A New Bumper and an Old Hometown
This trip wouldn’t be anything at all without a visit to my hometown of Napanee Ontario. In my opinion, one of the cutest towns along the 401 Hwy, and a place I will always call home.
I still have a lot of family and friends in the area and I couldn’t wait to see as many of them as possible.
I failed to tell the unfortunate tale of our bike rack while we were barrelling through the prairies. I shall do so now, as some folks in Napanee were able to help us out, from as far away as Saskatchewan.
We had stopped at a truck stop to have lunch and a washroom break. Joe did his normal walk around the truck and trailer (as he does every time we stop) to make sure everything was still hooked up properly, lights still working etc. When he got to the back of the trailer, our bike rack (with our two heavy electric assist bikes attached) was barely hanging on to the back bumper. It listing so badly, the bikes could have fallen off at any time and we wouldn’t have known it. It seems that the rather flat but bumpy roads through Saskatchewan had created enough stress on the bumper from the bike rack bouncing, the welding on entire underside of the trailer bumper had separated, threatening to dislodge the whole bike rack. Joe had to remove the bikes and rack until we could figure out a solution..
Now, normally, we would have just thrown the bikes in the back of the truck but we had offered to take our friends, Sally and Dave, some of their belongings to their cottage from Victoria to Ontario in our truck, so obviously, no room for bikes in there, so the only solution was to stick them in the trailer until the bumper could be welded back together.
Because we were not staying in any one place longer than a night or two until we got to Napanee, it was obvious to both of us that I needed to find someone there, that could do the job. Fortunately Karen from Napanee Machine and Welding answered the call from nowhere Saskatchewan, with
nothing more than, “Sure, bring ‘er in Thursday and we’ll get ‘er done by Friday afternoon.” She didn’t take my name or phone number or any other pertinent information, which I thought funny but it is just part of the small town charm.
People who live in Napanee have a very distinct Ontario accent (which I love) and I take it on as soon as I get close to home. It makes Joe laugh but I can’t help it and Karen at Napanee Machine and Welding had it in spades.
Now having to travel with the bikes inside the trailer was not ideal, we made it work for the week we needed it to. Although it made it tough to use the washroom in the middle of the night, having to climb over the two bikes. You get the picture I am sure.
Our next camping spot is near Picton Ontario, called Sandbanks Provincial park. This place is well known for its endless sandy white beaches on Lake Ontario. We booked a few nights here while we ran around seeing family in the region. A beautiful spot but the weather was a little chilly as you can see from the picture, not too many people on the beach. In the summer, this place is a mad house.
First stop was to Tweed Ontario to see my Aunt Shirley and Uncle George, my only remaining aunt on my mothers side. We had a wonderful lunch and a great visit and no matter what their age, they always seem as young as ever and happy to have some company. Thanks again Aunt Shirley! Xo
As we pulled up in to Tweed our GPS died. Just died. No reason, no explosion, no big commotion, just DEAD. So when we left Aunt Shirley we had to travel to the nearest Costco for a replacement which was in Kingston. An hour in the opposite direction of where we were camping. Costco has the best return policy and we had a new GPS in no time.
There was a great silver lining in this unlucky hiccup. To get from Kingston back to Picton, the more scenic route was down County road 33 pasted the church where my parents are buried
on to Glenora ferry then through Lake on the Mountain. By the time we arrived at the ferry it was getting near dinner so Joe (gotta love Joe) suggested we have dinner at Miller House at Lake on the Mountain.
With its stunning views, local wine and beer and fabulous food, it couldn’t have been a better end to what was a very long day.
Next day we packed up and headed to Napanee to get the trailer in and go stay with my cousin Lynda and her husband Leonard while our tiny house was being repaired. After dropping off the trailer, we met one of our families dearest friends, Don and his wife Meghan for lunch at the pub beside the Napanee river. It was great to catch up with them and I hope they can make it out west someday soon.
Our first night in Napanee we were treated to a fabulous dinner. My cousin Karen and husband Tom (Lynda’s sister) joined us for a great evening of laughs and memories and family stories. Cannot say how overwhelmed we were with the hospitality. From touring us around to helping with laundry and and endless stream of great meals, we can’t thank them all enough. It was also a great surprise to have cousin Stan pop in every morning for coffee!
Our next day had been planned well before we left Victoria. My best friends from high school, Krista McGarvey and Debbie Buckley had planned a full day visit with us. I was so looking forward to seeing these girls again and even Joe was quite excited as they could offer up some stories of my youth that perhaps, I might have forgotten to mention.
They didn’t disappoint. We had a great lunch at Krista’s then on to Debbie’s to meet their husbands, Mark and Charles. Another amazing meal with the nicest people in a beautiful setting. We couldn’t have asked for more. So many laughs. I have known Debbie and Krista’s husband Mark since grade one, Krista since grade 6 and I feel like I have known Charles forever now too. Such a lovely bunch of people. I hope we can all be together in a room again very very soon! I should also mention they gave us a camping/Ontario care package, complete with Ontario cheese, maple syrup, local wine, marshmallows, poker sticks and all the fixings for s’mores! Thanks again gang! Xo
I am really going to miss everyone here in Napanee. They make my heart sing.
I still have a lot of family and friends in the area and I couldn’t wait to see as many of them as possible.
