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Gravenhurst… Here we come
With what I hoped was my last visit in a Wal Mart store, we continued on down the road in search for a place to have a cup of coffee. The atmosphere was really at an all time low right now after our little fall out with each other back at the Wal Mart store on the Canadian side of the border at Sault Ste. Marie.We never did find a coffee shop in Sault Ste. Marie and then as we left town, the Gps became quite confused about where we were going.Apparently they had just opened a new stretch of Highway up here and the NEW Garmin map was not up to date. Funny enough, there were no new updates available.Thank goodness I was there to back it up and before we knew it, we were back on course. Not that I did much. This new 10 km stretch of highway ran into the old and we were on our way. Looking on the bright side, the sun was shining, it was warm and we were driving through some very pretty countryside.Halfway between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury on highway 17, we found a little 60´s restaurant and decided that this was where we were going to have coffee. Lost our anger/frustration somewhere behind us which was fine.No need dragging that along with us. We had enough baggage as it was.We parked the bike outside the restaurant and went in.The owner stood behind the counter and there was one customer sitting on the other side. She welcomed us and came right over with two coffee cups and a pot of coffee.We decided to have a bite to eat as well. As we look around the restaurant, it has apparently remained the same for the past many decades. Still, very charming in it´s own way.We were both smiling once again. It´s either the coffee or we still really like each other.I´m hoping for the latter. We talked about finding a shopping centre in Sudbury when we got there. Mostly for Km´s benefit.We had time on our hands at the moment and we didn´t want to arrive too early in Gravenhurst.
We found a large shopping mall in the middle of town.I decided to give Km time to look around while I relaxed with a cold drink.We were to meet after about 45 minutes. If there´s something positive to say about a large shopping centre, it´s normally air conditioned.The time went quickly. Too quickly for Km because she didn´t show up when time ran out. I found the store where I left her and did strangely enough, find her. She was still looking at different clothes so I kind of followed her from a distance like a stalker, so she didn´t feel pressured to be finished. At 2pm, we were on the bike again heading south on highway 69 towards Parry Sound.We were 230 kms from our destination in Gravenhurst.As we enter the Muskoka Region, we find it just gorgeous. I´ve never driven into Gravenhurst from the north side. The trees and lakes are everywhere you look.The area is covered with rock formations all around.Even the shores of the lakes were lined with rock.Before we knew it we were entering the town of Gravenhurst at around 4pm.We were both more than ready to stretch our legs. After a quick break, we jumped onboard and headed down to the harbour. We noticed that there was an arts and crafts exhibit there. We decided to check it out. We paid the admission and entered into the grounds.At one point, Km noticed a booth that sold purses made by sewing old blue jeans together. There were people at her work that did the same sort of thing so she snapped some pictures to take back home to show them, so they could get some new inspiration.Unfortunately the lady who owned the booth became extremely upset with her and made her delete the pictures of inspiration. Good time to make some tracks…We later found a man who made games by carving them out of wood. We ended up buying 3 cribbage board games.Two of them were for us and the other one as a welcome gift for Burt and Gail.I remember that they used to play way back when and if they didn´t play anymore, perhaps a new board might help get them back into the swing of things. I wonder how that will work out??After an hour or so, we left the grounds and hopped up on the bike and began our search for a shopping center so we could buy some dinner.We were lucky enough to find both a shopping center and beer store close by. We found some sandwiches and six large chunks of meat which perhaps could be thrown on the BBQ tomorrow for dinner.I knew how much Burt enjoyed burning things on the Barbi and this would be a great opportunity for him. Made a quick stop at the beer store for two six packs. Not sure how we attached these things to the bike. There really wasn´t any room at all but once again, it seemed to work.We headed back to the harbour to find a place to eat our sandwiches. Km thought it might be a great idea to share a beer down here with our dinner. For a short moment, she thought we were back in Denmark. In Denmark, you can more or less drink a beer wherever you like. Even while being a passenger in a car, as long as the drivers not drinking. It turned out to be a very enjoyable late afternoon.I have been coming to Gravenhurst since I was about 5 years old but never really spent any time in town. Okay, maybe 10 minutes every summer as we stopped at Slone´s Bakery for their famous Blueberry Pie. Unfortunately, the bakery doesn´t exist anymore. Only the legend!!
