Long Point Provincial Park, Ontario - Sheila's 63rd Birthday :)

Tabaco plants are tall and have huge leaves

It rained hard over night and it's continuing on and off today. We are travelling to Long Point Provincial Park about 2 hours east so we go slow as the rain is heavy at times. 

There continues to be a variety of crops including butternut squash and watermelons, plus it turns out we are driving through the Tabaco growing belt of Ontario. A decline in smoking prevalence since the 1990's has dramatically reduced the Ontario crop. 

Peters Produce stand

We are really enjoying stopping at these local farm stands and buying our produce fresh from the field. 

St. Thomas Elevated Park

We had hoped to stop at the town of St. Thomas to see their elevated park. It's Canada's first elevated park, built on a historic Michigan Central Railroad bridge high above the Kettle Creek Valley, but it is raining soooo hard I snap a picture as we drive under it. 

Chef Stan's Saloon + Wiggins groceries

A quick stop at the grocery store in Port Rowan before heading out to the park. The Saloon next door looks interesting, we may have to come back for a visit :)

It is unknown how a 2 hour drive turns into 4 or 5 but, we arrive at Long Point Provincial Park about 5:30pm.

Sadly animals perish crossing the road

Long Point Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, recognized for its unique role as one of North America's largest bird and waterfowl migration areas. Tens of thousands of monarch butterflies also rest here in late summer. Being the long point of a sandy spit that juts out into Lake Erie, the beach is endless. 

BBQ Tri-tip :)

The site we had reserved 5 months ago was so sandy we felt we may get stuck. By the time we get the park to switch us to another site and we get settled it's quite late. After a quick G&T, we jump right into making a nice birthday supper of BBQ Tri-tip with fresh corn and potatoes. Even bought a piece of carrot cake at the grocery store earlier :)