Trip to Chesterville: part 4 – the finale

Thank you for bearing with my tale. I post quite a few, I know, since JB drives and I am in charge of photos! He likes to know where we have been. 

• Trip to Chesterville: Smiths Falls, HWY #43 
• Trip to Chesterville: Part 2
• Trip to Chesterville: Part 3 in Kemptville

We left Kemptville, still not having had lunch. Past more homes. No parks.

By now it was 1:30, look at the clouds! We drove through a rainshower, and debated what we'd do! So much for visiting on Wednesday before the rain we'd expected for the next few days.

Then, we drove out of it and into another one, again!

By now it was 2 o'clock, and we decided to stop in Merrickville, rain or not. They have several nice restaurants, but we had our lunch with us, and the park at the locks is a great spot. Well, it dumped rain! You can have a plan A, B. and C, and end up with D!

This is what the radar looked like, which I checked when I arrived home. No wonder it poured rain. It wasn't on the radar when we'd left.

Eventually, the rain lessened, but still sprinkling, but we aren't made of sugar. We used the facility, and headed home through the spotty rain and clouds. 

The clouds were amazing.

This man had interesting vehicles, a kid bike and a wagon. There must be a story here.

We went through Smiths Falls, and spotted this flag. It really is shameful. It is not the first time I've seen a Confederate flag, a symbol adopted by White Supremacists, in Smiths Falls. I wrote about this in my Book Review: The Ku Klux Klan in Canada. None of these people are aspiring to be better than who they are. Nor do they want to learn about racism, slavery, or those who are different from them. They are normalizing white rage, and it hurts my heart. 

They need to read an autobiography about being BIPOC or LGBTQ.

"Whiteness pretends to forget its own name when called, and refuses to acknowledge its desire for dominance. White supremacy keeps stepping on your toes while insisting it was an accident"  - The Skin We're In: A year of black resistance and power, by Desmond Cole

Busted... honestly, all of you know how fast people drive on our highways. I cannot help but feel satisfaction. That feels better, venting. Thanks for reading. 

On with the clouds!

Book Review: The Skin We're In

The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power
by Desmond Cole

"Whiteness pretends to forget its own name when called, and refuses to acknowledge its desire for dominance. White supremacy keeps stepping on your toes while insisting it was an accident"  - The skin we're in, Desmond Cole

Sir John A. Macdonald, the Indian Act, residential schools, racism exists in Canada. Cole illustrates how racism has a long history in this continent. 

White people cannot put their heads in the sand. We owe it to humanity to read and understand their stories and become allies. Recently, the CORVID-19 virus has exacerbated it. Asian-appearing kids are bullied at school, people move away on public transportation. The lockdown has slowed it, but it exists.

This is an excellent book, which looks at what has been going on in Canada. Of course, it exists around the world. The stories of racism abound in the US, as well. The attacking of Asians during COVID–19 has also become more common.

Since I wrote this, Black Lives Matter, and the tragic lynchings continue on this continent. It is shameful.

A Belleville cop has been seen with a Confederate flag. He has been called to task for this. It's gotta change. Peers must speak out. 

CBC reporters, after the Wendy Mesley story, have been speaking out about it, as well.

This is an amazing young man, who is making a difference.
CBC News   

Smiths Falls

On the other hand, in Perth, Friday, June 5th.

There is much work to be done. White supremacy lurks in the dark corners. 

Lunch out – Smiths Falls

We were out, Shopping for a new TV stand. Lordie, I hate shopping! I've made do for now, until we find something we want.


We passed this house in Smiths Falls. I am always shocked seeing the Confederate Flag, especially in Canada. I don't know if they either don't understand the roots of this flag or don't care. That said, we live in the Back Off Government capital of Ontario. who are we to talk?!

   

We were window shopping in Smiths Falls, and I was getting the hangries! (Grumpy and hungry.)
Another lunch out, thankfully, all I'd had was a piece of toast at 8:00. By now, it was 1:30.

 This is a newly renovated "gastro pub."  It used to be Coffee Culture, and opened in November, I believe. I love these older buildings, they have character and presence. It was a comfortable atmosphere. Smiths Falls is changing it up, what with the influx of residents and jobs from Tweed, the marijuana plant in the old Hershey factory!

Axe and Arrow

I'd done a workout that morning. It was yummy, and guilt-free. I had an elk burger. This shopping stuff is hard work. The salad had a lovely, light dressing.


The decor is interesting. In the restroom hallway, several axes are up on the wall. In the women's washroom, some amazing photos of women standing around in the bush, perhaps in the 1930s or 40s, holding axes. I like the bricks.


The roads were quite dry and bare. Thankfully. The fields are full of melted and refrozen snow water. We've gone from 8˚ C. last Thursday, to -1˚.



We visited Dan Peter's auction house,looking for a used TV stand, but they are only selling online, now. Who knew? The driveway was quite a bumpy mess! Rural life in the springtime.


We looked at having lunch at Rob Roy's in the hotel, but might save it for a summer's day. Inside was dark, and we weren't approached by a server at all, walking through the pub. The patio looks terrific.


Smiths Falls is an interesting town. They are contemplating switching parking from parallel to straight on. It's quite a debate, apparently.


I love this small property. It's enough to keep a boat and a little shed, like this. Water access would be wonderful. It was selling for $9000 , but I cannot find it online anymore. The house across the street is for sale for $579,900. I'll bet they are part of the same original farm property.


Parking and walking is a bit tricky in Perth! We headed there to look at a couple of pieces. This is due to the snowfall/thaw/freeze!

Our driveway looks better! A lot less ice. I can tell spring is coming from all the photos of people on the beach, and bloggers to the south and across the pond bragging celebrating their migratory birds returning. It's just too cold here. Don't come yet, birdies! There are no bugs.
We have a canal where the driveway had been melting and draining. It's an ice rink. We must be patient.