Wasaga Beach

Since we have been going through Northern Ontario it seems that we are seeing a lot of signs of economic slow-down.   As we roll into a small community the first thing to greet us are dusty motels with overgrown parking lots, boarded up windows and faded for-sale signs twisting in the wind.  The streets of these towns seem deserted and depressed with empty shops and few people.   What is happening here?   There is a feeling of the dirty thirties – all we need is a dust storm or two.  Where is everyone?

We found them!

 When we crossed from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula it felt like a surprise party.   It was like everyone jumped out at once and yelled, “Here we are!”  What a contrast!   Tobermory is very much a boater’s haven.   There are hundreds of very expensive boats, very well heeled people and gallons of booze.  The shops in Tobermory were hopping.   Going from extreme under-stimulation to extreme over-stimulation overwhelmed Telen and me.   Is there not a happy medium? 

We stayed overnight in Tobermory at a very nice B&B and then headed into town to do the much overdo laundry.   We felt a little out of place showing up at a posh B&B covered with smudges and smelling strongly of suntan lotion, mosquito repellant, perspiration, and a number of days of sketchy showers.  Although the owner of the B&B was very nice she kept her distance and covered her nose and mouth with a cloth that she kept spraying with Febreze.

Our next stop was a place called Sauble Beach.  When we rolled into town we both looked at each other and thought that we had travelled way too far south.   What was 11 km of sandy beach and warm water doing in Ontario?  The main street was filled with shops selling beach paraphernalia (all selling the same beach paraphernalia…), ice cream, snacks and food.  The sidewalks were crowded with people walking about dressed in shorts and bathing suits.  Culture shock!

I did not know such a place existed in the middle of the continent.  Lake Huron was frozen as far as the eye could see a few months ago and will be again in a few months.  Why is the water warm?  I am so confused!  However, judging from the huge crowds here the secret has only been kept from us.  11 km of beach that is packed from one end to the other!  

So, we stayed an extra day.

We rented a funny little cabin just up from the beach.   It had all the comforts of home squeezed into the size of a Volkswagen set up on blocks.  The shower and the sink drained out just under the cabin.   If you looked directly down into the shower drain you could see the weeds under the floor.   I did not want to ask about the toilet.

Today we travelled to Wasaga beach, which is on the Georgian Bay side of the Bruce Peninsula.  Apparently it is the longest fresh-water beach in the world.   Another one of these superlatives that we seem so fond of.  Before we went to our accommodation we decided to go into the tourist area on the main beach.  It was like Puerto Vallarta without the charm and restraint.   Loud music, frantic activity, hundred of little shops selling complete junk and incredible crowds.  The atmosphere was different from Sauble beach in that the crowds were mostly young women in Victoria Secret bikinis giggling and shrieking at each other in order to attract the attention of the young boys strutting around trying to show off their muscles and lack of cognitive function.  The overheard conversations were so vacuous that they were sucking up all the sand off the beach.  We decided that we would only spend the night and head off again in the morning.   This was not our scene.   When we got to our rented cabin we changed our mind.   It is a nice little place with a picnic table and barbecue out front, separate bedroom and about 5 minutes walk from a different part of the beach. 

So, we are staying an extra day.  Imagine, two beach days in Ontario.  Call Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

Sauble Beach, Ontario