We finished our dinner and now it was time to head off down the road.We were off to Loon Lake which isabout a twenty minute drive from here.I hope Gail was ready for us !! The first stretch of the road was pretty rugged.It might have been easier to be driving in an ATV, but a lovely drive all the same.I was so much looking forward to see the Skopits now but at the same time, I still can´t help thinking about the conversation with Gail from Minnesota. I can still hear her saying, how Charles will be delighted to see us. She never mentioned themselves. Before we knew it, we were heading up the driveway at Pinetree Road at the Skopits Shanty.We parked the bike close to the front door and were greeted by the smiling faces of Burt, Gail and Charles. There were hugs all around and thought to myself… this was a good start. We walked inside the cottage and at this point I wanted to make sure that we were not imposing on them so I asked Gail directly.Gail's response to my question was... that it was okay. Now I´m thinking, does she mean it's okay to impose or it´s okay and we´re not.It did get the conversation going in the right direction.For the first, Km was absolutely correct when she said that Gail was probably the type who wanted things to be ready before the "guests" arrive. I myself would not have thought anything about swimming or lounging around down by the water while Gail did get ready and I have a feeling that Burt would have felt the same as I did. So it must be a woman thing. Glad I had a woman with me so I didn´t get things wrong in that department. That was only one of the things that concerned Gail.The other thing was that she always considered me to be her daughter Sherri´s friend and kind of wondered why we still wanted to see them while Sherri had to work. She obviously never realized how much I love them all.I´ve always considered them family as well as my friends so apparently Gail and I had some serious bonding to do and we only had two days to complete the task.I decided to start by handing over the Cribbage board we had bought for them at the arts and crafts market as a token of our friendship and hoping it was something they could use. We were shown to our room and then I went out and removed the duffle bags from the bike so we could get to our clothes in the saddlebags. I did get a chance to jump in the lake for a quick swim and then we spent most of the evening just talking and rocking away in the chairs in the living room. After a quick shower later that evening, Km and I slipped into our beds and literally slept like a baby. Okay, we slept better than a baby because babies tend to cry all night and we didn´t. It's a strange saying…
The next morning, while laying in bed listening to the birds sing, I had this strange urge to jump in the water.I left Km in bed and I was on my way. I guess it was kind of a tradition up there at the cottage. It goes way back to when Sherri and I were youngsters. By the time I got out of bed in the morning and into the living room, Sherri was already doing a 1000 km/hr back and forth in the rocking chair. I would say good morning and she would tell me to go jump in the lake, which of course I did. Nice way to start a Saturday or any warm day for that matter.Today, Sherri wasn't there. It was Gail this time sitting very still in the rocking chair reading a book. Burt was already out for his morning Walk/run thing. We said good morning to each other and I was off for the first swim of the day. As I walked out the door, I could feel from the warmth in the air that this was going to be a lovely day. I walked down to the water's edge and stopped, looking out over the lake. It looked like a sheet of glass and there wasn´t a breeze to be found.It was just so quiet you could have heard a pin drop, if it wasn´t for the fact that I`m standing on a sandy beach.It was just so peaceful.The silence was then broken by a dog barking in the distance. It sure brought back a lot of fine memories from my time spent up here.Itwas now time to make some rings in the water and I jumped in.We spent most of the day just relaxing down by the dock, little bit of swimming and then we went for a boat ride around the lake. We did make a stop at one of the neighbours on the lake to say hello. They were all invited back to the Skopit Shanty later that afternoon for one of Burts famous Bloody Mary´s, or did he learn that from his daughter Sherri !!??As we approached dinner time, it was Burt that lit up the BBQ. This BBQhas been there as long as I can remember. It is kind of a traditionhere at Loon Lake to grill flunken strips. The modern name for this cut of meat is called Miami Ribs. With this fancy name in place, they were able to jack up the price to almost the double. With that in mind, one does need a master chef. Here is where Burt comes into the picture.Burt is and always has been a master at burning them to a crisp with the famous Loon Lake flunken strip sauce. Okay, some people might use the word burnt but not Burt. He always claimed that this was not the case!Apparently they were grilled to candy perfection. With the BBQ lit and ready to go, he was then handed over the plate of Miami ribs by Gail and they were thrown on the grill. I was put in charge of the sauce.My job was to paint the ribs with sauce every time they were turned on the grill. I was beginning to think that Burt was now looking for a Partner in Crime.He needed someone to share the blame for the jet black Miami Ribs.I felt a little more at ease when Burt told me that he doesn´t grill them as long as he used too. In other words, he doesn´t blacken them as he did in the past. This was not going to be an easy job for me with a beer in my left hand and a paint brush in my right, but I suppose somebody had to do it. Charles was there right behind me all the way watching intensely and took notes in his head as he prepares to follow in his father´s footsteps.These along with the Round pieces of meat we purchased in town, it looked like it was going to be a heavenly feast this evening and it was.
The next morning we awoke to another lovely day. I again started the day with a quick dip in the lake. Then we all met in the kitchen for some breakfast.It was Sunday 16th of August and we leave today to return to our starting point at sister Suzanne´s in Keswick for some 3 months ago. It was kind of a strange feeling that what started as a long 3 month trip, was now only days away from reaching an end.Where did the time go??It was also strange because I couldn't help thinking about if this was the last time I would visit the Skopits Shanty on Loon Lake. Its not as if we live close by. Its quite a distance from Denmark to Gravenhurst. According to my GPS, its 6019 kms due west from our little home in Fredericia. One thing for sure… if I´m ever this way again, it will be on my wish list of things to do.
We started to pack the bike slowly but surely. Our plan was to get the bike packed and then enjoy the rest of the morning with Burt and Gail before eating lunch together and then departing for Keswick. Charles was seldom to be seen before lunch time. He enjoyed his music down by the boathouse and before he knew it, time had flown from him. He did join us briefly at the table for lunch but had to give up due to the fact that his bed was calling him for a short power nap. It was now 1pm and we were getting our jackets on and unfortunately, the time had come to leave the cottage.There we were, the five of us saying our goodbyes and getting in a few pictures.It was a fantastic moment for me because I knew that Gail and I had bonded quite well in the short time we had together. Gail, who hates to be photographed, stood there and let us snap, one picture after the other. It was then hugs all around as we thanked them so much for their hospitality. We still hope one day to have them visit us over in Denmark. We have offered them our little Summer house by the sea in Bøgeskov.Our Motto at the summer house... If you want breakfast in bed, Sleep in the Kitchen.It was now time to head south towards our final destination at Suzanne and Bills. With the bike set in gear, we wave good bye and with a toot of the horn, we head on down Pinetree Rd. The sun was shining and it was another warm day.In two hours, if all goes well, we will be heading up Bill and Suzanne´s driveway as our three month journey, comes to end. During this last leg of our trip, my speedometer will reach a milestone.Somewhere between here and Keswick, we will be turning the speedometer back to zero. This I wanted to make sure I got on camera.With Gravenhurst behind us now, we cruise southbound on Highway 11.
Next Stop… Keswick
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