I'm Still In Ontario - Hahahaha

Sunset at Gibson's Pure Honey

Ok, so there is a reason for that.  Read on to find out why. 

May 15 - Sudbury to Owen Sound

Last night, just before going to bed, I discovered that my hot water tank was not working.  Darn!  I panicked for just a few minutes and then I decided to let it go for the night and wash my face with cold water.  

Of course, I didn't really let it go but I decided this was a learning 

Honey Bee Lane

opportunity.  I had learned something in Souris, SK with my battery cable, I can learn something about my hot water tank.  

Laying in bed, I thought about the steps I would follow the next morning: 

1.  Email Grand Design

2. Find a mobile repair service

3. Read the manual.

Kathy and Me after nine years.

I did all three but I was no further ahead.  The fella in the Grand Design (which was much bigger than mine) in the next campsite popped over to chat.  I told him my problem - that the hot water tank would not heat water by gas or electric.  He said, "Easy."  

I'm thinking easy for you to say.  So he went on to explain a couple things, then we removed the thermal fuse and he asked me to fire it up by gas. It worked!  So now we knew I needed to find a new thermal fuse.  

The challenge was, it is Sunday and all the dealerships in the area were closed.  They were also closed in Sault Ste Marie.  I realized I could not do anything until Monday.  

I left Wawa about 10:00 hrs.  I decided I would drive until I felt like stopping 

Friendly male goat looking for rubs.

and pull in to the next available campground. 

I had a leisurely and peaceful drive.  At this point I am still getting fuel below the $2.00 mark and am snickering a bit at those paying more.  I know that it will catch up because the news keeps telling me that gas is going up everywhere.  

I have a couple of beefs about the Ontario highways.  They do not have many pullouts or rest stops that I have seen the last couple of days and IF there is a pullout 

The sexy stud.

or rest area, it is not marked so I miss it.  It did get a little frustrating.  

I did manage to spot a pullout just big enough for me.  I checked the internet for campgrounds ahead and called.  Neither answered but I had the option to leave a message.  Before I knew it, I was in Sudbury and had not heard from the campgrounds.  I can only assume they were closed.  Not to worry, Sudbury has a Walmart and you are allowed to camp the night in their parking lot. 

"Siri," I said.  Take me to Walmart.  And she did.  To the wrong Walmart.  Not only that but she took me over the bumpiest paved road EVER.  I compare all roads to the unpaved Dempster Highway in

Kunekune Pig looking for attention.

 the Yukon.  My experience in Sudbury makes the Dempster Highway a cake walk.  

I realized I was at the wrong Walmart when I phoned and the lady said to park beside the rock wall.  Hmmmmm I do not see a rock wall.  I asked her if she was at New Sudbury?  She said no.  I GPS'd the other Walmart and half an hour later I had joined seven other campers settled in the the night.  

Morgan meeting the goats.

One couple was from Fanny Bay!  We had a good laugh about that.  They are on a tour of North America for a year.  

I have to admit, it was a very long day for what I thought would be a shorter day than yesterday.  

I exercised Morgan then set out finding RV dealerships on the internet.  I made the choice to head out early in the morning toward Barrie.  I stopped after 0900 when I knew they were all open to make phone calls to determined who had the part.  I also wanted to pick up a spare.  To accomplish that I had to go to two dealerships.  arghhhhhh.  Fraserway RV in Cookstown and Lakeside RV in Owen Sound fortunately had the part and helped me out.  

The drive from Sudbury to Cookstown was rain, rain, and more rain.  

Honey bee hive.

Heading west to Owen Sound it was appearing brighter and I was feeling much better about the day coming to an end.  

With the planning and thought I put into how the day was to go, I arranged to stay at a Harvest Host in Chatsworth, just a few kilometres from Lakeside RV in Owen Sound.  I was so happy to get there and stop driving.  Three long days were wearing on me.  I stayed at Gibson's Pure Honey.

Let me tell you, this was not your everyday pristine farm BUT it was extraordinary in so many ways.  

Morgan watching me weed lavender.

Before I tell you about the farm, I need to mention that I was fortunate enough to catch up to my sailing and boating buddy, Kathy, from my sailing days in Victoria.  She moved to Owen Sound nine years ago.  I did not realize how close I was to her until I arrived at the honey farm.  I asked my hosts if they minded if she came over to visit and they were gracious enough to say yes.  

We had a great three-hour visit over a Moosehead beer.   It was really hard to believe how my journey brought me so close to her.  Thank you, Kathy for the gifts!  They are very much 

Rock hound at Syndenham River.

appreciated and were delicious.  

Now the farm.  Kunekune pigs, alpacas, Guinea hens, blue-faced turkeys, quail, female goats, male goats, regular chickens, lavender, and honey bees.

Derek, Pam and their kids run the farm.  They recycle, up-cycle, re-use, and thrift in every way possible.  It shows and I thought it was amazing.  

