Feeling Very Nostalgic Today

Today during the morning hours as I was listening to music from the past on my iTunes playlist which was Adiss Harmandian and International Vatche who are Armenians who sing a variety type of songs, I felt very nostalgic. It also brought back many emotions and happy thoughts as I was remembering highway 401 East and a cottage we used to have in Eastern, Ontario, Canada, a town named Tweed and the countless amounts of times we would drive to Montreal and a couple of times I drove on my own.

Now, you are probably wondering why the music is involved in this, is because they were the artists that we would listen to in the stereo in the car when we would drive down. It never missed. These singers would always be involved and included in our road trips to the Cottage, Montreal and abroad.

The Nostalgia was kicking in even more when I was scouring through the internet for images of the town, the cottage we used to own, highway 401 East, and it went as far as the service centres and things we would see on the way like The Big Apple on the south side of the 401 on exit 497, Percy St. Do not confuse it with The Big Apple in New York City.

I know you are also wondering why I am having nostalgia over a highway. Well, Highway 401 East from Toronto all the way to Quebec has a sentimental place in my life and in my heart and it will always be a special place to remind me of the great drives we have had, and I was crazy at one point in driving in the worst possible snow storm which took over 7 and a half hours to get to Montreal, where on a normal day, would take about 4 and a half hours. In Montreal, I have plenty of friends and I would go and hang out with them every 2-3 weeks. I went about 35 times in one year, and that does not even cover the rest of the years.

So, today all those thoughts and memories came back to my mind and it was a great feeling. It has been about 3 and a half years, I have not been back to Montreal. Just that life got a whole lot busier, a lot of work, and I have traveled quite a lot as well to so many destinations, that I have lost count and now, I am so occupied with my work in Social Media Marketing, and also being a professional in it.

The Nostalgic feeling will never go away, and I will always remember the good times. I am going to make a trip to Montreal and Tweed, Ontario once the winter goes away and spring comes. I definitely need to make a trip there. I just want to drive and I just want to see my beautiful people there and go back to where my Cottage used to be and relax by lake Stoco.

I have written Articles about Tweed, Ontario, the Highway 401 and more… To read, them simply search my blog on the top right side of my blog page above my Facebook Fan Page. Thank you.

Have you had a great nostalgic moment in your life?

Would love to hear from you.

All the best.

Driving on Two-Lane Highways – It Feels Awesome

As you may or may not know, one of the most therapeutic things for me in life is to drive and I like it very much. I especially love to drive on major Highway/Freeway Arteries, big and small, long and short. When I drive, it is very relaxing to me. I remember when I got my G2 drivers licence, I began driving on highways in Ontario, Canada, especially the Highway 401 going back and forth to Montreal from Toronto, and when I used to go up to my cottage in Tweed, Ontario on Highway 37 which is a two-lane highway in some parts. Then after I got my full G licence, it felt awesome taking control and having that experience to drive all on my own from Montreal to Toronto, which is about a 5 hours drive. I loved it. Listening to the radio/cd’s, Myself, my car and the road. It was so peaceful and incredible.

With that being said, I absolutely love driving on two-lane highways as well. I feel like I am driving out in the country, different lifestyle, seeing farmers, pick-up trucks, old cars, overlooking trees, scenery, farmland, agriculture, fruit and veggie farms, animals, a house or 2 within a few km’s away from each other, followed by passing pick up trucks, big trucks/rigs on opposite side of the highway, then seeing solid lines, then broken lines for cars that are able to pass at that moment, say if there is a very slow moving vehicle in front of you, then quickly merging back into your lane, of course when it is safely to do so. I love road-trips like that, and I have to be the driver, but I am not the one who can stay in a car for more than 8-10 hours. That is my maximum limit. Anymore than that, I would rather fly somewhere.

I know sometimes driving in rural country/county township highways take longer to get to places, depends on where you are going, but it feels incredible to see greenery more and to get up close and personal with nature as you drive along.

