Staying at Hidden Valley Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

If you enjoy nature and enjoying time with your friends and family, Hidden Valley Carefree RV Resort is perfect for you! It is located the Carolinian Pine Forest of southern Ontario province. We camped in the short term sites on the top of a hill overlooking the remainder of the park. It was a beautiful partially shaded lot backing up to the woods with plenty of grass and nature. Hidden Valley shares a border with Turkey Point Provincial Park, which is host to many trails and a beach on Lake Erie.

Or you can enjoy the scenic views of Lake Erie atop the bluffs at Norfolk Conservation Area. You can soak up the lakeside atmosphere, picnic, play some beach volleyball, or take a dip in Lake Erie. This 46-acre park is located along the Lake Erie shoreline with a cobble beach and swimming. Norfolk Conservation Area has long been a favorite of many weekend visitors. Day use recreational facilities include two covered pavilions, beach volleyball court, a sports field, horseshoe pits and a small playground area. The park offers a great place for daytrips and cycling.

 

If you are looking for more action, there is plenty to do in the area surrounding Hidden Valley RV Resort, whether it’s visiting nearby farms, roadside markets or taking part in the region’s many festivals and fairs.

In early October in Simcoe, you can enjoy the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show. It is celebrating 175 years in 2015. It was formed in 1840, and known originally as the Talbot District Agricultural Society. The Norfolk County Agricultural Society operates under the Horticultural & Agricultural Act (Ontario) and is staffed primarily by volunteers who dedicate countless hours to the fair. We are big proponents of Agricultural Fairs, as we are members of the Hemlock Lake Union Agricultural Society in New York. Our Hemlock “Little World’s” Fair has been running since 1857, taking just a few years off for the War. The Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show is highly-acclaimed and have been awarded numerous Canadian, provincial and local awards. In addition to being a member of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, the Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show is also a member of the Canadian Association of Fairs & Exhibitions, as well as the International Association of Fairs & Exhibitions. It is Ontario's oldest agricultural fair, it is ranked the fifth largest event of its kind in the province competing with the Canadian National Exhibition, The Royal Winter Fair, and "city" fairs in London and Ottawa and one of the Top 50 Festivals and Events in the Province! Celebrating the fair's agriculture roots, over 10,000 entries compete in grain crops, fruits, vegetables, floral arrangements, culinary arts, handmade quilts, and crafts. Produce growers compete for the coveted show ribbons and claim bragging rights! The grandstand features extraordinary Canadian talent along with perennial fair favorites such as demolition derbies, monster truck shows, tractor pulls and more. High flying whirling rides, a menagerie of livestock, majestic teams of horses, light harness racing, open western horse show, antique buggy classes, pony classes and jumpers. All these give you the largest outdoor horse show in Canada!

 

Other nearby attraction is the Cayuga International Speedway Park. Since 1966 Cayuga International Speedway has strived hard to present the best in oval track competition. One of the hallmarks at Cayuga International is its "Specials Only" format to provide motorsport fans with the best short-track racing in North America. Fans attended Cayuga International Speedway to enjoy prestigious racing series such as the American Speed Association, Hooters Cup, Great American Truck Racing, Canadian Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Drivers Independent Racing Tracks and the Player’s Ltd/GM Motorsport Series. The track has hosted stock car racing at its best, and many of the biggest names in this popular type of racing have participated in events, including Bobby Allison, Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Ron Fellows, Junior Hanley, Matt Kenseth, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, and many more. However, the non-stop fender to fender action at Cayuga International Speedway has not only been limited to stocks cars. The speedway has hosted the monsters of motorsports - the "big rig" semi-trucks, NTPA Truck and Tractor Pulls, and major musical entertainment including "Another Roadside Attraction." Plus some major musical acts like Sass Jordan, Kim Mitchell, The Tea Party, Travis Tritt and David Wilcox have graced the stages at Cayuga International Speedway. Set on nearly 300 acres, Cayuga International Speedway offers the motorsport fan a full range of amenities. An added bonus is the free entertainment every night of the Special Event Weekend under the covered band shell pavilion - a popular gathering spot for all who enjoy the excitement of racing at Cayuga International Speedway.

