Driving after dark is no longer one of my options. It is my own choice. No one said I had to, just my own common sense. Short of an edict to clear the roads of other drivers, (and I do not think that will happen) I find it very difficult to see beyond the glare of oncoming headlights. I just do not try to do it.

It is not that I have not driven plenty and on all the backroads as well as highways. One does not spend 18 years in real estate and insurance without doing so. This is my story.

I was invited to speak to a Women’s Institute meeting up in the country. It was at the home of a daughter of an old Midland friend of my younger (much younger) days. Her husband came and brought me in time for dinner before the meeting.

On our way up we began to talk about the lovely back roads of Oro-Medonte and the places they take us. I challenge you to an adventure. Take your time and enjoy them. Start from Barrie north on no. 11 toward Orillia across Oro Medonte.

Highway 11 between Barrie and Orillia runs more east than north, believe it or not. Crossing it at right angles (coming from Barrie on # 11) are the township roads. If you turn right on any one of them you reach Lake Simcoe. If you turn left on any one of them and go far enough you reach Georgian Bay.

Try line 7 of Oro as I did today. After passing the local airport, Oro’s historical old town hall on the corner of 14,15 sideroad and line 7 comes into view. All official meetings were held here for many years. It was buit in 1868 and the surrounding land became the location of the Oro World’s Fair! It is still held there every September.

As you proceed you will cross over several crossroads that have great histories. The next one you will cross is Old Barrie Rd. which is the original stage coach road between Barrie and Orillia in the 1850s. The next mile or so passes two gravel pits (not very scenic) about which there is concern for the Oro-Medonte moraine.

(cont'd page 2)