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.