Do you usually drive in the family or when you are amongst your friends? Or do you like being a passenger a lot more? I am in the mix between both, but I am the one who likes to usually drive. I cannot sit in a backseat of a car. I feel uncomfortable. I have to either drive or sit in the front.

Do you have a driving memory or story?

I Love Being Called A Human GPS – I Only Learn Once

One day almost 12 years ago when I turned 16, I remember passing my written computer driver exam to get my first License, in Ontario it is called the G1, Graduated licensing system that Ontario put into place, and I got out of the driver examination office excited and jumping around saying I passed I passed, it was a great experience. Not even a week later I started driving around and learning from my Dad, then I went to driving school, then I obtained the G2 license. After that I started driving on my own without supervision, and it was so incredible, and I started going to places and remembering where I am going and all it took is once for me to drive somewhere and I learned it very quickly. My dad and so many others say you have a gift of being strong and recognizing directions. In the last few years, I have been called the Human GPS (Global Positioning System), and that made me feel incredible to know that people trust in me in directions. I go to a place once and I am all set. The first time I need help to get somewhere, so I resort to my GPS, but then the second, third, forth time I go, I don’t need it anymore. I also love explaining directions in detail and they love it.

It is one thing to be a passenger and one thing to be driver. I have always observed even when I am a passenger and I learned a lot quicker, but when you get to really drive, its a lot more different because your the controller of the car, steering, brakes, and everything and people trust in you to make the right judgements when changing lanes, which way to go and often times your passengers sometimes tell you where to go if your dropping someone off at home or somewhere else, and among so many things, and its really important to observe always and remember where you go. Exercise your brain and always be aware of where you are. I always do and I have success always. I remember taking a friend home once and picking her up, she explained to me once how to get there, and now I don’t need to have a GPS Anymore. I love driving and I love driving responsibly.

When I got my full license called the G license 4 almost 5 years ago, I started to develop that special drivers eye, and started developing more skills in driving, and being more experienced. As I got all that experience, I started making long trips, and gaining confidence in myself to park, to reverse park and more. It feels amazing to know that people trust in me to give directions and no one has been lost. I feel like a Human Onstar and Navigation Voice in cars. I remember one time when I was heading to Montreal many years ago, believe it or not, I memorized all the exits, towns and cities all the way to Montreal from Toronto, and people were amazed at the names I was giving out during a conversation with someone who was going to Montreal and I gave it in the right order, not scrambling it all up. It felt incredible.

I cannot even begin how much I love being called a Human GPS. It feels great. If you want to know how to keep your memory and how to get somewhere without being lost the second or third time, just always remember the surroundings, a certain building around, a store name, an intersection, remembering the left, rights, straights, All very important and create a photographic memory in your mind, and just observe very closely. Then you too will become a Human GPS. Sometimes people go somewhere 10 times and don’t remember. Take extra time to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. It always works for me. I love it.

All the best to you all! Be safe on the roads and focus while driving.

Love Being Called A Human GPS – I Only Learn Once

One day almost 12 years ago when I turned 16, I remember passing my written computer driver exam to get my first License, in Ontario it is called the G1, Graduated licensing system that Ontario put into place, and I got out of the driver examination office excited and jumping around saying I passed I passed, it was a great experience. Not even a week later I started driving around and learning from my Dad, then I went to driving school, then I obtained the G2 license. After that I started driving on my own without supervision, and it was so incredible, and I started going to places and remembering where I am going and all it took is once for me to drive somewhere and I learned it very quickly. My dad and so many others say you have a gift of being strong and recognizing directions. In the last few years, I have been called the Human GPS (Global Positioning System), and that made me feel incredible to know that people trust in me in directions. I go to a place once and I am all set. The first time I need help to get somewhere, so I resort to my GPS, but then the second, third, forth time I go, I don’t need it anymore. I also love explaining directions in detail and they love it.

