We have left our summer spot…

 

Our Location:

Brantford, Ontario 

I wanted to use my last few fall pics and thought this was a good time to do that.

The ferns are pretty with their
curly leaves, like ringlets.

Porcupines have been feasting.

There is something fascinating about
thistle down.

The last few days were hectic at home, but we managed to get almost everything finished, the rest can be accomplished by phone. It seemed very odd and melancholy in a way to leave the Igloo behind as we drove down the hill for the last time this season. We were also a little sad as we looked back at the Dogsled parked out of the way for the winter but close to dad’s. Goodbyes were said over a couple of days, all of them something I dread but if we want to go that is part of the process.

I love this picture.

Woodpeckers and ants, the tree
never had a chance.

Nor did this one.

A last little bit of colour
before the wind and rain took most of them.

Thursday morning had us very busy, we finally pulled out of Rick’s driveway about 11:30 am heading to Sudbury. We arrived at our motel at about 2:00 pm, said a quick goodbye, first leg of the journey complete. Thanks Rick!

View out the train window.

I brightened the train pics
due to dark tint on the windows.

I enjoyed the views after it became daylight.

It was overcast for most
of the trip.

An overnight stay, early morning taxi ride, 4:15 am, to the Sudbury Junction Train Station for a 4:50 am departure but the train was late. Finally at about 6:20 am we were boarded and on our way. Uneventful, relaxing and scenic, we arrived downtown Toronto at Union Station ahead of the 2:30 pm schedule, climbing off at about 1 pm. Finding our way to the Union Station Bus Terminal easily, we climbed aboard at 3:00 pm, arrived in Brantford about 5:15 pm where we were met by Bradey and the boys.

Riley’s first train ride.

Lots of this kind of scenery.

I love the old pole!

The reflection is fabulous.

We are here at Bradey and David’s until Monday morning, we will then return to Toronto and visit with Courtney for a couple of days. Wednesday night we move to a hotel near the airport to fly out Thursday. We are as ready as we can be to start this new adventure in Mexico.

I do not miss driving in Toronto.

The CN Tower.

All of my unused photos are posted, or at least most of them. I hope enjoyed the last few. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time….(if there is a next blog)

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

We have begun....

Our Location: Brantford, Ontario

It’s been a busy few days since my last post. We pulled out of our summer spot on Saturday morning around 8 AM, taking our time down the long lane way and out the gates to begin our journey. A few stops including Dad’s for a quick coffee and goodbye, and another to say goodbye to sister Jan, having said our goodbyes to Rick & Barb the night before. From there we headed out. The warm weather, along with the brilliant sunshine and only a slight breeze kept us company all the way to Hamilton, Ontario. A few stops of course but we travelled well and were happy to make such a good distance in one day, especially a first day after sitting for a number of months. 

 

 

Strolling over the farm.

Someone else owns over past that gate.

 

We parked in the lot at Eastgate Square and were given the okay to stay for up to 72 hours. (Of course it depends on which security guard you speak to at any given time). We had a number of errands to accomplish and I can tell you that we did indeed manage to get them all accomplished. A trip to our storage facility to store and retrieve a few items, a trip to Indigo for Riley to purchase a Kobo, a stop at the bank to exchange some money for our winter travels and of course our final stop of the Bell store. We have been looking at various options for our travels with data always the question mark. I’m sure you all have the same issue and I’m also sure you’ve figured out what works for you. We have opted to try Bell only because it offers better coverage and available data all on the same bill. We liked our former plan with Freedom which included phone service in Canada as well as the USA but the coverage wasn’t always great and we found numerous areas with no coverage. We have now settled on a plan with Bell that allows us unlimited text and calling between Canada and the USA, 20 GB of data EACH and all for the wonderful price of $110 plus tax per month for each phone, so around $220 plus tax per month. We brought our old phones and numbers with us. No slow downs on the data, always high speed but if we go over there are significant overage charges. So that will be 40 GB between the two of us, I’m pretty certain we will be well able to stay within those lines. It took two trips to the Bell store to get it all straightened out but we finally managed.

The Sugar Shack where Rick & Dad make maple syprup.

Some still green ferns off in the bush.

A few calls had me finding us an appointment for the Igloo on Thursday afternoon at Pyette Springs for an assessment on the woes regarding the wear on the rear axle tires. I think we may have it narrowed down this time. A call from the Rheumatologist office had them slipping my appointment from Thursday morning to Friday morning. I’m not happy with that as we were planning on taking off first thing Friday but I guess one day won’t be too much of a delay.  I visit twice a year, answer the same few questions and leave with a new script and a new blood req form. He doesn’t do video conference and so I must journey twice a year to the office which is making me rethink keeping a doctor so far away. 

 

Rick's winter wood for next year.

Dad's winter wood for next year.

 

Due to the rain and high winds on Sunday we stayed in Hamilton and of course we had to make a second trip to the Bell store on Monday anyway. From there we pulled out heading toward Brantford. Our stay here is filled with family visits including meeting the newest addition to our family, baby Auston. Middle daughter Bradey and her partner David’s new bundle of joy. Auston was born on Sept 12 but this is our first chance to visit. He is truly a bundle of joy, gas and spit ups. There is nothing quite like a baby!!

 

Auston!! He's a cutie.

 

On our way back to the Igloo we found a spot to have the Dogsled receive a few new parts such as fuel filter and air filter, along with an oil change. These go nicely with the four new tires he got over the summer. I could have had my brother do this stuff as he gives the Dogsled the once over before we leave but didn’t want to ask to much of brother Rick!
 

 

New cradle posts for the farm fence.

Time to replace this one.

 

So there you have it, our catch up post. We will be here until Thursday morning when we will take ourselves the short trip back to the Hamilton area to Pyette’s and we will once again put down feet at Eastgate over night and I will attend to my new appointment on Friday morning in Hamilton but after that we will have the feet up and the Big Dog running along the 401 south bound!!! Until then I will not be posting as we are filling our days with the new baby, and reading.

We won't see this sign post until the spring.

 

Thanks for stopping by, until next time…take care, be safe,


Deb