7/03 Last Day in Midland and the Martyrs' Shrine

Today will be our last day in Midland.  It looks like the winds will calm down tomorrow so we will be off heading up the Georgian Bay.  We have totally enjoyed this town and all it had to offer.  Last night, we opted not to walk to Little Lake for the fireworks, but we could see all the high ones from the harbor. 

This morning we awoke to a bright sunny day.  John and I took a walk after breakfast on the Waterfront Trail.  We passed Manly St.  I took a picture of the manliest man I could find.

The views of the Georgian Bay from the trail were breathtaking.

After lunch, I took a walk on the Trans Canada Trail to the Martyrs' Shrine.   It was about 5 km each way.  The shrine is dedicated to several Jesuit priests who came to evangelize the newly known lands in the early 1600's.  The lands and peoples they were evangelizing were Huron's and Iroquois in what is now Canada and New York.  I remembered my parents taking us as children to the Church of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, NY on our way back to Boston from Niagara Falls.

The Shrine has been selected to have a Holy Door during this year of Mercy in the Church.  There was a group on pilgrimage from India.  The shrine grounds were very peaceful and contemplative.  The Shrine itself was beautiful.  In addition to the Jesuits, there were statues and pictures honoring St. Kateri Tekakwitha. 

St. Joseph is the patron saint of Canada.  The church was dedicated to St. Joseph.  The Jesuits' original chapel when they came to the area was Ste. Marie and was dedicated to St. Joseph as well.

Of course, there were Stations of the Cross in the Shrine but there was also an outdoor Stations of the Cross on the grounds.  There were statues on the grounds of the Martyrs.

The Canadian countryside was spectacular from the steps of the Shrine.

To get to the Shrine and back, I had to cross under Highway 12 and across the little river that led to Mud Lake.  Kayakers were following the river.  The bridge was scenic.

 While walking back, John texted me about a large ship that had entered the harbor.  It was coming in to fill up with grain from the ADM elevators.  It is from the Canada Steamship Line and is so big it is hard to get it in one frame on the camera.

Here it is a little closer up.

It wasn't docked for long when they got to work loading the grain.  See the long pipe attached to the grain elevator.

We wonder if that ship will leave before us in the morning.  We are heading to Henry's Fish Restaurant, where you can dock and have dinner.  You can only go there by boat or sea plane; sort of a Soggy Dollar Bar Canadian style.  The day after we plan to go to Parry Sound, home of Bobby Orr and the Bobby Orr Museum. 

Thank you Midland.  We had a great time.