If we are going to put this together for a little over 2 months from now we really need to get our butts in gear..There are a ton of things that need to be put in place before we can even begin...If we are trying to do this just simply as an individual thing then no big deal but if we are trying to do this together as a group then it is a huge project. Needless to say it starts with 1/Who is attending 2/When(dates) are you available 3/How long would you be staying for 4/What kind of budget would you be wanting to stay within once you arrive in Toronto in Canadian or US Dollars(the value is almost identical) 5..What type of accomodation .. A country /lakeside cottage type thing or a modern type hotel. These are the obvious things that come to mind right away. Once we have these things in place then we at least have something to start with. Being fair I would think that we need to work with those like Country Gal/Timminslover etc who have to fly into Toronto before the haul to Timmins even starts...Pending on flight arrival times in Toronto we could start planning from there. From the getgo I would think you would be staying in Toronto night # 1 after a long overseas flight.. I would think the next morning we would start the haul north. A decision needs to be made if we are going to do the Timmins in one long day or 2 shorter days with a stop in between...If you do the straight run you are looking about 9-10 hours depending on how many pee breaks etc... If we wanted to do it in 2 days we could do the deerhurst stop,maybe catch the musical review that night on the"Shania" stage and get on the road early the next morning.. If we did the stopover at Deerhurst(about 2.5 hours from Toronto) AND were on the road early the next morning we would be pulling into Timmins a little after noon.Personally I think 2 days in Timmins would be more than enough. For me personally that would be it...As far as the rest of you I can only assume you would be on some type of holiday...One week/two week ..whatever...From Timmins I can assure you that you would be heading south from Timmins...There are just so many options between Timmins and Toronto(about 400 miles/600km) to pick from..It would just depend on your choices...Personally I would suggest breaking the balance of your trip up between quaint lakeside cottages in the midst of natures beauty and finish it off in Toronto. Remember though Toronto is a huge modern city(about 3.5 million people) but a fun city...Hotels/bars/restraunts/entertainment everywhere....From the heart of Toronto you are a 30 minute drive to the airport ANYHOW....If this is going to happen the wheels got to start moving...As I said we need to get our dates AND our budget on the table.
AS FAR AS ME.... This is MY thinking...I was thinking for me it would work out better this way.... I would drive to Toronto (about 1.5 hours) in my personal car. I would rent a mini van and leave my car at the rental place. I would then drive to wherever you guys decide to stay in Toronto after your flight in.From there we would head north to Timmins on either our one day or two day haul... I would say goodbye in Timmis,leaving the mini van with you guys for the balance of your trip..I would catch a Greyhound Bus out of Timmins to Toronto..Pick up my car and home..You guys would return the Mini Van...It would likely work out better to rent it at the airport. It makes no different to me and would be nice and easy for you guys. Anyhow...Lets see where things go...Since alot has got to be worked out we have to get moving if we are doing it this summer....Bob
Many good points Bob. I'm a veteran of the trip. I make the drive from PA up through Toronto and always stop over night in Huntsville, seeing and eating at Deerhurst is one thing I recommend. Seeing the show would be good too. I saw it the one year. last year I golfed there. Timmins is much more rough of a town. There is a decent motel there and I was told I should no longer stay at the Days Inn because of the troublemakers. I was in a fight last year. I've made this same trip four years in a row now. I never did the convention, I always go to the Mattagami Lake one hour drive from Timmins and stay at a cottage. The main reason is to going fishing with my friends. The Brown family that runs the Twin J Hide-A-Way are super nice people, so if you are looking for a quieter place on the lake to stay I recommend them. They are affordable and good. Many other similar places exist even closer but it can get pricey. If you want to experience the north woods, beauty of nature, I'd go cottage rather than hotel/motel in town. You can do hotels anywhere. Twin J is also 2 km away from the Ojibway First Nation where Shania grew up as a kid. That one year the convention actually toured there. I can be your guide people, lol, seriously. I've learned enough of the area in four years not to get lost, lol. We'll get this all figured out.
