Dryden, Ontario, day 1

We had a nice drive from Thunder Bay to Dryden yesterday through a little mist and some very light showers so it was a good driving day. The terrain was very different from the rest of our drive as it was very wooded with a few small towns along the way. We stopped at a trading post and in Ignace for lunch. We arrived at Don and Linda late afternoon. They live in a beautiful home located on the sores of Thunder Lake. I took pictures this morning and some on our drive through town. We had lunch at the Patricia Inn Restaurant downtown, finished our ride and headed home as our friends were coming over for dinner.

this shouls have been the 2nd picture as you can see the fog rising and the ooposite shore is visible from Don and Linda's 

the opposite side of the lake is masked by the morning fog

one of the garden's - note the changing of the foliage

 

Dryden High School - both Linda and Don graduated here - ther are about 700 students in the school

The home of Clen More Service International located here in Dryden, owned and run by both of Don's sons, who we met

The Dontar Paper Mill in Dryden, once a very prosperous employer and provider of good paying jobs, which now has downsized as many of the mills in the US.

 

this young man, who grew up in Dryden and now plays for the Philliie Flyers. His Dad is one of Don's good friends and we met him today.

this is the arena he trained at. Some other great hockey players also trained here - Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretski and Gordie Howe. Our host, Don, played on the ice with them in his high school years. Hockey is a big sport in Canada and Dryden helped several of them on their way to stardom!!!

 

a couple of deer looking at us as we approach the Dryden Yatch Club, which is located on an island on Lake Wabigoon.

the yatch club

a beautiful day to be out for a sail

 

Don and Linda hosted a dinner for all of our Dryden friends that we met in Arizona. Can you believe this, here we see the women all together and no men? Life doesn't change. From left to right: Lenni Elwood, Liann Sims, Glenice Svienson, Bette Lyle, Maureen Ross, Linda MacDonald - our hostess, Judy Stawarski

Oh, here at the men by the fire. It got rather brisk in the evening so Don built a fire. To quote Keith, "I think I am freezing my b... off." From left to right: Terry Elwood, Ross Allen, Jim Sims, Don Svienson - our host and Patsy saying, "I am the only one who can brave this cold." He doesn't look like he can. Finally Keith Svienson crouching to keep warm. 

 Thanks Don and Linda for a wonderful day and giving us the chance to see all of our friends here.