We departed Woodland Lake Carefree RV Resort and headed northwest
on Huron 25. We came upon the town of Walton. It was declared “Motocross Town”
in 2007 to honor the Walton TransCan GNC Motocross. As other tracks come and
go, the track and tradition of Walton Motocross is one of the oldest in Canada.
The land of the Walton motocross track was originally part of the acreage
farmed by the Lee family. An early interest in motorcycles evolved into an
interest in off-road riding. This led to the track becoming a local center of
activity for many casual riders and aspiring competitors. The track was slowly
turned into competition grade track. In the mid 70’s Molson Breweries sponsored
a provincial championship series for experts and Walton was the favorite site
of both fans and racers. Racers competing in the Molson series came from
Sweden, Japan, England, Czechoslovakia, Finland, and of course across Canada
and the USA. The track sat dormant until a new Lee generation was getting involved
in the sport, so a two day event was organized in 1991. While reflecting about
the success of the 1991 event, we noted that there was a lack of a really
major, prestigious event (such as Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals in the USA). A
concept was born. Walton would hold an annual event drawing on all the best
things in the sport, an annual coming together for bragging rights, a
celebration of Canadian motocross! In 2003, the Extreme Sport Series came to
the track. In 2004, for the first time in Canadian Motocross history a full
line of women lined up for the women’s championship. A big facility change
greets the very best riders in the country for the 2012 Walton TransCan. The
2013 Parts Canada TransCan continued with records crowds and great racing to
make the week one of the best ever. Every year, over 30,000 visitors have full
access to pro and amateur racing pits, where fans are welcomed to mingle with
racers, get autographs and posters. Walton also hosts the biggest off-road
motorcycle trade show in the country along with live entertainment, freestyle
demos, riding demos, beer gardens, helicopter rides, hospitality tent and lots
of contests, games and giveaways.
We also passed through Blyth. It is the center for the nationally
acclaimed theatre, the Blyth Festival. Since its inception in 1975, it has
premiered 121 Canadian plays. Plays developed at the Blyth Festival have won
Governor General's Awards and a number of Chalmers Awards. It plays to
audiences of between forty and fifty thousand annually. In 2001, Blyth won the
Communities in Bloom National Award. This award recognizes civic pride,
environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement
and the challenge of a national program, with focus on enhancing green spaces
in communities. “People, plants and pride… growing together” is their slogan.
Established with the guidance of Britain in Bloom, Tidy Towns of Ireland and
Villes et Villages Fleuris de France, Communities in Bloom held its first edition
in 1995.
In Belgrave, we found the home of Extreme Bird Houses. Most
of the bird houses are created using reclaimed wood. A lot of this wood is not only decades old
but in many cases centuries old! Each
birdhouse takes many, many hours and even days or weeks to build. Woodworking is no business or hobby for the owner,
it's his life, literally. Whether you stop to admire or buy, this is the place
to do it. These beautiful
structures have been recognized as some of the best birdhouses in the world,
placing in every contest that they've entered.
You have visited to see just how incredible these monstrous bird
mansions really are.
We saw the D L Farms Alpacas where alpacas insinuate
themselves into your heart. It is a mid-sized farm in Bruce Country, Ontario,
not far from Lake Huron. The alpaca came to this farming enterprise shortly
after the owners retired from teaching. They purchased a bred Huacaya female
and a male. The spell was cast and they were drawn into a world of alpaca
personalities that mesmerize visitors and we as owners alike! They have been
improving the genetics by actively participating in a breed-up program, which
is working, as the progeny are placing in the show ring. Their present focus is
breeding elite black animals. Anytime we find an alpaca farm, we think of our
friends in Norwich New York, Brenda and Matt Thall and their Red Barn Alpaca NYfarm.