If history, mystery and intrigue is more your idea of a weekend of fun, then venture into the town of Normandale. The Normandale Post Office built in the late 1830’s by Joseph and Benjamin Van Norman.  It originally was both a post office/general store and residence for the post master and his family. The village of Normandale was the creature of the first iron foundry in Upper Canada. The Van Norman foundry turned out castings of all kinds, which soon became famous for the quality of the iron. Its best known products were possibly the stoves, particularly the justly celebrated Van Norman cooking stove. The former Normandale Post office is a small one and a half story wood frame structure with attic space under the main gable roof forming a second story. The new foundation is concrete, but was originally fieldstone. The exterior finish of the building is wood clapboards with wood corner boards, windows and door trim. The original wood shingle roof has been replaced with asphalt shingles. The post office originally boasted a one story porch across the main façade, with a low slope wood shingle roof supported by four square wood columns. Simpler in design than the columns of the adjacent Union Hotel, these columns reflected the corresponding simplicity of the Post Office’s design. Together with the adjacent Union Hotel, the Normandale Post Office successfully anchored the main intersection of the village. The Union Hotel has some paranormal history! According to the owners, the hotel was built in 1835 to serve the local bog iron ore boom, the property is located on the historic Talbot Trail. The hotel was closed about 1850 and abandoned. It was restored as a bed & breakfast in the 1980s. The hotel is now a beautifully restored private residence. The Union Hotel has been designated as a historical building, so the original floor plan in intact; that includes three parlors, a dining room, front tavern room, as well as a ballroom upstairs. The hotel is outside of the area called “Spooky Hollow.”  Spooky Hollow is actually the area of road behind the property of the hotel. From research through the Toronto & Ontario Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society, it was said that, “in the 1920’s there were booze runners who illegally transported alcohol to the US from Normandale. The booze runners were raided by the police and killed and it is believed their restless spirits walk the roads.”

Speaking of Spooky Hollow … recent reports of activity include the shadow figure of a woman and child, antique toys appearing, the sound of a dog dragging a chain, dehumidifier starting while switched off, and loud knocks on guest room doors. The current owners stated that they have heard a dog walking across the floor dragging a leash and big bangs in the middle of the night. It is also rumored that one of the ghosts was a guest. A man was a travelling salesman hid his gold in the floor boards of the room; there was a guard outside of the room. The next day the guard was gone and the salesman’s body was found in Spooky Hallow. The traveling salesman’s ghost is still looking for his gold and the guard that stole it.

Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary is located north of Normandale within the Norfolk Sand Plain. The Hamilton Naturalist’s Club (HNC) purchased Spooky Hollow in 1961, thus becoming “Ontario’s first land trust”. Low impact activities are permitted in Spooky Hollow, but motorized vehicles, horses, and bicycles are not allowed. You cannot remove of any natural materials; no hunting or fishing is permitted. Inside the nature sanctuary you can see the endangered tree Eastern Flowering Dogwood. All of the nature sanctuary has been designated as a provincially significant Life Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. This designation was awarded because: “American Chestnut, an endangered species, as well as over a dozen provincially rare vascular plants, including remnants of rare sand prairie communities are found within the sanctuary. Rare birds such as the Cerulean Warbler and Red-shouldered Hawk and animals such as the Badger have also been sited. The large size of this natural area provides important interior forest habitat.” Nowhere is it more important to ‘walk softly’ and avoid damaging the environment than in this beautiful and significant landscape. It is also a place that everyone should be able to experience at least once in their lifetime!

In Normandale, south of Van Norman Street just east of Turkey Point Provincial Park was once located one of Upper Canada's most important industrial enterprises, the Normandale ironworks and its blast furnace played a significant role in the early economic development of the province. Built in 1816-1817 by John Mason, and enlarged in 1821-1822 by Joseph Van Norman, Hiram Capron, and George Tillson, it produced the famous Van Norman cooking stove, as well as iron kettles, pots and pans, and agricultural implements. Up to 200 men were employed prior to the closure of the blast furnace in 1847, following the exhaustion of the local bog ore deposits.

If you enjoy sewing or quilting, check out Black Bird Country Quilt Works in Normandale. They offer great deals on quilt fabrics, notions, quilt kits, panels, books, magazines and patterns. Fabrics from manufactures such as RJR, Makower UK,  Robert Kaufman, Seattle Bay, Avlyn Creations, Free Spirit, Westminster Fibers, Rowan, Red Rooster, Maywood Studio, Marcus Brothers, South Seas Imports, Wilmington, Windham Fabrics, Hoffman, Moda, Timeless Treasures, P&B, David Textiles, Fabrics That Care, VIP, Quilting Treasures and more! They also carry a variety of patterns and publications for the beginner to advanced quilters.

No matter what you like to do, there is something for everyone at Hidden Valley Carefree RV resort and the surrounding area.

Traveling to Hidden Valley Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

We left Willow Lake Carefree RV Resort and headed south on County Route 24. We passed by the Waterford Sportsman Club, and it reminded us of our “cruising” friends that are also members of the Conesus Lake Sportsman Club. The Waterford Sportsman club boasts itself as one of the finest shooting ranges in Ontario. They offer skeet, trap, a 25 yard indoor range, archery, and a 200 yard outdoor range, all complimented with a comfortable, roomy clubhouse situated on 60 acres of property that is shared with tons of wildlife.

Along Route 24, we passed a few sets of large free-standing solar panels.  We finally found a sign, the Arcadian Projects. We thought it was some kind of “project” or a beta test of sorts. But it turns out that Arcadian Projects, is a renewable energy system provider. It was refreshing to see so much solar energy in Ontario, I think we saw more in Ontario then we do in Florida. Again, that is something that makes you go hhhmmmmm?!

