Friday, March 27, 2020

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 
 

18 comments:

  1. Welcome home..we're not too far from you just north of Belleville. We have a week to go in our isolation. Wonderful neighbours keeping us supplied with anything we need. We made a dash for home early too. Left Florida on the 16th got home on the 19th. Back in our sticks and brick home...thank goodness. Take care.

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    1. Thanks Ruth. It's always nice to get home to Ontario no matter the reason. Glad you folks are safe and sound back home. Stay healthy.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  2. I am so glad you both got home safely. Your days were so long, I usually drive only 200 miles a day with my trailer and many days that seems like too much so I know how tired you must have been. I so enjoy reading your blog and appreciate you publishing it. You all stay safe and I will look forward to your postings next winter!

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    1. Thanks Gail. I hope you are enjoying your early spring days. I enjoy the drives around 200-250 miles per day, they seem quite simple and relaxing without stress or strain for the most part. However some days we do what we must do and now Riley and I can relax, rest and get ready for our last bit of travel to our summer location. We hope to move on before the end of April. I'll try to post once a week during the summer but I can't promise.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  3. You are so tough....my hero. The fourteen days will give you plenty of time to rest. That bridge is beautiful. Take care!

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    1. You are too kind Miss Elva. We simply do what we have to do and move forward. Hope all is well with you and Jerry. Thanks for the texts during our journey. We look forward to visiting with you fine folks over the next trip to the southwest.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  4. Glad you are home where you want to be safe and sound. No more tow trucks, no more finding places to overnight, just peace and quiet!! Enjoy it to the fullest.

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    1. Thanks Lorne. Hope you and Sue are doing well and staying healthy.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  5. So glad you and Riley are now in Ontario and hopefully it will not be to long before you can get to your summer spot.Sorry to read about your problems with both the Igloo and the Dogsled. Gotta love the auto club, but at least the people who came to help helped and got you back on the road. Recognized several of the pictures. Highway 60 in New Mexico and the one as you come into Detroit on I-75 you go right and we go left there heading towards our kids to name a few. Long days for sure. Take care and stay healthy. Hugs

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    1. Thanks Deb. We hope you and Tom are doing well and the Stinger B is once again mobile. (I haven't caught up on my reading yet). We hope to be in our summer spot before May 1 but we shall see how things go. Stay safe, healthy and mobile.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  6. Home at last and waiting out the isolation period. Interesting the Dino suit. Hope he/she was just getting off the sign waving job advertising tax help. Hopefully it warms and dries up soon.

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    1. We are kind of home, not in our summer location which will be about a month away. We are looking forward to warmer weather and sunny days. Nothing says spring like green hues off in the distance in all of those trees.
      I think the suit was a form of 'self isolation' to keep a social distance thing happening. Just a guess though.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  7. Glad to read it was only an Injector and Spring. There are worse case scenarios that we've experienced.
    It will take time to recover after long driving days like that.
    Be Safe and Enjoy your Self Isolation.

    It's about time.

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    1. Thanks Rick. You are correct, it could have been much worse but one's mind doesn't shut down until after the fact and the 'what if's' are stressful.
      We've been back in Ontario for 4 full days and I'm recovered to the point that I'm able to do a bit of cleaning here around the farmhouse. So I guess I consider myself recovered now.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  8. A long haul but you have both now safely returned to Canada. Always a great feeling to get back across that border. Onward and upward for the summer months. Where everybody will be next winter is anybody's guess now with all the turmoil and changes going on. All the best to you two:))

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    1. Thanks Al. It's always nice to be back in Ontario and I appreciate you folks having most of the snow down here in the southwest and south central areas of Ontario cleared away for us returning travellers. Very nice of you folks.
      Time will tell and we shall all wait and see what's going to happen.
      Stay healthy!!

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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  9. Welcome home! Those were some long days and I bet you are happy to be done traveling for a while and you can just settle in and relax!

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    1. Thanks. Yeah, it's nice to be back in Ontario and we are happy to sit here at Buttercup Ridge for a while but are looking forward to getting more northerly in a month or so to our summer spot. We are pretty much recovered from the drive and looking forward to a summer season of good clean air, nice weather and some family visits.

      Take care, be safe,
      Deb

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