Lunar Rhythm Farm

No thunderstorms in the night, just a little rain which cleared the air giving a beautifully fresh morning. Went for a swim in the lake, which I had to myself.

Packed up the van and went to the park dump station to empty the black and grey water tanks which were showing as ⅔ full. No queue, and it was all very easy.

Note the schoolboy error. The blue waste pipe should have been passed through an outlet hole underneath the van. Doing it this way led to some grey water spillage which had to be cleared up. Hey ho, it's a lifelong journey and all that….

Refilled the fresh water, and we were all set for the next four days off grid, i.e. no electric supply and no site water or waste.

We had a two hour drive to Peterborough, through intermittent showers. Keeping to the 80kph speed limit meant that the road ahead was always clear, as I was the slowest vehicle on the road. Highlight of this leg was a group of sports cars that had been stopped by the Ontario Provincial Police on the trans-Canada highway. I had pictured this road to be at least two lanes in each direction, as doubtless it is in parts, but on our section it was just a regular bit of road winding its way through the countryside.

Stopped at The Beer Store to return our empty cans. There is a 10c deposit on each can, a great idea which encourages high recycling rates. The beer store focuses on volume lines rather than quality, so went to the next door LCBO to buy more beer. Until recently all alcohol sales were restricted to government outlets such as the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Now though you can buy beer in supermarkets, but this is a recent development 

At Peterborough we wanted to look at the famous lift lock on the Trent Severn Canal. Our directions from our satnav deposited us by the canal in Peterborough, but some distance from the lock. We abandoned this attempt as we were due to arrive at our next destination by 4pm

And so to Lunar Rhythm Farm, our first Harvest Hosts site. It is a small 100 acre organic farm run by Jess and John with help from other members of the local community and volunteers from around the world. In addition to growing organic veg, they also keep rabbits (for meat, not pets), cattle, goats, miniature horses, riding horses, ponies, chickens and the usual assortment of multiple farm dogs and cats.

These big boys are working horses. This is one of the few farms that still uses horses to work the farm and uses old machinery that John manages to keep in working order.

We help feed the goats 

One of the highlights of this place must be the Cardinal Birds that live wild here. The have a very distinctive call, and are very fond of mirrors. As I am sure that anyone looking this pretty would be. They peck at their reflection, I guess trying to drive off their equally handsome rival.

We watched the sun set, and the full Buck Moon rise, both in a perfect harmony. We sat out late, watching the bats fluttering and circling above our heads. And then just before we went to bed, the glow of fireflies in the grass. It's only the second location in which I have seen these creatures, the previous being on my first holiday to Tuscany more than 20 years ago. A quite magical place

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