We encountered a billboard-sized sign on the side of a storage trailer. “Round Plains, Gateway to Waterford” it said. What is the back story to that? Local sweet potato farmer, Bob Proracki, loved his hometown, a farming hamlet that exists in name only. He designed, ordered and paid for the sign. It faces busy Highway 24 west of Waterford. It describes the hamlet, Round Plains, as the “gateway to Waterford” and includes artwork of Alvin the horse. A famed horse raised on an area farm that went to the czar of Russia in the late 1800s. You wouldn’t know Round Plains exists if not for this sign and a municipal sign that went up just about three years ago. Currently, it is a nondescript collection of farms and houses. But it was a different story in the early years of Norfolk County, circa 1800. At that time, Round Plains was a thriving settlement of three churches, three hotels, and a mill that created lumber from the surrounding tree-covered landscape. The lumber was used to build ships. The hamlet’s downfall came when the railway came through. It went to Waterford, an equally tiny settlement at the time, instead of Round Plains. Waterford prospered and Round Plains shriveled. The sign is also a free advertisement for Waterford, an arts and culture town a short drive away, which is increasingly becoming a tourist destination.

In Simcoe, I found a Swiss Chalet restaurant. For anyone that was around Rochester New York in the 70’s and early 80’s, will remember this place. It was a great restaurant for a family to dine out that was affordable and good! My Dad was very sad, when it was closed. It was almost a staple for our family. Swiss Chalet was located in front of Winton Place, on Winton Road. The building is the current location of the Distillery.

We stopped to purchase a few items and there was a DollarTree store. I love those places and just had to venture in. I quickly learned that the exchange rate affects Dollar Tree too, because it should have been called the Dollar Twenty Five Tree! I did pick up a few items, including a pair of red, white and grey Canadian Pride socks! I just love to wear very unique and different socks with my boots.

Eva Brook Donly Museum and Archives is operated by the Norfolk Historical Society. The house was built about 1840 for Thomas J Mulkin. Eva Brook Donly lived in this home from 1924 until 1941. A talented artist, she left her home to the Town of Simcoe on the condition it be used in perpetuity to promote the presentation of antiquities and local artists. The Museum contains displays from Pioneer Days to the 20th century, providing an overview of Norfolk County's rich history with selected rooms furnished in the Victorian style. They still have a large collection of paintings by both Eva Brook Donly and William Edgar Cantelon. Additionally, extensive archives are also housed here and are open to anyone wishing to pursue their genealogy research amid our wealth of family and historical records. They also have a large collection of records relating to the United Empire Loyalists who settled in this region.

Yes, peanuts are grown in Canada. While peanuts have been grown in the US for some time, they were introduced to Canadian soil in the early 1980's. They are only grown in the southern portion of Ontario Province. When tobacco consumption declined in the 80's and 90's, Norfolk County farmers searched for an alternate cash crop. The County had the right combination of sandy soil and temperate climate to produce a high quality crop. Kernal Peanuts is the largest grower of peanuts in Canada. When problems hit the tobacco industry in the late 1970's, Ernie and Nancy Racz went nuts. Literally, nuts! Ernie started experimenting with peanuts, which are well suited to the light sandy soils of southwestern Ontario. By 1982, the couple was growing peanuts commercially. Today, the family farm outside Vittoria houses a peanut manufacturing, wholesale and retail operation. Kernal Peanuts grows Valencia peanuts, then harvests and processes them for a number of products. The store, located in a vine-covered outbuilding, is a nut lover's paradise, selling salted and unsalted nuts and flavored nuts--garlic, barbecue, sour cream, onion, mild and hot cajun. Peanut butter, peanut brittle and fudge are just a few of the other delectable delights.

Many are produced on-site and carry the Kernal label and slogan "Nuttin' But The Best." There is also a unique selection of antique peanut butter cans and containers on display. Most of them were picked up at antique shops, auctions or garage sales, and they provide an interesting glimpse into history of one of North America's most popular foods. Despite their popularity, peanuts have been getting a bad rap in recent years because of allergies and their high fat content. As far as the fat goes, recent research indicates that peanuts and peanut butter are good for your heart, helping to lower bad cholesterol and raise levels of good cholesterol. The key, of course is moderation--although that's hard to practice with Kernal peanuts. Kernal Peanuts is definitely worth a visit. You can tour on your own, or as part of a tour. If you opt for a tour, you'll get a look at a real, honest-to-goodness peanut patch near the shop while Ernie Racz explains growing and harvesting methods. After that, it's on to the plant, where there's usually something going on, such as roasting, shelling, or making peanut butter. The tour winds up in the shop.

We turned south onto Norfolk County Route 10, arriving at Hidden Valley Carefree RV Resort after we passed Turkey Point Provincial Park. Hidden Valley and Turkey Point share a boundary. Hidden Valley is a seasonal vacation resort with several daily and weekly sites. We had the spot a top the highest hill, overlooking most of the park with lots of trees from the Carolinian forest behind us. We could walk from Hidden Valley along the trails into the Provincial park. Whether you're partial to fishing and boating, hiking nature trails or just watching the sun set with family and friends, Hidden Valley RV Resort has something for everyone. They offer plenty of organized events for children and adults alike, including music from the deck of the recreation hall, their Annual Corn Roast, Christmas in August and their spooky Halloween Party. Hidden Valley also features weekly Bingo and Euchre nights, haw wagon rides, children's scavenger hunts and karaoke nights for both kids and adults. It's the perfect place for family fun in the heart of Carolinian forest. In the next blog we will explore what there is to do while you are camping at Hidden Valley Carefree RV Resort.

