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Formerly the BACK BUMPER
Collecting Ontario licence plates for 41 years
2CENTS ARCHIVES
First started as "My 2 Cents" in 1997, I have written posts numbering into the hundreds. New posts arrive continually. Find an article by clicking the tag cloud below, or selecting a category, doing a search (see magnifying glass below on the right), or just scroll down to see the articles in chronological order.
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It never rains, but it pours
It was four years ago that the AACA moved their automotive flea market away from the town of #Stirling and into the city of #Lindsay, an...
May 8, 2017
More flea, less auto in Barrie
My present weekend-after-Labour-Day ritual is to escape my city life—by driving for a few hours through the wilderness, so I can camp for...
Sep 12, 2016
Stir it up
I’m in that phase of parenthood where the kids come along for the ride. Trouble is, it's a long drive for many of my hobby-related trips,...
Jun 12, 2016
Stories for the sake of telling
I’ve been to the Barrie Automotive Flea Market a couple dozen times since I discovered it in the mid-1990s. The first time I was there...
Sep 30, 2015
Field of dreams
For the first time, I’m writing a My 2 Cents article about a plate-collecting journey before it actually happens. That’s because changes...
Jun 11, 2015
Landing in Lindsay
The first weekend in May is ordinarily when I make the drive to Stirling, to attend their big flea market at the town fairgrounds. Up...
May 2, 2015
Daddy - daughter - Barrie
My kids are front and centre when it comes to most aspects of my life. They both take swimming lessons, one has soccer in the summer, and...
Jun 8, 2014
A Gran Torino day out
Last year, my trip to #Stirling worked surprisingly well—the weather was good, I found a bunch of plates, I brought my kids and they had...
May 28, 2014
Opeongo-Monck travelogue
I’ve managed a quick escape to the September 2013 edition of the #Barrie Automotive Flea market. The weather hasn’t been cooperating over...
Sep 11, 2013
Bugging
I went to the 2013 edition of Volksfest, which is – I think – the largest non-judged VW car show in all of Canada. But then again, that...
Aug 27, 2013
Merrickville 2013
It was going to be a hot one. I set my alarm for 5 am and hopped into my pre-packed car at about 5:45. The temperature hadn’t quite...
Jul 19, 2013
Overcharged in Oro
I’d been spending the spring being a good husband and father, in order to earn enough brownie points to go to the #Barrie Automotive Flea...
Jun 16, 2013
Kids' day out
I have a busy home life, with lots of child-related things to take care of. It’s a far cry from my life ten years ago. I could simply...
May 26, 2013
Volksfest 2012
2012 marked my fourth summer as the owner of a 1971 VW Super Beetle. It’s been mostly fun, mixed with a little frustration, but I suppose...
Oct 1, 2012
Let it rain, rain, rain
Friday evening: Rain beginning overnight. Risk of thunderstorms. Amount 15-25 mm. Saturday: Rain ending in early evening. That ain’t what...
Sep 15, 2012
Doors Open 2012
The lazy days of summer are here. It’s been so hot and dry outside that there hasn’t been much to do except be lazy. I’d like to go to...
Aug 13, 2012
Seller 57, where are you?
Yes, I went to the Barrie Automotive Flea Market once again this spring, held at the one-and-only Burl’s Creek Family Event Park. And, in...
Jun 16, 2012
Summer's last gasp
It’s hard to describe the feeling I get about going to the fall Barrie Automotive Flea Market. It’s summer’s final offering, somewhat...
Sep 16, 2011
Twofer one
The annual Acton swap meet has usually been held during the third weekend in April, but for this year, its ninth, the date was changed to...
May 12, 2011
Mileage may vary in Barrie
After passing on the Barrie Automotive Flea Market this past June, I cleared my calendar enough to guarantee myself a trip to the...
Oct 2, 2010
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