House & Pet Sitting - So Much Fun!

House & Pet Sitting - So Much Fun!

So many times in life, it's the unplanned events which bring about the most unexpected, but awesome changes to our lifestyle. 

A couple of years ago, John & Dianne - two wonderful people who have become very dear friends - told us about their 6 months in Europe traveling from one house/pet sitting assignment to another. We were intrigued and plied them with lots of questions. 

Early last year, some mutual friends wanted to go away for a couple of weeks, but John & Dianne were in Europe, so they couldn't house/pet sit for them, as they usually had done in the past. So, they asked us if we would fill in for them at our friends' farm in Warsaw, just east of Peterborough, Ontario. 

We readily agreed, as we knew the animals quite well, and we arrived a day before they left for their vacation so that we could have a tutorial about caring for the farm animals and learning the morning and evening chores. Those of you who have been following us for some time may remember the several blogs we posted about the amazing time we had. 

Our Friends' farm, near Peterborough, Ontario

Several months later, a similar opportunity presented itself in West Lorne, just west of London, Ontario, where we got to look after an indoor cat, an outdoor dog, and three outdoor cats - as well as two horses (though these required little attention apart from our daily visit to pet them and give them some carrots!) You may remember some of those blogs, too!

West Lorne, Ontario

View from the front porch at West Lorne

We thoroughly enjoyed both of these sits and became fast friends with the couple in West Lorne, who asked us to repeat the sit a few weeks later. This got us thinking of all the possibilities of traveling, staying in some lovely homes, meeting wonderful people, while getting our animal fix on a regular basis. 

When we returned to Elliot Lake, we visited John and Dianne and peppered them with more questions, eventually deciding to open an account with the company to which they belonged, and the rest is history, so to speak. 

Here are some of the beautiful homes in which we have stayed. (We always obtain permission from the home-owners before we post any pictures, as we feel strongly that their privacy should be protected).

Au Train, Michigan

The view from our balcony at Au Train, Michigan

Caledon, Ontario

Quirke Lake, Northern Ontario

Pot Luck Farm, Vermont

Waterloo, Ontario

For just $50.00 for the year, we joined Trusted House Sitters, one of the many companies that list house/pet sitting opportunities, and got busy completing our profile, obtaining our police record check, and setting up our schedule to see when we'd be available. 

Trusted House Sitters - website

We also decided to create a website of our own that would showcase our lifestyle so that people could have a better idea of who we are and our philosophy of life. 

Our own website

So, how does it work? 

This U.K.-based company sends us two e-mails per day showing all the listings of house/pet sitting opportunities from all over the world -  Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, the U.S.A. and, of course, Canada. Each listing usually includes pictures of the home, the pets, the responsibilities and expectations, as well as a map showing the location. We browse through each one and if any of them take our fancy, we apply - through the website mailing system - and keep our fingers crossed. 

We get two e-mails each day

Sometimes, we don't hear back (probably because they are having so many applicants to go through); but when we do get a response, we usually set up a Skype session at a mutually convenient time so that home/pet owners can see us and chat with us to find out if we're a good fit for one another. We also ask specifically about how long the pets may be left if we want to explore the local area, and whether it's OK for us to take the pets with us in our car. 

Once it has been determined that both parties are happy with the arrangements, we usually organize to arrive a day or so ahead of their departure so that we can get to know the routines of the pets, and other important information about caring for the property while they are away (garbage collection days, emergency numbers for vet, hydro, plumber, the go-to person etc.) We take our responsibilities very seriously - after all, people are trusting us with their number one possession - their home, and also the pets that are really members of their innermost family.

We usually touch base with the home-owners a week or so before we leave home to finalize the details, then we count down the hours to the next adventure. While they are away, we usually keep in touch via e-mail, Facebook, or Instagram (whichever they prefer), keeping them up to date, reassuring them that all is well, and sending them pictures of their beloved pets. 

