Helene & Mark

After that lampooning of the city of Timmins, I need to eat crow somewhat because of the great company I enjoyed while I stayed there. I had not met Helene before but I quickly felt like we had known each other for a long time. Over the course of a couple of days, I was able to spend some quality time with Helene and Mark, sharing family photos and talking about what the future might hold. Like kitchen renos. As Mark continues to mumble (to himself particularly): a happy wife is a happy life...

During my visit, I was able to meet Mark's daughter Melissa, her husband Michael and new baby girl as well as his son, Brent, his wife Jenny and their 2 girls. Great folks all the way around.

You know, I've known Mark since I was 5 years old. In fact, Mark went to grade school with Candace so he knew her well before I did. This type of history typically means a certain level of familiarity with each others skills and wants, but life has a way of continually surprising us. During my visit, I had the opportunity to taste some of Chef Mark's delicacies, like pork tenderloin in a red wine sauce. Yes, you are reading this correctly. From what I witnessed though, you need to get him in the kitchen early... if you know what I mean. Otherwise, you get plan "B": pork tenderloin without a red wine sauce.

Once again, I had to let go of a perfectly good handrail and get on the road. This morning I headed out of Timmins and thanks to Brian's (Kap) suggestion, I went westward at Sudbury rather than south on Hwy 69. Two reasons for the good fortune: bad weather along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay, and heading west led me to Manitoulin Island and the South Baymouth to Tobermory ferry. That will be the start of Monday's ride and if the weather cooperates, its end in Chatham.