Al and Peggy's Corner: Ontario: Orillia

Today was just a beautiful day in the Greater Toronto Area, full sunshine and best of all the feeling that Spring is in the air.

The Port of Orillia in Orillia, Ontario, Canada is quiet right now, but it won't be for long. In just one short month, we will finally welcome Spring, 2010.

A Little Walk At the Port of Orillia, in Orillia Ontario on a frosty December day.

Officially it is still FALL.  We took a walk on Saturday along the boardwalk at thePort of Orillia and everywhere we looked, everything was hunkering down, awaiting old man WINTER.  There were only two boats still tied up at the docks.  The kids train station and French's hamburger stand were locked up for the season.

A few Canada Geese were still hanging around, and of course a dock full of Seagulls.  If we were Seagulls we would definitely be in flight towards our new permanent home in Florida.

Samuel de Champlain overlooksLake Couchiching, frozen in time.  It was just 394 years ago he was frollicking around right here with the local Indians.

Even Orillia's Island Princess has sailed her last tour for 2009 and awaits 2010 in the chilly waters.

It's a little errie, only a couple of people out walking their dogs where hundreds are usually enjoying the lovely waterfront.

Oh well, the way time is travelling, it will be SPRING again be for we know it.

ANSWER TO: Wordless Wednesday With A Little "Name That Photo" Added

We know this was a toughy, but if it is to easy and the first guy gets it... where's the fun.

We had some good guesses, even some pretty close ones.

So, this is what you were trying to figure out what exactly the picture was showing.

This is where the operator was stationed to operate the above picture.

Well here it is...

This bridge was able to rotate in one direction to allow cars to cross and as it showsc in the picture to allow for boat traffic to pass by.  In the 1990's the bridge and the bridge operator were both retired to make way for a new modern overpass which allowed boat traffic to pass under.

The bridges both spanned over what is know as the Atherley Narrows which connects two bodies of water Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching.

Wordless Wednesday With A Little  "Name That Photo" Added

Here's a little picture that might get your brain turning.  It's something old, matter of fact it hasn't been used in years.  It would of caused a lot of problems if it hadn't existed when it was used. 

Look carefully, even though we don't think you will get it.

To help we will add a clue around supper time (EST), take a shot, come back later after the clue and take a second shot. 

We will reveal the big picture tomorrow, so keep that computer humming...

We know, the above picture could be just about anything... you guys are so smart we have to try to trick you a little bit.  Well this clue is probably going to give it away but that's okay, but you will have to wait until this time tomorrow for the full picture.

There used to be a guy that controlled what you see in picture number one.  He hung out in what you see in the picture below.  It used to be not a bad little place until the riff raft came.

Merry Christmas

It was a balmy 48 degrees in Orillia, Ontario today.  No snow in sight but a beautiful sunny day for the 2009 Santa Claus Parade.  Everyone was having fun waiting to Santa to come.  (Click the speaker in the top left corner of the slide show for a little Drummer Boy music.)

We would like to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and the best for 2010

There Aren't Many Days Left Like Today Around Here

Wasn't it a beautiful day today?  We drove into Orillia, Ontario and went for a walk in Couchiching Park and enjoyed the sun and the warm weather.  The sky was blue and the water was calm.

People were walking hand in hand, some with their dogs and some with their childern.  Isn't it funny how the nice weather gets people out.

We took a few pictures and wanted to share them with you.

Hope you liked the little walk you took with us, we enjoyed your company...

What Is Your Favorite Old Car? Guess Before You Look!

We were just going through a few pictures we had picked up over the Summer.  Yes Summer as short as it may have been.

We came across some photos that we took at the Orillia car show, and guess what one car stood our the most.

Have you ever gone to a car show and not seen a 1957 Chey, looks sharp in this orange colour but if you were to close your eyes and picture the car it would probable be in a turquoise blue colour.

The Beach Boys were probably on the radio... Surfin' USA

ORILLIA, ONTARIO CANADA HELD THEIR 3RD ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE BEATLES

It was time for the beautiful downtown area of the City of Orillia to  'Get Back' to 1964 as it recreated the Abbey Road Rooftop Performance and came alive with a two day Beatles street festival September 18th and 19th! 