Traveling to and Staying at Willow Lake Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

From Gulliver's Lake Carefree RV Resort, we traveled King's Highway 403 (pronounced "four-oh-three"), or simply Highway 403. It is also known as the Chedoke Expressway within Hamilton. Although the Highway 403 designation was first applied in 1963 to a short stub of freeway branching off of the QEW, the entire route was not completed until 1997. In Hamilton, Highway 403 descends the Niagara Escarpment.

Speaking of the Niagara Escarpment ... It is a continuous natural landscape; a vital corridor of green space through south-central Ontario. The Niagara Escarpment is a protected area under the Province of Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, 1973, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP.) Canada’s first large-scale environmental land use plan. The Niagara Escarpment Plan provides the framework for a string of 141 Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Spaces (NEPOSS) linked by the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest continuous footpath. Designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990, the Niagara Escarpment is an internationally recognized landform and is the cornerstone of Ontario’s Greenbelt. A landscape of rich biodiversity, home to hundreds of Ontario's Species at Risk, vital watersheds, agricultural areas and 450-million year old geological history, the Niagara Escarpment is a treasure to protect for future generations of Ontarians.

Along with the Niagara Escarpment in this area is the GreenBelt. The Greenbelt is a permanently protected area of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds, located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It surrounds a significant portion of Canada's most populated and fastest-growing area—the Golden Horseshoe. The Golden Horseshoe's population is projected to increase to 11.5 million by 2031. Created by legislation passed by the Government of Ontario in 2005, the Greenbelt is considered a major step in the prevention of urban development and sprawl on environmentally sensitive land in the province. While protecting prime agricultural land is its primary purpose, it is actually a bundle of other key elements to also protect rural area, heritage sites, and sensitive ecological and hydrological features, which include the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine. Agriculture protection is the primary element of the Greenbelt legislation. It prevents municipalities from re-zoning areas identified as "prime agricultural areas", "specialty crop areas" and "rural areas" identified by the province for other uses. At over 1.8 million acres, the Greenbelt is one of the largest and most successful greenbelts in the world.

What is the Golden Horseshoe is a sub-region of Southern Ontario, Canada, which lies at the western end of Lake Ontario with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Georgian Bay. The region is densely populated and industrialized. Most of it is also part of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Quebec City–Windsor Corridor and the Great Lakes Megalopolis. The Golden Horseshoe makes up over 26% of the population of Canada and contains more than 68% of Ontario's population, making it one of the largest population concentrations in North America.

Traveling down Highway 24 we reached Willow Lake Carefree RVResort. This is another park that offers daily, weekly or seasonal camping. It boasts a spring fed 13-acre lake that features a waterslide, and floating rafts. These clear waters are the perfect place for families to enjoy days of sun and fun. This park offers everything needed the perfect family get away. You can the day swimming, fishing, playing baseball or challenging your family to a game of horseshoes. They offer 30-amp full-hookup sites, a snack bar in the peak of the season and laundry facilities. Willow Lake is continually increasing the number of events they hold during the summer including cards, live bands, and movie nights for the kids; just to name a few. Your kids could meet their newest best friend there!

If you like adventure and exploring the local area, there is plenty to see around the area of Willow Lake Carefree RV Resort. You'll also find plenty of attractions in nearby Brantford, such as the Alexander Graham Bell Homestead National Historic Site. This homestead was the site of one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history.  On July 26th, 1874, the young Alexander Graham Bell sat here, in a spot he called his "dreaming place", and pondered the quest for a "speaking telegraph".  As he stared down at the Grand River that warm summer day, inspiration struck! He grasped the concept of how his most famous invention, the telephone, would work.  He mounted one of the three crucial public demonstrations that proved the telephone was a practical form of communication.  Bell's invention would reshape the world. The Bell Homestead, as it quickly came to be known, opened its door to the public for the first time in 1910. For more than a century, the Homestead has welcomed visitors from far and wide.  As one of Ontario's oldest historic home museums, it has grown significantly in that time, with three restored historic buildings and an eclectic collection of original Bell family artifacts.  Together they tell the story of how a young teacher of the deaf came to invent the telephone.