It is one thing to be a passenger and one thing to be driver. I have always observed even when I am a passenger and I learned a lot quicker, but when you get to really drive, its a lot more different because your the controller of the car, steering, brakes, and everything and people trust in you to make the right judgements when changing lanes, which way to go and often times your passengers sometimes tell you where to go if your dropping someone off at home or somewhere else, and among so many things, and its really important to observe always and remember where you go. Exercise your brain and always be aware of where you are. I always do and I have success always. I remember taking a friend home once and picking her up, she explained to me once how to get there, and now I don’t need to have a GPS Anymore. I love driving and I love driving responsibly.

When I got my full license called the G license 4 almost 5 years ago, I started to develop that special drivers eye, and started developing more skills in driving, and being more experienced. As I got all that experience, I started making long trips, and gaining confidence in myself to park, to reverse park and more. It feels amazing to know that people trust in me to give directions and no one has been lost. I feel like a Human Onstar and Navigation Voice in cars. I remember one time when I was heading to Montreal many years ago, believe it or not, I memorized all the exits, towns and cities all the way to Montreal from Toronto, and people were amazed at the names I was giving out during a conversation with someone who was going to Montreal and I gave it in the right order, not scrambling it all up. It felt incredible.

I cannot even begin how much I love being called a Human GPS. It feels great. If you want to know how to keep your memory and how to get somewhere without being lost the second or third time, just always remember the surroundings, a certain building around, a store name, an intersection, remembering the left, rights, straights, All very important and create a photographic memory in your mind, and just observe very closely. Then you too will become a Human GPS. Sometimes people go somewhere 10 times and don’t remember. Take extra time to familiarize yourself with the surroundings. It always works for me. I love it.

All the best to you all! Be safe on the roads and focus while driving.

So Many Inconsiderate Drivers Out There Who Cause All This Traffic

In Life one of the most annoying and something I do not like is inconsiderate drivers who drive so much slower than the speed limit, hold up traffic for others, who are constantly in the wrong lane. This issue has my blood boiling. I have never seen such terrible drivers in my whole entire life and that is what causes accidents, and bumper to bumper traffic. If some people knew how to drive properly, traffic and accidents would never happen. All accidents and traffic can be preventable. Accidents can happen from impaired driving, drunk driving, texting while driving, distractions, and crazy drivers who think speeding very fast is so cool. It’s not. I have encountered so many scenarios on the highway’s, freeways, especially and people do not know how to drive on them. Some people are scared to drive on it and I can tell. It is that simple, if your afraid to drive on a high speed highway, do not drive on it. People do not realize that super slow driving, causes traffic, causes delays and accidents. A huge truck can be driving by, or some driver doing the exact speed limit and a bit over, goes toward the very slow driver on the left or center lane and having to brake so they won’t hit the car up front. It causes wear and tear on vehicles and its not a good thing. People need to exercise good driving skills and think about where they are on the road when doing that.

Sometimes its beyond me how some people get a license to drive, how people can pass their driving exam. I have seen such terrible parking its unbelievable. I used to be terrible parker, but I kept trying and trying until I was good at it. Now I have no problems reverse parking, parking forward, parallel parking. Traffic is the number one cause of slow and inconsiderate drivers. People who don’t know how to drive and people who don’t know the basics of driving and driving etiquette, should stay off the roads, and go to driving school, take more classes and learn the rules. If some people exercise this and if they use the common sense, then everything will go smoothly. I am not saying everyone is bad in driving, I am just targeting those who do not give consideration and courteousness to other drivers who need to get to important functions, work, and going to places that are of an emergency. It is very important to consider, to respect other drivers and to share the road equally.

It is super important to share the road. You can’t just think that you own the road and everyone must follow your lead and your rules. It does not simply go like that. Everyone must consider each other, everyone should work together to maintain our roads, speeds, and traffic. We can minimize traffic a lot, save time and get to our destinations a lot quicker if people work together. We all share a city and our city roads, and highways. lets get serious on driving and lets get going. Slow drivers need to take the side streets, but highway driving is important too. So lets get it together and lets create equal space for us all.

