The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 7,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 12 years to get that many views.
Click here to see the complete report.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for following. May 2013 be the best year ever for you and your loved ones.
A selection of Tazo teas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m from a family of mathletes, people who think having a good time at the beach is calculating how many grains of sand there are. I missed the math gene just as I missed the music gene. And yes, I am aware there is a correlation between math and music aptitude.
Today, I was forced to use my math skills, not for fun, but for the good of the grocery budget. I am rather fond of Tazo Zen K-cup tea. Knowing that it is more expensive per serving than plain green tea, I was looking for the best value. I purchased a box, then traveled to another store, where I found it on the shelf but 3 dollars cheaper. This is where the math came in. The first box had 16 cups, the second only 10. The mathletes among you will have done…well…the math. With K-cup boxes size does count.
Chaffey’s Lock
Running southwest to northeast from The Perth Road to #15, there is a scenic, winding road known as Chaffey’s Lock Road. Two lanes, with gravel patches every now and then, this is not the route to take if you’re looking for a straightaway and high speeds. The turns are tight and there are enough hills that on-coming traffic is hard to see.
The Opinicon Resort seems to be the only public space along the road. The resort lies near the lock and the old mill, built in 1872, by John Chaffey. The mill is a private building and the lock is part of the Rideau Canal system, running from Kingston to Ottawa. Visitors can picnic at the lock itself. The narrow bridge is a single lane and will move if there is boat traffic. If I haven’t yet made it clear. Don’t be in a hurry when you are traveling this road.
En route you’ll pass meadows, planted fields and marshes. The shoulders are narrow. In some places, trees grow right up to the road allowance. The people who live along the road value privacy. The farms, cottages and homesteads are often situated far back from the road at the end of a long lane.
The distance from the locks to #15 is shorter and more traveled than the distance from The Perth Road to the locks. So if you must shorten the adventure, start at the #15 end. Pack a picnic, make sure there is a battery in your camera, be prepared to linger.
Waiting for the Glenora Ferry
Traveling from Montreal, Ganonoque or Kingston to Prince Edward County, you have a choice of two routes to enter the region. I chose the Glenora Ferry route this trip. From the 401, turn south at a Kingston exit, until you reach Bath Road (aka #33). Follow Bath Road westward until you reach the end. You’ll travel through Collins Bay and Adolphustown, before reaching the ferry terminal.
This is the scenic route. If you are impatient, the ferry route may not be for you. The ferry ride is 15 minutes, but you will have to wait to board. The wait time depends on the length of the queue of cars. We waited about 15 minutes, because we arrived just after a ferry departure. The ferry schedule varies according to season, so I strongly recommend that you check it when planning your trip.
The public washrooms at the terminal are the only amenities. Bring your own bottled water, and be sure to walk the dog, if you have a wait.
You may leave your car only after the ferry has left the dock. There is no observation deck, but the railings are low, so only small children are unable to enjoy the view.
On docking in the County, you must drive up a hill, a little frustrating when the vehicle in front of you is a loaded truck. Patience is the County way. The highest speed limit is 80 kph, on the main roads. Your average speed will be 60 kph more often than not. A visit is not for speed demons.
View from the Glenora Ferry
The Glenora Ferry road leads directly to Picton, the seat of the regional government. The County is actually a town, divided into Wards. Ontario’s County system has been undermined by any number of provincial governments that have created “regional governments.” The County is one such victim of consolidation.
En route to the ferry you will encounter a handful of vineyards, in the Adolphus Reach area. They are young, but still eager to provide tastings.
There is less evidence that the County is a wine region, when you disembark the ferry. The western coast is broken by bays with high cliffs. Little agriculture is evident until you pass through Picton.
Picton offers a wide choice of lodging, ranging from B&Bs to an Inn with a spa. The book store on Main Street is independent, large and has a small coffee and tea room attached. Everyone who is anyone in Picton stops by at some point.
Our favourite restaurant, Portabella, is just a few doors down. Portabella is not open Monday and Tuesday, so plan accordingly.
As a rule of thumb, check opening times before you arrive. Life in The County is seasonal, as are the operation times of museums, parks, restaurants and cottage rentals.
That Bucket List I wrote when I was 20 required some revision, so I’ve spent the long weekend re-prioritizing, deleting and adding items. One unexpected result: Confronting some of life’s mysteries. I now have a second list: Life mysteries I will never solve. What a sense of relief when I admitted to myself that there are certain things that I will never understand.