I failed to tell the unfortunate tale of our bike rack while we were barrelling through the prairies. I shall do so now, as some folks in Napanee were able to help us out, from as far away as Saskatchewan.
We had stopped at a truck stop to have lunch and a washroom break. Joe did his normal walk around the truck and trailer (as he does every time we stop) to make sure everything was still hooked up properly, lights still working etc. When he got to the back of the trailer, our bike rack (with our two heavy electric assist bikes attached) was barely hanging on to the back bumper. It listing so badly, the bikes could have fallen off at any time and we wouldn’t have known it. It seems that the rather flat but bumpy roads through Saskatchewan had created enough stress on the bumper from the bike rack bouncing, the welding on entire underside of the trailer bumper had separated, threatening to dislodge the whole bike rack. Joe had to remove the bikes and rack until we could figure out a solution..
Now, normally, we would have just thrown the bikes in the back of the truck but we had offered to take our friends, Sally and Dave, some of their belongings to their cottage from Victoria to Ontario in our truck, so obviously, no room for bikes in there, so the only solution was to stick them in the trailer until the bumper could be welded back together.
Because we were not staying in any one place longer than a night or two until we got to Napanee, it was obvious to both of us that I needed to find someone there, that could do the job. Fortunately Karen from Napanee Machine and Welding answered the call from nowhere Saskatchewan, with
nothing more than, “Sure, bring ‘er in Thursday and we’ll get ‘er done by Friday afternoon.” She didn’t take my name or phone number or any other pertinent information, which I thought funny but it is just part of the small town charm.
People who live in Napanee have a very distinct Ontario accent (which I love) and I take it on as soon as I get close to home. It makes Joe laugh but I can’t help it and Karen at Napanee Machine and Welding had it in spades.
Now having to travel with the bikes inside the trailer was not ideal, we made it work for the week we needed it to. Although it made it tough to use the washroom in the middle of the night, having to climb over the two bikes. You get the picture I am sure.
Our next camping spot is near Picton Ontario, called Sandbanks Provincial park. This place is well known for its endless sandy white beaches on Lake Ontario. We booked a few nights here while we ran around seeing family in the region. A beautiful spot but the weather was a little chilly as you can see from the picture, not too many people on the beach. In the summer, this place is a mad house.
First stop was to Tweed Ontario to see my Aunt Shirley and Uncle George, my only remaining aunt on my mothers side. We had a wonderful lunch and a great visit and no matter what their age, they always seem as young as ever and happy to have some company. Thanks again Aunt Shirley! Xo
As we pulled up in to Tweed our GPS died. Just died. No reason, no explosion, no big commotion, just DEAD. So when we left Aunt Shirley we had to travel to the nearest Costco for a replacement which was in Kingston. An hour in the opposite direction of where we were camping. Costco has the best return policy and we had a new GPS in no time.
There was a great silver lining in this unlucky hiccup. To get from Kingston back to Picton, the more scenic route was down County road 33 pasted the church where my parents are buried
on to Glenora ferry then through Lake on the Mountain. By the time we arrived at the ferry it was getting near dinner so Joe (gotta love Joe) suggested we have dinner at Miller House at Lake on the Mountain.
With its stunning views, local wine and beer and fabulous food, it couldn’t have been a better end to what was a very long day.
Next day we packed up and headed to Napanee to get the trailer in and go stay with my cousin Lynda and her husband Leonard while our tiny house was being repaired. After dropping off the trailer, we met one of our families dearest friends, Don and his wife Meghan for lunch at the pub beside the Napanee river. It was great to catch up with them and I hope they can make it out west someday soon.
Our first night in Napanee we were treated to a fabulous dinner. My cousin Karen and husband Tom (Lynda’s sister) joined us for a great evening of laughs and memories and family stories. Cannot say how overwhelmed we were with the hospitality. From touring us around to helping with laundry and and endless stream of great meals, we can’t thank them all enough. It was also a great surprise to have cousin Stan pop in every morning for coffee!
Our next day had been planned well before we left Victoria. My best friends from high school, Krista McGarvey and Debbie Buckley had planned a full day visit with us. I was so looking forward to seeing these girls again and even Joe was quite excited as they could offer up some stories of my youth that perhaps, I might have forgotten to mention.
They didn’t disappoint. We had a great lunch at Krista’s then on to Debbie’s to meet their husbands, Mark and Charles. Another amazing meal with the nicest people in a beautiful setting. We couldn’t have asked for more. So many laughs. I have known Debbie and Krista’s husband Mark since grade one, Krista since grade 6 and I feel like I have known Charles forever now too. Such a lovely bunch of people. I hope we can all be together in a room again very very soon! I should also mention they gave us a camping/Ontario care package, complete with Ontario cheese, maple syrup, local wine, marshmallows, poker sticks and all the fixings for s’mores! Thanks again gang! Xo
I am really going to miss everyone here in Napanee. They make my heart sing.
There’s no place like home. Sounds like you had a great homecoming.
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn’t lose your bikes. I believe our blog makes serious note of the bumpiest saskatchewan roads. Been there, done that. Once is enough. Obviously you found more of them elsewhere given the great 500ml honey dump.
Hope joe’s gout is less troubling!
Safe travels!!
Thanks Suzanne, the Quebec driving is a little more stressful than Saskatchewan but we definitely won’t lose a bumper here. Amazing how fast the French comes back. We love it here!
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