It was fantastic to see the recreation, the participation and even the weather co-operated with a gorgeous sunny day!  It started Friday night at the Orillia Opera House with the Beatles tribute band that the Rolling Stone magazine calls "the best", then the main stage took over with a hospitality tent and the Let's Get Back Dance and Sing a-Long. 

Saturday kicked off the day's events at 11:00 am again at the main stage and went right through til midnight.  $10.00 wristbands got you into the hospitality tent, back into the Opera house for the screening of Rare and Unseen, the movie and John and Yoko Bedpiece play.

Later in the day there was a recreation of the last performance as a group, the Beatles did on the roof top of their Abbey Road recording studio on January 30, 1969.  This moment in history was a note-for-note rendition right on the roof top of one of the local stores.

The main street of Orillia; Mississaga Street, was packed with people sporting their favourite Beatle song on their various designed t-shirts enjoying the musicians, karaoke, memorabilia, artists, food vendors and the store windows that participated with signs, pictures and dressed up mannequins.

It has been four decades (40 years) since the Beatles brief final public performance, this fabulous group is now riding another wave of success with the addition of a new generation of fans.  Chalk it all up to marketing that has zapped the music buying public into a frenzy!

YOU NEED MORE THAN YOUR EYES ON YOUR FRIES IN ORILLIA, ONTARIO, CANADA! by Al and Peggy Cunningham, RE/MAX

If it's French fries you are craving, then don't settle for anything else but the fries from OLD TOWN FRIES found in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

That's right, it is worth the drive if you are not a local; and we put our money where our mouth is, even if it is full of delicious toasty fresh cut fries, from OLD TOWN FRIES.

We are so glad that Bob May, a welder by trade, was raised on fries himself.  One of his favourite memories as a kid is of the famous fries in Brantford, Ontario, Canada that was operated by two gentlemen, George and Stan.  Bob tells us "when you went into Brantford, you just had to go to the Market Square and get those fries from the chip wagon".  That's what Bob along with his partner Lynne Kirkby hoped you would feel about OLD TOWN FRIES in Orillia when they open the window of their own "chip truck" in September 2008, and they have succeeded!   

With some of Bob's roots coming from the East Coast of Canada, the Miramichi River north of New Brunswick, where there is some of the best fishing, he knew simplicity is what works best.  Simplicity, along with fresh clean oil and a good basic Russet potato for good flavour are his keys to success at OLD TOWN FRIES. 

The reasons customers keep coming back to the OLD TOWN FRIES truck that is located beside Trombly's Tackle Box 595 West St. S. in Orillia is how happily you are greeted by Lynne's big smile and friendly disposition even before you make your order; the care Bob puts into your meal as he is "dropping & shaking" the fries well after he & Lynne have selected the best potatoes and changed the oil, keeping it "always" fresh; and the fair prices the customers are rewarded with for their loyalty as Bob & Lynne try to keep the prices down and rely on volume. In fact, the food, service & pricing is so good at OLD TOWN FRIES, there is no need for them to advertise; their business is solely on word of mouth.  Very full mouths we might add!     

OLD TOWN FRIES, in the City of Orillia, is as their slogan says "more than just fries".  What better addition to your meal of fresh cut fries than a quarter pound of pure beef hamburger, half pound Big Dog hotdog (or little dog for the smaller appetite), five perfect slices of Peameal bacon, mild sausage, or crispy chicken served on a bun, or hot Buffalo wings all dressed the way you like them.  Is your mouth salivating?

Bob and Lynne tell us that at the time of this writing July, 2009, it is actually in their opinion the worst time for potatoes, due to the fact the potatoes have undergone lots of pressure from the winter storage and now many are bruised and going soft.  It is difficult in this season for Bob to get the quality of potato that he proudly serves.  Bob and Lynne both agree, if we think these are the best fries on earth, just wait until the end of August when the new potatoes are available, to taste what OLD TOWN FRIES will be serving up.

With mouths watering, we can hardly wait. 

Al and Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
Re/Max Realty Services Inc.
905-456-1000
http://www.TheHousePeople.com
http://www.AlandPeggysCorner.com