THUNDER BAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014

"To those who go down to the sea in ships"

The Mariner's Memorial at Thunder Bay commemorates the 2,024 naval men lost in WWII ... in 24 ships and to the 1,466 merchant seamen lost in WWII ... in 64 ships. Canada's WWII service - 1939-1945. 

Looking from Thunder Bay ... The Sleeping Giant rock to the left, lighthouse and huge freighter heading to Sault Ste. Marie's "Soo Locks" 350 miles away. Lake Superior is huge! 

350 miles (563 kilometers) E-W

160 miles (257 kilometers) N-S

489 feet avg. depth, 1,333 max. depth

609 feet above sea level

31,700 square miles

The downtown area is utilitarian ... serviceable ... but lacking imagination. The marina area is modern style with a lovely splash pad for the kids and a skateboard park. There's one new restaurant with a stainless steel water droplets sculpture ... that's it. Mark wanted to find "a nice pub" for lunch ... but Robbie had the best idea today ...

Hibernate! We had a comfort food lunch at home instead. 

Tomorrow morning, early, we will begin the drive to Kenora and Anicinanbe Park. 

THUNDER BAY - FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 3014

We left Sault Sainte Marie about noon yesterday with 420 miles to Thunder Bay. We were certain we would spend an overnight somewhere on the road, and arrive in Thunder Bay the next day. 

The scenery was beautiful ... granite rock-face colors exposed from road construction with a backdrop of Lake Superior's icy blue water. 

At 1:30 in the afternoon, Mark, aka "Eagle-Eye" spotted his first moose! He kept pointing and saying "Over THERE!!! To the LEFT!!! TO THE LEFT!" But, with my Tawns-family left and right confusion I didn't see it. Darn. 

We topped-off fuel in Wawa, (Sue and Wayne stayed here last night), walked the Scotties and took a break. At 2:27. Along I-17 Mark spotted another moose! I yelled, "WHERE? I SEE IT, I SEE IT!!!"  LOL 

We arrived safely about 5 pm at Penn Lake Park ... a nice Provincial Ontario camp not listed in any of our "books".  Fortunately, I happened to spot a sign that "mentioned it" and we asked in a convenience store ... the clerk pointed us in the right direction, literally. Haha. 

Our only problem was NO CELL PHONE SERVICE ... NO TEXT. We knew Sue and Wayne would be worried about us ... and we were wondering how far they traveled today! So, genius that I think I am, yes that's funny; I posted on Facebook and asked one of our friends to phone them. Within minutes, Mark's cousin phoned Sue and left us a note back. Thank you Kathie. 

We left Marathon at 8 am and arrived at KOA Thunder Bay at 12:15. It's a lovely spot ... but still NO CELL PHONE service! Unbelievable. Only in Canada. There seems to be wifi so I shall post this! 

Today's ride was "white knuckle" with 1300' elevations, 7% grade hills with hairpin turns. We traveled with two gasoline tankers (we tried to lose them!) along the route. 

I spotted a black bear at 10:38 this morning ... glad to be in the truck at the time. Haha. There were many construction slowdowns as bridges are being repaired or replaced along most of 17 Highway. Canadians have jobs. 

Pretty, huh?

It was a great day for scenery. 

This afternoon we're going into Thunder Bay to poke around. We've already decided to stay here TWO nights and leave for Kenora on Sunday. 

 

SAULT STE. MARIE - THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2014

More than 2000 years ago, aboriginal tribes from all over North America began to gather here for the wealth of fish, fur and maple syrup found along the rushing waters of the wide, turbulent river that links the Great Lakes of Superior and Huron.  Due to the strategic location of the river and the abundant natural resources found here, the French and British often fought over the area and the right to trade with Native Americans in the 1700s. 

In 1797 the first lock was constructed on the Canadian side by the Northwest Fur Company. This 38 foot lock was used by fur traders until the War of 1812 when it was destroyed by fire. 

Congress, in 1852, granted 750,000 acres to the State of Michigan to develop a lock that would allow ships to navigate from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The Fairbanks Mining Company began the lock in 1853. That's the briefest history recount ... LOL. 

