Reunion

 

OK, below is a picture of an old building, yes, but that's where this event got started. This is the Nicolston Grist Mill located near Alliston, Ontario, collocated with a very attractive RV park.

 

Still waiting for our connection to this old grist mill? OK.

 

Ed and Rita Beth are old friends who we met at Randolph Air Force Base around 1986 or so, as he was a Canadian Air Force exchange officer and we were both captains at the time. We have enjoyed their company many times and visited them in Moose Jaw at their home in 2007 (blog history). Ed is still in the RCAF reserves as a simulator instructor pilot and on weekends teaches Air Cadets glider piloting as well.

The rest of the story is that Rita's sister, Charon, married into the Nicols family who have owned this mill for the past 5 generations and Charon's son was getting married, hence the Beths coming near Barrie for the occasion.

The wedding was Friday night at Mrs Mitchell's about 10 miles west of Alliston, so the Beths suggested we go back there the next day for brunch as it was an excellent venue. Here are Ed and Rita outside the front of the restaurant.

As you come into the cozy old house you are greeted by this massive fireplace.

And we settled into a wonderful brunch afternoon. With super personal service and warm surroundings we devoured some samplings of corn chowder, clam chowder, onion soup, mushroom soup, and then Ruben and pulled pork sandwiches; all presented and cooked perfectly.

What a neat day and really a surprise and treat for us from these folks in Moose Jaw who we wish we lived closer to.

Above is Rita and Jo-Anne after our feast in one of the several garden areas around the Restaurant. Beautiful setting and while a hot and humid day, it was still fairly pleasant for the picture taking and then later back at the mill reminiscing about people and events since 1986. Great folks and wonderful memories!

Foodies

 

As is our normal weekend habit we hopped in the Terrain and searched for the next neat place to grab some tasty eats. This time we stopped about 20 miles to the south of Barrie in the little town of Cookstown just off the 400 going toward Toronto.

 

It didn't take more than a couple of minutes to settle on this place on the main street The Bulldog Beanery ... super curb appeal right from the start.

 

Coming to the front door you get the chalkboard with the specials of the day and then enter the place.

The front room through those doors look bright and cheery like an old time ice cream parlor but as you venture further back there are antiques and paintings in a more formal setting ... and quiet. Actually the place has a rich history and has stories written about its haunted past and present ... ooo.

We chatted with the owners as we had a couple of cups of tea and then settled on the treat for the day.

Jo-Anne had their grilled cheese made with brie and gruyere and fresh blueberries on homemade bread. And I had this massive looking thing. Its a club sandwich but in addition to the three meats and three cheeses it had tomatoes, avocados and spinach and was topped with a fried egg ... nuff said; we'll be back!

HAPPY CANADA DAY

AND

FOURTH OF JULY!!

 

Below is our front yard and the international flag being watched over by the always attentive flamingos.

 

 

 

 

For Canada Day we went over to the Waterford Residence to see Jo-Anne's dad for lunch and see some entertainment that was on the billboard.

 



After our good lunch as always we went down to the lounge and listened to a guy named Norris Vines. He is one of the later members of the Platters and sang with them in the 60's and 70's. This was really cool, more for us than the much older folks in the audience. Norris stopped touring with the Platters and returned to his home near Barrie and formed his own group, particularly specializing in the original Platters songs and performs throughout Canada.

Of course for Canada Day everyone is decked out in red and on each table there was a free hat. Actually the hat went back to Jo's dad's apartment with him ... but posed for a reluctant photo op.

And for the Fourth we had some friends invite us over that we had met in Nashville at the KOA there and then the next day we reciprocated for a really good happy hour. Here's Dusty and Karen on the patio of their new Ace rig. They are from Brampton near Toronto but are really getting into the RV life; not full time yet but I'm sure it will be soon.

 

The weather for the weekend was warm, near 80, with fairly high humidity but it broke the trend so far this summer of the cool and rainy days ... finally ... particularly for the Canadians who see the white stuff not that far off.