Haliburton Friendship Force Club

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Haliburton Friendship Force Club

We hitched another ride with Sue and Rob for an approximately 4-1/2 hour trip northeast to the lake area of Haliburton. We arrived at the home of our hosts, Mary Lou & Bob Macklin, who have a gorgeous lake home. We were housed in the "Bunkie" - Canadian term for the upstairs garage apartment with its own bathroom. Very nice! We stayed a week with this wonderful Friendship Force Club (June 21-28).

With our Wonderful Hosts, Bob and Mary Lou at Wintergreen for Welcome Breakfast

Cottage Road

Bunkie over the garage where we stayed

Great welcome BBQ

Lake below Cottage

The next morning our group was treated to a Welcome Breakfast at Wintergreen. This place was really cute. It looked like an old-time cabin in the woods featuring a lavish breakfast with homemade maple and other flavored syrups.

Sampling syrup flavors with Owner Operator

Wintergreen Restaurant, Wedding Venue, Maple Syrup Producer and Possum Brotherhood Headquarters

We traveled to a fish hatchery for a tour, then onto a Sculpture Forest Tour (fantastic sculptures in the woods) and finally, our group of 20 were treated to a Welcome BBQ at the Macklin's cottage. They have a very active group (about 50 in the club) and it seemed that most of them were there to welcome us.

Fish hatchery Tour

With Jack at the local radio station

Meeting one of the Disc Jockeys

Ice Cream in Haliburton courtesy of Jack

The Curling Club

Before Breakfast at the Legion

Downtown Haliburton

Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trans Severn Waterway, Highest in the World

Canoes and boat dropping down

Hundreds of canoes celebrate Canada's 150 birthday!

Close up of canoes transiting lift lock

Geocaching at Kinark Outdoor Centre, a Camp for Autistic Children & Their Families

On Friday, we went geo-caching at Kinark's Outdoor Center and were hosted at a lovely salmon dinner at the home of Paul & Jan Mutter. Saturday's agenda was a trip to Petroglyphs Provincial Park, a Canadian Canoe Museum Tour and for us, the highlight was viewing the canoes transiting the Peterborough Lift Lock, the largest lift lock in the world on the Trent Severin Waterway. Sunday's highlights were the Camp Wanakita Strawberry Social and a Voyageur Canoe Ride. Monday incorporated a Visit to the Wolf Center where we saw baby wolves nursing (many of our Canadian friends had never seen this). We then had a lovely tour and lunch at Abbey Gardens, Tour of Haliburton Wind & Solar company and their Brewery and Tasting Room. We had a delicious ham dinner that night at the home of members, Joan & Jim Cochlin. On Tuesday, we toured the town and had a rousing Farewell Dinner at Peppermill Restaurant. As with Stratford/St.Mary's, it was difficult to say goodbye to these great Canadians!