The mass exodus from the GTA into cottage country started early Friday morning on Highway 400. Drivers stopping off to fill up at the Enroute in South Barrie say they were pleasantly surprised with the pace of traffic considering the congestion. “You control your controllables and you just kind of enjoy the ride,” says Chase Trull. Despite the high cost of fuel at the pumps, the roads were busy. “Share the roads safely and responsibly,” says Sgt. Kerry Schmidt with the OPP. “If there are cars behind you and you are in the left lane, move over, let them go by you,” Schmidt says. “Speed limits have changed in many areas and people are doing 110 km/h, and if you don’t feel comfortable with that, we want you driving in the right hand lanes,” says Schmidt. With hundreds of thousands of people expected to flock into Simcoe County and Muskoka, local businesses are expecting big turnout this long weekend, especially near the beach, with the forecast looking good. “I came here as a kid. It’s the sand, the water, the vibe. It’s everything, the people, it’s very nice,” says Gaetano Borzellino. Beach area one in Wasaga Beach may still be under construction, but the beach is fully open. “I saw some people coming from Quebec, so they are coming from far away to get the beach visits,” says Niranjan Batiear at his Osmow’s Shawarma stand. A picture perfect location on what looks like a picture perfect few days. So enjoy and kick off the end of the summer season with style.