Excited To Be Visiting Montreal, Quebec Again

I am so excited, that I cannot hide it. I know that is a song, but My excitement to be going to Montreal later on this month is really something I cannot keep to myself. I am excited to be seeing my friends and just getting there, traveling on my favourite highway after so many months, its going to be a great getaway, short, but sweet. I am really excited to be reliving my moments on my favourite highway and especially visiting my friends, and making more memories as I go.

Today, that is what I would like to share with you all. I will still be posting on the days I go… 🙂

 

YAY TO MONTREAL!

Poem — Highway 401 east To Montreal — By Talin Orfali

Highway 401 East to Montreal

 

Highway 401 east I love you

You are the way to my happy place

So I will never be blue

 

It brings me to Montreal, so many lovely people to see

That I love and admire,

My love for you all is like intense fire.

 

passing by so many cities and towns Galore

going to a city I truly adore.

 

Passing by the big apple, the paint test strips,

thousand islands, the triangle green house and more

So many things the 401 has for people to see

so many things in store.

 

A highway that is so special to me

I know it sounds funny, but its how I

want it to be,

 

The highway 401 east only exists to me

from the start

I love it with all my heart.

 

I know each Kilometre I pass

It gets me closer to the people I love

who have class.

 

Going to a city that is great

that I never want to stop on the way

and keep going straight.

 

So 401 east to Montreal I love you

So many memories since I was a child

so happy I can drive on it now as I grew.

 

Thank you Highway 401 east

You are the best

Forget the west…

Service Centres & Truck Stops on the Highways

I must admit stopping at service centres and truck stops have got to be my favourite places to stop when on the road Going to Montreal and coming back on the Highway 401 East and West bounds. There have been many experiences and I must say each one is so much fun. Sometimes I would stay for 10-15 Minutes to fill up gas and go get something to munch on from the Market, I’d stop in for half an hour, sometimes an hour if I am in no hurry. I’d often start making friends here and there and start up conversations with ordinary people. Its fun meeting people at service centres.

I don’t know if I have a map or GPS Written on my forehead but I would just be standing there, minding my own business when people come up to me and ask me and tell me Ma’am, how many minutes or hours left until we get to Montreal? It was this really nice family that came up to me. I said Oh I am headed that way as well. So from the OnRoute Service centre in Morrisburg at exit 758, I told them its about another Hour and a half, and they asked me what there is to Do in Montreal, and I explained to them what the hot-spots and great places to see there. Its like they know me from long ago, they said thank you so much for your help, I said no problem. I told them after 32 times to Montreal in Just this year excluding all the other years I have been to Montreal, I know Montreal inside and out. They said wow thats so awesome! After almost 30 minutes I had spent with them, They ended up giving me $20.00 because I helped them out a lot and said go and buy yourself snacks or whatever you want, I said “I can’t take your money!” They said no we insist, its not everyday we meet someone who actually cares to give directions and information to a place were going to go explore for the first time. So we gave each other our contact information and we have been friends ever since. They are just 15 minutes from me. Its so awesome.  then they had to get back on the road and continue their travel journey to Montreal.

At times I would order food from Burger King, A&W, or get myself a french Vanilla from Tim Hortons, or get a few snacks from the Market and by surprise a few of the workers who I recognize all the time, they surprisingly remember me and a few times they said Hey its you again! I said yes, then they said wow you sure do make lots of trips on this highway, I said i sure do. I know all the exits, cities, towns by heart and I am like a personal tourguide to people who stop at service centres and I dont know what it is, but they always seem to ask me, The worker said, I guess people sense on who knows more than the other person at service centres and they said of course they would ask you of a friendly and lovely face like yours. I would just be like, Thank you! 🙂

Now here is something funny that happened, I know I had said this about the Cops I had spoke about in several blogs ago, but do not want to repeat that in my OPP Post, but another funny thing had happened. This time we stopped in Brockville, Ontario going toward Montreal and there was a huge convention or something going on with cops from parts of Ontario, so here is me always finding ways to talk to Officers, and they had all come to Tim Hortons, so I said to this officer, Now this Tim Hortons is the safest one with all of these fine and incredible officers, The officer from Brockville started to laugh, He said thats the first time I have heard that one lol. He said thanks thanks, Then I told him and his officer partner, that I am on my way to Montreal and they said awesome have fun, and then they said DONT SPEED Or we’ll come after you, I go you have no problems with me because I dont speed. LOL They said good better not ahahaha. it was good ol fun, then I left for the road.

