Fall is generally a great time to host a driving tour – the weather is often brisk but sunny and the leaves are changing which adds to the views and natural beauty we get here in Southern Ontario. Rain is a risk but that comes with the territory.
The fourth edition of the Grand River North Tour took place on a Sunday morning in early October, and participants gathered at RIM Park in Waterloo for the customary waiver signings and driver briefing. There were several participants who had never been on a driving tour before, which always adds pressure as a host, to put our best foot forward and ensure everyone has a safe and fun time.
There are only so many roads in farm country along the Grand River, so trying to keep the tour fresh for curve-hungry P-cars is always a fun challenge. Lunch and the West Montrose Covered Bridge have traditionally been at the end of the tour, but this time I decided to mix it up, and do the Bridge earlier in the route to ensure another local landmark, the Conestoga Dam and the nice twisty road that crosses it, was enjoyed. This road led us up to the quaint town of Drayton, where the Drayton Chop House and a catered lunch were waiting as the pit stop. The staff at the Chop House were well prepared for our group and did an excellent job, promptly taking our orders for drinks while serving tasty appetizers. Soon we were filling up on delicious salad, pasta, chicken, beef and more before departing for the second leg of the drive.
Leaving Drayton and heading back east, we made our way through Elmira, enjoying the twists of Middlebrook Road before parading through the charming towns of Elora and Fergus. Elora is a lively little place, with lots of cafes, fine dining and patios. It seems there is always something going on there, so a drive down the main street is always a fun experience. West of Fergus we went through Belwood before heading southwest toward our final stop, Cox Creek Cellars, a winery located on a beautiful orchard, with an impressive selection of grape, fruit and sparkling wines and ciders. Once again, the staff at Cox Creek were anticipating our arrival, and served everyone a non-alcoholic sparkling wine toast, with a gift bottle of wine to take home. After more socializing, a group picture, and some time to enjoy a tasting and wonderful grounds of the winery, another edition of the Grand River North Tour came to a close.
Volunteers are necessary for any successful UCR event, so I’d like to thank my good friend Aran Matier for his help sweeping, Dan Engelbreth for getting his drone out to snap some great pictures, and to everyone who came out for the drive. I expect next year will have more surprises, I’ve even been asked a few times for butter tarts from Belwood Country Market to make a return… we’ll see! </>
Primary Photography by Rob Payne | Aerial Photography by Dan Engelbreth
