1 Year Anniversary

The end of May, 2017, marks the one year anniversary of my beginning the RV lifestyle, and what a year it has been!  It has all been fairly well detailed in the chronology that precedes this post. I've traveled a bit in both Canada (4 provinces) and the United States (19 states plus Washington D.C. I stayed in and 6 others I passed through). I've put a bit over 33,000 km on the truck (Ann). I've stayed in some interesting places, seen sites, met lots of people, played many different golf courses and eaten a few great meals, all those things I was expecting to enjoy, as I traveled with my new home on wheels (Shelly), able to sleep in the same bed every night, and have my things neatly put away. I've been on a land cruise.

I've learned quite a bit along the journey, both about myself, both countries and my new equipment. Thankfully, I have not had anything more than a few minor hiccups along the way. (I've seen too many Facebook posts about tire blow outs and RV fires.) I've also never felt unsafe or threatened, another concern documented on Facebook by other women looking to set out on a similar journey.

My travel planning has been assisted by my memberships in: Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, KOA, Good Sam, a few Facebook Closed groups for RV'ers, Google Maps (though it sometimes leads one astray), Roadtrippers, I-exit and Gas Buddy. 

I want to thank my brother Peter for all his support in this endeavor. I'm looking forward to having my new friend John along on some more parts of the journey ahead.

I'm ready for year two. I'm not entirely sure at this point where I will be going (Tucson, Arizona is a good bet), but there is plenty of North America yet to see, and I will endeavor to keep the blog going to document what lies ahead.

Thanks for reading.

Settling Into Life in the Country

Shortly after returning to Silver Dove Estates, I went to check out and play Wardsville Golf Club.  It is about 15 minutes west of the campground.  They have 27 holes.  Each 9 is named after one of "The Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon and Theodore."  I ended up deciding to join after conversations with the co-owners, Laura and Carl.  I also joined the Ladies League that plays on Wednesdays.  I've met quite a few ladies and have already have games set up for Monday's, Wednesdays and Fridays, something I never had at my previous club.  

Alvin and Simon are the older 9's with small greens and well treed fairways.  There are also a few ponds around to make things interesting.  The greens have some contour to them, which can make putting interesting.  Theodore is newer and a little more links style, though the outskirts are treed.  Overall the course is kept in very good condition and the greens run true.  Compared to the courses in Arizona, the bunkers are excellent, though that is not incentive to hit them all the time.  I am enjoying my time at Wardsville very much so far. 

I contacted the London District teams coordinator and will be trying out for their team to play at the Provincials.  They are conducting two qualifying rounds, one at London Hunt and one at West Haven.  Getting to play those two courses for cart fees will be a treat in itself.  I have played West Haven before, but I have not played London Hunt. 

In my travels, I came across a notice for a nearby church roast beef supper.  I had 11 people interested in going, but by the time I was getting the tickets only 5 were left.  I parred the numbers down to the original 5 and we went and had a lovely dinner.  I especially enjoyed the HOT horseradish and Yorkshire pudding with gravy.  On the way out I noticed a sign outside the church across the street for a similar dinner in a couple of weeks time.  I'm not sure I will go to that one.  

I'm enjoying my time in this part of the world.  This weekend will be the busiest so far at the campground as Victoria Day weekend signals the official start of summer. 

First Month Back in Ontario

It has been over a month since I arrived back in Ontario.  I wasn't sure that I would keep writing the blog, seeing as I figured most people are interested in the new and different places I visit, and time spent in Ontario would seem mundane, but I will do some writing just so no one will think I fell off the face of the earth. 

Upon leaving the McLarty's farm, I went to Silver Dove Estates, a campground I was trying to get into last fall, instead of being at Milton Heights.  At that time they said they didn't have any sites available but would be creating new sites over the winter.  I asked for them to save one for me for early April.  I contacted them in late March and according to them all was in order.  When I arrived, they had sort of forgot I was arriving that day, and due to the relatively mild winter, they hadn't been able to build the new sites.  They did have some newly vacant ones and suggested #52 for me, but the road to it was blocked by a pile of gravel and the whole area was quite wet from snow run off and spring rains.  I was planning on staying about 6 nights, so they allowed me to stay next to the clubhouse, where there was a full hook up available.  

Camping next to the clubhouse.

Part of my purpose of being there at that time was to see if I might like to spend the better part of the season there, as I didn't have a burning desire to do much traveling over the summer months, partly because my niece is getting married in September and there are some events planned in advance of the wedding I should be in the area for.  

Silver Dove Estates had a number of year round residents in park model homes.  They have a series of social activities planned both winter and summer, which give the park a real sense of community, which I have only previously found in the USA.  During my 6 night stay, I enjoyed coffee clutch most mornings at 10:00, they only have regular coffee, so I have to bring my own, but it isn't so much about the beverage, as the conversation and camaraderie.  Wednesday at 11:00 is exercise to a video, Friday is Xbox bowling league, Saturday evening was a pot luck dinner and hearts. Everyone I met was so friendly and welcoming, I couldn't help but decide to plan on spending the bulk of the summer.  The seasonal fee seems very reasonable to me, compared to other places I have stayed, so it seems like an easy decision.  In the summer there are horseshoe games, a pool, bingo, tennis, live entertainment on holiday weekends, and other planned activities.  I'm looking forward to meeting more people here. Photos of the site I will occupy for the summer:

Left side of site, viewed from road.

"Street View" Trailer goes on gravel, fire pit on grass to left.

My next stop was to take the trailer in for some routine maintenance and minor repairs while I was staying at my brothers and celebrating the first couple of days of Passover.  On the first night my entire immediate family was in attendance, which was a treasured time as it doesn't happen very often.  

After that it was back to Milton Heights for a couple of weeks, in order to deal with all my stuff in the Toronto Area and to co-host a bridal shower for my niece. 

I was not satisfied with the work on the trailer, so I returned to the dealership on my way to Stratford for a couple of nights.  I was able to find a nice farm to stay at nearby and the owner of the farm took me on tour of two others.  That was fascinating.  I saw a dairy barn set up with a robot to do the milking and an egg farm that was high density, yet humane and very highly automated.  I was given a free tray of freshly laid eggs, 30 of them:

I saw the play Guys and Dolls, which was very well done, with great singing and dancing.

After all these activities, I was happy to be returning to Silver Dove in order to relax a bit and settle in for at least a couple of months until my next short trip.