Went for a day trip to Midland last week
(not on the day thousands were trapped on the highway when it was closed for 11 hours due to an accident, thank god!) (photo courtesy of cp24 news)
The harbour has changed a lot since the days in the early 1900s of this postcard
it's on the southern tip of Georgian Bay
but what we were looking for was this
at the foot of King and First Streets
The giant rubber ducky that has garnered so many complaints from those who have no desire for fun and silliness in their lives. This was her first visit to Canada and she made her appearance for the Canada 150 celebrations. (just google rubber duck toronto and scroll past the newer stories of how spectacularly successful it was to the weeks before she arrived and read all the whining about the cost, what a duck has to do with Canada's sesquicentennial, the cost! ... ad nauseum)
She is big. Six storeys tall. It takes almost 3 hours to inflate.
And it was a LOT less crowded here than in Toronto (hence the 3 hour drive)
Keeping the duck company is this swan sculpture
which celebrates the efforts of those who helped reintroduce the trumpeter swans to Georgian Bay. The swan sculpture is more life size.
We didn't see any swans, though
just a big duck who couldn't hide no matter how hard she tried
Then, we walked round town looking for murals, but that will be another post. I'm reintroducing myself to short walks for Jo's Monday walk
I'm all for a bit of silliness. Life's too serious, isn't it? I'd love to have her in our garden. That'd give the neighbours a smile! Many thanks for joining me. :) :)
ReplyDeleteoh, I agree. I was excited at seeing this.
DeleteI think she should come back every year - we could be on her migration route.
This rubber ducky is getting the grand tour.
ReplyDeleteA few merchants I spoke to thought the whole thing was silly. But then I pointed out that we had come up from 3/4 of an hour either side of Toronto mainly to see it. And buy something.
Delete...very ducky!
ReplyDeleteyes
DeleteHow cool is that!!!?! I would go crazy taking pictures of this beauty!!
ReplyDeleteas I did!
DeleteThe duck rules!
ReplyDeleteshe won many hearts.
DeleteI have been stuck in traffic that is stopped, but never for that long! Like you, I am thankful for it.
ReplyDeleteMany people had to abandon their cars when they ran out of gas. I've used that as a warning to always keep the tank more than half full!
DeleteHaha. Thanks for sharing. We read about your Duck kerfuffle even in Malaysia. Canadians should celebrate that most of your news are of this nature instead of the terrible things making news in so many other countries around the world. (LGS)
ReplyDeleteReally?!! Yes, Torontonians do have a habit about whining about every little thing.
Delete(*not me, of course!)
You do have a point - at least our problems are relatively benign.
Love the before and after view of the harbour VS, a few changes there ☺ The ginormous rubber ducky is too fabulouso, I would love to see it sailing down our Swan River ☺
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine what these towns were like when ships were the main way to transport goods.
DeleteI actually wanted to see it being towed away and then deflated.
I would have travelled 3hrs to see this huge duck just for fun! The whole area looks pretty!
ReplyDeletegood to know we weren't the only ones. it was a nice day's outing.
DeleteYou always give an interesting read to brighten the day. poemblog10.blogspot.com is doing the rounds. Philatelic best, Mark.
ReplyDeletethank you
DeleteWhat a great day to be out, and those photos look lovely. Warm greetings to you!
ReplyDeletethanks for your visit
DeleteYeah,that duckling isn't easy to miss seeing, oversize bathroom is needed - very well captured. :-)
ReplyDeletegood thing there was a large lake ;)
Delete