Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario

Ontario has reopened from months-long lockdown, we could finally visit Canada's first railway tunnel at Brockville. Awesome. The town is located on Highway 401, a 1-hour drive from Ottawa and 3 hours from Toronto. 

Because of its convenient location, we went on the day our friends from Toronto are to drive home. We extended our goodbye 1 hour away from home, and send them off from there.

In fact, our family already visited the town of Brockville this spring. But I wasn't able to document that trip because I forgot to secure the memory card in the DSLR camera. Boo.

We promise to come back in warmer weather. And we did. This time with friends and with the province of Ontario in Phase 1 reopening. Yay.

The first place we visited is the railway tunnel. The entrance is free. If you're wondering about the colorful walls, it's due to LED lighting. There's a sound effect going on too, entertaining adults and children alike walking 1,730 ft below the street.
 
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario

My favorite part of downtown would be the waterfront. See that green landscape in front (photo below)? That's the island of New York. Wow, I can't believe we're so close to the US.

Although the water at the park is inviting, I haven't seen a single soul swimming in the area. Hmm... could it be dangerous? I haven't noticed a sign informing the public either. There must be a warning notice somewhere.

We walked to the park, near the water, and found a free picnic table, thankfully there are no signs of forest tent caterpillar moths in the park. Why these bugs bothers me? Story here.

We unpack our snacks and let the breeze massage our faces. Because this place reminds hubby and his childhood friend of their hometown, nostalgia dominated the topic once again.

Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario
Short Day Trip from Ottawa: A Photo Diary from Brockville, Ontario

Before parting ways with our friends from the Toronto area, we strolled downtown to check out what's open. The restaurants are busy but the shops remain close. 

And since our friends still got 3-hours' worth of driving to get home, we didn't tarry. Our little boy thought goodbye means he'd still be able to see his Tito and Tita back in Ottawa. He was sad to find our home empty with their presence. But unlike adults, kids rebound to their happy state fast. He was okay minutes later.

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Sadness. Worry. Fear. We feel these emotions when something is absent in our lives. Just like how the Covid-19 pandemic took away many of our freedoms. But I believe we will only go through this dark tunnel, we will not settle in, and will bounce back better. I always remind myself to never lose sight of the light at the end of it.