Camping: June 15th- 17th, 2025
Roads: highway 46 east to Kent Rd. 3 to Blenheim highway 3 to Delhi north on 4 to highway 24 North towards Brantford. Right on Robinson Rd. to the end and left at the bend on Jennings Rd. Welcome to Brant Conservation Area.
Day one
We arrive around 3 pm and set up camp. Maple126 is a great site. Lots of space and plenty of shade. We have a simple supper: sushi and spring rolls. Enjoy a couple of beverages and snacks while playing Mexican train dominoes.
Night one
My job is fire starter. It has been a great first day, and I am determined to make it a great first night. The wood is not the best, but I get it going. I am holding a long tree branch, also known as a fire poker. This stick has travelled across Canada, and if it could talk, it would have some tall tales to tell. We call it a story stick. It is passed around the campfire, and each person who holds it must tell a story. My brother-in-law tells the tallest tales. Smiley face emoji.
Day two
We head north on 24 towards Paris, Ontario. The road to Paris has many roundabouts. We survived the many roundabouts, but it wasn't going to be our last, because around about the time we get downtown, construction turns us around again. I couldn't tell how we got there, but we made it. Thank you, GPS.
Paris
The downtown area is torn up with a fenced-in construction zone. The sidewalks are still usable, and some of our favourite stores are open. There are usually two things on my mind when walking in a tourist area. One, why do I need to buy this stuff? The other is ice cream or coffee. And in that order.
Walk
I park the car on a side street and make a mental note. The coffee shop is at the corner. We start to walk and stop at the lookout at the end of the road. Look out could also apply to the construction vehicles in our way. We have a picture-taking moment. I take none. It was more of a been there, done that moment. We stop by a few shops. We are really looking for just one shop.
Ice cream
Chocolate Sensations is our favourite store in Paris, Ontario. We sometimes buy chocolates here, and we would have if we hadn't stopped by Picard's Peanuts in Talbotville. Our halfway point on yesterday's journey, and a place I highly recommend you check out. That's was yesterday. Today, we have only one thing on our minds. Ice cream. Not just ice cream. Kawartha Lakes ice cream. I chose a small bowl of Nanaimo bar ice cream. I have no idea what everyone else is eating, and I don't care. Yum.
Chocolate Sensations 👈 check it out
Coffee
On the way back to the car, we stop by a café. I ordered a coffee and must wait while they brew a fresh pot. I like fresh coffee. Their version of fresh is not fresh. I add two creams; I take a sip. I add one sugar, take another sip. And when we get back to the camp, I baptize an oak tree. Yuck. Sorry, no free plug here.
Back at the camp, we play rummy-o, and I try to stay awake. I'm popping chocolate-covered coffee beans, wondering if I will survive the crash. I do, and I now have enough energy to get the fire going again. I wanted to get my Boy Scout badge back that got burned the night before. This time, more paper, more kindling. Same result. Luckily, the ever-present breeze stokes the lacklustre flames.
Day three
Antique shopping
We decided to go for a ride, hoping our favourite antique shops would be open in Waterford. Unfortunately, they were closed, but my sister was able to buy some new pants at Main Station Collectibles. Be sure and check the store out. Great friendly staff and a huge selection of bargains. You can find them on Facebook for more information.
On the road again
We decided to head down Highway 24 to downtown Simcoe. We parked on a side road and went for a stroll. On the corner, we discover Kaley’s. My sister thinks it's Kelsey’s, but it doesn’t look like Kelsey’s. There is a lady inside who welcomes us in. She leads us to the restaurant inside. On the other side of the wall, we find our seats. We order our drinks. Three glasses of water and one coffee. I took my chances. This time it was a good cup. There are many options to choose from. But we are all intrigued by one.
What'll ya have?
I have seen flights of beer and spirits, but soup? There was a soup menu on the wall offering five or six soup-of-the-day options. My flight is Tai chicken, cheeseburger and tomato. The presentation is so impressive. Three cups of soup on a board with crackers and breadsticks. I can't recall what everyone else decided on, and to be truthful, I didn't care. I was lost in my own soup du jour experience.
Back to the camp
The day closed with supper and games. There was no wood left. We watched an old comedy movie instead. Well, not all of it, I was in and out for most of it.
We woke up early in the morning, made a couple of coffees for the road, said our goodbyes and headed out. It was another great trip.
On the road with me, Denny D.
Reminding you:
The road to life may have many roundabouts and construction zones,
but they don't have to lead to a dead end.
Sometimes you have to make your own roads, and if you can't, use your GPS.
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