Country roads...

If you’ve been following my ramblings, you’ll likely have surmised that we really enjoy our life away from the hustle, bustle and general craziness of life in the big city. Driving in the city always presented challenges – but the one thing that really did me in was the amount of traffic and what happens to traffic when construction is introduced to the equation. The standing joke used to be that the city of Toronto experienced two seasons -- winter and construction. These days, thanks to apparent advances in technology and the like there would appear to be only one season -- construction with a capital "C".

I wish that I could say that conditions are different here. Actually, “conditions” are quite different. I can drive from our house into town in 15 – 20 minutes. Over four years ago, the same distance from our house in the ‘burbs to downtown would often take 90 minutes plus!

The “challenges” in rural Ontario are different and, frankly, much more dangerous. At least twice a month, there are horrific accidents on our local two lane “highways”. For some reason, put a John Deere cap on a fellow’s head and common sense and any knowledge of the Highway Traffic Act or, God forbid driving lessons, literally fly out the window – usually the front windshield since seat belt laws are merely "suggestions" to some. These accidents are often as not “blamed” on the roads themselves – not driver error or even sheer stupidity.

OK, so perhaps I’m generalizing but there are certain driving habits that truly make me cringe: On a two-lane highway, when a car has signaled to turn left and is waiting patiently for on-coming traffic to pass, inevitably some lummock decides that their time is so darned important that they’ll deke up the right side of the aforementioned vehicle – on the soft shoulder and often in an intersection, to boot! Holy diaper change!

Once again we’re on the same two-lane highway; driving in front of you is a full-size monster pick-up truck. It is going to turn left into a driveway or at an intersection and actually kindly signals ahead of time to advise of intent. Splendid! But wait.... They will then veer into oncoming traffic and barrel down the wrong side of the road toward their goal causing motorists approaching legally to either (a) take evasive action and drive off the road into oncoming traffic or perhaps a herd of cows; or, (b) stand on their brake pedal, causing their wheels to lock up – and then observe the chaos that ensues in the their rear view mirror. Meanwhile “Earl” in his mighty Dodge Ram with twin tail pipes makes his turn, oblivious to the potential destruction caused by his actions.

My personal favorite; TLATO refers to “these” folks as “yee haws”. Guess what road we’re on? There are a few cars traveling at or slightly above the posted speed limit. So far so good. Traveling up a hill that curves around a bend as it falls off on the other side; there are solid double yellow lines dividing the road. Our Jeff Gordon wannabe zips out from behind to pass on the left, going up the hill and over, with no idea of oncoming traffic – until it’s too late.

Driver error indeed.

Further, there are still rumors of folks in northern Ontario (yes, there are regions much further north than us) that still judge distance between point A and point B by the number of beers one consumes while driving...

Sometimes making a lane change with no signal evident on the Don Valley Parking Lot seems kind of trivial and not worth elevated blood pressure or an aneurysm in comparison.