Storyline: Advantures in our back yard
Last week’s drive with winterized Doranya may have been our final advanture for 2020. Temperatures are soaring as never before. In Southern Ontario we often have snow by now. But this Covid year came with nice dry summer and long warm fall, including a week of summer temperatures in November. 24C today!
After our October camping trip in Gananoque, we dumped the grey and black tanks and prepared it for the winter. The end of October was nice and sunny, though.
Good enough for day trips. And we had the little house on wheels with us.
We’d take bottled water, sandwiches and use the toilet which already had antifreeze.
Then came November. Two days of snow at the beginning thwarted our plans for camping in Pinery Provincial Park. The winter storm triggered flooding in that area on the shore of Lake Huron.
The forecast though, was for sunny and warm weather for at least a week.
Time to hit the road. Before we got the camper van, we were talking that our first post-Covid drive out of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) would be to visit Alex’s sister.
Sometime next spring, assuming that Covid would be somewhat under control by then. We now know that Covid won’t be gone in the spring, yet we have a travel solution for it. “What do you think if we visit your sister and overnight in their driveway instead of at Pinery? We can continue to Algonquin from there…” I asked Alex. “Why not?” was the reply. And off we went.
No major highways, was the plan. We aimed to leave at 9am on Wednesday and meander around exploring the small roads. So we did. 30 minutes in, and almost exiting Markham, Alex start searching his pockets. “Your wallet?” “No, just organizing… hmmm, yes… you’re right… don’t have my wallet with me…” Well, I could have driven all the way and back but I didn’t have any credit card with me and we’d need gas to come back. Had he not begun exploring his pockets this would have been the case.
An hour later we finally left the GTA suburbs to take on the quiet picturesque roads. From Brooklin we meandered eastward, north and south. Have you been to Long Sault Conservation Area? We stopped there, but with a sunny day like this one the parking lot was full. Didn’t want to be close to people – the theme of our Covid year. We found an empty secondary parking lot to stop for a while and Alex, who has been taking videos, went up the main lot to make a few shots. (Hope some will make it into this blog.)
Have you seen the Pontypool movie? (We haven’t but it is a Canadian horror film from 2008.) We drove through this tiny community nestled among a few ponds. If you live east of Markham you probably have been to some or all the places around Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.
But when heading east without our toilet and kitchen on wheels we’d previously stuck to highways (primarily Hwy 7), which provide opportunities to stop for refreshments, coffee or a meal in a local pub. Pontypool village (if that) looked really quiet. All we noticed was an LCBO (liquor store). Not sure about a grocery store though. Founded by Welsh settlers, it has a rich history, as do many other currently very small communities. But this for later. I am sure we’ll revisit it; if not now, then in the spring.
After wiggling more south and north on our eastward journey, we drove through Millbrook. This town is bigger than the village of Pontypool and has Irish founders. Aside from being known as the home town of Serena Ryder, and a popular film location, it is near the Millbrook Conservation Area with good hiking trails. Our destination for the day, though, is Kanata, a suburb of Ottawa. So again, see you in the spring, Millbrook.
We drove by Squirrel Creek Conservation Area, crossed the Otonabee River at Wallace Point, and entered farmland dirt roads. Had some fun greeting the farm houses and farm vehicles and enjoying the beauty of the surroundings. I was getting hungry. Time to find a lunch stop.
And soon we did. We try to park at public properties: a museum or a church in rural area would do. While zigzagging, we spotted a road named Heritage Lane, heading north. The name suggested that the lane must lead to some historic place or other.
Pretty soon we were in Lang, and crossing Indian River we parked at Lang Pioneer Village. An absolutely delightful place. As with everything else this Covid year, the museum was closed.
But because of it, the property was empty and peaceful. Perfect lunch break with the van under a willow facing the old mill across the river.
Alex – When Diana ran down the slope and jumped to reach for the willow tree branch, I had a vivid memory of one of our first dates, almost 20 years ago. We went for a walk in the Humber River Valley north of Toronto, and she did exactly the same thing. Times change and we get older, but the child in us lives on.