Now a few times I have stopped at truck stops like 5th Wheel, Flying J, Husky on the 401. I would see these big huge trucks and I would actually go stand right beside them. they are so huge, that you dont really realize it from your car driving on the highway all the time unless you stand right beside it. Its a huge beast! I have made many trucker friends. I am telling you, my adventures at these service stops are so fun! I sometimes dont keep track of time only the times i am not in a hurry of course as I said. There are these monthly trucker magazines on the rack and I would always go and get a copy of that and read about the transport trucking industry, about new truck lines, new laws and everything else. Its an awesome truck mag. I like those magazines, pamphlets, brochures about the areas, what to do, see. I keep them all and i document them.

A few of my friends told me, why don’t you work in a Highway Transport Safety Office? Tourism of Montreal office? Or Highway safety? Its awesome. I told them no, but recently, I found my real passion and it is to write, but giving people directions and explaining about the cities towns stretching across the 401 east and stuff is something i like to do on the side. I am not sure when I will go to Montreal again or visit these service centres, but I hope its soon. I just have a blast everytime and I do not think its long at all. 4 and a half hours and I am there. Gotta love it!

Childhood Memories Of Tweed, Ontario, Canada – North of Belleville, Ontario

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about my Childhood memories and another has sticked to me was my moments of going up to the Cottage with my family in Tweed, Ontario Canada about 15-20 minutes North of Belleville, Ontario exiting off the Highway 401 on #544 to Highway 37. Everytime the time came for us to go to the cottage, I was so excited. I would pack my bags and sometimes my mom would pack my bag and we would load up the car and drive down. It took about 2 hours to get there everytime and I enjoyed the trip so much all the time. I am a huge fan when it comes to roadtrips 10 hours or less. :). I remember going fishing, boating, paddle boating, swimming and jumping off the Raft My dad and my uncles built. Sometimes it would be weeks at a time we would go and the grass was ever so tall and when the fall hit, there would be so many leaves on the ground, so I would help rake them up. It was a cute little cottage. What would really scare me when I was a kid, at night there would be Thundershowers, and very strong ones, so I would be so scared that I would hide under the covers and cover my eyes shut so I would not see it, but I am past that stage now. Anyway, I would like to tell you a bit about the Town Tweed, Ontario.

Now, Tweed, Ontario is located north east of the Province Ontario. All the time we would go to Tweed, we would stop by the IGA food market which is not called Valu Mart, and we would get some food for the weekend or however long we would be there. The town is so small and you can get everywhere within 5 minutes 10 minutes. They have North America’s Smallest Jailhouse, The Amazing Dollar Store, a Hardware store, Daisy Mart Beckers Store for convenience. I would always get Bubble Gum Ice cream or Popsicles, and snacks. There is also the Park Place motel which always makes me think of the Game Monopoly, There is a beach on the Lake Stoco, but way too weedy, but it is beautiful. Also A beer store. There is also a Bridgewater Antique Shop near the end of Tweed. There was this man people used to Call Uncle JED, so each time we used to go, we said Hey Uncle Jed, he began to know us and whenever we came to town, he greeted us and he used to give me treats when I was little. After the years went by, we decided to sell the Cottage because nodody was hardly going there anymore after people started getting older and new things were happening in our lives and we just couldn’t go to Tweed anymore which sort of Saddened me and it took a long time to get over it, but its not so bad now.  After we had sold our cottage in 2001 about a year or 2 later when I was about 18 years old, I drove by the town with my brother before we headed to a Camping trip with friends and we decided to pop by and we saw a New Tim Hortons at the end of the Town. A few things were changed. My 2 years of not being in the town does surely change and the population became a bit higher to about 2000 people.

