Twin Wheels Farm

Off to the Twin Wheels B&B.
http://www.twinwheelsfarm.com/

We went with the Mask family to visit Cathy’s family property near Brudenell, about 25 minutes from Barry’s Bay.
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/so05/indepth/soc_brudenell.asp

Cathy’s father, Joe Van Massenhoven, met us out the front with his team of Belgian draft horses already hitched to the sleigh. Essential supplies (blankets, peach schnapps and Belgian chocolate liqueur) were loaded on and away we went.

Travelling through the pine forests across newly fallen snow was like going back into a storybook time. Andrew Mask occasionally reminded us that we were back in Canada by triggering the odd snow shower by shaking a low hanging branch. Joe pulled up the sleigh about 30 minutes into the journey so that we could sample some Belgian hospitality. Nic had his first little shot of Belgian chocolate liqueur which warmed the cockles of his little heart and put a big smile on his face that did not disappear for the rest of the day.

Upon returning we went out to meet the rest of the horses. These guys had never even seen a horse rug in their lives, they have no idea what wind chill is and they have no qualms about -35 degrees. They were beautiful, healthy looking animals and very keen to get up close for a friendly pat and a rub. They’d probably melt in an Aussie winter!

Lunch was taken inside the Van Massenhoven residence, a hand built log cabin (as you would in rural Ontario). We had masses of traditional Belgian waffles, made with the secret recipe, and baked on the wood stove using waffle irons brought back from Belgium,smothered in berries and cream or brown sugar or maple syrup. Yummo!

We then went with the Masks to their summer cottage, a hand built log cabin (as you would in rural Ontario).

There we went ice fishing (no luck), quad bike riding and sliding down the road on GTs, flying saucers, toboggans and snow boogie boards. This was followed by spider dogs (a Killaloe delicacy) and roasted venison sausages. We then returned to the Masks’ home where we stayed for dinner which included venison casserole. (We white Aussies could really learn a few things about how to consume some of our national symbols. Wombat stew is sounding better than ever – and think of the road kill that we could utilize!)

It was probably just another ordinary weekend in Canada for these people but for us it was a priceless slice of Canadia.