After lunch we continued our rural exploration. East on RR 2 to Hastings and then south to Campbellford and north on Spring Brook Rd, to Springbrook of course, and then north to Madoc. A short photo stop by the water. Somewhere around here we realized that it was time to get more serious about our destination. It was already 3pm. Marian was making dinner and we should make the effort to be there by 6.
Alex moved us east on HWY 7 and made enough progress to turn off at Maberly and meander in the general direction of north-east on Elphin Maberly Rd to McDonalds Corners, then on Watsons Corners Rd, north of Clydesville until we reached Almonte, a familiar place. It was already getting dark, but were still about an hour away from our destination.
Don’t remember where we changed over (In Maberly – A), but I was driving at that point. The back roads, although familiar, were in bad shape with many potholes.
As I slowly pulled the van next to the two cars in front of the garage, the lights in the garage went on and the garage door slowly opened half way. Wow!
There was our banquet hall with physically distanced tables set and wine waiting for us. So great to see you guys. It’s been a long and hard year and it is not over yet.
What a fantastic dinner and a great evening we had! Thank you both!
Next morning, we were invited for breakfast and hot drinks on the veranda, however I had our fridge full so we opted to have a breakfast inside with the lovely view of the surrounding forest. Because of some health issues we decided to cut off Algonquin camping and head home.
After showing our new home to Marin & Jim we headed off. But not before we surprised Alex’s niece with a “happy birthday” stop in front of her house.
Our discovery trip back was simpler, but no less interesting.
We stopped in front of someone’s house while trying to find the museum parking lot in Mississippi Mills, then saw the pretty village of Middleville (it was dark the previous night). Next on our itinerary was the Lanark Highlands Township with the deserted town of Herrons Mill, then Clydesville on our way, before we stopped at Lanark for another break. We crossed the River Clyde 5 times all together and headed west on McDonalds Corners Rd.
A short stop by the waters near the historic village of Playfairville. Wiggled along to Elphin and then north to Ompah.
Perfect place for a lunch break at the Star Gazing Centre across from Ompah Community Centre. (It being the middle of the day, we didn’t see any – A).
Spent some time there, started the generator on to warm our lunch, read, walked and each of us had a short nap after lunch.
The next really attractive village we’d drive through has an interesting history around its name. I didn’t know this at the time. It is in prime cottage country and surrounded by pretty lakes. Plevna. Slavka, if you read this, what is the first thing that comes to mind? I told Alex that this sounds Bulgarian. It is close to plevnya = hayloft (the space above a barn where hay is stored). Now writing this I consulted with Mr. Google. The story is that the Post Office Department didn’t like the original name, Buckshot, and gave an ultimatum to the residents to rename it or it would be renamed for them. After some debate over the name, one of the residents mentioned that it remined him of a situation that was ongoing in Plevna, Bulgaria. This was in 1877. Pleven is a big and very pretty city in Bulgaria. It apparently is known internationally for the Siege of Plevna in that year, during the Russo-Turkish war. And so, the new name was found. But I can’t stop thinking that the above-mentioned resident had some connection or other with Bulgaria. 1877 – the internet is over a century away, and the news would not have spread that fast from England, let alone some unknown Balkan country that many will struggle to find on the map even today.
From Plevna we drove north through Denbigh and zigged again south to McArthurs Mills at Hardwood Lake. It was getting dark and Alex sped through the civilization. Bancroft, then through Tory Hill and Kinmount to Bobcaygeon. From here the roads became really busy. Lindsay, Uxbridge and finally home.
Excluding the busy cottage country near the GTA, we’ll be revisiting many of the little communities mentioned above and then some. They all have so much to offer: great hiking trails, lakes, museums, perhaps a little pub or pizzeria and beautiful scenery. It’s just great to visit new places in our own backyard while travel further afield is limited.
It was great to see you. Come back soon!
If the weather holds like this it may be soon. Otherwise see you in the spring.