Day 1 at Sherkston Shores

Here a sunset photo from last night. It was quite pretty.


Often by the time I sit down to write the journal I've forgotten what's happened during the day. Usually it's not much that's interesting but yesterday I forgot that just as we were leaving our site at Double M RV Park in Lindsay we heard a chirp chirp in the cedar trees beside us. I looked up and there was a beautiful red cardinal. Now, when my Mom was alive she had all kinds of cardinal stuff that she had bought or people had given her so we say that when my Mom passed away in 2002 she came back as a cardinal and she was there to say good-bye to us and wish us well on the next leg of our journey. I think it's a nice thought.

It was much warmer this morning at 11C (52F) but it was windy so I bundled up as I knew it would be cool down by Lake Erie. There is a shortcut pathway that we took last year to get to the water but when I got to the top of the hill there was all kinds of brush across the path. Not to worry, I attempted to go around it but instead fell around it coming down on my right knee on the ground and on my right arm. I got a little muddy but got around the brush. I guess next time I'll take the road.

My first sight of the lake this morning

Lake and beach photos


Park models on the bluff overlooking Lake Erie

Anyway I got down to the lake and walked on the sand for a bit, did my exercises down there. The area by the lake has all kinds of park models on the bluff above but they have right of ways every so often so that you can get down to the beach. It's so nice having something different to see and different places to walk. Even though we've been here before it was only once so I don't know the place that well. Guess I'll get to know it over the next week.

I also got the bed changed and the laundry ready to go to the laundromat. There is one here at the park in the little mall. I didn't like it much last year but it's convenient so decided to try it again. There are some laundromats (and believe me I've seen a lot) that think of their customers, others are just there to collect their money or provide a 'service' for the people who use it.

Take for example the one in Carleton Place, always clean, three couches to sit on while waiting, all sorts of magazines to read, preventive maintenance being done. This one is probably the best laundromat outside of a campground. The worst one as I recall was in Rockport, TX. We were staying at Goose Island State Park so had to go into town for laundry. There was a bum sleeping on one of the folding tables. A lot of the machine tops had rusted off. All the chairs (plastic lawn chairs) were broken and dirty. Not a pleasant experience at all.

The one here at Sherkston was terrible, dark, floors needed painting, no washroom and no place to sit. So I set out to find another one that I had seen last year. I couldn't find it on the internet but had a good idea where it was. This pretty little laundromat is in the town of Ridgeway and is called 'The Laundry Basket'. It is filled with green and flowering plants, clean machines, huge tables for folding with a place built into the tables for hanging clothes, benches for sitting and lots of reading material and a clean washroom.

Once the laundry was over with and put away, I set out for a long walk around the park. This is a HUGE park, most of it being park models. There is the odd RV tucked away. I walked in an area that I hadn't seen before today. I started out by walking around the end of the quarry and took a photo across the quarry from the RV park then I walked toward the lake. There were all kinds of people down at the lake kite surfing. I watched them for a while and looked down when I felt something watching me. It was a yellow lab and he had dropped a tennis ball at my feet. So I threw the ball for the dogs, there were 2 yellow labs and a german shepherd. The yellow lab kept bringing it back and dropping it at my feet. When I got back I was tired so lay down to read a bit and have a nap.

Park models



Looking across the quarry at the RV park

The quarry beach

Kite surfing


Two of my beach buddies


RV park photos






When I got up Gordon had gone out with his camera as well so I expect if there is a sunset, he'll have some photos.

It's been mostly cloudy here today but very, very windy. It did get to about 16C (60F) and the wind was quite warm so it was enjoyable being out and about today.

The Second Leg

We left Double M Campground & RV Park at Lindsay this morning at about 10:45 a.m. under bright sunny skies and 10C (50F) for the second leg of our journey south. Since it was as low as -3C (27F) overnight we didn’t rush to get away as everything was cold and we don’t like to travel until it has warmed up to above freezing.

We arrived at Toronto, On around the noon hour and considering it was Sunday, traffic was fairly heavy. We were just happy that we had chosen to come through Toronto on a Sunday instead of a weekday. We didn’t stop at all since most of our travel was through city and there really was nowhere to pull off.

Here are some photos that I took along the way.

Along the way



We're gettin' there!



Commuter train that goes into Toronto from the east encompassing Oshawa, Pickering, Whitby, Ajax etc.



