Tales of Life with a Girl on the Go

Some people pay lots of money to a tour company to research and develop an itinerary for them in an exotic locale. Not the sort of people that read this blog probably, but some do, I’m sure of it. In the spirit of the personal shopper, which I’ve only heard about on television, I’m offering a day trip plan for the International Plowing Match and Country Festival that will work for anyone living in Ottawa, Kingston, Brockville and all points in between who are willing to drive for about an hour and then spend a few hours at the International Plowing Match.

Since there’s a bit of a drive involved, I’m recommending that you leave home just before naptime. For us, that’s pretty much anytime after 11:30 and since Reid has Kindermusik until 11:00, we’ll feed her lunch in the car and then drive while she sleeps. Maybe I’ll even sleep. The helpful Plowing Match folks have provided a map of Eastern Ontario as well as driving directions for a variety of routes. I particularly appreciated the advice in the Planning Your Trip section that recommends planning your route and that police will be stationed to maximize traffic flow and that “Taking a ‘shorter route’ may actually take longer”. It’s a good piece of life advice really – things aren’t as simple as they seem.

Once you get to the parking lot, you’ll probably still be far from the tent city and also from the plowing fields but your adventure will be beginning. A tractor pulling a wagon will pick you up – there will be places to congregate – and your kids will be excited by the ride. If you’re waiting for a full wagon, talk with the driver as she or he is liable to be a local farmer who can share thoughts on what the Plowing Match means to a practicing farmer. For this farm girl who now lives in a city, it’s a trip back to childhood when my dad would take me along and spend far too much time looking at the equipment when there was candy and free stuff beckoning.

Check the plowing schedule when you first arrive. You may want to go straight to the plowing field immediately. Just make your way to the pick up area for a ride out to the plowing fields. I’ve never seen the plowing competition myself but I know that there are some competitors who use tractors and others use horses to pull the plows. I think Reid and Ken especially will like to see the process.

The tent city will have agricultural and technological exhibits, and stalls with quilts and the work of other artisans. There will be more tractors than you’ve ever seen before and bigger ones than you can quite imagine. There will be salesman promoting miracle products, some like the snake oil salesman of village fairs in 19th century, and others with the usual vacuums and knives. You don’t have to buy anything but choose the showiest and watch the performance. There are 4 stages with performers and 1 that features horticulture displays. There are a few so-called “edu-spots” where your kids will be able to see the Croskery Woodlot and Living with Nature Tent, the technology used in farming and costumed interpreters depicting the history of Leeds-Grenville. Watch out for the corn cob mascot as you walk around. And avoid the politicians so you don’t have to deal with the disappointment that one mom had to face.

Find some fudge. There is at least one vendor – I heard him interviewed on CBC’s Ottawa Morning. Share it with your kids if you have remembered to bring the diaper wipes. If not, eat it quietly once the kids are asleep. They would probably enjoy the cotton candy more. And you’ll have to eat some of it too so that the kids don’t get tummy aches. That’s the sort of sacrifice that a good parent makes.

As you walk around tent city, there will be lots of swag (stuff we all get). Watch out for the cotton bags – you can use them when you go shopping. Try to be choosy about what you put in them, though. Most of it will only need to be recycled when you get home. We picked up some colouring pages and farm stickers last time we were at a plowing match.

The International Plowing Match is open from 8:30 to 5:00 and closes Saturday, September 22. Stay until the very end and then find a place to stop for supper. It’s going to be a warm day – maybe even a picnic in a park along the drive home. Don’t drive and eat at home if you can avoid it. There’s nothing that kills the joy of a fun day then arriving home with tired and hungry kids who are impatient for supper.

Have a good day. If you do make it out, I’ll be the one with Digital Rebel and the husband who makes an inappropriate finger gesture when the camera is pointed his way.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 3:32 pm and is filed under Vacation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.