Longo’s: Early Morning Road Trip In The Fog

Apples In The FogAt 6am when the alarm went off I nudged Gerry, then promptly fell asleep.  At 6:15 when the alarm went off again Gerry nudged me and we were “up”. Okay, up-ish. Up enough to head to Wilmot Apple Orchards.

It was early, but worth it.

I was invited to tag along on a tour of Wilmot Apple Orchards with the Longo’s Produce Managers and early morning or not, I wasn’t missing this!

Early Morning RoadTrip

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect since it was my first Longo’s Field Trip. I was sure someone knew I was coming, but I didn’t know who. The only person I was sure I’d know on the trip was Brad from the Maple Leaf Square store, but I wasn’t sure he’d know me. And I had no idea how this group of colleagues would feel about me tagging along.   If I could have made my way to Vaughan I could have travelled down on the bus with the Longo’s guys but that would mean getting up at 4am and that simply was NOT happening!

Instead, I picked up the Autoshare car up the night before to minimize the morning hassle and recruited Gerry to join me on this early morning road trip since morning and highway driving aren’t my strong suits, individually or together.  The sky was just starting to lighten up as we merged onto the DVP at 6:30am looking for the nearest available roadside coffee-monger to get some caffeine into our veins for the ride eastward to Newcastle. Onto the 401

Since we were going an unknown distance to an unknown place for a specific time, I was also quite anxious about being late. I was sure someone knew I was coming, but I didn’t know who. The only person I was sure I’d know was Brad from the Maple Leaf Square store, but I wasn’t sure he’d know me. And I had no idea how this group of colleagues would feel about me tagging along.

Brad, Produce Manager at Longo's Maple Leaf Square

Now it’s not like I’m shy… (Hey! Stop laughing!) but 8am is a little early for the outgoing part of my personality to wake up. At least the charming part of my outgoing personality (Stop it!)

I had looked up Wilmot Orchard on the internet to figure out the best route there. Which is a good thing because I had been sure Newcastle was near London… oops.  Turns out that Wilmot Orchard is also called Wilmot Blueberry Farm. Same address, same owners, but a lot more blueberry focused thank apple, with a lovely little onsite cafe, an interesting set of blueberry recipes, (I’ll be trying those sooner rather than later), and a falconer who comes in to keep away the birds from eating the harvest, mmmm blueberries…. but I digress!

Blueberries!

As the sun rose we noticed there was a little fog still clinging to the valleys ready to be burned away as the sun got higher.

Lines In The MIst

It was beautiful, but we were focused on not being late!  Okay, I was focused on not being late. Gerry was focused on not letting me wreck the road trip being uptight about not being late.

As we turned north up highway 115, the fog went from being quaint & misty to being serious fog.

Foggy Morning for Construction

We made our way through it and we found Wilmot Orchards around 8am with its laneway lined with Ambrosia trees being hugged by the fog,

Apples In The Fog

the apples heavy with mist and… (oh dear, I’m getting all sappy. Sorry)

Wilmot Orchards

Anyway, let’s just say the fog created some great photo ops!

[next up: my experience on the Wilmot Orchard Field Trip w/ Longo’s and more pictures of apples, lots of apples!]

Note: this post is part of my Longo’s Taste Ontario Ambassador series. For more information and disclosure on my relationship please take a second and read about my Foodie Adventure: Longo’s Taste Ontario Ambassador! and my Disclosure statement

Alexa Clark

Alexa is a digital marketer and author with over 20 years in digital & interactive communications in the food and tech industries. Alexa's CheapEats Restaurant Guides, for both Toronto & Ottawa, were Canadian best sellers. She is a recognized authority on social media and has been named one of Canada's 20 Leading Women in Social Media.

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