Funny story about the stud goat.  He actually pees on his face to be more desirable to the females.  He has an incredible pungent smell about him.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this first hand.  Pam assured me that I saw what I saw.  Hahahaha

Needless to say, I was exhausted when I crawled into my comfortable little Murphy bed for the night.  

May 16 - Owen Sound to Blue Mountain

Inglis Falls on Syndenham River.

So, here is the reason I am still in Ontariariario.  I am meeting up with another friend (who I knew lived here) and she is joining me for the next leg of my trip to Labrador and Newfoundland.  Karen and I have been friends for over 11 years.  She has crewed for me aboard Ta Daa (my 45' sailboat), we  travelled together for a month in Italy a few years ago and three years ago we did Croatia and Morocco.  Needless to say, we travel well together.  She will stay with me and Morgan as long as she can put up with our quirky habits :)

Jumping back to the farm, I got up and took Morgan for a morning walk in the back 40 acres and enjoyed the sun, the birds singing, and being in nature.  I then put Morgan in Minnie Home so I could wonder and take 

All that is left of the Inglis grist and sawmill.

pictures of the animals.  She had been barking at the goats so I felt it best take photos by myself.  After taking photos, I wanted to do something to help Derek and Pam so Pam directed me to the lavender plants.  I weeded until my back said enough.  It felt good plus it gave Morgan time to get acquainted with the goats.  They got along just fine when she had time to take her time and observe them.  

From Gibson's Pure Honey, I purchased lemon honey, ginger honey, garlic honey and cinnamon honey.  It is delicious.  Did you know that real men drink tea with honey?  

Karen had a busy day so I knew I would not see her until later that night.  She suggested I check out Inglis Falls before checking into Craigleith Provincial Park.  

Pizza use to be cheap.

My GPS took me to the administration office.  The first time past, I missed the turnoff and had to turn around in a cemetery.  The local must have wondered what the crazy lady from BC was doing in their tiny neighbourhood.  The streets were dead ends and the cemetery was my only way out of there to go back the the Inglis Falls admin offices.  Luckily there was parking there for the truck and trailer and thank goodness there was a trail to the falls.  In hindsight it was the better place to park because the parking lot at the site of the falls would not have accommodated the truck and trailer.  Thank you, Universe!!!

We enjoyed the hike to the falls.  It was good for me and it was good for 

Trail to Inglis Falls.

Morgan to have a run in the forest.  

My next stop was my home for the next four nights - Craigleith on Georgain Bay which is a part of Lake Huron.  I am just a stone's throw from the lake and just 7 kms from Karen's place.

The plan is to rest, do some trailer and truck maintenance, get provisioned, and get Karen onboard for our adventure.  We also need to research our route because we are doing Expedition 51 which is the route that takes us through Quebec to Labrador City to HappyValley-Goose Bay to the rest of Newfoundland.  I cannot tell you how excited I am to be going on such an adventure and equally happy to share it with my friend.  

After Karen's busy day and my day, we finally got together with much excitement at Minnie Home in the evening.  The best is yet to come!

May 17 to 19 - Craigleith Provincial Park

Craigleith Provincial Park on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.

Let the planning and the preparations begin!  First order of business was my laundry.  I was over at Karen's by 0900 to start my two big loads of laundry.  I had banking to do, business to take care of, touch base with my house sitter, organize for the truck to have all the fluid levels and tire pressure checked.  

Bah!!!!  I forgot to tell you my credit card was declined at the liquor store.  That's impossible I thought.  I know my limit, I was a zero balance when leaving, and I have been keeping track of every penny spent.  I could not imagine what was going on.  The one thing that went through my mind was that someone somehow ready my card and was using it.  That happened to me in Seattle almost 5 years ago.  Could it be happening again?  

To make a long story short, I have two cards, one with a large limit and one 

Another Rock Hound on Georgian Bay.

with a very small limit. Somehow I inadvertently mixed the cards and I was using the small-limit card for my everyday purchases.  It all made sense now so I cleared that up and heaved a sigh of relief that that was all it was.  

Karen made a delicious dinner and then we had a soothing hot tub before I returned to Minnie Home to happily crawl into bed.  I was pooped.  

Today was another busy day.  We made a provision list and also decided that purchasing jerry cans for extra fuel was a good idea.  If we prepare we will not need it but as important, if we come across someone stranded and without fuel we may be able to help. Fuel is scarce on Quebec Highway 389.  

Sunset at Craigleith Provincial Campground.

I also, via FaceTime, took care of some mail at home which led to a small issue that needed taking care of.  Thank goodness for technology. I also updated my Inreach Mini contact list.  It is a great system to stay in touch with my chosen contacts to let them know I am heading off in the morning and when I stop for the night.  They can track me on a map to see where I am.  Beyond Quebec City, I do not know what we will have for cell service so I am glad to have my Inreach. I also used it while travelling to the Yukon knowing that I would be in remote areas.  

It's time to head back to Karen's for dinner and another hot tub before turning in.  

Thanks for following Morgan and me.  Wishing you sunshine to warm your bones, sunshine to lift your spirits, and lots of love.