Now on our way to the Cottage in Tweed, as soon as we saw Trenton, Ontario, I said we are getting closer and closer to Tweed. We used to stop at the Mcdonalds on the way at exit 519 on Highway 401 East. At the time there were the barbies and hot wheels happy meals. So I would get the toys. Now that Mcdonalds doesn’t exist anymore. A couple of years ago, they gutted it all out and it became a new OnRoute Service centre with Tim Hortons, Burger King, and so much more. It is now called Trenton, South. There is one just up north of the 401 Parallel to Trenton South. It was so fun just stopping there and you would see all these big 53 footer trucks, tankers, RV’s and stuff. I said wow its awesome. I began to develop a strong respect over truck drivers since that age. My dad said these guys are taking big loads of stuff to other cities and they drive for hours and hours. I love stopping at Highway 401 Service centres. I have had many experiences in them all the time. To this day, These service centres, the Highway 401, Tweed, Ontario and all these little things in life have a big place in my heart and I will never forget it. I do not want to sound weird by loving a Highway and showing my feelings toward it, but its the way I am and like I said, I am very sentimental when it comes to memories of my past and holding onto belongings that mean the world to me. If your ever in Canada, in Ontario, Tweed, Ontario is such a cute place to visit. You will need a car there of course, but its worth a visit. In My Opinion, but everyone has different ones of course.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed reading. Thank you for stopping by. Come again.

I Love The Highway 401 East in Ontario, Canada.

I know in the back of your head you are wondering why I have such a love of a highway? Especially the highway 401. and the Direction is EAST of Course.

Well, let me uncover the information on the story behind it all.

When I was as little as 5 years old, My Family and I took a road trip to Montreal, Quebec. I was so excited for it. One of the very first things that caught my eye was “The Big Apple”. I saw this huge red dome like structure that really excite me, so I begged my father to stop so we can go visit it. So he did and we went to the big apple for a while and then my dad said we have to get back on the road because there was almost 3 and half hours more driving to do. I said ok, so as I was looking outside, I said wow there is no end to this. I was very excited. So after returning from Montreal, I said I want to go again, so not so long after we went back to Montreal to visit family. I was ever so excited again.

So As we had a cottage in Tweed, Ontario just about 30 minutes north from the City Of Belleville, I always looked forward to it and I couldn’t wait until I could drive. When I turned 16 years old, I had just gotten my drivers licence, and so I was legal to drive. So my brother was able to drive at the time, so he stopped on Highway 37 which was the highway that took us to Tweed, so I got to drive all the way to the cottage. It was so exciting, but I wasnt happy because I could not drive on the 401 still, so I hurried up and When I got my other Licence to drive, I was the one to always drive on the Highway 401 and I wouldnt let anyone else drive.

I remember driving to Montreal back by myself for the first time 5 years and a bit ago, and it was the best time of my life, Just the road, myself and my car with my favourite music on, and I did that many times after. I loved stopping at the service centres while taking a break and watching the cars and big rigs flying by ever so fast and hearing the noises was and is just awesome. I went as close as I could to the highway so as I can see it all. I have also driven to Kingston, Ontario by myself and I have also done so much Highway 401 driving, that I got to know the road really well and I almost know every exit number and description by heart. When the Quebec border was coming up also known as Autoroute 20 which is the continuation of Highway 401, I would always make my symbol everytime I entered into Quebec at that point. I would give the “I love you” sign and bring my hand to my heart.

So I kind of grew up with the Highway 401 and I will never forget the great times I have had on there and will continue to have. To me it is not just a road to drive on. It is a lot more to me. I love the Highway 401 and I will always have a place for it in my heart. If you ever need directions on the Highway 401 and the exits, just let me know. I will be there to help you 🙂