Looking for a little escape? The Rural Retreat is the
answer! It operates from the Morrison’s century homestead on a 5th generation
family farm. The farm property with woodland trails, vegetable & flower
gardens, holistic health & wellbeing services, Juice Bar & Farm
market, offers visitors a chance to experience what it feels like to just
slowdown in this fast world. A visit to the retreat provides an opportunity for
people to take a drive in the countryside, relax and enjoy the healing of the
Retreat that is deeply rooted in the connection of Mother Earth & living in
harmony with her. Everyone who takes the journey here has the opportunity to nourish
the body, cultivate the mind and grow the spirit. This Morrison homestead is a
Century Farm located in Kinloss Township. This 175 acre farm is one of the few
farms which has remained under the same family name since it was taken out from
the crown in 1875 to Samuel Morrison, Sr.
The town of Lucknow boasts of a strong Scottish character
that dates back to the 19th century when it was home to the Lucknow Caledonian
Games. Lucknow has a statue that honors
Donald Dinnie. He was a famous Scotsman who lived from 1837-1916. At age 16 he
began entering athletic competitions, and was soon named "The Greatest
Athlete of the World." During his 50 years as a competitor he entered
11,000 events, and was a regular participant at the Caledonia Games held in
Lucknow. The statue in his honor is kind of freakish, with Dinnie having a dark
brown body, a white mustache and lips, and a copper-colored kilt. In his right
hand he has a throwing stone that he is getting ready to toss, and a
rock-and-chain "hammer" lies at his feet. The village was named in
1858 out of respect for Colin Campbell, a fellow Scot who led the relief of
Lucknow during the Sepoy Rebellion in India the previous year. Several Lucknow streets such as Campbell,
Ross, Otran, Havelock, Rose, and Canning are named for British army officers
who fought in the Indian mutiny. Today,
picturesque Lucknow is home to over 1,100 residents with much to see and
do. Shaded walkways line the banks of
the village’s three streams where anglers can catch rainbow and brook
trout.
Along the banks of Lake Huron, we passed many wind farms. We
found the Ripley Wind Power Project and the Ripley Wind Farm. The $170-million
Ripley wind farm in Ontario generates economical, clean power. Suncor Energy
Products and Acciona Energia developed the wind power generation facility in
Ripley. The project has 38 wind turbines and includes two power substations. The
wind farm generates enough zero-emission electricity to power 24,000 homes,
while offsetting 66,000 tons of carbon dioxide production.
The Tiverton Fall Fair is held annually in October. The
theme for 2015 is “Sow it, Grow it, Show it.” The events included in the fall
fair include an Ambassador competition, pie and cake auction, nightly entertainment,
a pancake breakfast, parade, poultry show, miniature horse show, a petting zoo,
antique tractor show, a midway, local entertainment and Saturday night dance. Also,
a saddle horse show, track events, community worship service, Bush truck pull,
beer garden, agricultural and home craft exhibits. There is definitely something
for everyone at the Tiverton Fall Fair.
We passed through more Indian land. The Saugeen First Nation
is located on the shores of the beautiful Lake Huron at the base of the Bruce
Peninsula on Highway 21. The original people of Saugeen are Ojibway. They
became known as Chippewa by people who could not pronounce the word Ojibway. Like
other Aboriginal people in Canada, in the early 1970s the Chippewas of Saugeen
began referring to their community as a "First Nation". One of the earliest documents recognizing Nation to Nation relations
between the Crown and Indigenous peoples, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 stated
"Indian land" could only be sold to the Crown. The permanent settlement at the
outlet of the Saugeen River which lent its name to the region and its people
was called Zaageeng, meaning "mouth of river."
We turned off 21 and headed out to Arran Lake Carefree RV Resort on a dirt and
stone road. Turning into the park, you are greeted by a wide driveway with a
peek at the lake. The driveway takes you into the resort and a better view of
Arran Lake. Fishermen will find a variety of fish, including perch, lake trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow trout and sunfish. Whether tou are fly fishing, bait casting, spinning or trolling your chances of getting a bite here are very good. So grab your favorite fishing gear and make a reservation at Arran Lake Carefree RV Resort.