A sunny and cool start accompanied me on a 5km walk about the town of Exeter today. The Victoria Day weekend over, the town returns to its normal routines and the streets are quiet as I walk while enjoying the flowerbeds so carefully prepared in the recents days.
We also spent some time planting tomatoes and hosta’s with Barb’s mom to help kick off the growing season.
Tomorrow we leave Ontario and cross into the US heading South in the direction of Indianapolis. Stay tuned!
A cool morning greeted us today, so cool that the furnace was fired up in the campervan. My early morning walk was enjoyable as it was sunny, but the wind off of Lake Huron reminded us that it was till May and to not forget that the weather in these parts can be fickle.
The morning flittered by and before long it was time for more farewells as we prepared to hit the road once again. Kath & Al, thanks for having us, your warmth and generous hospitality were once again very much welcomed and enjoyed. All the best.
The drive to Exeter is only about 40 minutes and it hardly felt like we had begun when, we had arrived! The next two nights will be spent camping in the laneway at Barb’s parents home. We’d spend the first evening catching up on family happenings with the help of Barb’s Aunt Pauline who stopped by and joined us for dinner.
All for today. Life in the van is going well and we’re becoming accustomed living within the smaller space….. stay tuned.
Oh, apologies for those looking for photos of our travels… I will be adding some as we get a few more so check back on earlier posts as I catch up on this task.
After enjoying a wonderful breakfast prepared by our hosts, Barb took a walk through the campground to the beach on Lake Huron.
After a relaxing day (it was a little chilly) burgers and salads were enjoyed for dinner. Thanks Al & Kath.
Today would be a short drive across the arable farmlands of Southern Ontario.
After finally attaching the skid wheel to the trailer hitch of the campervan, we were ready to set off at about Noon. Mother nature had other ideas. Looking at the sky the thunder storm watch had turned to a warning and the clouds had been building quickly. The colours of the clouds told us that we should sit and wait for an hour or so before heading out. This was clearly the right call, as moments later the winds came up whipping trees about and the rain was driving sideways at a good 60km/h or more.
Lunch completed and our farewells said, we were off towards Tavistock, Stratford & then onto Goderich. Our decision to wait out the storm took only a few minutes to be proven as a good one. We passed many large tree branches that had been snapped from Maple trees lining the roads and blown into fields on the other side of the highway. Some were 6″ of so in diameter & would have severely damaged any vehicles should they have been in the way. Entire trees were uprooted neared Tavistock; however, as we drove on the dame soon subsided and we head left the path of the storm. (We would find out later in the weekend from news reports that the same storm had reeked havoc in and around Ottawa. Our thoughts are with those that were injured or have suffered property damage.)
In Goderich we were staying with Barb’s sister for a couple of nights and this first evening they took us into Goderich and to “The Old Saltie” Fish & Chip shack down near the harbour. It only sells fish & chips and only as takeout. Barb & I agreed that the food was fantastic!
After a short drive around town to see some long forgotten sites, we arrived back at the campervan to settle in for the night.
9:15am and we’re pulling out of our laneway on the first leg of the trip. Destination today is Woodstock, ON to visit my brother and family. After a quick stop in Kemptville to fill up with gas ($2.046/l) we’re off down Hwy 416.
The van is driving very well on Hwy 401 and the first several hours pass without incident. Before we know it, we’re coming into the GTA where we stop for gas and lunch. Gas price in Ajax is $1.962/l which we think of As a bargain ?!?!
Toronto traffic is heavy as it’s the Friday before the long weekend and folks are heading home and to their cottages. Although slow, we make it through and traffic lightens a little for the remainder of the drive to Woodstock. We arrive at about 3:30pm.
The evening is spent catching up with my brother while enjoying some pizza and drinks. Sleep came close to midnight. The end of an enjoyable first day with hopefully many mor e to come.
