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Published: July 30th 2011
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As lazy as usual, we get ourselves ready and leave home in the afternoon of July 23, 2011. Since this trip is a contingency plan I established a night before, I set green light to quite a few distinations in case most of them are out of our league. Of course, the outcome is far more astonishing than I have expected. More than that, we have encountered some touching scences that are sensational enough to push me to blog about them. On the upper right, if I can display it correctly, is the GRAND plan of this day trip. Ha! Ha!
Planning for locations close by, the southern corner of Lake Simcoe gets my attention. While most of the coast areas in that region have been ‘cottaged’, I try to search of some public openings in Google. There goes my first destination – West Park/Canal St./Bruce Ave. West Park is a tiny green located a little west of Lesile Street and Ravenshoe Road. I estimated that it is a good place to park our car and start walking towards Cook’s Bay. Under a 33’C circumstance, the distance between West Park and the coast is ‘felt’ to be longer than reality.
After passing by 3 baseball courts of no covering, we both agree to turn back and drive till our next luck arrives. Anyhow, I am surprised that 4 teams of teens are determined to play baseball under such temperature.
Reason unknown; the southern area of Cook’s Bay consists of many canals. Although no big deal, we feel quite delighted when we notice many families park their boats and yachts along the canal (which, in fact, their backyards). We drive and get off along the coast several times. In less than an hour, we believe we are good to ride ahead to our next planned destination. SURPRISE!!!!!! Right when I’m about to leave the area, I notice the west end of Ravenshoe Road (not shown on Google map) is already paved. And, I cannot see the end of it. Is it opened? Where would it lead us to? We, Of course, would explore it thoroughly.
Driving on the unmapped Ravenshoe Road section, we see ordinary farms on both sides. After 2.5km, the road ends with a big farmhouse in front of us. While I am not sure if I have entered someone’s front-yard, I see a road sign marked
‘Yonge Street’. Oh my, Yonge Street is one of the most elegant street in Toronto. You see only branded specialty shops and richie classiee houses along it. How amazing to me that I can say Hi to the part of Yonge Street that is not only unpaved but is filled by sandy soil. Cam’s heart is as bumpy as the road; know my Subaru can take it.
My Subaru posts dust behind us 3 meters high on Yonge Street for 2km. My heart is filled with WRC excitements (although I was driving no more than 20km/hr all the way). Along the way, I notice the farmhouse and the warehouses so as the lineup of boxes and cases are built and packed in totally different ways from native Canadian farms. In just a few seconds, I see Simplified Chinese Characters on those boxes and understand that these are farms run by some Chinese-Canadians. I start to pay attention to those farmers who pick the veggies one by one on this endless field. I have a strange feeling. This feeling remains a simple one until I see a truck of farmers pass by us on our return. The skin tone of
these farmers, the wrinkles on their faces, the size of their toes, more importantly, their hopeless eyes that one can easily see through which carries no expectations in life portraits some exact same pictures I have seen enough in some undeveloped regions in mainland China. I am glad and unhappy at the same time. I am happy that they are definitely earning way more than they can get in China. Yet, I can nearly confirm you that their bosses are paying them less than 25cents an hour after taking away fees for meals and accommodations. And, to a step further, their freedom. Believe it or not. I can never prove myself right. Yet, no matter how hard you try, you shall fail to find evidence that can prove me wrong. I just know about their system.
Sorry I don’t feel comfortable to continue this blog. The rest of our day is simply some happy scenic road views and exciting helps from strangers after we get lost. None of them can erase my imagination towards those farmers’ living in my mind. Have a nice day.
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