South on highway 6...

Playlist

Various Artists- A History of Progressive Rock

Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere

Alice Cooper - A Fistful Of Alice

Alice Cooper - Muscle Of Love

Edgar Froese - Solo (1974-1983) The Virgin Years

Tangerine Dream - The Virgin Years: 1974-1978

Yo Yo Ma - Vivaldi's Cello

Sor - Sor: Guitar Duets, Vol. 1

Asia/Boston - Winning Combinations

Up bright and early on a beautiful morning...

...checked out and onto the road south to Kitchener around 8:15 for what would turn out to be a six hour journey, albeit including a couple of stops, so around four and a quarter hours' driving, mostly on Highway 6...

One of the reasons it takes so long is that the speed limit is mostly 50 miles per hour...

...but we weren't complaining, rather, we were enjoying the countryside...

We stopped at Wiarton for breakfast...

...a tasty wrap at Luscious...

...where this old chap, Mr Paul Schroeder, was interested in our origins and how it was we came to be in his home town for breakfast on a Friday morning...

He gave us his autograph, before heading off to a chum's 100th birthday party...

We took a walk around the town, bumping into Mr Schroeder again later...

To boost the listening pool in the car, I acquired these at the Salvation Army Thrift Shop for just fifty of your Canadian cents each...

...and on we drove, taking a different route South...

Next stop was Durham - most of the towns on this road have British names - the parallel route South features German origin towns, the largest being Hanover...

We were three hours into the journey...

A book shop attracted but, instead of a book, this was purchased for $2 - a strange idea for a CD but enjoyable nonetheless...

At the Garafraxa...

We had coffee and shared a wee tart...

...and chatted to the owner, whose mother came from near Aberdeen and who turned out to be a big John Wetton, UK and Asia fan...

The cafe is the venue for gigs in the evenings...

...and has interesting art on the walls...

Onwards...

...through Mount Forest...

...Arthur...

...and Fergus - where, a few weeks ago, our Toronto hosts, Steve and Liza had attended a big Highland Games...

No more stops though and...

...at around 2pm we arrived at our last accommodation of the trip, a lovely B&B...

The decoration, the attention to detail and the knowledge and hospitality of our hosts, Brian and Wilma, was, as was the case in Niagara on the Lake, absolutely first class...

Just a little different from our digs in Tobermoray...

Unpacked and a chat with Brian, who gave us tips on things to see and where to eat and we were out on a wander, heading into the town...

A few steps from the house was the town's contemporary art gallery...

Unfortunately, the main galleries were being re-hung - to open just as we'd be arriving back in Scotchland but there were still some interesting works on display...

I do like a gallery...

...and so does the EP...

On towards the centre and, over the road from the gallery was this...

A memorial to those who lost their lives on 9/11... 

Today was 9/11 too, 14 years on...

This beam came from the ruins...

Onwards...

Like many towns here, there is a King St and a Queen St - we were living on Queen...

Coffee time...

Good to just relax...

...before continuing our look around...

To Victoria Park...

...where geese entertained...

..and King Crimson was spotted...

Kitchener has an interesting history...

It was originally known as Berlin and this plinth supported a statue of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany...

During the 1st World War, "Made in Berlin" was not a great strapline when trying to sell stuff in North America and so the town changed its name to Kitchener and the statue was thrown in the lake...

It was rescued from there and put into storage but mysteriously disappeared...

We noted more art...

Concrete suitcases...

Back into town...

...and home along Queen St, noting different types of squirrel on the way...

Pre dinner relaxation...

...before heading out in the rain...

...to a nearby recommended Chinese restaurant...

It was super busy and so the wait was long but it was worth it...

Back home around 10 for more Blue Jays on the TV...

Go the Jays...

Lights out...

Highlight of the Day : Discovering Kitchener...