THANK YOU BOB AND JOE, it all sounds wonderful,so we are not going to Convention? so that saves me more money,we are going to do our own convention cool. Bob, i would definitely need to stay in a hotel the first night after the flight,it would be my very first long distant flight so i would be tired. who is going to pick us from Toronto? which hotel do you recommend?? as for Timmins 2-3 days would be fine,Centre,lakes and Mataggami are the main places i want to see. Joe i would go at the Browns,they do sound affordable and a quiet place,and the real Canadian beauty,trees lakes etc. i'd love to visit Deerhurts too,for shania emotional reasons. then Toronto,Bob i would need to see around and go for drinks,food etc.you have to stay around to have a big company ok?? Joe are you willing to stay many days with me to keep me company? that's what i 'd love to do,as for my budget i will send messages to you guys,don't you worry about it.
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Hey BOB,here's some answers: 1)who's attending? me for sure and Joe,we will wait about the others. 2)dates?? i would like it to be late July -early August,but surely before September. 3)how long?it depends on you guys if you are going to stay with me and keep me company,i could even stay for 2 weeks. 4)budget?i will let you know via private messages. 5)accomondation?it really doesn't matter to me, as long as we all agree,but something cheaper then Hilton he he,in Timmins i would prefer the cabins where Joe goes,i wouldn't want to stay inside the town if it's dangerous with all the boozers and the bums,besides we're going fishing. Bob,i'd love to do it in 2 days like you just said,going from Toronto to see the Deerhurst show,just to be able to get some rest,i'm not used to be in a car for many hours. and then i would love you to come along with us, to see everything in the Toronto area,and shania's star.
i will have to ask a travel agent about the flights straigh to Toronto airport, and everyting else there is to know,give me some days to check all the Toronto hotels prices through internet.
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Hey Lulu,don't you worry about it a bit, we will send you dozens of pics,from Toronto, the Shania Twain Centre ,all around Timmins,from the Mattagami lake,everything. we'll be glad to share with a fellow shania fan,we will let you know all about our shania adventures.
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I have lost track here... Country Gal...You said we are NOT going to the convention...Where did that come from...I thought the convention was why you were coming so far...I must have missed something on the boards or was not included in a private that changed things...Give me an update...Bob
Also.....My thinking is we go with whoever has committed by NEXT Monday....I would think anyone who might attend would have read this post by now and would be putting the pieces in place sometime this week. Not sure you guys know this but this region is VERY VERY booked during summer..This is not late Oct/Nov were are talking here.This is prime time summer...It does not matter what type of place you are thinking of, they ALL get very busy..Also unlike the fall when these empty places will take even a one night booking,a large number of them insist on minimum 7 night stays...Bottom line...This should have been booked months ago...I am not saying that it is too late but we REALLY have to move on this.That is why I was saying we need a cutoff of next Monday in order to protect US....Bob
If we decide to go to the Twin J I can call the Browns. They are hit or miss within a month or two advance.
Yes, it seemed maybe you were thinking of another date or shortened time for a trip to Timmins. Must have been a misunderstanding. If we did go to the actual convention that is like a four day event.
Hey Joe...Sorry...I don't get it...Christina has clearly said that her goal was to come during the convention. It really doesn't matter so much to me..I was simply thinking of her... There is no mention on forums of this sudden change in plans...Any updates would be good... Bob
Well somewhere you mentioned two days in Timmins and leaving us the car and you returning home, I think that may have been the misunderstanding. Convention is four days I believe.
I too thought everything was originally planned for the convention... whatever works for Christina is the ultimate goal.
Hey guys,sorry i didn't have internet at all yesterday, but in a few days i wll have the best as i went and did what i had to. about the Fan Convention,Bob if we are going to participate WE HAVE to make our registration or else we can't be a part of it,we have to fax them and pay around 190,00 each,and Joe was right it is 4 days long. but if you want than i'm in,but we have to registrate till 30th of June.
