Day 58. June 21. Thursday. Kemptville-Spencerville loop ride

Had a great ride today with Ed and Willma. We drove a ways and then did a loop. They have lived in this area for so long that they know every back road and highway and have ridden all of them. We probably won’t duplicate a single ride while I’m here.

We stopped at two gardens that are on a garden tour list and, wow, were they neat.

The first one was done by Doug and called Machal Garden. He planted it and takes care of it all by himself. It is huge and has different ‘rooms’. Not a weed in site and absolutely gorgeous. I was impressed, as a gardener and landscaper. And Doug is in his 80’s. He bought the place in 1996 and planted trees that are now quite big. The property was wild so he cleared it bit by bit and kept adding different beds. So impressive.

0621181050

This picture is one of his rose beds.

The second garden was called ‘Labor of Love’ and was just as impressive. The couple bought this old house and grounds with no gardens 20 years ago and now it is a paradise. It is just amazing the vision some people have and the energy to do all the work by themselves. Kaye gave us a tour and I was just in awe.

As we rode, we saw house after house built out of huge rocks. Absolutely beautiful. Ed and Willma used to live out in this area 40+ years ago so I got a history lesson as we rode along. And they knew everybody that lived in a lot of these old rock houses. In fact, back in 1970, they bought an old rock house that had been burned out, and the farm, and refurbished it and lived in it for 15+ years.

I have dreams of my own of what I’d still like to do on my property but it takes so much time and I just never seem to find it. I will not give up but I might need to have some help.

42.9 miles today. 2069.8 total