Sault Ste. Marie is both an American city and a Canadian city ... joined by the International Bridge. (Strange, right?). 

Canadians and Americans are good neighbours (Canadian spelling) or neighbors (American spelling). LOL. They get together regularly to mingle and socialize. The first long weekend of summer is especially fun. 

The 2.8 mile International Bridge serves as a walking path for both Americans and Canadians enjoying the fantastic view of the St. Mary's River. (The word "Sault" means "rapids" in French.) There are tugboat races, a pancake breakfast, parades and two sets of fireworks ... July 1st fireworks celebrate Canada Day ... July 4th fireworks celebrate USA Independence Day. How's that for twin cities?

Canadian and American flags fly in "Soo"

One of the Soo Locks

Something's fishy!

Harbourfront street. 

We're getting on the road ... 17 West ... to who-knows-where at noon. At 4 pm we were heading to Marathon for the night. The phones don't work and we can't send a text. WTF?

Hooray, our wifi at Penn Lake Park is working! It's a beautiful place in Marathon, Ontario. Early tomorrow we will finish the drive to Thunder Bay. 

We sat outside with a lovely fire burning until 10 o'clock. No mossies here!

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014

Yesterday, we met our cousin Bobbie Tawns and her daughter Robin for lunch. It was interesting that Bobbie likes to oil paint and always wondered where her talent came from. She is opening a shop to sell some of them. I told her about other family artists Alex and Elliott Tawns and Elizabeth "Bessie"  Tawns!

Robin loves the sea coast and lighthouses ... more Tawns genes in evidence. They told a funny story about crossing the Cheasapeake Bay Bridge. Robin was driving across the bridge on a windy day. She was enjoying the waves splashing over the bridge deck ... then looked over at her mom. Bobbie was white as a ghost. She's a prairie gal, you see. LOL. 

We stopped at exit 114 for fuel before going to Parry Sound KOA. That was a great KOA ... nice woods ... friendly owners. We had a delicious dinner that Angie prepared and sent in a care package with Sue and Wayne. It was great! (Thanks, Angie!)

At the KOA Parry Sound, Ontario

Sue, served Angie's great cannelloni. 

This morning, a lovely sunny one, Wayne wanted to be on the road at 7 a.m.  Mark and I were a little behind schedule at 7:20 when we passed them hooking up the SUV. We drove two hours then stopped for a fuel top-off and to walk the dogs. Shorty wasn't feeling well today ... he doesn't like big hills. Poor guy. 

We're coming up to some mighty hills ... thought Mark. Nope. Just a weather front of cloud. Having grown up on the prairies, this was a common sight. 

Passing Sudbury, Ontario ... Nickel smelting chimneys stand proud ... a tribute to Canada's mineral wealth. 

Just a pretty road sign. :-)

We saw signs ... Amish on the highways?

Do you see the horse and buggy? There were three young girls in the wagon ... and a semi zooming past at 60 MPH. Scary! 

This Amish farmer had two draft horses hitched to a plough. You don't see that often!

Wayne decided he and Sue should forego the last two sightseeing stops and continue onto their cottage. Their driveway work begins this weekend and he'd like to be there. (Mark agrees that Wayne should be there.) Sue and I disagreed. :-(

So, off went the K's ... while Mark and I continued onto Sault St. Marie, Ontario. 

Robbie the Bruce likes to ride shotgun ... 

er, when Miss MagPie lets him. LOL. They are both great travelers!

Mark and I arrived at Sault Ste. Marie ... tomorrow is sightseeing. This is a very nice KOA ... and we became VIP KOA members. Haha. We were treated like royalty. 

While Mark was BBQing steaks, Sue called to say they had stopped for the night in Wawa ... and going out to eat. Apparently, it wasn't as nice as our KOA ... Wha-wa-waaa. LOL

Ta ta for now. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2014

Today, Sue, Mark and I are going to meet Bobbie Tawns and her daughter, Robin, in Oakville for lunch. (Bobbie's dad was killed in WWII ... they never met.)

