mostly all have that similar look.
ReplyDeleteThey always say that you learn something new every day, so this was your "new" thing the first day that you realized it! ;-)
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