The Canadians are proud of their hockey players! You can see his name everywhere! Close by Willow Lake is the Wayne Gretzky Sports Hall ofRecognition. When this complex started, it was known as the North Park Recreation Centre. The Brant Aquatic Centre was added to the recreation center. The complex's pool dive tank hosted the Canadian National Diving Championships. In 1982, it is renamed the Wayne Gretzky Sports Center, with a nod to a long list of accomplishments from that year including the 50 goals in 50 games record (actually done in 39 games), most goals in a season and becoming the only NHL player in history to break the 200-point mark. He was also the first Canadian named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, Sportsman of the Year (Sports Illustrated) and Canadian Press' Newsmaker of the Year. A $4-million ice park arena adjacent to the sports center was soon added. When you read about the history of this complex, you quickly see that a ton of money has been spent on it … a $2-million renovation; a $2 million bail-out; $355,000 in repairs; a $37-million overhaul; $800,000 in repairs; a $9-million expansion; more reconstruction totaling $63.39 million and another $1.85-million contract … wow, that is some serious dough! Plus

the BMO (Bank of Montreal) donated $25,000 to install a timing system and related display in the new eight-lane, 25-metre pool and SC Johnson used a $200,000 donation to create an outdoor play area on one of the front lawns of the center. The biggest tribute to Wayne Gretzky is the 12-foot statue of Wayne hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head, facing life-sized statues of him and his parents in their younger years at the front entrance of the facility.

There are also world class gardens and number of scenic trails for you to explore in the surrounding areas of Willow Lake Carefree RV Resort. But you can also just enjoy camping, sitting and relax around and on the 13 acre lake!

Traveling to and Staying at Gulliver’s Lake Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

 As we left Grand Oaks Carefree RV Resort, we traveled along the banks of The Grand River. We passed by the Nelles Settlement. The area of the former settlement is on the grounds of St. John’s Church, Highway 54 and Nelles Road. In 1785, Captain Hendrick Nelles was one of several loyalists invited by the Six Nations, on the advice of Joseph Brant, to settle on the native tract bordering the Grand River. Nelles and his family took up land in Seneca Township and by 1828 about 30 families resided there.

Also running parallel to The Grand River is the

Rotary Riverside Trail. The 6 km long trail is open year round and it starts just downstream of Caledonia and runs to York. It was developed and managed by the Rotary Club of Caledonia, most of the trail is on land owned by Haldimand County, with the rest of the trail on private land. It is used by walkers, runners and bicycles.

The Haldimand Chippewa Trail connects the Hamilton Chippawa Trail to the Riverside Rotary Trail at Seneca Park which takes trail

users to the Grand River and then off-road again along the Grand to the hamlet of York. This trail is likely the only part of the Trans-Canada Trail where you might catch a glimpse of a lion or a tiger as a portion of it runs alongside the Killman Zoo.

Arriving at Gulliver’s Lake Carefree RV Resort we were taken back and amazed at the lake that sits at the front edge of the property. For over 30 years, Gulliver’s Lake has been a friendly, well-maintained

family escape that brings guests back year after year. This park is host to a true natural wonder, the 14-acre lake spring-fed by artesian wells. You can enjoy the seclusion and carefree living at Gulliver’s Lake and swim in the cleanest waters in Southern Ontario. The park is host to over 200 sites for seasonal camping.

Even if you are not staying at Gulliver’s Lake, you can come and enjoy the picnic area, crystal clear lake with floating rafts & docks, kayak & paddleboat rentals, and a covered pavilion. Gulliver's Lake

is also the perfect location for seasoned and novice divers alike. Many local diving schools go there to train and dive for pleasure. As host of the 2002 Provincial Triathalon, Gulliver's Lake is also a popular training spot for local triathletes. Gulliver's Lake RV Resort is ideally situated close to the Greater Toronto Area, Burlington and Hamilton.

While you are camping at Gulliver’s Lake for the summer you can enjoy many local attractions. For those who hike there is the Bruce Trail. The Bruce Trail, Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath, provides the only continuous public access to the magnificent Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Running along the Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory, it spans more than 890 km of trail. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining, stewarding and promoting the Bruce Trail.

Canada's Original Safari Adventure, African Lion Safari is just 7 miles down the road from Gulliver’s Lake. You can get closer than you ever imagined to majestic lions, giraffe, cheetah, rhino... and over 1,000 other exotic birds and animals from around the world. This wildlife farm provides a unique viewing opportunity for visitors to see, hear, touch and learn about, and from, different species of animals with which they may otherwise never come in contact. African Lion Safari has earned awards for excellence in the care, management and breeding of many endangered species, both birds and animals. African Lion Safari is recognized internationally for its breeding programs for rare and endangered species as well as for its efforts to support conservation of wildlife worldwide.

Or if you are there in June you can experience organized pandemonium, uncontrollable laughter and non-stop family fun at the annual Dundas International Buskerfest! What is a busker? A busker is a street performer that usually performs for tips. This year’s festival featured artists from six countries and four provinces, including a country never before represented, Thailand! They had returning fan favorites including The Street Circus, and Circo Loco, alongside shows making their Dundas Buskerfest debut. This year’s performers also featured a Bachelor of Magic (really, it is a real degree), musicians with Broadway credits, and graduates of six different circus schools. Our 2015 Novice Busker is Fantastic Flash from Clearwater, Florida. She is young performer that brought her crackling wit and insane flexibility to the festival. We will have to see if we can see her back in Florida!

