Canada and Ipperwash Beach

We left home (Somerset Beach Campground) on Sept. 23. Our first planned stop was Ipperwash Beach Canada to visit friends, Weldon and Marie Johnston. We got to know the Johnston’s our first winter of retirement at Light and Life Park in Lakeland, FL. Their summer home is at Ipperwash Beach, Canada on the shores of Lake Huron.

Crossing over into Canada at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron we had no problems at all with customs. Bruce had a problem finding the RV line on the bridge, but all went well. The crossing into New York at Fort Erie went well also, the customs inspector took a look inside the 5^th wheel and said “extended trip?” and Bruce said “No, this is our house”, he replied “lucky you” laughed and let us go on.

We continued on to Weldon and Marie’s on the Indian Reservation at Ipperwash Beach, parking the whole rig in their driveway, much to the amazement of the neighbors. When Weldon came home, he had to drive across the yard to park his car. (We filled the whole driveway.)

The first evening, the ladies wanted to see the sunset on Lake Huron, so we went to Kettle Point, enjoyed a beautiful sunset and learned about the interesting kettle rocks that give the point it’s name. They are actually called concretions. There are only a few places in the world where these types of rock formations are found. They are commonly composed of a carbonate mineral such as calcite, but sometimes an iron oxide or hydroxide such as goethite or sometimes an amorphous or microcrystalline form of silica about a nucleus. But they can also be composed of other sedimentary minerals that include dolomite, ankerite, siderite, pyrite, barite and gypsum, to name a few. There is also plant material mixed in. (OK, so we gathered some information online.) When we found one split open, the insides really looked like the rings on the inside of a tree!

Over the next few days we visited Rock Glenn and spent a day up at Grand Bend shopping and having lunch. Bruce found a shirt with flames on it that comes close to matching the flames on the Kenworth; he thinks it’s “cool”.

Sunday we went with the Johnston’s to worship at the Forest Baptist Church. The church has just built a 2 million dollar, (Canadian), sanctuary on their school-converted-to-church building, then added an addition. It is a very lovely addition, too. After worship we drove to London Ontario, had a quick lunch and went to watch the Johnston’s grandson, Warren play hockey. He’s an excellent player and his team won! We left the hockey game and headed to “The Old Vic” a neighborhood pub where Greg, Weldon and Marie’s son, was playing in a band. We ate dinner, celebrated Greg birthday, enjoyed his band, had cake (with candles) and watched Greg open his presents. We then went to Steve and Cheryl’s, (Warren’s parents and the Johnston’s daughter), and enjoyed a soak in their hot tub. What a nice treat, THANKS Steve and Cheryl! We have always said the thing we miss most about our house in Dearborn Heights was the hot tub on the deck.

Monday night we returned to Forest Baptist to attend their new sanctuary Dedication Service. The praise team and special music were excellent. The speaker for this special event was Alistar Begg from Parkside Community Church of Greater Cleveland, an excellent speaker and biblical scholar, (also the Pastor to our friends, Carl and Kathy). It was a very nice night and we were glad we could share it with the members of the Forest Baptist Church.

Tuesday morning we packed up and headed down the road to New York. Now, Weldon could have his driveway back! We had a great visit and hope to see the Johnston’s in Lakeland, FL sometime this winter.