We got Tara and Big Mo on the road and headed out from Tom's cousin Rodger's on Wednesday afternoon after my doctor's appointment. Rodger and his wife Terry lead the way and we headed to his sister's (also named Terry) at Avonton where we got set up in their driveway for the night. Thursday morning we headed back home as I had another appointment Thursday afternoon with the pre-rehab people at the hospital. As soon as I was done there we headed back to Doug and Terry's and arrived just in time for a great dinner that the two Terry's had made.
Friday morning we hooked up again and headed toward's St. Mary's to a park where we would be camping for the weekend with some more of Rodger's relatives.
A great weekend was had by all. Only one problem arose when Mary closed her trailer door and somehow it locked. Doug headed back to his place to get his drill and they ended up drilling the lock out of the handle. Mary is now known as Mary Keys. She will not live that down for sometime to come.
Friday and Saturday were really cold and windy. I was glad that I had packed my winter jacket. But on Sunday the sun shone and the temperature rose and it turned into a beautiful day. Monday was also beautiful but that was the day we had to pack up and head back to Rodger and Terry's to drop off the trailer. They are kind enough to let us leave it in their yard until I am able to get around good enough to go back to camping. We had dinner with them and then headed for home.
On the way home Tom asked if I wanted to go visit the old homestead of his grandparents. His grandfather, William Pegg, purchased the Dakota Mill on the Cedar Springs Road near Kilbride in 1911. When Tom was a kid he spent many summers at his grandparents, along with his brother Brian and cousins Rodger and Darryl. We walked across the damn where two fellows were fishing. They pointed out the eels in the water that were laying in wait for the fish. What look like sticks in the picture below are a couple of eels about two feet in length.
This is a very pretty spot with the Twelve Mile Creek flowing through the property.
The old house, garage and sheds are still there but the house has been condemned.
Across the road is where the mill was located. There is nothing left now except the old water wheel.
Check the internet for the Dakota Mill - Cedar Springs. It is an interesting story. Tom's Uncle Leonard Pegg purchased the mill from his father and kept the mill running until 1978 when he put the property up for sale. There is quite a story about the proposed sale to a company that wanted to turn the mill into a restaurant and museum. They would preserve the old water wheel and have historical artifacts on display as well as the Pegg Family history. The adjoining golf course fought this sale. The story tells of the issues and battles and how Leonard at age 54 died of a heart attack in 1979 most likely due to all the stress involved with the property sale. Later that year the mill was destroyed by fire. After all the fighting about preserving the property it is now all gone. The old water wheel lies in ruins on the overgrown property. A big chunk of the local history is gone. So sad.
This is what the mill used to look like.
Tomorrow I head to the hospital at 6 am to be ready for my surgery at 8 am. Wish me luck. Next time I post I will have a brand new knee.
I would like to send out congratulations to John and Judy Hollinger on the arrival of their grandson Charles. Also to Kristina and Chris and big sister Gwenny. Glad to know that the little guy has arrived and all is well.
Until next time - safe travels.