There are signs all along the 401 through Toronto telling you what's happening ahead

Lots of traffic



Steel Mills at Hamilton


It was a good trip considering and we arrived at Sherkston Shores at about 2 p.m. and got checked in. We have a nice site with a view out our back window of the quarry (as seen below). That is as long as someone doesn’t come in and park in the site behind us. We could have taken a back-in site and been right on the quarry but pull thrus are so much easier! Our site is paved with a concrete pad for the picnic table, level and long and we have 50 amp service so we’re happy campers, all for $129 plus tax for the week. This is a really nice jumping off point for us to leave from next Sunday. It’s about 20 minutes into Fort Erie and then across the bridge to Buffalo then west on I-90 and we’re away.

Our site


View from our back window


Gordon had a problem getting the internet satellite set up this time. He couldn’t get the five lights to come up on the modem but all the numbers were good. This is the first time we’ve had a problem for a long, long time. He was on the phone with tech support but couldn’t identify the problem so we were working off campground wifi when all of a sudden he realized that he had the wrong latitude put in. As soon as that was corrected, we had 5 lights and were away!

When we arrived I had a terrible case of heartburn. Rolaids and tums didn't help so I took a shot of apple cider vinegar. Hopefully that will work!

That’s it for today!

Ready to Leave!

This morning was cold -.5C (31F)! Luckily there was no wind so I put on lots of layers and away I went.

The rest of the morning was spent surfing and reading some magazines that Betty had given me and still tried to get into the book that I was reading yesterday.

More of the same after lunch. Gordon fixed the sewer hose that had come apart when we left Lindsay earlier this summer. I started watching 'Honeymoon in Vegas' with Nicolas Cage and James Caan. It was ok.

I downloaded some photos from Gordon's son's photobucket of the grandchildren and I'm using Gordon's Photo of the Day for my photo.

Lilly, Caden and Iris

Iris

I'm ready to get going!

Ken Reid Conservation Area

I had to bundle up for my walk this morning. There was still frost on the grass when I went outside at nearly 8:30 a.m.

After breakfast I got a little housework done, then Gordon and I went in to town. Gordon had to get some plugs and screws to fix the valance that is coming down behind our recliners so our first stop was Canadian Tire. We also stopped at Food Basics to get some bananas and while there saw toilet paper on sale. We have tried Cashmere toilet paper and it seems to work well with our sewer system so if you're in Canada, it's a good product.

From there we stopped at a campground that we had stayed at our first year in Lindsay. It's called Alpine but we were told that they are now closed to transients. Betty and Garth liked us to stay there as they could pick us up in the boat without going through the locks however our preference is where we're staying.

On to the Ken Reid Conservation area where we hiked on a few trails. There were lots and lots of these little red dragonflies out today. It was still a bit chilly but the sun was bright and we had a good time. Here are some photos of our walk today.








When we came back I lay down to try to get into a book that Betty gave me called Doors Open by Ian Rankin. So far it's not doing it so of course, I fell asleep.

Gordon got the valance rehung behind our recliners this afternoon so it should stay put for at least another four years.

Our high today was only about 11C (52F) and there was a chilly wind. A prelude to winter!

A Generally Boring Day

There's not much going on here today. After my morning rituals, I went in to town. I needed to get our travel medical insurance. I decided to go with deductibles to make it less expensive. Hopefully this year we won't have to use it at all.

The laundry here at the campground is closed so I went to check out a laundromat in town. There's one I usually go to but it doesn't have a washroom but has good parking for a 1 ton truck. There are two others, one right downtown which isn't good and one on the west end which doesn't have very good parking for a vehicle the size of ours so I'll either wait till we get to Sherkston Shores or go to the one without the washroom. Darned inconvenient not to have a washroom in a laundromat if you ask me!

I got a few groceries and generally looked around, arriving home shortly after lunch time.

I lay down and read, had a nap. Got up and cut up the strawberries I bought yesterday and made a meatloaf.

I borrowed Gordon's photo of the loon on Sturgeon Lake that he took yesterday as I didn't take any photos today. The good news is Gordon sold three photos today. I don't usually comment when he does but since this is a slow day, thought I'd tell you.

Dinner at the Cottage

It was really foggy this morning when I went for my walk so I took a few photos in the softer light.

This hawk was also flying around.

The fog burned off and the rest of the day was supposed to be sunny and nice but we had a lot more cloud than sun. I went in to town to pick up some groceries.

We were supposed to go to the cottage for lunch tomorrow (Thurs) as Betty and Garth were going out of town to visit someone today however the man they were to visit apparently had a stroke so Betty called this morning to see if we could come for dinner instead. They are planning on returning to Toronto tomorrow. They're closing up the cottage for the season. Bummer!

