The St. Lawrence Seaway
- My “Home” at the Pine Crest Resort
Scenery Along the St. Lawrence Seaway
Ontario Farm Scene
Upon entering I was quickly advised that Ontario Province is a helmet law state (“Sorry officer they didn’t say anything at the border when I went through customs“).
Luckily, he let me go with just a warning; probably in the interest of helping to promote tourism and to do his part in helping to US/Canada relations. Even so, he advised me that the tickets were “$160 a POP!” (I shall adhere).
Actually, I started the day with the helmet on, but after riding helmet-less for most of the summer the helmet felt almost unbearable. And so, I abandon it with the intent of slowly re-acclimating to the routine of wearing the helmet (while traveling at least).
The day was rain plagued from early afternoon on-off with conditions which produced a chilly, but still bearable ride. As the rain became more intense, I located (with a little helpful advice) a KOA Campground just east of London and about 130 miles west of Toronto, pitch the tent and was in the sack by about 9:30.
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About 2 in the afternoon and I stopped for a break and a chance to get out a short blog. The”OnRoute”(one of the scores of travel stops that dot Canada’s “interstate” highway system) where I stopped is some 40 miles east of Toronto.
The day had been quite uneventful (perhaps, a good thing) even though the passage through the area known the “Green Belt” was quite engaging. Earlier in the day I was very tempted (when I passed the turn-off for the escarpment area of the Niagara Falls) to turn south, but one has to make choices. You just can’t see it all!
During the stop I made plans to continue on and pass through Kettering (another 120 miles) and proceed to Ottawa in Quebec province. Upon entering Kettering, however, I decided find a campground and discover what Kettering was all about.
Easier said than done! I seems that this is a holiday weekend, July 1st is Canada Day (equivalent to our 4th of July); and as a result the campgrounds are mostly filled.
I stopped at motel and inquired as to where might I might find a campground (having been turned away at the KOA). He gave me directions to two possible locations, and upon further inquiry advised me that “He had one room available for $75. Very reasonable if all else fails – but, I’d better HURRY!
The first of his two recommended choices was a bust, but the second was an unexpected pleasure.
The drive to the campground was along the shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway (although the river itself was seldom visible) was pure pleasure. North of the highway, there were rolling hills with beautiful small farms complete with the requisite red barns reminiscent of the simpler times of America’s now (sadly) bygone past.
The campground itself is a quaint site (to keep it kindly!) due for further exploration on another day. For the time being my chief concern was to find some gas. Not wishing to go to bed having that worry on my mind, I rode down the road looking for the town (with a name that was unintelligible to my untrained ears).
I found the gas, but so much more. But that’s fodder for another day.
