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Jon Montgomery's Blog.
Leafsfan:
Week 10: FUN DAYS AT FUNDY
It’s about a two-hour drive from Charlottetown to our first stop in New Brunswick , a neat little town called Shediac. To get to the mainland from P.E.I. you can take a ferry or traverse the Confederation Bridge, a 12.9 kilometre long marvel of engineering that opened about 17 years ago. It’s said to be the longest bridge over ice-covered water in the world, and I think it’s just so cool to drive over the Atlantic Ocean, the Northumberland Strait to be specific.
I’ve been to New Brunswick many times, most recently Moncton for a speaking engagement, which was where the production team stayed during filming. It’s a great town in our only officially bilingual province with great restaurants, a distinct cultural climate and super friendly people. New Brunswick is the largest of the three Maritime provinces, and there is so much to see and do here.
The Hopewell Rocks are easily one of the most fascinating places on this planet, it’s best to plan a day here. Situated on the Bay of Fundy, which boasts the highest tides ever recorded, you can watch this world-famous tide roll in over the course of a few hours. High tide changes by about 50 minutes each day, so it’s crucial to do a little pre-planning for a visit, to see it at low tide and walk amongst the magnificent rocks which have been eroded into these uncanny structures.
Then sit back and watch the water come in…it’s a staggering experience. The tides generally hit about 39-40 feet on average, when we were shooting our bits for the show they hit just over 42 feet that day. It’s almost incomprehensible. Our incredible guide and Detour expert Kevin Snair is a great resource – look him up when you visit. It’s a must.
Adventure seekers will be thrilled when they get to Cape Enrage. I was able to do the Roadblock when we were there: rappel, rock climb and zip line – really neat!
I then spent the day at our Pit Stop at the Cape Enrage Lighthouse, what a breathtaking view of the Bay of Fundy. Cape Enrage was the site of quite a few shipwrecks, and is so named because there’s a reef that churns up the bay and causes some serious rough seas.
The lighthouse has been here for over 170 years and this place was recently overhauled to be an adventure destination. It’s a great way to get some heavy-duty outdoor fun, fill up the camera with unimaginable photos, and finish it off with a bite to eat at the fantastic Cape House Restaurant . Perfect!
So here we are, heading into the final leg of Season 2! What a whirlwind of a Race, no shortage of action, laughs and drama. It’s the gold medal game as we head to the nation’s capital. Canada, get that edge of your seat ready, you won’t want to miss it.
Source:http://www.ctv.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada/Articles/Jonsblog/Week11.aspx
Leafsfan:
Week 12:THE BIG FINISH IN OTTAWA
A huge congratulations to our three final teams for making it to the finals here in Ottawa . We have crossed Canada and explored some amazing places in the world this season - kudos to Mickey and Pete, Ryan and Rob, and Natalie and Meaghan for making it to the final leg. It’s been a wild ride! Couldn’t pick a better place to put the Season 2 finish line.
The final leg was a tough one with a really challenging start. I am a big fan of water sports, and rafting is a great challenge to start the day.
Our nation’s capital is beautiful, particularly in the spring. The grounds of Parliament Hill are spectacular, and a great gathering place for tourists and locals, we even witnessed a midday get-together of yoga enthusiasts on the vast lawn. It’s terrific to see Canadians being active together – there must have been a thousand people that afternoon stretching it out!
The beauty of our Parliament buildings on the outside is certainly matched on the inside. I visited here at 17 years old, and had a really neat tour and also sat in Jean Chretien’s seat in the House of Commons, an experience I’ve remembered ever since. It’s great to be back here, and see the incredible Library of Parliament. This room is just stunning and isn’t seen on television very much so this is a great behind the scenes moment for everyone to enjoy. I wish every Canadian could have the chance to see the inner workings of our Federal government. A huge thanks to The Honourable Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons, for the help in making one of my favourite challenges this season.
Entering the Diefenbunker is descending into a time portal. I can’t imagine what it must have been like growing up during the Cold War. Everything here is frozen in time! This underground fortress was built to withstand a full nuclear assault, it’s really something. Medical facilities, boardrooms, kitchens – you name it – are all housed underground – truly a-maze-ing (get it?).
I’ve actually done a Jumar rope climb before, my wife Darla and I did it together in 2010 in B.C. , and she whooped me up that rope. It’s a tricky maneuver and to do inside one of Ottawa’s great museums, the Museum of Nature, is yet another first for me. One of so many experiences on The Amazing Race Canada.
The National Gallery of Canada is an essential visit for anyone who has the chance to see our nation's capital. It houses an incredible collection of Canadian art, as well as other international works that need to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.
In Paintings from the Race we’ve assembled iconic images from this season and once arranged in order made for a great chance for to reflect back on our adventure.
Once again an exceptional finish, it was so much fun seeing Mickey and Pete run across the finish line (without pants!) on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the official residence and workplace of every Governor General since 1867.
Rideau Hall is a 32-hectare urban oasis, a national historic site, and Canada’s national home. His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston is our 28th Governor General of Canada and I would like to thank him and his entire staff for hosting the finish line for The Amazing Race Canada.
Another amazing season and now - Canada here is your chance to be a part of this amazing adventure! If you think you have what it takes to win The Amazing Race Canada, casting is now open! First thing you need to do is pick the right partner, then head to ctv.ca/theamazingracecanada to find out all the details and what you need to start the adventure of a lifetime. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you at the starting line. Good luck, race safe and see you next summer on CTV.
Source: http://www.ctv.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada/Articles/Jonsblog/Week12.aspx
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