So after I got back, I had a nap, then we got showered and went to the cottage. Betty, Gordon and I went for a walk around and saw this loon on the water.

This is a very large cat which is owned by one of Betty and Garth's neighbours. His name is Ralph and he weighs 22 lbs. His poor little legs will hardly hold him up.

Here we are after dinner. Gordon is taking the photo.


I took this photo of Betty and Garth for my sidebar.

From Carleton Place, ON to Lindsay, ON

We left Carleton Place around 10:35 this morning and headed west. We were late leaving as we had to go to the library to return my books. Although the library didn't open until 10 a.m. they had the box outside for returns, thank goodness!

The weather was varied on our way west but windy for the whole way. It is Fall here, you know. We had cloud when we left, rain on and off in a couple of places and sun. The temperature when we arrived at Lindsay was 17C (63F).

Here are a couple of photos of the fall colours that I took along the way.




And here's our site.


Daphne (owner of Double M RV Park) had mentioned a couple of sites for us but when we arrived there was someone in both spots so we're in the spot that we had for two years when we came for the summer. This year she leased it out as seasonal but the people are gone so that's where we are. We used to be able to come in through the back making it sort of a pull thru but there is someone behind us so Gordon had to back in. Not an easy task since there's a hedge that runs along the road. However, we're here and we're set up. We had just arrived when my sister drove in. She didn't stay long since we were still setting up. She thought we would have been here earlier.

Glad we're here, sure am tired though!

Happy Thanksgiving Day Canada!

It was quite warm this morning but cloudy and remained cloudy all morning although the sun
did try to come out a bit. The temperature got up to 23C (74F) today. I went for my walk, did my exercises, had my breakfast, cleaned the bathroom, had a shower and surfed the 'net this morning.

Around noon I went into Carleton Place again to see if I could return my books to the library. they're supposed to be open Monday to Friday from 9-2:30 for book returns but I guess that doesn't apply to Thanksgiving Day. We'll have to take them back tomorrow morning before we leave. Up here everything is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Gordon called me on my cell after I had left to ask me to stop and pick up some plugs to hang the valance around the rear window as the screws are stripped. I told him that nothing is open today so it will have to wait until we're in Lindsay. It seems strange to see big parking lots with no cars in them.

When I got home I decided not to do much today so settled down to a book that I have in my stash. I don't have very many left so sure hope that RV parks we stay this winter have libraries!

Since we've had Thanksgiving type food for three days, I decided to dispense with the Thanksgiving dinner tonight and just have regular food although we did have chicken since Gordon cooked four breasts last night. That should last us for a day or two. I find chicken breasts are so big these days that I can't eat a whole one anymore. After all, I am supposed to be eating smaller meals due to my reflux disease. I just can't seem get my brain around doing that.

I went for a walk around the campground this afternoon to get some photos. You can see from the photo above that our neighbour on the left is gone. They left today. The fifth wheel on our right just came in a couple of days ago but they will be seasonal. They already have a little shed put up.

These geese were flying overhead and making a lot of noise when I was down by the river. Most of the leaves are now gone from the trees across the river.




Today is our last day here at Tranquil Acres, tomorrow we're moving on!

Getting out to Enjoy the Day!

Today was just an absolutely gorgeous Fall day, sunny and warm with a high of 23C (74F).

I didn't do much this morning except finish the book that I started yesterday. My books have to be returned to the library before we leave. We tried to do that on our outing this afternoon but apparently they only have certain hours to drop off books when the library isn't open. Hmmm, never seen that before.

We hadn't been to Pakenham yet this year so on our way we stopped at Almonte and found this view of the Falls next to the old mill which is now a condominium. The falls have a lot of water right now as one section has been diverted due to work that they're doing on them.

The white area on the left is the falls.



From there we headed to Pakenham. The area around the old bridge (pictured below) is quite pretty and the bridge is one of a kind as you will see from the photo I took of the sign (shown below).

A twin for Fillmore

More scenery along the Mississippi River at Pakenham



The Catholic Church in Pakenham


On to Arnprior. I thought that I'd like to have a closer look at it in case we decide to spend some time at Grainger's RV & Tent Park next summer. I thought they had a Walmart but it's the next town west so it would be shorter to come to Carleton Place. There's not a lot in Arnprior.

We got home just in time to get dinner ready and get my blog done before dinner.