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Hey Christina... Glad you are back online.... I think you need to take full charge here...I know I would like to know exactly what YOU want, WHEN(exact dates) you would like to do it and how you would like to break up your accomodations. Once we know when you would like to fly in and when you would like to fly out,we can then start the planning.... As far as cost....Hotel Rooms in the heart of Toronto will run you around $225(Cdn or US) per night... Lakefront cottages in the Muskoka(deerhurst area) will run between $150 and $350 per night... Small lakefront cottages in the Timmins area will be in the $100 -$200 per night. As far as staying for Deerhurst for one night it will be VERY expensive at this time of year but if you are only doing the trip once it might be somewhere that you want to stay. It really doesn't matter to me...I am very versatile as far as this stuff..I can rent a low priced cottage,sleep on a couch with broken springs and drink cold beer and be totally happy... I can also be totally happy renting a $300 waterfront Log home,equipped with expensive mattresses and douvets,and sipping on nice wine As I said with your travel distance my position is for YOU to be honest and say want YOU want and we can go from there....Bob
hey guys,i'm back and i apologize, but then again it wasn't my fault ,i had no internet access at all. so Bob take it easy on me,im really busy,i'm out and go shopping and taking care of my passport. well,when i say shopping i mean simple stuff and i have to buy new luggages,i'm also looking for Greek souvenirs,i don't know what to bring you folks but i will find it in the end. so if we are going to the Convention we still have time for our registrations,if we are NOT we would still be a large company to do our own thing he he i would prefer the cabins because they are affordable,and we could go fishing to live the real Canadian experience,and don't you worry i'm a country gal after all. i have taken vacations before here in this island and the house was incomplete without running water and toilet he he
-- Edited by Country gal at 14:11, 2008-05-29
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i forgot to tell you about the dates, well,if we are going to the Convention which it take place 7-11 of August i would have to be in the Penn State around 4 of August or 5??i will have to talk about it with Joe and then we could come up to meet with you Bob. next week i'm going to a travel agent and once i know which dates there's a flight for America(i would choose a foreigner company to save money)i will let you guys know. i prefer to book the tickets in advance so everybody would be ready. oh,and don't forget,if we are going to the Convention there are some exclusive souvenirs for us,this would be really fun,and we will have dinner inside the Centre,we will dance and sing and lots of other stuff.
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Sounds good Tina. So lets decide if we are up for the regular fans around the world convention they have on august 7th or our own convention, hehe. Everything else sounds like a good plan. You'll enjoy the experience Tina.
Yes Joe,i know i will enjoy it,gas stations will enjoy it too,oh boy,lots of money to be spend there but we can do it,we will share like good friends always do.
and i'm in for fresh fish,i like fish so you better catch a big one Joe lol hey Joe what about music,what we will be listening to on our way to Timmins?maybe a sweet Canadian girl by the name of ...hmmm i think Twain or something,i heard she's really good.
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Finally...A full blown Tommys romance....I think I will leave it up to you guys to set the rendezvous in PA...Maybe up to the Honeymoon Capital of thw world(niagara Falls)...Up to Toronto for a night..Onto Muskoka,and north from there...Not sure where but I will catch up alond the way...Cindy is in as well so at least there will be a foursome...Anyhow... Congrtatulations. Keep my updated...Bob
You guys are hilarious. Gez, whatever happened to blind dates, straight to the blind honeymoon, lol?
We provide the best services any first time long distance traveler can experience.
We'll definitely have to catch some fish or else we'll be hungry and foraging for berries, hehe.
Music, we'll definitely be playing the main reason all this is happening, some discreetly known Canadian star or something, lol. Plus whatever hits our fancy. The collection is deep.
I think Bob has provided a pretty good line up so it all depends on the arrival specifics. Yee-haw.
Yeah,we will have fun,and you better catch that fish,i hate it when i'm hungry, i get moodyso what about the cabins?? HEY BOB,stop thinking about romance and decide if you want to go there,ask your wife too, she might not like it there. I'm coming, Yee-haw as Joe said.
as for the rest of the guys that won't be coming with us,we will send you pics to see, and we will have a toast for all of you when we get to shania's land.
-- Edited by Country gal at 13:15, 2008-05-30
-- Edited by Country gal at 14:33, 2008-05-30
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All I can say is you all better take good pictures. How I wish I could be there too. Maybe we will get together for a Shania concert at some point. I know all of you will have a wonderful time.
Ok Lulu,we will try our best to take great pictures ,i can't wait to take pics of the Shania sign and outside of the Centre,of course we will take shots of all our adventures and in some of those we might look a little stupid, but it's ok.
and as for a shania concert,yeah,this will happen eventually,and we will rock the place.
