May 2013

May--Life on Wheels

The month of May opened up a new chapter in Roaming through Retirement. While we have been RVing for weeks and months at a time, this year we are taking the next 12-months to explore the perimeter of America and Canada, from the Twin Cities to St. John's, Newfoundland to Key West, Florida to San Diego, California. We left Denise's place in early May and parked our RV at three campgrounds--a week stay each in Wisconsin and Michigan and two weeks near Toronto Ontario. From there, we used our tow car to get around to meeting people and seeing the sights and sounds of this part of the world. The weather was cooler and wetter than we expected, but our overall experience has been much better than we expected. Keep us informed by clicking on the email link Larry and Glorine.


	For alternative means of transportation and some exercise, we got a couple of bikes, which meant a new hitch, bike rack and all the accessories. Both are commuter or step-through bikes which have a stylish U-Frame design that makes it quite easy to get on and off.	After sharing our itinerary with friends and family, we received an email from Jerry and Doris Lydeen. Jerry and Larry worked together back in the early 1980s and have not seen each other for 20+ years. Besides a lot of reminiscing, they shared their retirement life in Fond de Lac, Wisconsin including the light house on the shores of Lake Winnebago.

	While the RV stayed in Kalamazoo, we drove to Kentucky to visit friends from college days. Our first stop was in Richmond to visit David and Diane. Diane and Glorine worked together in the late 60s, and at the end of May, Diane joined the ranks of the retired. Congratulations!!	After touring the campus of Eastern Kentucky University (Larry's alma mater) David took us on the back roads through world famous horse country surrounding Lexington. This farm is where Secretariat retired to stud service following his win of the Triple Crown in 1973.

	As we drove through Lexington, we found this new 2-1/2 acre park dedicated to the Thoroughbred industry. In addition to life-size bronze racehorses, this park is a memorial to the great jockeys and leaders that made Kentucky synonymous with horse racing.	As we drove through memory lane, we stopped at this mobile home park where we lived in the early 1970s. Denise was born then and Carmen was a preschooler and both of us were working and going to college--it was where we started out our life together as a young family. The park looked remarkably well.

	On to Frankfort, the capitol of Kentucky, to spend time with Scott, one of Larry's buddies from graduate school days at Eastern Kentucky University. They get together once a year, whether they need to or not.	While there, we watched the Preakness. The cool thing about this race was the winner, Oxbow is from the Calumet Farm outside of Lexington and the jokey, 50 year old Gary Stevens, is from Boise Idaho.

	The day after arriving in Ontario, we met up with Jim Garrow, one of our Canadian friends we met in Ajijic. After a three and a half mile walk along some cool trails around his home town of Orangeville he took us on a tour of the area, including this 50 acre farm he once owned.	The next day, Jim took us on a 45 kilometer bike ride through the hill country near his home. We rode on both bike trails and along paved and gravel roads. As if the hills were not tough enough, he took us on a short cut through this cow path for about a mile. It was both challenging and exhilarating.

	Helen Vecctliola, a sweet Ajijic friend, lives in a corner apartment on the 22nd floor of a high rise tower, with spectacular views of downtown Toronto and Lake Ontario. On a clear day, she can see the mist over Niagara Falls. Helen skipped Ajijic last season, so we had a lot to catch up on.	Toronto is Canada's largest city and the fourth largest city in North America. Helen introduced us to its phenomenal subway and streetcar system by taking us to Harbourfront--where Lake Ontario meets the city. After some shopping and sightseeing, we stopped at this Irish Pub for a great time by the lake.

	Canada has North America's largest bike-sharing system. While subsidized by the government, this system is designed for short term use by using a credit card, one can pick up a bike in one location and drop it off at another. Time Magazine ranked it as one of the top 20 inventions in 2008.	Rick and Kathy Myer seated next to Glorine, drove down from Port Perry to become our first overnight guests in our motorhome this year. Jim Garrow joined us for happy hour, dinner and a round of cards. The rainy weather kept us all indoors.