Along with the responsibilities of looking after our two- or four-legged friends and their homes, we have been able to swim in the Gulf of Mexico on Christmas Morning, help with tapping sugar-maple trees and collecting the sap, go canoeing in Northern Ontario, meet with old friends who may live locally to the sit, eat in some awesome restaurants, hike in the mountains of New Hampshire, and visit the Atlantic Coast, as well as  a whole host of small towns, villages, and cities near to the house-sit, and on the way to and from each assignment. 

Canoeing in Northern Ontario

The coast of New Hampshire

Panama City Beach, Christmas morning

Swimming in the Gulf of Mexico on Christmas Morning

Collecting sap from sugar maple trees

We have also loved being able to swim in the pools, and enjoyed the use of hot-tubs.

We continue to appreciate the many benefits of doing this. We get to spend time with, and look after, some fantastic furry-friends, feathered-friends... and yes, even scaly ones! Also, we have made some really superb friends in the process. In every single house-sit we have done, the home-owners have made us feel incredibly welcome, and we almost feel part of the family. In all cases, we have been asked to go back again, which makes us feel so good about what we do. 

A wonderful group of new friends we made while in Vermont

Apart from those people we have met through Trusted House Sitters, some of our friends on social media have noticed the posts we have made about our various sits, and have asked us to look after their pets/homes as well. We've been delighted to say 'yes' whenever we are free to do so.  

Some people have asked why we don't charge for our services. We tell them that the 'payback' for us is that we get to stay in some really nice homes and settings, and are free to explore the area, sometimes taking the pets with us. As a result, we feel that we are continually on vacation, ourselves!!

Yes, we love our home-town of Elliot Lake, even though the longest period we have spent there, continuously, is 5 weeks! However, when we turn north from Hwy 17 onto Hwy 108, we both experience an excitement about returning to our base and reconnecting with all of the dear friends who have come into our lives in the last three years. We feel have the best of both worlds!!!

We're planning to look for some house/pet sitting opportunities in Europe next year, and maybe Down Under, the following year! Life is good!

Rarely does a day go by without us feeling so much gratitude and appreciation for John and Dianne, for introducing us to this way of life. They also have a wonderful website, which you can visit by clicking TLC International Housesitters or this picture...

Here are just a few of the lovely animals we've been privileged to care for...

Alice, the donkey

Max

The Milkman

Peanut

Gus Gus & Lilly

Julie 2

Nessa (who decided to get in on a Skype session!)

Pot

And we are SO appreciative of all those wonderful people who have trusted us with their pets and their homes and who have taken us into their hearts. They are all awesome - and we have grown to love them dearly!

Tobermory to Manitoulin - an Ontario treasure!

Tobermory to Manitoulin - an Ontario treasure!

I've always been a kid at heart - something that, methinks, will never change! Since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I've always loved trains and boats and would relish every opportunity to travel on them that my parents would provide. 

Growing up in Essex, England, we would often take the train into Southend-on-Sea for day's outing (much better than riding the bus). This was enjoyable for several reasons; but my real joy was when it was announced that we were going to Gravesend, in Kent, for the day. I was always full of happiness because, not only did I get to ride a train to the very end of the line at Tilbury Riverside, but I would also get to walk through the gate and straight onto the  Tilbury-Gravesend Ferry for the 10- minute ride across the Thames to our destination. The beach wasn't much to write home about in those days, but there was the anticipation of the return journey. Oh, such wonderful memories - especially in the days of steam trains. 

Train comes to a stop at Tilbury Riverside Station - the end of the line
(The station is no longer in use)

Tilbury Ferry

The beach at Gravesend - back in the 1950's

So, what has this got to do with crossing from Southern to Northern Ontario via Lake Huron? 

Earlier this year, I had been booked for a wedding at Laurentian Lodge,  just north of Elliot Lake. A few months later, the opportunity for three, back-to-back house/pet sits came our way. Two of them were repeats, and one was a new venue for us. The only issue was that the wedding was to take place in the middle of the four weeks away. Mark and I talked about it and we agreed that I would return to Elliot Lake for the weekend while Mark would continue to look after the home and animals, and enjoy the swimming pool!

