Day 27

I slept last night on one of the most comfortable pull-out couches I’ve ever experienced — great sleep. Here is the view out my window in the morning:

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My dear niece Islay made some delicious eggs for me (she graduated recently from chef school at George Brown College):

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It was still chilly with frost on the ground when Islay and Sandy dropped me at Timmy’s a little later. I may have more later to say about Sandy’s art — stay tuned!

All of my walk today was along Highway 8, as the locals call it. In fact, it has been changed to Highway 81, so no maps list it as 8 and no road signs mark it that way. This can be confusing! Here are some of the things I saw.

I would hire this guy to do welding:

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I was going roughly west, following the shore of the lake (there is only one lake at this point) and slowly drawing nearer. The scenery
was often like this, looking north; rather typical Ontario countryside:

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The leaves were mostly off the trees, but with some notable exceptions:

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There were vestiges of Halloween:

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and even some indications that the next season is upon us (recall that Canadians do not take a big, commercial break on the fourth Thursday of November):

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Here is a building powered by solar AND wind, and if you look carefully in the tree to the right and behind the windmill you can see lots of migrating birds taking a rest:

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A recent and major construction project to gently cross a small stream:

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I walked past many vineyards today. What you can’t see in the following picture is the rifle-like bangs passing each of the fields like this. These are automatic devices, apparently, that go off periodically to scare away vine enemies. I imagine it would be quite annoying to live near this.

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I saw more Ontario flags than Canada flags. This is unlike the USA. I don’t recall ever having seen someone flying a New Jersey flag.

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A couple of pretty sights as I was getting closer to Jordan:

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Some political issue, I guess:

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Descending into Jordan the road actually got a wee bit curvy (I like curvy, as you know):

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Throughout the trip I have wanted to capture a picture of a shower of falling leaves. This is very hard because it is the motion that is so appealing; a still shot tends not to distinguish between leaves on the tree and leaves on the way to the ground. This sort of worked:

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These workers were either picking or trimming; hard to tell which from where I was:

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Isolated little late shedder:

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I stepped off the road to take a classic fall view down this lane:

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At the bottom of the Jordan valley I purchased a turkey wrap at Butterball’s:

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They also have a flea market but there were no fleas for sale today:

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And here’s the stream at the bottom of that valley:

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More colorful curves ascending from that little valley:

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Communications with the dead?

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Tiny, well-built school:

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Active nursery:

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How many lions do you think YOU could eat?

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Typical Main Street scene in a small Ontario town (Beamsville):

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Typical Canadian humility:

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Casa Nostra?

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From foreground to background you see: vineyard, Queen Elizabeth Way, Lake Ontario, Toronto (with distinctive CN Tower). So close, yet so far away:

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Entering Grimsby, where I will finally meet the shoreline tomorrow:

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I’m staying tonight with Dean and Barb. This connection was put together by my friend Phil; his wife Marilyn and Barb were friends since high school. As it turns out my wife, Fiona, was a bridesmaid in Barb’s sister’s wedding a short time before Fiona and I were married 38 years ago — connections everywhere! Here’s a little shot just two blocks from their home:

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They were the model of hospitality, especially considering they had never met me before. I shall include a picture of them in tomorrow’s post.

So most of the rest of the trip now I will be close to the lake. This should be very nice, and make up somewhat for having at times to walk fairly close to the very busy Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW).

32 thoughts on “Day 27

  1. Joe Abdy

    Wow 38 years ago. Hard to believe since I thought Fiona just turned 39 last week! On the Halloween front, is Canadian Halloween a month before American Halloween?

    1. Allan Post author

      You’re asking about Thanksgiving, right Joe? Halloween is the same in both countries. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the same day as American Columbus Day in October.

  2. Jonathan Vander Wiel

    You may not see many New Jersey flags, but since being at school in Texas, I’ve quickly realized that’s not true for every state of the union. I love reading your posts Mr. Wilks.

    1. Allan Post author

      Hey Jonathan! Yes, it doesn’t surprise me that Texans fly their state flag. And I’m sure there are variations among the provinces as well. It’s interesting that a few of the provincial flags have vestiges of the Union Jack in them, like the Ontario flag.

      1. Michèle Dextras

        Wow, besides the Ontario flag I had never noticed that other provincial flags had some of the Union Jack included. Both Manitoba and British Columbia include a version of the Union Jack! And I suspect how many Ontario flags you see depends on where you are in Ontario. Certainly in “Loyalist Ontario” along the Lake you will see lots but not as much in the Ottawa Valley or Northern Ontario. Now if you are in Québec, you will have a hard time finding a Canadian flag!

  3. jim lamason

    Doc,
    With every thing going on right now in the Lamasons circle oi friends and family, your great trip, your task, has brought great comfort and even smiles to my self. I find myself thinking that as you begin to analyze this trip when its done, you will find out that this wonderful adventure, and accomplishment will be at the basis for so much comfort, hope, encouragement and even the deepening of many of our faiths. I just wanted to make sure I shared that.. Press on tomorrow.. Another 15 in the books and its 40 to Matts house.. Think about that for a moment.. two days travel if you decided to push it… Hope this finds you welll… You are almost there… And thank you… Press on!!!!
    JIM

    1. Allan Post author

      Jim, you rascal — I think you would have me do the entire rest of the trip in a forced march! But I do have a plan for finishing, which includes slightly shorter hikes for the next few days. I will not say more than that about it now. Thanks for your continued prayers, Jim.

  4. Julie

    I love the stories of how you’re connected to all these people who host you. (Reminds me a little of that old “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game/concept, but more fun!) And lovely pictures. I had imagined that from Niagara to Toronto it would be all urban sprawl, but clearly I was wrong. I especially love the photo of the falling leaves, as I’ve tried to capture that myself, largely without success.