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Just a thought if the day works for you guys and you like Travis Tritt....He is playing at Casino Rama Orillia on Fri Aug 15...Pending on your plans you might be literally driving right past it on your way back to Toronto(just off Hwy 11)..Tickets usually run about $50 but really nice new smaller venue(about 4000 seats)...Just a thought...Bob
Hey Bob,that would be great,but i think that we would be heading back around the 14th or the15th of August. you see if we are going to stay a week in Timmins then we should get back straight to PA,Joe has to show me around his city,and he must take me for a little line-dancing he he remember when we talked about that,who would have thought that this day would come so soon.
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As far as the convention I can say that I am a NO...Too much other stuff going on to be gone that long...Needless to say it does not stop you guys though...I could meet up with you guys on your way up or way back for a night or 2...Just a thought...Maybe a night on our boat with Cindy and I...Midland is right on your way..It is really nice...3 totally separate sleeping rooms,2 bathrooms,and all the amemities of home...AND...Free....From the dock in Midland we can be out of anchor on Georgian Bay in a totally protected anchorage in about 30 minutes....Think about it...The kicker is it would have to be the 15th or 16th though...Just a thought...If you could get to US a few days later and leave to go home a bit later it would work...Not sure if this would work with the convention dates or maybe you could cut the convention thing down to 2 days..Personally I kind of feel that 2 days at the convention might give you all you need but that is needless to say up to you...Bob
Up to you Tina. The Convention costs big money so I don't know what a two day version is like and if possible. We can still hit the convention or do our own convention. Doesn't matter to me. If we do the actual Convention it is a four day cost. I still think the real experience on the lake in a cabin and a little fishing is a must. Maybe Bob and Cindy can stay there a couple nights. I'm also seeing if the sis has any interest.
As far as seeing my city, lol, it's a lot smaller than Timmins is. Probably a 1000 people here and in the middle of the bush and amish farm country. But there will be places of activity too. No worries there.
oh Bob,now you got me thinking, really you suggestion of staying for a night in your boat sounds amazing,but what about Timmins?? i could skip the Convention but i have to visit the Centre and if we are going to stay in Timmins only for 2 days,where are we going to stay?? the cabins are for a week,it would be a shame to leave earlier,maybe we could book a hotel room,but then again fishing in the lake sounds great too. i could come later but i don't know if it's fine by Joe. and what about Toronto,hotels there are way too expensive,is not worth to pay $200,00 for a night. i don't know,drop any good ideas gentlemen.
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I am so excited for all of you. I think you will have a wonderful time Tina and meeting up with fellow Shania fans....absolutely great. I can't wait to see pictures of you, Joe and Bob and Cindy and whoever else comes along. What a great time it will be.
Well I guess I'll have to brainstorm here. Not sure what to suggest at this point. Seems we have evolved quite a bit from the original topic and plan. Maybe the Browns might let us stay 3-4 days. Of course we now know Bob can't stay away that long. Not sure where that leaves us, things that are a must for this Shania experience, Toronto and Walk Of Fame, Huntsville and Deerhurst, Timmins and Centre, cabin and Mattagami Lake. How many days? When? Might we have to change the trip dates so we can make this work more easily? I'm flexible. Hopefully we can have the details ironed out soon enough. Time is of the essence.
yes Joe,i agree Mattagami,Huntsville and Centre are the place i'd love to visit. it would be a shame no to,because i will come from so far and i will spend so much money,so it's got to be worth it. oh i forgot,Walk Of Fame too,i got to take a picture of shania's star,maybe i would frame it later he he maybe we could take it step by step,a couple of days in each place,but how we could book a room in all those different places.
i have a question: how many hours is Huntsville from Timmins??maybe we could rent a cabin to be our main place to sleep and we could drive to Huntsville,or it is too far?? oh boy, we're going to make some gas station owners really happy he he i will keep thinking about it,there still some time left.
maybe we should rent a whole tour bus,ha ha those are exspensive but can be very handy when you need them.
