Sault Ste. Marie: Lakes & Locks

Yesterday we started out in Wawa, ON, this area was pretty remote until 1960, when the TransCanada was finally built through here. It’s considered Northern Ontario even though it is south of Calgary. The climate, vegetation, rocks, etc. remind me of northern BC, except when we get a spectacular view of Lake Superior. Truck and trailer are both humming along, the old beast guzzles a lot of gas! Cell service has been iffy for the last few days but usually have coverage in the towns, also we’ve found wifi in several towns.

I had a little excursion to see the Agawa pictographs; the trail down was a steep track among the boulders, the first sign I came to warned that death and injury have occurred when people were swept or slipped off the rocks. I could hear dad cautioning me, 'that's far enough Judy, but I persevered, the most foolish part was I didn't change out of my flip flops. The pictographs were very hard to see (sun was in my eyes), much better view from the water I climbed out on some rocks and got a slightly better view and made it back to the parking lot with no mishaps.

We had an awesome lunch in Sault Ste. Marie, Low & Slow BBQ, smoked fish chowder and shared a brisket sandwich, both were very good. We crossed into Michigan and checked out the Soo Locks, there are five locks (4 American, 1 Canadian) moving all manner of freighters and smaller boats between the lakes (Superior & Huron) using the St. Mary's River. We watched a tour boat & the freighter Rt Hon Paul Martin travel through the locks, one up and one down, pretty impressive process. Then along came the cavalry, US Coast Guard, with a pretty impressive boat and a guy standing on the front by a machine gun AND an OPP boat that looked more suited to a couple guys on a fishing trip. Denis' comment; that's representative of our budgets. Camped on the waterfront (Canadian side) and toured the city.

Today, after Denis visited the bush plane museum, we are headed towards Sudbury, have to check out the nickel story. We are camped at Lake Aspey very near Espanola just outside of Sudbury.

Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Northern Ontario? Lakes & Wilderness

After a very rainy cold Sunday in Thunder Bay, we set off for Sleeping Giant Park. Along the way we found the fish shop that we spent a good deal of time looking for on Sunday, so we loaded our fridge with fish, smoked and fresh and also an excellent piece of carrot cake to share. I just managed to escape  without an amethyst bracelet. We were camped at Marie Louise Lake (in Sleeping Giant Park) and by noon we were on one of the hiking trails, we went to see the Sea Lion a rock formation that looks like it's name sake. We continued on to Tee Harbour but just short of there we met a mama bear and 2 cubs, we promptly turned around and followed a path to the lake, waited about 15 minutes and tried again, this time using a whistle to forewarn her but she was still there, after a third attempt we decided she took precedence and headed back. Good hike we covered about 13 km, and Denis' feet held up. We drove up to Thunder Bay Lookout, where there is a platform out over the cliff 100 m up. We enjoyed a nice evening by the fire in spite of mosquitos and flies and lake trout for supper.

Today we visited Ouimet Canyon, we didn't realize before hand that we couldn't take the trailer up there, so we parked and hiked 3 km uphill. Pretty impressive canyon but after the 3 km up and 1 km around the site and 3 km down Denis feet are complaining. We are having a long driving afternoon, should be in Wawa tonight.

Haven't time for pics and map update but will get that done for next post. 

Along the Voyageur Trail

As we continued our trip east through Minnesota the rain kept up with us. The rivers, creeks and ditches were running full tilt, some flooding in the Lake of Woods, Rainy River and Rainy Lake areas. We had a little misadventure while parking at the Little Fork campground, it was a nice grass site (which looked high and dry) and Denis decided to pull through, we didn't make it through. The ground was completely saturated and there we sat spinning until Denis flagged down a good samaritan on a  quad who got a buddy with a pick-up to give us a pull.

We stumbled on a few interesting places: Warroad has an historic window & door plant, Arctic Cat & Polaris ATV's and snow machines are manufactured in small towns in Northern Minnesota. We visited the walleye capital of the world, Baudette.We finally enjoyed a nice sunny day, Friday, while we travelled from International Falls to Split Rock Lighthouse (on the shore of Lake Superior. We had an interesting stop in Ely, many outfitters for canoe trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We had a brisket sandwich, OK but it wasn't up to Denis & Cody's standard. Today, in the rain again, we visited Grand Portage National Monument, interesting and we both had our elementary school history of the fur trade refreshed.

Split Rock Lighthouse

We crossed the border in to Ontario, heading towards Thunder Bay. We took a brief side trip to Kakabeka Falls, very beautiful and also very high water as well.

Kakabeka Falls



Five More Provinces

Denis says if it doesn't warm up and stop raining we might head for Arizona sooner rather than later.

On the Road Again

 

Before leaving Killarney this morning we took Marie to the library so we could show her how to check the blog. We are hoping that with the assistance of the librarians she will be able to follow along on the journey. 

 

We departed about 11 am and crossed into North Dakota with no issues at the border. We travelled east and are camped at Lake Bronson, Minnesota, it's threatening rain and lots of mosquitoes. Just like home!

Camped in Minnesota

The Party's Over

Well Marie's 85th birthday is over and officially declared a success! As well as all the local friends, her sister-in-law,and several nieces and nephews from Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba were able to join the celebration.  
Today we are just having a lazy day around  Killarney and Denis is working to get all the pelican poop off the truck and trailer. Tomorrow we are taking Marie to Brandon and Wednesday we will continue the eastward trek.

 

Marie visiting with the crowd

All the Family Well-wishers

After an issue with the awning the day we before we left home (which is still not repaired) we arrived in  Killarney this afternoon with no additional problems. Denis wanted to stop in Vegerville and take a picture in front of the giant Pysanka and tell you we were broke down and camped there. We stayed in the upscale Walmart parking lot in North Battleford the first night and last night was in Moose Mountain Provincial Park on Kenosee Lake but the ticks were out and of course mosquitos. It was very wet through southern Saskatchewan and here in Manitoba also. We stopped a couple places in Saskatoon and again in Carlyle to see if we could get the awning repaired but they were all too busy. We've seen a variety of gas prices so far, $1.16 the best and 1.34 the highest. Monday and Tuesday were nice hot days but today has been drizzley all day. Tomorrow we'll be helping Marie with final preparations for her party!



parked by Killarney Lake



only 6 more provinces to go!

And They're Off!

Well it's time 

We have packed and repacked and think we have everything we might need and as Denis keeps reminding me "they have stores everywhere". On the eastward trail at 12:30 pm June 2.