Yesterday, to the day of this writing, I had the pleasure of a visit from my sister Shirley. She has lived in Sarnia for the greater part of her married life as her hubby worked, until retirement, for Sarnia Hydro.
Miles, and the far flung spread of genetic offspring (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren), has left us few opportunities to have a specific visit. But not so yesterday.
That visit meant quite a lot to both she and I, as she sports an age that is greater than mine by a year and nine months. She and I are the remaining last of a family of nine siblings, and time marches on.
She and her chauffeur hubby arrived just before the lunch hour, and as the weather was warm and sunny my son and I took the opportunity of showing them around the farm and, of course, bragging a little of what was accomplished since the devastation of the three years ago tornado. Both having been raised on the farm the tour saw them strongly interested in the garden, the animals we keep, the buildings replaced, as well as the plans proposed for the future.
Needless to say we were a little late getting away to have a lingering lunch at Steven’s, a local Markdale restaurant. It is difficult to mind your manners and not talk with your mouth full when you have so many things to talk about, but we managed.
After lunch we decided to tour the countryside just to look at the fall colours. We turned east of Highway 10 wandering the ups and the downs and the this way and that way curves of the tree-shrouded back roads. We passed many now-defunct farms with buildings in long need of repairs and others already tumbled. If only they could talk I’d have more than ample things to write about in the years to come.
Several of the intersections sported a pointing sign with the inscription, “Walter’s Falls.” Naturally, without regrets, we followed them. The fall colours, perhaps not at their best quite yet, were beautiful, with many clusters of fall blooming daisy adding their splash of colour along the way.
Walter’s Falls is an interesting place. It features a heritage feed and flour mill that is still in operation. That is accompanied by a more recently constructed retreat hotel with restaurant that I suspect would be a little more pricey than the one we ate at but the view and atmosphere is probably second to none. There is also a pleasant little gift shop.
So, folks, if you are heading out to see the colours that Mother Nature and Jack Frost have painted the trees, now is the time. Highway 10, just north of Markdale, follow the signs to Walter’s Falls. You won’t regret that you did.
Take care, ‘cause we care.
barrie@barriehopkins.ca
519-986-4105