The plan today was to see Argylle. Until Reddit led to Rotten Tomatoes and its 35% fresh rating, which in turn led to let's do something else. Then we found out the sun was going to make an appearance for what feels like the first time this year and both of us started pining for the fjords lakeshore. 

I mean, look. It's early February. Normally at this time of year there isn't a lake, there's a sheet of Featureless Ice, and even if you feel like gazing upon a sheet of featureless ice, getting to it is generally not advised and might be impossible. I've seen highway 21 buried three quarters of the way up the utility poles. More than once.

But that was before they made the rungs on the ladder more widely spaced. You know, climb-it change.

We want to have a hearty breakfast and went to one of our favourite establishments, Jack's Family Restaurant. It's right across the street from the St Jacobs Farmer's Market, which (I still find this hard to credit) is so popular it is flanked by several hotels, to house all the people who don't have farmer's markets in their hometowns. Jack's has signs everywhere saying ABSOLUTELY NO MARKET PARKING but nevertheless, we couldn't even find a parking spot. Plan B: Sunset Grill. Not Jack's, but tasty and filling. 

Then, to Bayfield, our first time since summer 2019...for The Staircase.

It is tradition at this point for something not to be as advertised on these trips. As you can see, the Prodigal Sun did NOT return (as had been foretold) until we were (of course) on our way home. That might have been disappointing but for two things. One, inside the car was plenty sunny. Two -- just as was the case on Manitoulin Island in August -- the grey day actually lent itself to some interesting pictures. I just love how the sky almost seems to melt into the water in the photos above. 

North to Goderich. We've been here before, too, more than once, but this time we found Rotary Park, which is somewhere we haven't been. 

We found people fishing in Bayfield but I couldn't join in. But when we got to Goderich.... look what I caught!

Another tradition for me on these treks is to try to find something simple but interesting to capture. Your value of "interesting" may differ, but:

You can see the sun making a weak effort....

Not much of a palette to work with and yet I'm pleased with this shot. 

We meandered back to Waterloo, laughing all the way, and after determining once and for all that we didn't want to see the movie we had originally planned on -- or any other movie -- we did a  quick mall walk -- I believe it was referred to as "getting our fill of humanity" and then (smile) to Jack's we went. We bickered and dickered over who was paying for what, and I announced if my dinner was being paid for, I was going to order exactly one pea,

"I didn't think you liked peas."*

"Well, don't you think I should...give peas a chance?"

*I do like peas, by the way

Always good food. Always generous portions. Always reasonably priced.Jack's is a local treasure. 

It was a short but very sweet trip, all the sweeter for being so out of season. Not sure where to this year yet....stay tuned.