Suspecting it might be our last topless (thecar, that is) tour this year, we took advantage of the warm temperatures lastweek and escaped to the Southampton area for a couple of days. Nothing puts mein a better frame of mind than to head north on Highway 21 through Grand Bend toBayfield and Goderich. It’s my attitude-adjustment area. So I guess that wouldmake Southampton my feel-good zone, and I looked forward to the brief but rejuvenating roadtrip.

I loved travelling along the water and stoppingat our favourite beaches along the way. THAT, my friends, was the best part ofthe trip. My husband snapped this pic in Point Clark.

I’ll share more pictures and memories of some of those beaches later.Maybe when the snow drifts turn to mind drifts and I remember standing at theshorelines of Lake Huron, gulping in the lake air, cool and refreshing,as receding waves suck the sand from beneath my bare toes. Yes, that’s when I’lldig up those photos, slap them on Facebook and say, ‘back in October we ….’

There’s something so comforting about being near the water. I spent a few moments on ‘my rock’ at Bayfield, a beach I frequentedoften for many summers. And in just those few moments of taking in the sights and sounds, I felt the urge to writesomething…anything. Nature has always inspired me. Especially bodies of water.It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a river, lake, or creek. To be honest, even abathtub of water has cleared minor writer’s block for me.

We’ve always enjoyed visiting Meaford and weredelighted to see the town celebrating a scarecrow festival. Scarecrowseverywhere! Even hanging from lightposts.

An all out effort throughout thetown. Even in the residential areas. 

We stopped downtown to admire the displaysand then headed to the rocky shore of Georgian Bay where I basked once again inthe restorative setting. I believe I left my bum imprint on the rocks of atleast five beaches. So, yeah, it was the most relaxing of tours and the weathercouldn’t have been better.

The evening temperatures were still favourable for astroll along the beach. We walked down to the benches at the end of the mainstreet in Southampton to catch the sunset. Words don’t do it justice and, alas,no pictures. I guess we were too absorbed in the magnificent view. Thatexperience was more satisfying than the chicken alfredo I ordered for dinner. Andeveryone knows how much I LOVE fettucine alfredo.

Here and there were splashes of red along theroad during our travels but it was too early for the trees to have changedcolour. We’ll wait a a couple more weeks for that treat. 

Having lived in the Cambridge area for many years, I will always remember the gorgeous treescape along the roadways in the fall. Yes, great idea! The weather might not be conducive to a ‘topless’ road trip, but I'm sure it will be just as enjoyable.