The Road from Ottawa to the Pinery - Interupted

This was a day with a false start, serveral interptions and an unexpected finish.
After a hearty breakfast of pain dore (french toast) Randall and Diane bid us adieu. On our first left turn out of their neighbourhood we discovered our left turn signal was not working. We pulled over and Ed made a quick call back to Randall to find the nearest Volkswagon dealership. He entered the coordinates into the GPS and away we set. The dealership was fairly close and as it turned out it was just to be a loose connection.
When it came time to take our mid-morning break we thought that we would be able to pull over at one of the Service Centres that used to be all along the 401. I don't know what happened but all we saw were Closed across the Service sign or Open in July 2010. We pulled off at the exit for Shannonville. A great place if you are looking for tax-free cigarettes. There were several gas stations and stores promoting this purchase. (We didn't buy smokes, but we did stop at Deb's Restaurant & Service for gas & to use the bathroom)
We continued driving the 401 looking for a rest stop for the lunch which Diane had packed for us. Again, no Service Centres, so off another exit (we missed the name of the town we were going to because of a technical discussion regarding the IPOD) and ended up eating our lunch in parking lot somewhere.
Driving along the 40l,along the overpasses, starting just east of Trenton, we started to see rows of people, many dressed in patriotic red and white, firefighters standing on their trucks, police officers, veterans in their uniforms and large Canadian flags waving and draped over the railing. This lasted until well into Toronto. They were all waiting to honour the motorcade that was bringing home the two medics who had died in Afganistan. It was very moving seeing this. In the west, I feel very detached from the conflict that is going on in Afganistan and Iraq. Going through the towns with the Canadian Forces Bases and seeing so many reminders of our military actitivity makes it a little more real.
Around 3pm Ed felt that he needed a break from driving so we pulled off at another exit to switch seats. They had blocked the west-bound access to the 401 because of the motorcade en route, causing us to detour to get back onto the highway. This detour took us along the side highway. We don't know if it took us that much out of our way, but it was actually a much more pleasant drive. More picturesque than the 401, less traffic and far fewer trucks.
The plan was for me to drive til the next rest stop. That came in Stratford 3 1/2 hours later. We were now driving through Onterrible! The traffic through Toronto is fast and furious, 4 lanes, a meridian, 3 more lanes. The drivers are agressive and I am a girl from Victoria. Shelbourne Street is my highway. Things slowed to a standstill around Missasaga. There was a 3 car accident just past Milton (which is just west of Toronto). Our plan was to arrive at Pinery Provincial Park around 5pm - it was now approaching 7:30pm.
Our night in the wilds was becoming less and less appealing (to me - Mr. Wilderness was still keen). Ed made another phone call to my brother, this time for the name of a hotel or B + B in Stratford.
We arrived at our B + B, D & K Shady Nook around 8pm. We had been in Stratford in 1994 with the girls. On that trip my brother and his family joined us to see the Pirates of Penzance. (That trip also had its exciting moments when a tornado touched down just behind his house and took out 14 trees)
We put our bags in our room and strolled into town for dinner at Molly's Irish Pub.

Tomorrow is another day. Breakfast, prepared by our hostess Kathy is at 8 and then we are off to the USA. It's camping tomorrow night at the KOA in Indianapolis.
Traffic permitting.