A more detailed catch up of our trip back to Canada...

Our Location: Buttercup Ridge, Roseneath, Ontario, Canada

 

 

Some coolish days here at the farm, some rain yesterday as well and the forecast looks the same for many days ahead. Cloudy, cool to very cool days, with overnight lows dipping to or just under the freezing mark, winds and the possibility of snow, rain or a mix of the two. Blah type days. Even with the calendar saying it's spring, different parts of Ontario receives different weather and this is typical pre spring weather. It's one of the reasons we try to stay away at this time of the year. 

 

 States crossed on our way home include Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Indiana,

 

Ohio, Michigan and finally crossing into Canada we entered the province of Ontario. Our home province. 

Riley and I have spent the last couple of days just trying to recoup from the long stressful drive home. We normally drive between 200-250 miles per day when we travel and will string together a few travel days in a row before stopping to rest. However this year's journey has been filled some very long days, on the way west and on the way east as well. The threat of cold weather, ice, snow and heavy rains moved us along through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and into California in November on our journey west. Our longest day was just over 500 miles/800 km in one day heading west. Coming home we managed 600 miles/965 km in one day. I do not wish to do this kind of driving again.

 While in Wapakoneta, OHIO on the way home we encountered Dino at the grocery store, stocking up. 

We have posted photos of this tower before but it's always a wonder to see.

We had a layover day in the area of Richmond, Indiana where a broken spring on the Igloo and a check engine light on the Dogsled caused us some stressful hours. Pardo Towing from Richmond, IN actually came to the New Paris, Ohio rest area and changed the spring on the Igloo right in the parking area. Wonderful fella's, very helpful and knowledgeable. Guy Reid Towing, from New Paris, OHIO came to load the Dogsled and take us to Wetzels Chevy Dealership in Richmond, IN where the cause of our trouble was an injector that had been on recall for which I never received a notice. This caused the REGEN to come on and not shut off. At the dealership around noon and out the door at closing time of 5 pm, we were back at the rest area, hooking up peppy Dogsled and newly fixed Igloo for a second night just 3 miles inside the Ohio state line. 

Signs of spring along the way home.

 

To add to the stress of breakdown is the joy of dealing with the auto club. It took over an hour and a half for them to actually locate me before they could send Guy Reid Towing to haul the Dogsled. I called Pardo Towing to tow the Igloo on my own and as it turned out, they didn't tow the Igloo as I mentioned above. I was switched from USA to Ontario, Canada, back to USA to various different areas in the USA, was put on hold until the machine cut off and I had to start over, told I would have to pay for overage charges because apparently the Wetzels Chevy Dealership was over 200 miles away, when in fact it was less than 15 miles. Anyway, you get the idea.

An Oklahoma rest area. 

Grass is greening up in Oklahoma. 

We of course had to stock up on groceries on our way home and managed to find see some interesting things along the way. Including the person dressed in the dinosaur suit in the photos above. Fear breeds panic and I think the many empty shelves are an indication of the fear that is claiming the people of many nations. I think it's a very sad state of affairs when we horde food and essentials with the intent to resell and make money because of this fear and panic.

 The Arch in St.Louis, MO. We once again passed this city known as the Gateway to the West under cloudy skies with a light rain falling on a Sunday morning. 

 The mighty Mississippi River which divides the east and west.

Riley and I debated taking this route once again as we didn't really enjoy it the last time, but thought it best under the circumstance. We won't be taking it again. We dislike it for a number of reasons and in the future will be travelling the extra distance to reach I-75 for our homeward treks. 

 Our last morning in the USA for this end of winter, spring return. 

 

 Small town USA with pretty empty streets and few folks moving around. 

Our trip homeward found us seeing a few dozen Canadian plates each day on the roads heading in the direction of Canada. Some were repeats and we leap frogged over each other but not all were repeats. We certainly weren't alone and noted that the majority of the vehicles were single cars/suv's and not rigs. We found that to be interesting. The comments from the friendly folks in the USA were usually the same about 'how will you cross the border, it's essential travel only?' To this my reply was pretty much always the same,' Canada will always take her own people home.' Of course I explained that comment in this way,' when we go home, in our case we cross over the St. Clair River and the bridge is basically no man's land, once we cross over we are at Canadian Customs, if they send us back we have to pass through US Customs who will NOT let us into your country due to the virus, so if Canada doesn't accept us we would be left on the bridge for how ever long this takes. Since we are Canadian, we have valid passports and identification, we must be accepted. Our travel is essential, we are returning home.' At this point they usually smile and say,'Ah, I never thought of the bridge thing.'

 I-75 North in Detroit, MI heading toward the Ambassador Bridge, which you can see ahead and on the right. Tuesday, March 24, 2020 around 2 pm in the afternoon.

  

Crossing through customs was a breeze, no more difficult than our usual entry into Canada. The questions were different and a single page of self isolation instructions were given but truly it was about 30 seconds longer than our usual question period when crossing back home after winter travels. We were asked only ONE common question, how long away, the other questions were illness related and they wondered if we left the USA at any point. The answer to that question was no, as we hadn't entered Mexico at any time.  Usually we are asked the value of goods, any alcohol, firearms, tobacco, marijuana products but they didn't ask a single one of these questions this time. Instead they asked if we had a fever, cough, runny nose or signs of illness, told us we must self isolate for 14 days and sent us on our way. 

We are home in Ontario, Canada on Tuesday, March 24, between 2-3 pm in the afternoon. 

 

Toronto skyline as we pass through the city on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 around 11 am. Still busy by some standards but empty by Toronto standards. 

 

 We always enjoy seeing this pig, it means we are close to the end of our journey for a while. Buttercup Ridge is less than 30 minutes away from this spot.

Back in Ontario we witnessed no signs of spring, not even a hint as we kept going more east and a bit northerly. Dark skies seems to be the norm in the spring time in this area, with a few glimpses of the sun every once in a while to remind us there are better days ahead, or is it a tease only?

 

We aren't going much farther than this and soon we will see the pig in the above photo.  

 Still signs of winter left here, hanging around and making us all wish for warmer days soon.

We are within 10 minutes of Buttercup Ridge now. 

We are currently on day 4 of our self isolation, almost half way through. We have settled into our current spot and will adjust the Igloo as the ground thaws and mud becomes a way of life here on the farm for a while. Spring will show up in the next few weeks, we have no doubt. In a few days I'll venture a hike down the driveway which is soft, muddy and in terrible shape due to the frost/thaw and and take some photos for your viewing pleasure. 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are all safe, healthy, and warm where ever you may be. 

Until next time...take care, be safe, 

Deb