New Brunswick treasures--A hidden restaurant and a cow Spa

I haven't stayed in many RV parks on this trip.  My solar panel has been the main reason by keeping my batteries fully charged at all times.  Plus Walmart's friendly 'open parking lot' policy has been reliable and trouble free.  The temperate weather has precluded the use of air-conditioning and there have been dump stations with fresh water readily available at enough truck stops, rest stops, and Provincial parks to  avoid relying on RV parks.  And finally, when I want to use the microwave, I simply fire up the generator for 10 minutes, heat a bowl of soup or cup of tea, then switch it off and cuss at the neighboring monster RV that runs his noisy generator all night. (I kid you not!)

Calvin and Willa Tomshak

All Done RV Camping

But, upon leaving Fredericton, on the way to Prince Edward Island, I realized I needed to do laundry plus dump the holding tanks and take on fresh water.  I decided it was easier to do it all in one place so I picked out an RV park on the way to the Island and met these very accommodating owners.

Willa went out of her way to introduce me to the interesting history of the Sussex area of New Brunswick.  Among other things this county is known for an abundance of covered bridges.  

Built in 1908, this bridge is no longer used.

Then Willa told me about a hidden restaurant and a 'cow spa' and I couldn't resist.   Of course,  I decided to stop for a day and check them out.

Following Willa's directions I drove about 10 miles out among the cornfields, miles from any town, on a two lane country road....

...until I came to this sign.  Nowhere did I see a restaurant but their gardens...

...were lovely.

Hostas grow almost wild here.

Tucked in amongst the gardens was this unassuming little cottage...

and tucked up in those vines is a sign that I think says, Corn Hill Restaurant.

Inside I found this charming, mother-and-daughter-owned, treasure of a dining establishment....

...that I never would have found without Willa's directions.

When the waitress/daughter was quizzed about the lack of signs, etc. she said, "Mom's such a good cook the neighbors all know about us.  It's enough business for us."

And my club sandwich was a work of art.  Wow!  What a find. 

The next adventure was almost as hidden as the restaurant.  

If Willa had not described it so completely I would have passed right by it.  

Inside the Waldow Farms main building I found this carousel--or perhaps a lazy Susan.  If you look closely between the cows legs you will see a deep pit with two or three guys down inside it, working on the cows.

As the carousel slowly moves in its circle the guys in the pit are washing udders, connecting tubes for milking, and when the cows have reached a revolution....

...the equipment is removed, and the cows are ushered out to the next room.

Did I mention these cows are contented?  

They were standing completely still and not making a sound.  They seemed happy enough to spend the day on this wheel....

...with charming ankle bracelets to keep track of their whereabouts--or maybe to count their revolutions.  As soon as they were escorted away, the wheel was hosed down and made ready for the next riders.

On the way to the next room I passed the nursery. 

These guys were born that morning.

Mom looked a little tired here.

This was the final step--Water Beds!

These are water filled bladders that the cows lounge around on after the milking.

They obviously like them because that's where they go, un-coaxed, as soon as the milking is over.

Miss 316 stopped long enough to give me a look before climbing up on her waterbed.  Boy, the life of a dairy cow is not half bad...

 ...except for the smell!  I took a long shower when I got back to the RV park but I still smelled that barn for another day or two.  However,  I must say that place was pretty clean considering. 

 I know you 'cow folks'  are laughing at my naivety when it comes to dairy farming but it all was brand new to me.  And Willa and Calvin told me about another dairy that has No People running it at all!  Only Robots! Calvin even tried to get them to let me see the operation but no one would come to the door when he knocked.  They were probably on vacation and the robots were busy cleaning udders.  Maybe next time.