Tag Archives: Midland

Boat Names – Boatyard Eatery – Good food in Midland, Ontario – Who Knew?


On the shores of the Georgian Bay, hard by Ste Marie among the Huron’s – you will find the town of Midland. We cruised Main Street on our way to the harbor and our destination – the Boatyard Eatery. We got distracted briefly by the Crow’s Nest – a wonderful bric-brac store with a collection of collectibles – ranging from junk, to vintage jewelry, silver plate, and the occasional true treasure. We bought 12 silver napkin rings for $10, a silver plate Ewer with a strangely curvy shape, and then moved on.

The Boatyard reminds me that it’s location, location, location. And the location is superb. The large wooden deck with its tables, umbrellas, and dappled shade overlooks the harbor with its working boats like tugs, and it’s pleasure boats – primarily cabin cruisers of the 32 to 50 foot range.

The food isn’t bad either! We order draft beer and onion rings while we peruse the menu. Most in our group opt to try the Pickerel – a fish my hosts tell me is native to this area of Ontario, while Anais orders pork ribs with absolutely yummy Sweet Potato Fries. I remove the ‘fried’ skin, and just pick at the delicious white flaky fish. The rice it’s served with is good, but I definitely should have gone for the Sweet Potato Fries. For dessert, Anais gets ‘fried’ cheesecake, which given the speed with which it disappears, must be truly delicious.

After our yummy meal, we relax and just enjoy the good company and the great view, until Anais and I decide it’s time for a closer look at the boats.

We start to play the name game – trying to pick out the best. Not all boats have names, a puzzle we find odd. Why would an owner not name their boat? It’s a question we cannot answer – but we do find all the names a lot of fun – and this list we share with you!

Knot Mov’n
Knotty Bouys
Dealing with the Devil
Knot a Dream
Island Time
The Bottom Line
Night Moves
Naudi Impulse
Naudi Moves
Naudi Dreams
Naudi Girl
Windancer
The Honey Bee
The Office
Sea n’Dubble

Picked your favorite yet? We decided on Naudi Dreams!

Signing off – The Soup Lady

The Boathouse Eatery on Urbanspoon

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons – A must visit Museum!


Sainte-Marie among the Hurons – Midland, Ontario. Not just your average Museum

Several years ago I was lucky enough to visit this Museum and Living History Re-creation, and my memories were so strong, I insisted that we go again. I didn’t have enough time to really look hard at the museum, the outdoor portion is so outstanding.

A little history as background – From 1639 to 1648, here in an isolated and seemingly abandoned part of Canada, the Jesuits established and maintained a settlement among the Wendat (Huron) Indians. Their purpose was to convert the natives of course, but the trading opportunities were of great interest as well. Eventually – attacks by the Iroquois became too much for the colony to continue, although the loss of the founders – Fathers Jean de Brebeuf and Gabriel Lalemant – might have been the determining factor.

This museum/living history exhibit attempts to recreate the settlement in great historical detail. The exhibit starts with a 15 minute movie – which ends with the screen opening to reveal the entry to the outdoor component. There we find an entire settlement, numerous costumed interpreters available to provide explanations and in-depth descriptions of the soldier’s barracks, the Stone Bastions, the Granaries, the Gardens, the Cookhouse, the Hospital, the Chapel, and my favorite – a non-Christian Longhouse. Still in use during reenactments, the Longhouse smells of smoky fires, and feels full of Wendat Legends and tales.

It’s wonderful.

But even better is the museum, which starts with the cobbled streets of Europe of the 1630’s. There are movies galore – available in both English and French with the press of the correct button. There’s a sideshow describing a canoe trip from Montreal to the Midlands done in traditional clothes – which means full habits for the Jesits – 39 portages, and numerous rapids. In another section, there are a series of short videos of Wendat stories and tales. The walls of the museum start off resembling the towns in Europe, and end off becoming the woods of Northern Ontario. Among the birches and pines are set the exhibits, examples of tools and axes typical of the period, books of Jesuit prayers, the bits and pieces of everyday life in Northern Ontario in 1650.

Remarkable and well worth visiting.