Grace Locksley

We’ve spent the last four nights with Marlene’s brother Clair who is a pastor at Grace Lutheran Church Locksley. He and His wife Joan live in a dignified, charmingly decorated, old brick three story house on the church property. The beautiful old church sits on rural acreage serving the local farming district of Locksley and others as it has for more than 100 years. On the west side of the property there is an impressive lovingly-tended graveyard where one can witness the history of the settlers who came to this part of the Ottawa Valley and their ties to the land they love. Rural churches with well-kept graveyards are part of the charm of eastern Canada where the history of settlement goes back further than in western Canada. Of course many old buildings in the east are constructed of brick or stone and have withstood the ravages of fire that has consumed many old timber-built buildings in Western Canada.
The four of us have spent the last three days exploring back roads: looking at waterfowl on the many small lakes and rivers, viewing prosperous farms with some very aged but still functioning buildings, investigating unique fence constructions, searching for cleverly designed mail boxes, and enjoying the rich, flavourful ice cream that dairy-producing districts make so well.
Although it is unlikely that any of the four of us will retire here as our adult children and commitments call us elsewhere, we understand why many others choose to retire here. We are imbued with the peacefulness and charm of this area and could imagine ourselves spending many happy years rambling as we’ve done the last three days, especially as we’ve hardly explored the many picturesque small towns with very interesting looking shops and restaurants. Barry is not a shopper and one of the things he likes best about the motorcycle is that we are forced to travel light - doing minimal shopping for essential items only. Of course Marlene has been known to ship items home that she simply could not resist!
We hate leaving today as we have enjoyed Joan and Clair’s company and hospitality so much, however, we are all close to retirement which will enable us to travel more frequently and come here more often. Grace Locksley will always be a special place for us because it bears the same name as Barry’ brother Locksley who died too young from prostate cancer three years ago. Locksley, who was always full of grace, would have loved this elegant heritage property and the serenity one feels here.
We are riding some country roads, H17 in sections, River Road along the Ottawa river between Renfrew and Arnprior (where the horses for the RCMP Musical Ride are raised), and a variety of secondary roads to avoid construction and congestion on the TransCanada highway into Ottawa. This route is not faster or shorter but it is scenic and an easier adjustment to riding after three days off the motorcycle. We will spend the next three days with Barry’s sister, Wenda enjoying more pampering and the sights of Canada’s stunning national capital, Ottawa.