Newton and Wendy's Year in Toronto: Campbellford/Totonto/Santa

As the year is coming to an end so are our weekends away, although we still do a day trip every now and then. A 90 minute drive from home to Campbellford to see the suspension bridge which hovers 9 metres above the Ranney Gorge. One side has the Ranney Falls and Ferris Park the other Trent River and the locks. The locks have a total lift of 14.6 metres using two lift locks and is one of the highest locks on the Trent-Severn Waterway. Campbellford also has a large $2 coin (known as a Toonie) sculpture in one of the parks.A really nice place to sit and relax with all the bird life.

On the way home we called into Peterborough view the lift locks. These locks have a fall of 19.8 metres and are hydraulic. No external power is needed: the lift lock functions by gravity alone using the counterweight principle. One caisson always ascends and the other always descends during each locking cycle. The locks were closed for the winter so didn't get to do the boat cruise. The ducks were enjoying the sunshine.

The Canadian League for Educational Exchange volunteers organised a weekend in Toronto which we went along to. On Saturday we had a two hour guided walking tour of Toronto followed by watching a game of ice hockey between the Toronto (Ontario) Marlies and St John's (Newfoundland) Ice Caps. On Sunday we braved the cold and snow to watch the a fun run and the Santa Parade. We didn't think it was very Christmassy, lots of marching bands and the floats were more like advertising floats. Was nice to watch it whilst it was snowing.