And so we say good bye to New York state and the USA. I did my final run of the week – a short 3 miles- and confirmed that Skaneateles is where the sidewalks end. No matter what major thoroughfare I traveled along, the sidewalks ended exactly at the village boundary which was usually about one mile from wherever I started. We also said good bye to the Arbor House Inn which was a perfectly serviceable B&B, but it’s not one I would recommend especially for those with food sensitivities, even if they say they can “accommodate” you. This morning’s breakfast choices were two croissant based casseroles which were not suitable for me so although I was offered the mushy Vans waffles again, I opted for yogurt, fruit and my granola.
Then westward ho! We broke the trip in Rochester to wander around the campus of RIT which was Gillian’s concession to me for spending all day at Skidmore on Monday. All of us were pleasantly surprised at how attractive the campus was and how suitable it seemed to be for her. I won’t get my hopes up that she’ll actually apply but she really is being open minded about things this trip so I can’t complain.
We continued our journey to the great white north and got to sit in traffic at the border crossing (I think our agent had a Napoleanic complex!) before we finally were able to watch the kilometers click by on the Queen Elizabeth Way. Unfortunately, all the waiting had taken it’s toll and we were in desparate need of a washroom (I speak Canadian already, eh!) It just so happened that the first place we saw where we could take car of this urgent need was…. a winery! Who’d have thunk it?
So we were on our way to discovering the joys of the Niagara wine region! The Harbor Estates winery was a lovely little place (with a washroom!) that made very nice rose which we procured for later enjoyment. The woman behind the bar was joking with Gillian about coming back for a visit when she turned 19. Very nice and pleasant folks! We wandered down the road a bit more for a late lunch in Jordan Village with salads and sandwiches – and delicious GF fries with homemade smoked ketchup… yum!
Then we jut had to stop at two more wineries – really, they are everywhere here! – at Megalomaniac Winery where the building is half underground, the label is very cool and the Cab Sauv is unbelievably smooth. Right down the road is Tawse Winery which has the most impressive building and an equally impressive price tag on their wines which we opted not to purchase. The atmosphere was not particularly inviting; it was almost like “our wine is awesome so buy some and leave”!
So we left without buying and headed to the hamlet of Grimsby – okay, more like a regular town or suburb but it’s our home base for the next three days. The B&B is on the ridge of an escarpment (I needed to look it up too!) and is very unassuming looking from the outside but our room is wonderful – including a deck where you can see the lake and the Toronto skyline – and so is the proprietor. Michelle made us feel right at home, verified that I could have two of the three courses she was making for breakfast tomorrow but that she really didn’t do justice to GF muffins. I’m sure I’ll survive. She also suggested places to eat for tonight and Monday and then made reservations for us. Talk about service!
And what a recommendation! We ate tonight at August Restaurant in Beamsville and I honestly can’t remember when I have had a better meal! Everything is organic, locally sourced and expertly prepared. Even their winelist is 100% Ontario wines! Starting with the antipasti platter (the smoked trout, duck proscuitto and 2 year old cheddar among other things) and then moving to the roast lemon rosemary chicken (Gillian), peppercorn steak (Frank) and vegetable gratin (me – Gruyere and garlic cream sauce, need I say more?), everything was absolutely wonderful and mostly gluten free! They even brought me corn bread to have while the gluten eaters had their honey flax seed bread.
Then the pièce de résistance – dessert…. they had sticky toffee pudding on the menu and it was gluten free! It wasn’t that I could order it that way, it is the only way they make it. I haven’t been able to have sticky toffee pudding for years – the last time was in Simpsons on the Strand in 2007 before I was diagnosed. It was heavenly! I really didn’t need to order one and needed even less to eat it but I was truly in food heaven.
So I now realize that I did nothing but eat and drink today and surprisingly, didn’t do much walking. The pedometer reads a measly 5090 steps or 2.19 miles which isn’t nearly enough to burn off the 5000 calories I ate today but there you go. Most unusual food item: venison pate with cherries. Didn’t think there was any way I could possible like it but I did. More so than Frank actually and he’s the venison fan.
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