Weekend Plans Gone Awry

I seem to be stumbling into these great day trips lately. Last Sunday Nadia and I tried to go to the Fall Fair here in O.S. Who knew that the fair ended on Saturday? What kind of fair ends on Saturday?? Anyway, we decided to go to Neustadt for a drive instead, and ended up having a great day. Finding lunch was a bit of a challenge, but there was no shortage of antique shops. We also managed to stumble upon the brewery, where we had beer samples and a dinner recommendation from the man working there. All in all it was a very good day.

Today, I decided to get another stamp in my Explore the Bruce passport. I've been working on this off and on over the summer and picked up clue last week when I was in Neustadt. In order to get my next stamp, I had to go to hike the Sulpher Springs trail. Unfortunately it started pouring as I was driving there.

Not one to give up, I checked my passport and discovered there was another clue in Mildmay, so off I went. According to this clue I had to go to the nearby mountain bike trail to get my stamp. Luckily I didn't actually have to bike the trail, but I did have to walk through the pack of 5 or 6 young guys preparing to hit the trail, in order to get to the box and stamp my passport. I felt a little out of place but I was damned if I was going to drive all that way and not get my stamp. There are important prizes to be won!!

Then for the drive home. Of course, I didn't want to drive back the way I came - where's the adventure in that? I checked my trusty passport and sure enough there was another clue in Tara, so off I went. This clue sent me to Arran Lake for my stamp. Not much there other than a pavilion and the stamp box, but it was a lovely drive. Then home from there.

All in all it was a great day. I saw some beautiful parts of the area and discovered some great new back roads.

I guess the lesson to be learned here is to go with the flow. Neither today or last Sunday worked out the way I had planned, but both turned out to be fantastic nonetheless.

I'm still going to try for that Sulphur Springs one though. Maybe tomorrow...