Later in the day we began the 1,185 mile trek towards the cottage at Lake of the Woods. We knew it would be slow going on Hwy 17, much of it a 2 lane road. There are a few campgrounds and towns dotted along the remote Northern Ontario region ... and hopefully some diesel fuel stations! 

Last night we had rain ... not the Florida-type, just showers now and again ... perfect. Sue IS NOT a fan. LOL. Wayne is ready to be at their cottage already! Mark and I want to enjoy the next leg of this journey ... we've never been on this part of the road before. 

Here's our route ... Toronto to Kenora. 

Blog photos may be a rarity for the next few days as we expect Internet (and phones) to be intermittent in some areas of our drive. It's going to be remote ...

I will add later ... but post this for now. 

Here we are ... Julie, Robin, Sue, Bobbie 

At the Sunset Grill. .

It was great fun meeting Robin and seeing Bobbie Tawns, again. 

MILTON - MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Good morning! Mark and I are going grocery shopping ... and for wine! It's just a friggin' crime that wine isn't sold at the grocery store! WTF?

Shorty Hot-Pants is saying his prayers ... Wayne says that he's praying for chicken. LOL. 

It's a lovely, sunny morning. Today is laundry and grocery shopping and relaxing. Mark is suffering with a stiff neck so he's sitting with Light Relief on it.

Sue and Wayne have been invited out to lunch, so Mark and I will be happy lazing around and dog sitting. 

Meanwhile, wifi is pretty good here, so I will add some pics from Niagara Falls while the going is good. Haha. 

The immense size is amazing! Really! This picture shows about 1/4 of the horseshoe falls. 

The carnival atmosphere is infectious. We'd like to come to Canada's Niagara Falls again. 

Our dinner at Edgewater's was very good. Sue and I had prime rib and both ordered end cuts, and got them. :-))) Mark and Wayne had glazed salmon. The view was fantastic. 

There's a big casino there, too. We didn't have time to tour it though. 

See, it is like a carnival. 

This is a kid's dream ... what a fun place. 

It took us awhile to find a grocery store ... finally, at the easily recognizable liquor store the clerk directed us ... Canada's Superstore. It sure didn't look like a grocery store ... but it was! Next we had to buy stamps ... again, not easy. In Quebec, stamps were sold at gas stations! In Ontario, they don't. WTF? So, we had to GPS a post office ... but it is 99% restaurant with fancy tables and chairs outside the only thing post office is the brick name on the old building!!! So, we gave up ... no letters mailed. 

We came home to our doggies ... laundry ... lunch ... bill paying ... and dog walking. Whew. 

Mark brushing Miss Maggie ... "Ain't she sweet?"  

About, 4 o'clock I went for a mani-pedi ... and got a terrific one! Sue and Wayne  arrived at home at 5:30 but were too full for dinner. Mark and I will fend for ourselves tonight. 

Tomorrow, we're meeting our cousin Bobbie Tawns for lunch. Can't wait. 

Ta ta for now. 

TORONTO (AREA) SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Good morning! It's lovely and sunny! We puttered about doing some tidy-up and tucked away the cold weather clothes. About noon, Mark and I left for Oakville ... but here we are in MILTON, Ontario. What a day! We were reserved at Bronte Creek Provincial Park but couldn't get into the site. (Mark might have wedged us in, but the slides wouldn't have opened.) The brush was up to our armpits and the road had been gravelled about 20 years ago! It was a good thing that Sue and Wayne stopped to have their coach washed and thus avoided the Bronte muddle. Hopefully we can get our money back! Meanwhile, I found Milton Heights Campground 12 miles away and booked two sites with 50 amp service. Whew. 

Tomorrow, Sue and Wayne are going to meet their friends Angie and Jerry while we dog sit. Then Tuesday, Sue and I are going to meet our long-lost cousin Bobbie Tawns and her daughter, Robin,  in Oakville. We're excited ... it's been decades; really!!!

Last night though, we had a nice time at the Niagara Falls. They really are more stunning from the Canadian side ... plus, it's a regular carnival atmosphere! We had a good dinner at the Edgewater, with a perfect view!

Wayne was cold! 

Tonight, Mark is cooking pasta with meat sauce ... yummy.