Chateauguay, Quebec. 13 April, 1996
Saturday morning, 0800 hrs. I spend the morning visiting with Aunt Betsy and Uncle David. Uncle David is telling me how margarine has to be white in color in Quebec as it cannot be the color of butter. I have my picture taken standing next to the Flea. Aunt Betsy has something for Mark and Courtney in Calgary. Uncle David gives me a bottle of Cologne that was made in Latavia. It is sad saying goodbye but it is time to get on the road for Torrance.
The weather is nice and sunny and the temperatures are warm. Spring comes a bit earlier to Quebec then it does in the Maritimes. I hope the weather stays nice for the trip, but about halfway to Torrance the weather changes. I am in for another storm. It is like I am having obstacles thrown in my path to see how I am going to cope.
Roxy, Barney and I are on the road again. We have to retrace our steps until the Mercier Bridge then we have to cross over the Saint Lawrence to get to the #20 to take us to the Ontario Border.. When we are passing through Dorval my cell rings and it is my cousin Alice. She wants to know how far I am and how the trip is going. I let her know everything is fine and we are doing well. I Promise to call when I get to Calgary and let her know how I got along.
I must mention here I had no problem speaking to the people of Quebec. Everyone spoke to me in English when I apologized to them saying I was from Nova Scotia and couldn’t speak French. I found the people in Quebec very friendly and warm towards strangers. Even the little old lady who ran the convenience store in the Heart of Separatist Quebec where I stopped. God Bless the good folks in Quebec.
Quebec – Ontario Border. 13 April, 1996
I finish my trip through Quebec and before we know it, Highway # 20 is ending and Highway # 401 is beginning. I have just gassed up beyond the Quebec Border. I am no longer on the Trans Canada Highway. I won’t see the Trans Canada again until after Whitby.
There is going to be a lot of road work done this summer on the # 401. At a lot of places, the upper layer of tar is removed to be repaved at a later time. My friend Don is right, at Kingston you see the signs along the road stating the different fines involved with speeding. 100 kph zero fine, Up to 115 kph around $95.00, 135 kph $200.00 and up. Right around these signs you see the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) on the roads. All along the # 401 the median has 10 foot weeds growing. In these weeds sit the OPP. Around Kingston I was coming along at 100 kph and guess who was sitting in the weeds? I guess he must have been looking for bigger fish to fry as he didn’t bother me.
By Belleville I hit a bad rain storm. I travel along the # 401 until I get to Whitby. Just before Whitby I gas up again. I then travel along Highway # 12 until it heads to Orillia. As I am traveling along the # 12, I notice the rain storm had turned into an ice storm with high winds. We slow down and take our time. I have to take the # 169 to Washago. Before this Highway # 7 from Peterborough joins the # 12. We then are on the Trans Canada again. At Washago I take Highway # 11 to Gravenhurst. At Gravenhurst I leave the # 11 and take continue on the # 169 to a place called Torrance. Here I will call it a day.
My friends Marg and Raymond live here. My buddy Don said you take the second road into Torrance to get to his Mum’s. Don Said she lives across from Ward’s Plumbing. Of course I get lost again. I drive by the house three times. It doesn’t look the same as in the picture Don has on his living room wall in Bridgewater. I finally find the place when Raymond comes out, to flag me down.
When I get to Torrance the ice storm is bad. The power goes out not too long after I arrive. The roast beef supper we are having is re-scheduled for Sunday Night. The power goes out around 1630 hrs and comes back on about 2 hours later.
I have a really good time staying in Torrance. Outside Marg’s picture window and across the road is the Main Line for the CNR between Toronto and Capreol. I am in heaven and there are a lot of trains to watch that weekend. I video tape one and think about Dad and know he would love to be here as well.
After supper we watch the Grand Street Parade from last summer’s Highland Games Parade in Antigonish. It sort of makes me a bit homesick for Nova Scotia. After this we just sit around and chat. Raymond and I play cards. Roxy and Barney are in my bedroom. Barney hides under the bed until I retire for the evening and go to bed.
