Trip chapter 01
Hamilton to Parry Sound
A sunny stop at an unusual marine railway, followed by a memorable first night of thunderstorms, generosity and a tornado warning.
After four years of waiting, Tilly and I finally pulled away from Hamilton in my Volkswagen Golf. Parry Sound was our first destination, but the weather made sure the opening drive would not be an uneventful one.
Stretching our legs at Big Chute
We drove through terrible thunderstorms on the way north, then found a welcome patch of good weather at the Big Chute Marine Railway near Coldwater. It was an ideal place to get out of the car, walk and take in the views.
We did not ride the railway, but we watched a boat being carried down it. Seeing a vessel travel over land on the enormous carriage was very cool and made the detour worthwhile.
A practical first hotel
In Parry Sound we checked into the dog-friendly Comfort Inn. We were given a ground-floor room with a sliding door, which made getting Tilly in and out and unloading a car full of road-trip gear much easier.
Comfort Inn Parry Sound
A dog-friendly overnight where a ground-floor room and sliding door made unloading and outdoor breaks simple.
Read our Comfort Inn notes →Dinner, interrupted
That evening we walked roughly 45 minutes into town for dinner at Trestle Brewing Company. Its scenic patio was a great place to mark the first night of the trip, at least until the weather returned.
Just after our food was served, the patio was closed and we were told we had to leave. We started the long walk back to the hotel in horrendous conditions and eventually took shelter beneath a railway bridge.
A stranger pulled over with her children and offered us a ride back to the hotel. It was an extraordinary bit of kindness at exactly the right moment.
As we pulled into the hotel parking lot, a tornado warning arrived. Thankfully it never came to much. Tilly settled onto the bed, we stayed inside, and our first day on the road became a story we would not forget.
Trestle Brewing Company
A brewery with a scenic dog-friendly patio that became the setting for a dramatic first-night storm story.
Read our Trestle Brewing notes →