Previous Day 4: Northern Ontario
We started the final day much as we had started the previous 4 days, by rising early and trying to get our bearings.
We were scheduled to arrive in Toronto on the morning of Tuesday, July 9 around 08:30. The original plan was for me to catch a GO bus back to Barrie to get picked up and taken to Collingwood. JC would go to the airport and rent a car for a 2 day detour to Kingston (300 km to the east) and eventually end up in Collingwood eventually as well.
We had already decided the day before that I would get off at Washago, saving hours of extra travel time. Washago sits at the northernmost point of Lake Couchiching, itself at the northernmost end of Lake Simcoe. The rail crew indicated that a “short stop” would not be a problem.
First we needed to confirm my change of plans that we had texted the night before. We soon discovered that our plans needed some additional changes as well.
The Toronto Storm
On the evening of Monday, July 8, Toronto had a rainstorm that broke rainfall records with over 120 mm of rain falling. The storm paralyzed much of the city including the rail system. As we learned of this early Tuesday morning it quickly became clear that going into Toronto was a bad idea for both of us. I was glad of my change of plans and now we needed to re-organize JC’s plans as well.
We quickly changed the car rental to a Barrie pickup and an airport drop-off and informed the train staff that both of use wold be detraining together. Eventually, with the train running 2-1/2 hours late, both JC and I got off the train at Washago.
Washago
Washago is part of the Ramara Township municipality that was formed in 1994 from around 50 once-separate communities. The total population of this Township is about 10,000.
Killdeer with Young
While waiting for our ride we wandered around the Washago train station and discovered a family of killdeer consisting of an adult and two juveniles.
Our vacation within a vacation was over and the Collingwood part was about to begin.
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