    Seeing Toronto across the bay – is it more motivating or a tantalizing discouragement… so close and yet so far?

    Press on, with continued prayers for your safety and encouragement,

    Julie G

    1. Allan Post author

      I’ve thought about degrees of separation a lot on this trip. George and Sheri (Day 18) were my best friend’s wife’s cousin’s friend’s husband’s parent’s friend’s daughter’s husband’s parents. That’s about nine degrees of separation, so by the theory of Six Degrees of Separation, there is actually a closer link with them than the one I just gave — interesting!

      I think that by the end of today (Day 28) I will be into the urban sprawl that extends from Toronto to the east end of the lake and that the rest will be mostly city walking, though along the lake on Lakeshore Road — looking forward to that!

      I did sort of wish for a bridge when I saw the little glimpse of the Toronto skyline across the lake, but I’m glad to be walking around the end of the lake as we always do when we are driving, as part of the motivation for this trip was to walk the path (roughly) that I’ve driven a hundred times.

      As always, Julie, thanks for continued interest and your prayers.

  5. Russell Sutherland

    The Kilt & Clover sign says it all. You’ve crossed into new cultural space. Do not re-adjust your set however. We still love you! Have a great time with the Barnes tomorrow! You’re almost at the final turn and ready for the eastward home stretch.

    Russell

    1. Allan Post author

      Yes, I find myself constantly looking for comparisons between what I saw in the USA and what I’m seeing now. Thanks as always, Russ. Just a few more days. Should be an interesting day today, as you will see.

  6. Ricardo

    Beautiful pictures Allan, once again God is walking with you showing His wonders to all of us through this amazing adventure. Have a blessed day, one more closer to finish line.

    1. Allan Post author

      Yes indeed, Ricardo. I’ve driven the route between New Jersey and Toronto a hundred times, but I’ve driven on the QEW part many more times than that, so this is all seeming increasingly familiar. That makes me feel even more acutely the “one day closer” that you mention.

  7. Michèle Dextras

    I love the photo of the mailboxes in front of the cemetery!

    1. Allan Post author

      I know — strange! And there were not any buildings behind me when I took the picture.

  8. Marnie

    Jordan!
    Soon as I saw the picture I knew the windy road and spot before I read your text. My dad ensured that I saw it. He was delighted to drive me thru there. Hadn’t thought of it for a long time.
    I could have written Jordan! the day before as well seeing the pic of your nephew!
    And you have crossed it!

    1. Allan Post author

      It was a Jordany couple of days. Is there a connection between the town and the wine?

  9. Parni

    Yay, Allan!
    Love your posts and pictures.
    What a treat for you to meet up with your kids 🙂

    All the best,

    Parni

  10. Donna Bristow

    Sometimes when i’m viewing some of your pictures I have this desire to “like” them like we do on facebook but alas i can’t! Lets just say i like many of them.. today it was a pleasure to sit down with a cup of coffee and a sliver of pumpkin bread and then think, “Oh yes, let me see what Allan wrote today!” Love reading… thanks for taking us all on your adventure. 🙂

    1. Allan Post author

      As I’m walking during the day I’m always thinking about what my readers would like to see. Can’t wait to show you today’s pix — mostly dull but that really nice at the end of the day.

  11. The Dening's

    Allan-
    I have a confession to make, I will miss checking to see if the days entry is on your blog. I truly have enjoyed reading each day. You have made it seem, through your pictures, as well as your colorful descriptions of the various places along your chosen route, that the readers are traveling along with you!
    We have always wanted to get up to Toronto, this will make it more of a priority now!! Also glad you can slow down a bit. Enjoy this final week and as always we are praying for you!
    K, J, B, & A

    1. Allan Post author

      Wait until you see today’s end-of-the-walk pix — they will have you wanting to MOVE to this area. Thanks for your love, Dennings.

  12. Jean-Luc T.

    You said you like curvy roads. I do too or I fall asleep when driving. Ever happened 2 u while walking on zis trip ?
    Keep at least 1 I open if u r tempted by a snoozzzzzzz. 🙂

    1. Allan Post author

      There have indeed been a few times when I’ve been sleepy. Horses can sleep standing up because they can lock their knees, but alas, this is not possible for humans. One day (going through Binghamton) I did take a nap.

  13. mary beth hambor

    allan your pictures are beautiful and it sounds like you are having quite an adventure–your picture of the trees around the creek (or river perhaps) is now my new screensaver. Safe journey on the last few days!

  14. John Collette

    Still with you Allan. Have been enjoying the pictures and commentary everyday. Look forward to it actually. I know you are looking forward to reaching your goal in a few days and we are more than happy to see you achieve it. But there will be a certain emptiness for your “gentle readers”. Saw Fiona at the Monthly Missionary Meeting last night. I think she will be most happy to be reunited with you soon. Keeping you in prayer for the final stretch!

    1. Allan Post author

      Thanks for your prayers, John. My host tonight thinks that I will get the wanderlust again in a few months. We shall see.

  15. jim l.

    Doc,
    Another incredible day… i hope i didnt give yoy the idea i REALLY wanted you to do a forced march … you take your time at your pace and get er done when you want to.. though i find myself wandering with the end so much in sight and the longing to see Fi and the grandkids doesnt drive you forward.. the walk along the lake must be incredible. I find myself wishing i was with you… ok press on at your pace… much awaits you. Jim

    1. Allan Post author

      The walk along the lake started today and it was great, as you will see later when I put up some pictures.

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