Canoe & Paddle's New Patio Is Built On AstroTurf The Toronto Blue Jays Won World Series On

It’s not often—or ever—that you get the chance to eat delicious pub food on a patio in the Kawarthas that sits on AstroTurf that the Toronto Blue Jays won the 1993 World Series on. But that opportunity is now on deck at Lakefield’s Canoe & Paddle, whose new patio sits atop some of the old turf that is such a huge piece of Canadian sports history.

Indeed, the Canoe & Paddle were lucky enough to secure some of the old AstroTurf that the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series on at SkyDome (now Roger’s Centre) on Joe Carter’s dramatic walk-off home run in Game 6 in ‘93, giving the Jays back-to-back World Series titles.

Photo courtesy Canoe & Paddle

Jake Exton from Canoe & Paddle is at bat, and tells PTBOCanada the backstory behind it:

“It was a chance conversation about three years ago with Ian Knott from Indian Rubber Tire Shop in Buckhorn. He built an indoor baseball and lacrosse training centre at his business. He was a pitcher in the U.S., and had contacts within the business. He bought four rolls of AstroTurf when the SkyDome switched the surface in 1994. I remembered him talking about it about three years ago, and on the announcement that we would be able to expand our patios, I made a call and found he still had two rolls—which he was happy to sell to us!”

Photo courtesy Canoe & Paddle

They built the patio within a day, not quite as long as it took to build SkyDome, and the response has been fantastic to eating on the turf—a field of dreams, if you will.

”People love the history behind it and love telling us their stories of watching the game on TV or being there live to watch it happen,” Exton tells PTBOCanada.

Yep, to say they knocked this one out of the park would be an understatement.

And for those that forget…

THE BLUE JAYS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN. 🎉

Joe Carter hits a walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. #BlueJaysOnSN pic.twitter.com/4eVJ5euWjl

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2020

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Just A Zamboni At The Timmies Drive Thru In Lakefield

Photo: Roberta Hubble & Lakefield Herald

You never know what you'll see going through a Tim Hortons drive thru. On January 30th, Zamboni driver Graham Wilkins was coming from the Ontario Speed Skating Oval in Lakefield and decided to hit up the Timmies there for coffee.

Only in Canada, eh!?

Photo: Roberta Hubble & Lakefield Herald

Hey @Ptbo_Canada you can't get any more Canadian than this! #Lakefield #SpeedSkatingOval #Timmies pic.twitter.com/2ApYYsKhxF

— Heather Watson (@HeatherWats0n) February 3, 2017

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (ptbo_canada). Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.

Look At These Perseid Meteor Shower Pictures Over The Otonabee River

Niki Allday captured these stunning pics Sunday night (August 9th) of the Perseid Meteor Shower. They were taken in Lakefield with the Otonabee River as a perfect backdrop...

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Here Is Totally Awesome Aerial Footage Of Lakefield In Fall

Tim Rollwagen and Mark Nelsons captured this stunning footage of the beautiful village of Lakefield near Peterborough using Mark's drone camera.

Have a look for yourself below of Lakefield in all its autumn splendour (you even get to listen to Mumford & Sons as you watch)...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Video: The Famous Reydon Manor (Aka "Strickland House") In Lakefield Is For Sale For $3.25 Million

In 1857, Colonel Samuel Strickland's son Robert built the extraordinary, opulent Strickland house in Lakefield. (Robert's famous aunts, author sisters Catherine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie, both stayed there on occasion.) This historic house is a landmark in Lakefield. It has 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, an attached heated triple garage, a carriage house, 3 woodburning fireplaces, and is located on a 11.7 acre lot. And it's currently for sale—listed at $3.25 million. You can see it from the road on Queen St. driving through Lakefield, but we have often wondered what it looks like inside. Well, a video has been made by the listing agent which takes us inside it...

[YouTube]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.

PtboPics: Family Day At Ontario Speed Skating Oval In Lakefield

There was a great crowd out today for Family Day at the Oval in Lakefield. Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal was out with his family (see his picture below), and the ice conditions were pretty good considering the warm weather we've had of late, so kudos to the ice crew. People were able to try speed skates which were made available, and there were hot dogs and hot chocolate being served. It was fun in the sun.

[Ontario Speed Skating Oval]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Great Beaches Near Peterborough

The view from Jones Beach. Photo: Evan Holt
One of the many sweet benefits of living in the Patch is the proximity to beaches. A hot day—and we've had a lot of those this summer—practically commands a trip to one of the many great swim spots that pepper the area.
 
While the beaches located within the city limits are nice for evening strolls, I can’t really condone swimming at them. Little Lake is a visual gem, but I wouldn’t dip more than a toe into it. As for the Otonabee River? Pretty much the same rules apply, especially south of Little Lake. Short of those taking part in the annual Peterborough Triathlon, you will not see many folks dipping beyond their waists.
 
My family talks about installing a pool each and every spring. Yet, we’ve avoided taking the plunge. Why would we go to that cost when we can jump into the car and in under 15 minutes be kicking off our shoes and jumping into Chemong Lake. Frequented by a selection of regular faces, a little known beach called Jones Beach is located at the north end of Bridgenorth (on Jones Beach Road), just as the road turns out of town towards Lakefield. Jones Beach is small, but features a nice sandy area, a gentle slope into the deeper water and a solid platform to swim and jump from. Yeah, people will say that Chemong is full of weeds, making swimming less than delightful. They are wrong. The weeds of Chemong Lake are present, but far enough out that most folks will not likely feel their tickling tentacles.
 
Another beach, Lakefield Beach, lies on the south-west shore of Katchewanooka Lake, within the town of Lakefield. It’s a larger beach than Jones, and far more populated. The swimming in my opinion isn't as good as Chemong Lake, but for kids and teens, this is a great hangout. A grassy park lies adjacent, giving shade to picnickers and those who prefer to be out of the hot sun.
 
Stray a little farther from town, and other wet, refreshing locations await. Sandy Beach, west of the town of Buckhorn, is a prized destination both for its Caribbean blue shallow waters and its people watching. Most people make a day of it and bring all the necessary gear to get them through their adventure.

We are all very lucky to have these beaches nearby. Now, get out there and take advantage!

—Jeffrey Macklin, PtboCanada contributor

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.