In August you can enjoy the Dundas Cactus Festival. Yes, a cactus festival in Ontario, Canada. The festival has a midway, a parade, live musicians, street performers, arts & crafts, games, vendors and even some charity gambling. The Dundas Cactus Festival began in 1976 as a festival to mark the beginning of summer. In 1979 the festival was moved to August with local downtown merchants having sidewalk sales to coincide with it. The Dundas Cactus Festival is named after Barend (Ben) Veldhuis, a Dutch immigrant who ran a large greenhouse specializing in cacti. Thanks to him, Dundas has become known as "the cactus capital of the universe". Something just make you go hhmmmm…

Don’t want to cook on Labor Day Weekend? You can attend the Rib Fest in Burlington. This is not just any Rib Fest, it is Canada's Largest Ribfest. How do you gauge something is the largest? Attendance, they broke their attendance record in 2009 when more than 175,000 people attended the festival! That is way too many people for me! Ribs sold, they sold more than 150,000 pounds of ribs were sold over the four-day event. Number of Rib cooking teams participating, they annually welcome 20 "Ribber Teams" from across North America. Money raised for charity, an unbelievable more than $3 million has been raised for local community organizations and charities over the last 19 years! This food festival is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore’s 65 members. Ribfest is their largest and most successful community event, of which all proceeds go to charity.

As the camping season at Gulliver’s Lake starts to wind down in early October, you can enjoy Rockton World’s Fair hosted by the Rockton Agricultural Society. Charlie and I are “big” fair fans … and when we find another “World’s Fair” we have to learn more about it. Our “Little World’s” Fair has been going on in Hemlock since 1857. The Rockton Agricultural Society has come a long way since the first Beverly Agricultural Society Fair was held in October 1852. According to the information recorded in The Pioneers of Beverly, October 20th was a “glorious Indian Summer Day.” There were 181 members and prize money paid to the exhibitor’s was $194.50. Compare this to today’s volunteer membership of almost 700 and prize money of over $100,000 paid to over 1000 exhibitors. In 1934, the Beverly Agricultural Society became the North Wentworth Agricultural Society and, in 1966, the name was changed to the Rockton Agricultural Society. In 1878, Mrs. Andrew Kernighan commented that the fair should be called the “World’s Fair” because all of the world comes to it. The next day, local newspapers carried an article about the fair with the headline “The World’s Fair at Rockton.”

Whether you are looking to relax with friends and family, enjoy some diving or swimming in the crystal clear lake, or camping and seeing the local sights, there is something for everyone to do at or around Gulliver’s Lake Carefree RV Resort!

Staying at Grand Oaks Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

Grand Oaks Carefree RV Resort is located just outside the town of Cayuga, Ontario Canada. It is an overnight, weekend, week or seasonal RV park located along the beautiful Grand River.

The camping sites closest to the 1000 feet of river bank, where you can enter, are for tents and offer no services, but spectacular views! There are several pull through and back in water and electric sites close to the river with

awesome views. There is an upper section of the park that allows seasonal RVer’s to overlook the Grand River. The entire RV park is surrounded by large trees, offering a secluded and relaxing getaway. There is even an oak tree in the park that is hundreds of years old! The grounds also feature a swimming pool, splash pad, and a number of activities and amenities. If you enjoy recreational fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or consider yourself an angler, Grand Oaks is the place for you.
Our friend, Bette would love to fish here. You can wade right across the river at Grand Oaks in your shorts and never get them wet! The Grand River is the largest of the Great Lakes tributaries that flow through the south central portion of Ontario province. The Grand River drainage basin is approximately 6000 square kilometers of both warm and cold water streams that are inhabited by a large population of freshwater species. Grand Oaks is located on the central lower portion of Grand River. Proceed downstream and the river continues

to grow in size and volume. Steelhead fish enter the Grand River at Lake Erie and migrate upstream for reproduction and nursery waters. The Grand River is becoming known as one of the best Great Lakes tributaries for wild steelhead. Each year, thousands of these big rainbows make their way upstream. Most anglers who put in their time on this river, the steelhead rewards are strong fighting fish with larger-than-average size. The river flows and depths are larger, so traditional-style anglers who like to swing flies, either two-handed or single-hand rods, do very well on these waters with this technique. This steelhead population has a wild background, and were born and foraged in the cold nursery waters of the tributaries and main river.