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Hey guys...Christina...Forget about dates..How many DAYS do you plan on being here from the time to land until you leave...How many days do you have Joe.. As I have said...I can only give you 2 days...Do to work obligations it would HAVE to be a Fri and Sat night thing and would HAVE to be the 15th and 16th...If you decide to do the boat thing in Midland it would be free of charge and is right on your route(midland)...Cindy would be there and if Joe wants to bring someone no issue...The sleeping issue is NO PROBLEM I understand boat concerns when it comes to having friends on board..Cindy and I have done it for years...Having said that you might find it alot more comfortable staying on board but at the yacht club...This is why...Even though it is quite large it is still a boat...If we stay at the club it opens up options...Things like washrooms/showers/swimming pool etc are literally seconds from the dock..We would have our car...and so on...We have a great sound system with an ipod loaded to the top. Barbeque up some steaks and so on...The bar as always VERY WELL stocked. HOWEVER...If it does not work for you that is cool too...I personally think it would be a blast....I don't want a penny for food/booze anything.....The only thing is it would have to be on the above dates. If you want to meet up in another way..thats cool too but again I am restricted on the dates If you guys can work it out you can count of me 100 percent to cover my end of things...BUT...Christina...HONEST TIME HERE.....In no way do I want you to do a single thing so as to accomodate me...You are coming here for YOU and Shania...Do what your gut and heart tells you..Be true to YOU.....Bob
Acually the more I think about it staying at the yacht club would be better maybe from your perspective... Like Cindy said...for all you know Bob they might think you are a bloody axe murderer or we are members of swingers club international....WRONG ON BOTH COUNTS....
hey Bob, i have no problem on how many days i could stay as long as i have money left to buy me some food he he seriously it depends to the flights i could book,if i find what i need then i could stay around 15-16 days,but not all of them in Canada because the hotels can get pricy. and i'd hate to mess Joe's schedule,staying at your boat sounds fantastic but the dates might be a problem,what if we won't find a place to stay in Canada close to those dates?? we can't go back and forth all the time,maybe we could go in the cabins stay a week and then we drive to you,provided that we will find a cabin around those dates. we have to ask Joe as well.
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Cindy is humorous, but i could be a 65 year old guy that likes men ha ha and Joe could be a weird lady that her real name is Jo but she just added the E letter lol
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Yep.... All the more exciting....Thats where I know I speak for ALL when I say...You and Joe got GUTS. Anyhow....I think I will close off my second topic of the day...THIS ONE I will continue to monitor the posting on your plans real close but since I am only a minor player(2 days) in this whole trip I will leave it up to you and Joe..I have done all I can with short notice...If there were any other dates I could offer you ,I would but there simply is not...The weekend before we have committments that are off the table as far as cancelling...You know my weekly work schedule....If it don't come together with me I totally understand...Having said that I hope there is no doubt in your mind I have done everything possible to accomodate you guys.....Do your thing and if I can get worked in as well GREAT....Bob
Hey Bob,why did you say we got GUTS,because we are practically strangers?? Anyway,i will talk it out with Joe,and if we can we will come to you on our way down to the States,but i wish you could come with us in Toronto as i'd love a tour there. i guess we will be alone but it is ok,as long as i will visit the Centre and Huntsville i'd be covered. i will be keeping you informed along the way, as this whole thing will progress.
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I will make sure to fulfill my duties as a tour guide that Tina gets to see all the important Shania fan stops throughout the Ontario trip. Tina, we can either go to Timmins and the cabin first or you can maybe arrive for the start of your trip a week later and we visit Bob and Cindy first and the cabins Timmins second. Either way, my schedule is flexible. Are you sure you can't make a trip to Timmins Bob or at least Huntsville? Bob, have you been to Timmins before? Or the Mattagami? More the merrier.
Guts, lol. Well I've done this sort of thing before and I'm still alive and whole, lol. I go by the old saying, a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.
sounds nice Joe, although i will try not to get advance of your hospitality and kindness,i will behave and follow the rules,like any good traveler would do. i've been dreaming about this trip for almost a decade,it will be a once in a lifetime experience,but i will try to repeat the whole thing,hopefully it won't take me years to come back again.
btw i promise Joe, i'm a female and not a 65 year old guy lol
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lol, either way, we'll have fun. Either we can get along being close in age or you will get along with my dad who is 68... if you're a 65 year old guy, lol.
hey Joe,i could be better in English but for someone who went to a tutorial centre for just 3 school years,i think i rock,how modest lol this trip will imrove my English that's for sure.
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