About a week before leaving for our first sit, it suddenly dawned on me that I had a choice - either to go by road and drive all the way to West Lorne via Highways 401, 400, 69, and 17 17, 69, - OR - take the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry across from Tobermory to South Baymouth, on Manitoulin Island. 

The boring, stressful way!

The much more exciting, scenic and restful way!!!

Although no train was involved, I felt the old familiar excitement of taking a ferry - this time, with my own car! 

I had decided that this was going to be my experience and commenced the task of convincing Mark that it was going to be the best route to take!!!  You know - 'traveling on the highways during the holiday period - not so good - more stressful during rush hour'... 'could get a bit tired on the long journey home, and don't want to keep stopping at Timmies and spending more money'... and my masterpiece, 'I've never been on that ferry'!!!  In truth, Mark didn't take much convincing, and I know that he was happier with me doing two 3-4 hour stints of driving with a 2.5 hour rest in between. I was delighted - nay.... ecstatic!!!!

Arriving at Tobermory just over an hour before sailing, I remembered what a beautiful town this is. A few years ago, I had taken my sister and brother-in-law on the Blue Heron Cruise around Flowerpot Island and had loved the boat trip and the stroll around the town after we had returned. It felt good to be here and I spent about half an hour walking alongside the dock, with the moored boats bobbing gently up and down. It was a hot, sunny day with few clouds and the spectacle coaxed out my camera. 

From the boat launch, Tobermory

The inlet from Lake Huron, Tobermory

Returning to the car ready for boarding, I watched as the adjacent lanes emptied themselves of the lined up vehicles. Then is was my turn, and I actually became excited as I started to slowly inch forward onto the ferry, guided by the experts up a ramp for smaller cars. 

Boarding the ferry

Going up the ramp

Parked!!

There she is, safely on top!

There was little room for maneuvering past the parked cars, but within minutes I was on the upper deck, surveying the scene from above. 

Watching the cars load from the deck

I was pleasantly surprised by all the facilities on board - and they even announced that there would be entertainment on one of the decks - though wasn't sure what form it took as I wanted to take in the fresh air and sheer pleasure of the wind rushing by as we crossed Lake Huron. 

Lots of facilities on the ferry

Bar lounge 

Informaton Bureau on board

This man asked me if he would now be famous!

On two different deck levels, there were several Muskoka chairs which were snatched up by those who boarded early - and there were many benches to choose from, as well as the lounge area in the lower deck.

Wonderful way to relax for 2.5 hours!

At one point, a gentlemen vacated his Muskoka chair and I asked him if he was leaving. An affirmative answer added to my delight as I was now able to sit in comfort while enjoying the breezy crossing, with an unfettered view of the lake. 

Got my own chair!

At one point, looking towards the west from my side of the deck, all I could see was water - and it crossed my mind that this was rather like it would be on a cruise. (See the pic at the top of the blog). (Neither Mark, nor I, have been on a cruise - but it is on our ever-increasing bucket list). 

After about an hour or so, I decided to leave the chair to the next lucky person and stroll around the deck. Looking eastward, there was a continual view of near or distant land masses to remind this would-be sailor that we were not actually at sea. 

Gradually, the land mass that is the huge island of Manitoulin drew closer and I could see the beginnings of South Baymouth - the ferry's destination. 

Manitoulin Island in sight 

The entry to South Baymouth, Manitoulin (on the left of the pic)

Before I could get a decent photo, we were called back to our vehicles. It was while I was sitting in the car, waiting for the ship to dock, that I felt the gentle lull of being on water. It had been a smooth crossing and now, just a few minutes later, I was moving again, finally alighting onto familiar territory - back home in Northern Ontario, with its rocks, trees, and lakes that we have come to love so much.

For me, it was well worth the longer travel time and the great thing is... I get to make the return trip tomorrow!!! Lucky me!

The colourful, first-nation designed chimney on the Chi-Chemaun

Note: Chi-Chemaun means 'big canoe' in Ojibway.