Watching the Grand River for a few days made us think of our kayak enthusiast friends, Tom and Abbie, or anyone that enjoys kayaking or canoeing. You can camp at Grand Oaks Carefree RV Resort and push off right from the parks banks. Paddling on the Grand River can take you from Belwood Lake just upriver of Fergus, past Kitchener-Waterloo and through Cambridge, Paris, and Brantford to Port Maitland at the mouth of the Grand at Lake Erie. The Grand is renowned for its recreational paddling

opportunities and its water quality. Canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts have long enjoyed the experience of paddling the Grand River. Its meandering waterway whose banks display some of the area's most interesting human and natural history. On any day you can capture photographs of paddlers. Paddling on the Grand River can be an afternoon's excursion or a multi-day adventure on this beautiful heritage river. The Grand River is suitable for paddlers of all levels. White-water enthusiasts flock to the Elora Gorge, while those interested in a more tranquil journey can pick from any number of stretches of this 300 KM long river. Paddlers also enjoy other rivers within the Grand River watershed including sections of the Speed, Eramosa, Nith and Conestogo rivers which some people paddle seasonally, based on river levels.
Whether you enjoy recreational fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, quality time with family members of all ages or the quiet escape of a wooded paradise, Grand Oaks is the place for your next weekend get-away or vacation!

Driving to Grand Oaks Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

From Sherkston Shores we headed to Grand Oaks Carefree RV Resort! We traveled mainly along Highway 3. It is a major east west artery from Lake Erie to Wainfleet and onto Dunnville, St. Thomas eventually into Windsor.

We traveled through downtown Port Colborne. It is a Niagara Peninsula city located at the southern end of the Welland Canal on the northern shore of Lake Erie. First Nations people, pre-dating European settlement by thousands of years, had long inhabited this shoreline edged by a mature Carolinian forest and covered by a cranberry marsh further inland. The Welland Canal effectively bisects the city, has been the major determining factor in the city's pattern of growth. By the 1880's, Port Colborne had become an important summer tourist resort as side-wheeling steamers,

steam engine locomotives, and high wheeled bicycles brought hundreds of tourists on a daily basis to lake-side amenities such as Lake View Grove. The discovery in the late 1880's of significant amounts of natural gas in the area led to the rapid industrialization of Port Colborne and the surrounding area as companies such as the Erie and Foster glass companies and the Ontario Silver Company situated here to utilize the new source of fuel. In 1966, Port Colborne was officially accorded the status of 'City'. For those with a taste for adventure, visit Port Colborne in early August each year. The Tall Ships gather in Port Colborne for a four-day celebration of history and heritage. The Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival offers activities and attractions that will enliven the senses. Explore the decks, try your hand at the wheel, or feel the spray as you cruise a Tall Ship on Lake Erie.
Burnaby was originally guaranteed to three settlers, David Morgan, Abraham Minor and Jacob Ott. The men originally from Holland, had settled in Pennsylvania. However the American Revolution forced them to flee to Ontario. The name Burnaby was suggested by William Kinnard, who was instrumental in securing a post office in Burnaby and he owned the first store in the area where he sold everything from farm machinery to pianos. His first suggestion was Wainfleet, but that was rejected by the other men. The name originated from an article he read in “The Globe” about Colonel FrederickBurnaby who had been killed in the Egyptian War. Just can’t get away from the people jumping from the sky! Today, Burnaby is home to Masterson Field and Skydive Burnaby. Masterson Field is a historic grass airstrip was originally used by a group of locals, the Hill's and the Sickout's, to train pilots to fly for military services starting in 1948. Airplanes had been flown above

the 69 acre field for years but in 1962 the residents of Wainfleet and Port Colborne started seeing something different in the air. Parachutes. Canadian skydiving pioneer Glenn Masterson purchased the property and moved the already existing St. Catharine's Parachute Club to the airfield. Glenn past away in 1975 of cancer but he stated in his will that his land was to remain a skydiving operation. The original St. Catharine's Parachute Club, widely considered as North America's oldest skydiving club, was a non-profit organization founded in 1948 and continued operating as such until 1998, celebrating 50 years of operation. In 1998 Mike & Tara Pitt purchased the property as Mike had been a member of the club since he was 10 years old and wanted to continue Glenn's dream of progressing the sport of skydiving in Canada. In 1999 the name was changed but the mission remained the same. Skydive Burnaby has kept the spirit of Masterson's Field alive by continually advancing student training methods and providing experienced Canadian skydivers with a venue to let their passions soar. At Skydive Burnaby you get both, a history of skydiving in Canada combined with the skydiving techniques of the future.

We passed the Chippawa Creek Conservation Area is located in Wellandport, along the Welland River. In the center of the park is Dils Lake, a 10-acre man-made lake. The conservation center offers numerous well-kept trails that wind through the area offering views of the scenic countryside.

Attercliffe is a tiny hamlet located in the northwest corner of Wainfleet Township. Situated very near the Welland River, the tiny settlement evolved to serve the logging industry. A hoop mill, a shingle mill and a saw mill were located there. Logs were rafted downriver and planed lumber and shingles were loaded on barges at Port Davidson, just east of Attercliffe on the Welland River. Here the lumber would head to markets in the US across the Niagara River from Chippawa. The first post office opened in 1853 and closed in 1916. Other business sprang up in the community including a buggy and harness manufacturing shop, a tannery, two hotels, two stores, several brick kilns and a bank. In 1878 a cheese factory was built and did a thriving business until it burned down in 1933. The road through Attercliffe is known as Old Talbot Trail, because it was built along an old Indian trail that was one of the first ways into the interior of Upper Canada. Today, the biggest buzz in

