My Adventurous Ride Downtown

Back earlier in the spring I thought it would be interesting to share with you my usual ride downtown, this being the extent of my wild adventures now that I'm in a wheelchair.  With a heavy duty power chair like my own we can't even fly anywhere, so I make the most of where I can explore here in Meaford.

All of these pictures were taken about a month ago, so it's definitely a taste of early spring again rather than today's near-summer weather.  I pull out on my own street and turn left, headed toward downtown.  No sidewalks; almost all of my ride is on streets rather than sidewalks.

Even before the end of my own street I pass over a small stream, deep in its own little valley.  If nothing else this stream serves as a corridor for wildlife.

Around a block or two there's a house with a seriously real flagpole in the front yard.  Good to see.

Then I have to ride down the Collingwood Street hill, as it abruptly drops over the ancient Nipissing post-glacial shoreline.  There's a sidewalk here, but it's so narrow it's unsafe for a wheelchair, with a very uncomfortable bump at the top.  The road is the worst pavement I face, but I wander back and forth trying to avoid as much of the 'alligator pavement' as I can.  As for the overhead wires, I can't do much about those!

After I turn at the bottom of the hills, beside the daycare, I come to another landmark for me.  I's a four-unit group of townhomes, built what looks like 100 years ago.  A far cry from today's townhouses.

Then I cross the busy Nelson Street and pass the large Church of Christ.

I prefer the route down Trowbridge Street, one of the oldest streets in town, with some beautiful big old homes.  This one is an 'art deco' home from the 1930s, which was heavily renovated a few years back.  The renovated home was listed for $1.3 million, and sold quickly.  I'd love to see inside!   And we're now more than halfway down town.