Coming back into Canada over the Rainbow Bridge (right in Niagara Falls) we have to first detour to the American Falls and so we went onto Goat Island.

This is a shot of Bridal Veil Falls just beside Luna Island looking down into the Gorge and across to Niagara Falls, Canada, as the Maid of the Mist heads to the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

It was time for a family reunion of sorts so we drove up to Innisfil's Big Bay Point to visit the Hamilton (north) family. We pass by a field of sunflowers and I had to stop and take a picture (if you haven't noticed - it is the picture above). The trip up north along Highway 400 took about two hours because of cottage traffic.

We later walk up to the government dock along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay and John and Erin both go swimming in the cool, clean (thanks to the zebra mussels), green waters of Lake Simcoe. Here is Erin at the dock.

I have taken this week off for vacation with nothing major planned. Today and the next few days we are expecting thunder showers so I decide to stay reasonably close to Acton. I thought of the Elora Gorge which is only about a half hour away and so off we go.

I take Erin and we drive into Elora and walk down into the Gorge on the stairs built into the steep walls of the Gorge. Recent rains have flooded the rivers and created rapids. Usually this part of the river has a gentle flow of warm water as it makes it way to the junction downstream. Rather than leave we decide to be adventurous and cross the treacherous waters. Later we frolic in the shallow waters along the edge of the rapids.

We return via County Road 29 and later follow Highway 7 back into Acton. Along the County Road we pass by a shallow lake split by the road. The north half of the lake is a swamp with long dead trees still standing.

My vacation week continues with more showers and I find out that we have broken rainfall records in Ontario and more rain is still forecast. After being house bound I decide to venture out anyways and become a storm tracker. The sky is not just a layer of gray, it has some fine looking clouds and in the distance you can see areas where the floodgates have opened and the rain is pouring down to earth (picture above - lower right side).