Attercliffe is the Attercliffe General Store wants to host a farmers' market. Owner, Roy Graystone has a vision of local farmers selling their farm-fresh goods outside his Attercliffe General Store this season. The owners of the Attercliffe General Store support the local economy by serving locally-sourced foods in the restaurant portion of their rural business. The bacon is purchased in Beamsville, the eggs from Dunnville, the home-fried potatoes are Ontario grown. For dinner they serve Lake Erie perch and Smithville chicken. Now, they are looking to provide a location for local farmers to sell their goods. They are looking to fill that void by offering their large parking to area farmers to sell their farm-fresh produce once a week. All they need to bring their dream to fruition is some farmers willing to set up a booth once a week. I wish it was later in the season because I really miss the fresh fruit and vegetables we get in Florida!

In Cayuga we stopped at a bank and finally turned some of our US dollars into Canadian currency. Charlie was really craving some McDonalds, but the best that Cayuga had to offer was a Tim Horton’s. But, the parking lot was too small for our “big” rig … so we headed into Grand Bay Carefree RV Resort and he settled for a ham sandwich! Stay tuned for more information in the next blog about this campground!

Staying at Sherkston Shores Carefree RV Resort on our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

It is very easy to find Sherkston Shores Carefree RV Resort, there are big signs on Route 3 and a second sign on Empire Road and Empire Road runs right into the resort! It is located on the beautiful sandy shores of Lake Erie, Sherkston Shores offers 560 acres of beautiful landscape, topped off with two and a half miles of sandy beachfront.

You are greeted at the security booth by the welcoming security staff. Since we had to register, they directed us to the Welcome Center. In the welcome center we were provided our site information, a map of the park and some additional information about the resort. On the park map the directions to our site were drawn and were easy to follow. On busy check-in days, campers are directed from the security booth, to follow the red line to the satellite check in center for campers.

On our way to our site, we passed the Funplex, tennis courts, skate park, the pools, hot tub, three waterslides, splash pad and the paint ball course. Our pull through water, electric and sewer site was on the edge of a beach front quarry stocked with fish.

What other things can you do while camping at Sherkston Shores? You can sit back and relax, swim, play volleyball, soccer or play a round of mini-golf on the 18-hole course. You can try climbing on the rope challenge course or rock wall or the bungee trampoline? Learn to shoot a bow on the archery course or play a round of Frisbee golf. You can listen to bands in the live lounge, grab an adult beverage and meal at Boston Pizza or enjoy a family meal at the Sherkston Café. Don’t worry; if you forgot something stop into the Sherkston Convenience store. You can rent a golf cart or a paddle boat. You’ll never run out of things to do at Sherkston Shores!

You can camp in a tent, trailer, motorhome or stay in one of their rustic cabins. The camp sites are centrally located in the resort. Their clean and modern shower and bathroom facilities are conveniently located to both the RV sites and rustic cabin sites. All you have to do is pull in, set up and enjoy the resort amenities. Don’t own an RV and want something more than a rustic cabin? Enjoy a vacation home rental. Plan the perfect beach vacation getaway for you and your family. The vacation home rentals give you plenty of room to spread out. Your family can enjoy all the comforts of a home while on vacation. You have the option to select a basic, value, standard, or deluxe home. All vacation homes have at least two or three bedrooms. If you fall in love with your vacation rental and want to stay and build a lifetime of memories in your very own vacation home, they can sell you a vacation home. They offer a large selection of home styles and locations, you’re sure to find a getaway that is perfect for your budget.

The campground sites range from tent sites, to RV sites with electric and water on grass to the deluxe 50 amp pull thru sites with paved drive on the water. You can pick the type of site that best fits your needs. From many of the campground sites, you can see the quarry. Sherkston Shores has fireworks from a platform on the quarry many weekends during the season.

The Sherkston quarry offers guests in the resort a great dive site. The quarry became a dive site in 1917 when the water pumps quit working one night after the workers went home. The next morning the workers showed up at work and knew they were out of a job. It is a great place to dive when conditions are right. There is quite a bit to see including  lots of fish, walls, train engines, rocks, a pump house, training platforms for students, a haunted tree, golf carts, boats and a great community atmosphere. Maximum depth is 40 feet with visibility ranging from 0-65 feet.

Sherkston Shores Carefree RV Resort was recently recognized as one of the top resorts in Canada by the Hamilton Community News 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards! With the stiff competition between many businesses in the Golden Horseshoe, Niagara, and surrounding areas of Hamilton, Sherkston Shores placed in not only one, but in two categories. With their guests’ and residents’ nominations and votes they received the first place ‘Diamond’ award for Best Entertainment / Sports resort for Children’s Entertainment, and the fifth place ‘Bronze’ award for Best Entertainment / Sports resort for Recreation Facility.

Keep yourself busy at Sherkston Shores Carefree RV Resort, just 11 miles from the US border, it is a fabulous vacation alternative that offers so much more! "The fun never ends at Sherkston Shores!"