	Another rainy day in Toronto kept most of our sightseeing indoors. We took a 2-1/2 hour tour of the Casa Loma (Spanish for hill house) a local landmark built as the residents for Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a local financier and entrepreneur.	This enormous hallway runs the length of the 100 room castle. The poor timing of World War I and some bad investments left Sir Henry penniless. It was auctioned off in 1933 and later refurbished and turned into a museum.

	Like Helen, Peter and Sybilla Mannsfeldt skipped Ajijic last winter for other activities but will be back this coming winter. They were both born in Germany but spent most of their lives in Canada. Our common German heritage added a lot to our conversation over a great German meal.	Peter and Sybilla gave us a tour of the Scarborough Bluffs, one of the highest points along the northern shore of Lake Ontario which provided a great vista overlooking the lake. Unfortunately, the bluffs are a bit unstable and large chunks of the bluffs have broken off taking some homes with them.

	Peter also took us on tour (and dessert) of Greek Town, one of the city's most vibrant ethnic community. With nearly half of the city's residents born outside of the country, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world.	One day we drove into the city, parked our car at Helen's place, took the bikes on the subway and then caught a ferry to Toronto Islands for a day of biking. The view is of Toronto's skyline, including the CN Tower, is spectacular. We heard that 100 new high-rise buildings are currently under construction.

	Larry caught this picture of these Canadian Geese flying in formation over Lake Ontario.	Glorine is navigating a route through this 500 acre chain of islands that are seemingly located perfectly to shelter Toronto Harbour from high seas.

	Larry was wondering if the grandkids would be interested in this tree house design.	Glorine was taken in by the small but impressive community of cottages on the island.

	This Moose is ready for action guarding the entrance of the CN Tower, one of the largest structures in the world!	After a day of biking, a beverage and a view of the city from the top of the CN Tower was a good way to avoid the rush hour commute back to the RV.

	We drove to Port Perry to spend a couple of nights with friends Rick and Kathy. Both nights we went country two-stepping. With the average age of the members of the band and those on the dance floor, we felt right at home.	Spending time with friends in their environment and doing the things they enjoy doing makes Roaming through Retirement extra special. We shared a farewell brunch at one of their favorite restaurants. Another fun experience in Canada.

	From Port Perry, we drove deeper into "cottage country" to meet up with Carol and Ross Brown, who lived in the same complex we did last winter. Ross took us on a pontoon ride through a chain of lakes, some lined with summer and weekend homes and others protected as a provincial park.	After a wonderful dinner, laughing ,an evening of playing Farkle (a dice game for those of you who thought it was something else), laughing, telling tales of our youth, laughing, stories of Ajijic, laughing, drinking a bottle or two of wine and laughing, it was time to say good-bye to our great host.

	On the drive back to the RV through cottage country, we saw this canal system which gets boats from one lake system to another. This system allows boaters to access waterways in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.	On another sunny day, we rode our bikes through the University of Toronto near the city center. This 200 acre campus has its origins back to the early 1800s which focused on a Victorian revival styles of architecure, Larry favorite.

	From the campus, we rode our bikes to China Town, which makes up one of the largest ethnic groups in Toronto. The colorful signage and the smell of fresh sea food were distinct as we rode along the busy streets.	Near China Town and the University, we biked through the legendary Kensington Market, which has a rich Latin influence and where we could buy nearly any food produced in the world.

	Keith and Maureen Martin stopped by the RV for a visit. They are the only friends we met up with in Canada who live in Ajijic full time. They were back in Ontario to visit family and friends. Interestingly, the home they once owned here in Ontario was only a few miles south of our campground.	Moving days can be interesting. After two wonderful weeks in the Toronto area and seeing so many wonderful people we met in Mexico, we moved the RV to the Niagara Falls area. While it was only a short distance, it took us several hours because of heavy rain and long lines at the border.

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May's web page includes May 1 through May 31.