Safari, Sprucewood, Amherstburg

Yesterday started auspiciously with an amazing sunrise at our budget hotel. Buddha had her own bed so that made it fine hotel on her eyes!

First stop of the day was CanAm RV to look at a Safari Condo camper trailer. I've been researching ultra lights that I can tow within my vehicle's weight specifications. The Safari is not just light but so light I could pull up to a 21' trailer. Other brands such as Airstreams, which I have always loved,would top out at about 16'. The downside is no winter camping but that's not my jam anyway.

It did not disappoint. Plenty of windows to let in light--another requirement of mine--lots of storage, and completely customizable. The downside, and I knew this from the start, there is a two year wait. This company has decided NOT to grow to keep their quality intact. Or I could put myself on a wait list for a used one, but they don't come up that often. Hmmm.

The next priority was a big breakfast to hold me for awhile. I chose the Barnes Family Restaurant due to reviews and because my cousin Phyllis Barnes follows my blogs! I also wanted to stop at a farm market and get some cider, which I also accomplished.

I figured in the area just south of Windsor where I would cross back into the States would be a good climate area for wineries. I was correct. There is a whole wine road, but I chose to visit Sprucewood Estate Winery because it is right on Lake Erie and I had plan to have my feet in all four of the Great Lakes I was passing.

The host was very sweet and asked me where I was from and when I said Minnesota, I got the standard "and you are traveling alone?" I run into this trope a lot. Aren't you afraid? You are so brave! I would never travel alone.

The answer is no I'm not afraid and I'm not brave. I'm just practical. More men than women are murdered in general. And more than 75% of women are murdered by a partner or former partner. Most people in general are killed by someone they know, hence having a motive. The media makes a sensation over random killings but they are statistically not the norm. (All these stats can be supported by multiple sources)

I also avoid the media as much as I can because is so many ways they are promoting fear. Fear becomes the basis for prejudice of others not like us and can lead to hatred and so many other terrible results. I say Let's just say No to fear! Take that Nancy Reagan.

I did mention that Buddha was with me and the gal said I could bring her in. Buddha was thrilled to do her tricks to get some treats and Hoover up any food crumbs on the floor. I had the red and white tasting and I opted for an unoaked Chardonnay and cab/merlot called Beachglass that was low in tanins. A departure for me, because I usually like oaky wines with tanins.

Buddha and I took the short walk down the shore of Lake Erie despite the fact that it was still spitting. It was chillier than Lake Huron a few days earlier.

It's after 3 pm. Now, so I'm thinking a good time to grab a bite to eat and check out a sweet lake/riverside town called Amherstburg. I had lobster tacos at the Salty Dog that were tasty. All ingredients were fresh. Then I wandered around the shops. One had nice high end clothes but nothing I could wear on a work Zoom call. Another had outdoor gear and I found some waterproof pants for half off. I could not find my pair before I left and it's curtailed my kayaking opportunities with so much rain on this trip. Last stop was Caffeine and company for get an Americano to bolster me for the border crossing.

Which I needed as this border crossing is on an old bridge and it's hinkey. As the toll collector said, they made it like a drivers Ed course. I used the wait time to reprogram my screen display to MPH. I had freaked out yesterday when I realized I did t have both on the display!

I was low on fuel but I was doing my best to not fill in Canada at their prices. The downside--it was raining and I'm in a not so great part of Detroit and I need to get gas. But that went without issues and I thought once I get west of Detroit the traffic who'll lighten up. Not so much. And by the time it did finally lighten up, MDOT kept throwing a fresh new hell at me. Shoulder closed, lanes narrow, lane closed, and lastly lanes split.

I decided to pull in at Kalamazoo and finding a hotel that would take dogs at 8:30 pm was also not fun. But that was of my own making for not having a plan. Buddha and I ended up at the Extended Stay which was about as spartan as they come. Everyone except me seemed to be smoking weed. That smell combined with a cornucopia for food smells was not pleasant. My room was clean and smelled of disinfectant. My first move was to open the window. Then it was time to get Buddha situated. Oh horror, we had the shore a bed.