We’ve been in the apartment for over a month and we decided we needed to take a road trip back to Ontario to view the Fall colours and do some visiting.

We left early (5:30 a.m.) Saturday morning September 30^th  and Andy drove us  towards Marathon. We made a stop at the Terry Fox Memorial in TBay, and I took a few pictures.

We arrived at our hotel 11 hours after leaving home and Andy called up one of his friends, and we went with Jerry to the Legion to catch up on the news in Marathon.  The next morning after picking up coffee and a pumpkin spice muffin at Tim Horton’s, which was located next door to the Travelodge, we were on the road again.

Today we were headed to Manitoulin Island, which is the largest lake island in the world, with an area of 2766sq KM, and has over 100 lakes.  He drove as far as Little Current . We went over the  one-lane swing bridge,

which we had waited for in the past on our boat , in order to enter the Little Current harbour.  we checked into the Manitoulin motor inn

It was a relatively new hotel, but its downfall was that for TV stations, it only had Netflix—so no access to current news.  We went out to one of the restaurants- Elliot’s  in town for dinner, and then returned and watch part of a series on National parks, that was narrated by Barrack Obama.

In the morning, Andy went to the Tim Horton, which was located next to our hotel, for coffee and a muffin and then back in the car.  Today we were going to South Baymouth to catch the Chi Chemaun (ojibwe for big canoe) Ferry to Tobermory.  It was a 65 Km drive across the island that was dotted with field of grasses, and several herds of cows.  There were also lovely colours in the trees as they were changing from greens to yellow, orange and reds.

We arrived early and got into line for the ferry.  While we waited to load, we walked around and checked out the trading post as well as the nearby marina  I bought some hawberry jelly, which is a native berry to the island. 

Once onto the boat we left the car and we explored the boat, and then had lunch in the cafeteria.  We went outside and I took a few pictures,  it was very windy, and there were about 2.5 foot waves.

For a good portion of the  43 KM ride, there was no land to be seen. Approaching  the Bruce peninsula, the Cove Island lighthouse came into view, marking a treacherous narrow passage between Georgian bay and lake huron. This lighthouse is located on the northeast tip of the island in the Fathom Five National Marine park, and was built in 1858. 

Once we reached Tobermory, we exited the ferry and drove towards Owen sound, stopping in Wiarton to check out the marina, and look for Wiarton Willie, the famous weather predicting ground hog  and  then we stopped again at  the Georgian Shores marina in Owen sound. Once we got to Mike and Franziska’s we had drinks and visited in their backyard.  In the evening, we went to a restaurant near the east harbor, that was originally a Canadian Pacific train  station.  Mudtown Station,  with the mud  referring to the neighborhood streets that were , covered with thick mud during the spring melt.  The meal and drinks were very good.  We returned to the Edney’s for dessert and more visiting.  After breakfast in the morning,

we were back in the car and on the road again.  We were travelling 2.5 hours, so that we could have lunch and a visit with my uncle in Strathroy. We went through the countryside, where there were many corn and soybean fields, and trees of all colours. 

We met Wayne at his place and then  we followed him to Roy’s restaurant. 

After lunch, back in the car and we were off to Hamilton to check into our hotel.  We had plans to meet David, the electrical engineer  for dinner at Chuck’s. to talk about upgrades.  Before we were finished eating, Andy’s niece Caitlyn and her partner Chris, stopped in at the restaurant for a visit and beers.  We had a good visit with the two of them, and learned a little about Cait’s post doc research, and Chris’s  PhD research.  Great visit! Seems like a pattern is developing on this trip—travelling in the car, eating and drinking. In the morning we met up with Tom and Peggy Dunmore, boating friends, 

who live in Hamilton, for coffee and a 2 hour visit.  Then back in the car, and off to Oshawa.   Our route took us across the Burlington bridge,  then along 403 and 401, very busy traffic with many lanes, however we were lucky that it was mid-day, and we had very few slowdowns.    We arrived in Oshawa, around 3:00, at Rick and Linda Wigmore’s, who again were boating friends that we met on the Trent Severn. Linda had already started decorating for Halloween, and we found this couple on their front step.

  Andy also found a partner, with more limb issues, than he has.  Don’t they make a fetching couple!! It was a lovely afternoon, and we spent an hour visiting in the back yard.  Andy and Rick  moved indoors to watch the Blue Jay’s  playoff game on TV, while Linda showed me some of her quilting projects. 

She let me sew a few squares together—maybe this is something I could do.  After supper, we sat out on their back deck—their house backs onto Camp Samac, so no neighbors behind them—it was so quiet and relaxing.  In the morning, after breakfast,

it was back in the car, our first stop was Campbellford, as Andy wanted to buy some more pea-meal bacon to take home.  Then it was off to Buckhorn, to check on the boat.  We found it on the hard, in the back boat yard.  We were told that the Lithium batteries, were dead or asleep—so Andy called Karl in Ottawa, to find out what needed to be done.  The batteries were boosted, and then they again started absorbing power from the solar panels.  While at the boat, we dropped off a few things we had brought from Winnipeg, as well as picked up a couple things that we had forgotten to take when we left in early August.  The surveyors report that had been done a few weeks earlier was not available as yet, so Andy got the name of the surveyor, in order to track it down, as we need a new survey before we can renew our boat insurance.   We left around 3:00, and then it was on to Bancroft to stay with Brian and Helen for the night.  We  visited, for a while, and  went out for dinner at Dave’s Place.  We returned from the restaurant and had dessert- apple crisp with Kawartha ice cream.  Yum! 

In the morning , after breakfast, Andy and I went over to Brian Hayton’s place, to check in on him. He had his left knee replaced on Wednesday- so was recuperating, and being looked after by his daughter. 

We stayed for about an hour, and then back on the road.  We stopped at the Kawartha store—Andy wanted some dried sausage, however I opted for coconut ice cream in a dish.

  Then back in the car, and we headed for Sudbury via North Bay.  We filled up the car at one of the first nations gas stations, and continued on to our hotel in Sudbury. The hotel was located next to a Perkin’s restaurant, so that was our choice for supper.  In the morning we were at my  father’s  85 year old cousin Betty’s place for breakfast.  Andy cooked bacon and eggs, while Betty and I talked and visited

  At 10:00. We left and headed west, stopping in the Sault for gas, and then continuing on to Terrace Bay.  Arriving after 7:00 p.m. at the Red Dog Inn. 

We had picked up KFC for supper.  The plan on Sunday was to go as far as Fort Frances, and spend Thanksgiving with Dave and Elaine.  In the morning, after scaping the ice off the windshield, we reconsidered, and opted to drive 9 hours to get home to our own bed. Also there could be delays on Monday, because of holiday traffic and construction. 

The ice on the windshield reminded me of a billboard I had seen earlier on our trip, near Haliburton, Enjoy the changing colours, as the next one will be white. Along the way I took more pictures of leaves and the , trees and rock, as we travelled along by car.

We stopped near Nipigon for more cheap fuel at Lake Helen, and topped up in Dryden. Near to home, we passed the centre of Canada,

and the landscape had changed from bush and rocks to flat fields.  We arrived home shortly after 4:00. 

We  were gone 9 days and Andy drove over 4700 Km on our fall excursion, and I’m sure we both gained some weight with all the sitting, drinking and eating we did. No other travel plans in our immediate future! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!