After a long, cold winter we are ready to cross the Peace Bridge and follow Route 1 or Highway 3, which runs a bit more to the north. Our final destination for this two lane adventure is Sherkston Shores Carefree RV Resort. We enjoy the two lanes, so let's take Route 1, also known as Dominion Road.
The first sight is Old Fort Erie, it is a great place to tour, you can easily spend a whole day. Did you know ... it is the site of ancient flint quarries; the first fort was built by the British in 1764 as a base for their troops; it is the site of Canada's bloodiest battle; it was a major crossing point for the Underground Railroad; and it celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Siege of Fort Erie in August, 2014. Some of the things you can see at the fort are the Monument at Old Fort Erie (it stands over a mass grave that was uncovered during the fort's restoration); the massive Outer Gate; the Ravelin (a large earth mound to protect the inner gates from artillery fire); Sally Ports in the curtain walls; and the Redoubts. Some of the buildings to view include the Soldiers' Barracks; the Officers' Quarters, the Powder Magazines, the Guard Rooms; the Kitchens and Officers' Kitchen.
Along the way you travel through Ridgeway. This area boasts a network of recreation trails including The Friendship Trail through the centre of town, The Lions Nature Trail offering wooded beauty. The Shagbark Trail is a 54-acre nature park with woods and meadows. This park is popular among outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It feature grasses, wildflowers, birds, butterflies and owls. You can also see the Ridgeway Battlefield site and the Fort Erie Historical Museum.
This time of the year, beaches are a great sight! Especially since there is no snow! The beaches on the north eastern shores of Lake Erie offer some excellent swimming. They are for the most part fine sand, very shallow, warm beautiful clear water and the views are exquisite. To access these beaches you need to travel south off Dominion Road, but well worth it! Crystal Beach/Bay Beach is the jewel in the crown of Fort Erie's Beaches. Sometimes referred to as "Canada's South Coast", its pure sands gradually slope into sparkling clear water. Waverly Beach is a decent sized beach with a pleasant tree shaded park and seating. It is bordered by a breakwater on one side and wall from old ruins on the other. A concrete promenade runs along the shoreline where you might see interesting ruins from an old amusement park known as Erie Beach Amusement Park. Crescent Beach is located in a crescent shaped bay. It offers pure sand bottom waters. Bernard Beach (also known as Thunder Bay Beach) is a small beach located in a beautiful bay with a pure sand bottom all the way out and shallow water sloping gradually. Finally, there is Pleasant Beach. If you like to go where there is lots to do, this is the beach for you! Offering a long stretch of soft sand, with a high dunes at one end. This beach is an awesome sight on a busy day, crowded with bathers, umbrellas, golf carts, people and vehicles tailgating. You can access Sherkston Beach, a private beach from Pleasant Beach. Head north on Pleasant Beach Road, make a left onto Beach Road and another left onto Empire Road. Arrive at our destination, Sherkston Shores, 490 Empire Road, Sherkston, Ontario L0S 1R0.
Someday, take the more northern route along Highway 3 to the same destination. Highway 3 follows the route of the historic Talbot Trail for most of its length. From the northern shore of Lake Erie between Windsor and Fort Erie traveling east. The route deviates in places to bypass towns and to avoid the less than direct trail laid nearly two centuries ago. The eastern section of Highway 3 starts just west of the Peace Bridge and goes west to Sherkston and beyond. The present day road follows the path of the first road built by Colonel Talbot. The Talbot Trail was completed by the end of 1820's. It is amazing how much you can see in a short distance, it is only 32 km from the Peace Bridge to Sherkston Shores!
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