Ignace ON to Virden MB (753 Kms=467 Miles)

Up and out early again this morning. As I ducked into the bathroom, I looked over to see our new friend, Roger McDougall just getting all ready to get back on that bike and head out eastbound. I can tell you that it really brings it all into perspective when you meet someone like Roger undertaking such a huge challenge. Gosh, our hats are off to you Roger!! We hope today's ride was better than the day before. Really, Canada DOES actually get summer and sunshine. I hope you are in for lots of it in the coming days!! It was our pleasure to visit with you and we will definitely keep in touch!!

Everyone should check out his blog and keep track of how he is doing!

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Canada2014

The drive was filled with rain this morning so it really obliterates everything that you might be able to see. Too bad because I am sure it is quite pretty, at times!

It was a few hours to get to the Manitoba border!!!! Another province in this journey. That makes seven for those keeping track!!

Manitoba and her mosquitos welcome us!!!

 

Provincial flag

 

Lunch and then hit the road!!

 

We had to make one more stop on this journey. Doug really wanted to go to Portage and Main in Winnipeg. It is "reportedly" the windiest corner in Canada. Now, after being at Cape Spear and Signal Hill in St. John's, they may have beaten it for windy but I guess they aren't on a "corner" Besides, everyplace needs something that "they" are famous for!! We will give them that title for "windiest corner" okay!!

Coming into Winnipeg's downtown area.....

 

You all know of my affinity with license plates....how

about this one? Nunavut!! Our newest province/territory!!

Don't you just love the polar bear peaking out at you!!

Portage and Main!!!

 

Good thing Doug had the perfect hairdo for this wind!!

Me, I had to slick my hair back with a hairband!!

Just cruisin' through Manitoba, west of Winnipeg......

Quite pretty out here but super wet still from all the rain.

Our favourite sign!!!

 

We made it to Virden MB!! We will be out of here, bright eyed again in the morning. Our next stop will be at Cabri Regional Park near Swift Current, Saskatchewan to stay a few nights with Kevin & Ruth!! That should be fun, even if it is only for 2 nights!! Get ready for some laughs!!!

 

Peace....

 

Thought for the Day: When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars...  

Sault Ste Marie ON to Ignace ON (864 Kms=536 Miles)

Up and at 'em again!! This is a real hard travelling portion of our time away and we knew this would come when we were en-route home. We still enjoy the day and enjoy seeing the new road ahead of us.....

Like I said, always something to see out there.....

 

And Mr. Fox seems to have found something for breakfast too!!

He scurried quickly across in front of us but Doug had slowed down lots.... 

 

So, we stopped in Wawa for gas and they have all these HUGE random Canada Geese

all over the place. We only found three but I suspect there are more! In fact, there was a big billboard asking people to donate $50 "for a feather" for the new one!!

 

 

Pretty interesting!!

 

All along the highway through this area is the most amazing red rock.

Super pretty.....

All along the highway are inukshuks. They are all different

shapes and sizes. Some are up high, some are down low.

I think someone should just drive along here and do a book about them!!

Mine operation.....

Lunch stop on Lake Superior.

Very beautiful with this low lying fog all over.....

 

 

This roadside spot had THE cleanest bathrooms, bar none!!

 

Oh my!! Someone's speeding!! I won't say who was driving here.

Lots and lots of highway work. They were replacing

many of the bridges. We wondered how they could put so many

groups of workers in so many places at once!!

Lake Superior is more like an ocean.

It is the largest fresh water lake in the world....

 

 

One of the last "tourist stops" we are making is to see the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay. It was erected on Highway 17/11 not far from the spot where he had to end his run when his cancer came back. What an inspirational young man. If only he could see the hundreds of millions of dollars that has been raised in his name. A true Canadian hero.

 

We were very privileged to have been able to see in the spot in St. John's where he started his run and equally privileged but sad to see where he had to stop. Both spots had very beautiful memorials.....

 

Just a tiny part of the very lonely highway that he ran down....

 

It is a very beautiful memorial and dedication.

There is a wonderful view out over Thunder Bay.....

 

 

Next stop finds us at the Davey Lake Campground in Ignace, ON. Another spot that charges $37 for water & electric and internet at the site. Well, it was an okay spot but there was no internet at our site and we had to go to the gazebo in the centre of the park. We just never got things done over there.

 

Not sure why we were put right next to this guy

when there were lots of other spots.....

 

Little gazebo that has some internet. See those skies???

 

Well, the greatest part of that gazebo time was that we had the privilege of meeting Roger McDougall. Roger is cycling across Canada!! He left Vancouver on May 14th and is due into St. John's NL on or about the middle of August. He is from Sydney, Australia. Now, he is one inspiring fellow. Suddenly all our bits of complaining of living in a small space went right out the proverbial window and he shared stories with him all evening.

 

Thanks so much for spending time with us Roger - you truly are an inspiration!!!

You can follow his ride on his blog at

www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Canada2014

 

You will find us "somewhere" on Tuesday. Probably in Virden MB but we will see how we do!!

 

Peace....

 

Thought for the Day: Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.

Almonte ON to Sault Ste Marie ON (832 Miles=516 Miles)

We were up early Sunday morning at Dale & Sue’s place. Chelsea their daughter, was in a horse riding competition so they had to be out of the house at 7:00 am. This worked out perfectly for us as it gives us an extra early start and subsequently, we covered LOTS of miles today. About 850 kms!! We are following the Trans Canada Highway still, although in some of the provinces they have different numbers for it.

Once again, HUGE thanks to the Arden clan for making us feel so exquisitely at home. Love being with family. Our only regrets are that we didn’t get to see Chelsea in her riding competition (.....Go Chelsea and King!!) and that we couldn’t spend even more time with them. It has been far too long without seeing them and we just can't let that happen again. Until next time guys…….stay well!!  

Here are some road pictures. Nice drive but I must say that I was surprised at a few places as to how rough the road was. It is Canada’s major east west route so I just figured it was pretty much all 4 lane and smooth – how wrong I was!!

Not too far down the highway from Dale & Sue's

There is always (almost) something nice to look at through this country!

 

Road lunch somewhere along the way. Many thanks to Sue for

providing some fresh, homemade bread to add in!!

 

Climb back in and put on some road tunes!!

 

 

 

 

 

We spent Sunday night about 60 kms west of Sault Ste Marie in a small highway side park called Sunset Shores…..and I mean the part we are in is right beside the highway!! With some of these parks, we are not quite sure what is the draw for people to want to come here, weekend after weekend.  Different strokes for different folks I guess. Glad we are only here one night. They do actually have internet but it is, once again, up by the office. You are welcome to sit outside on the little patio with the MASSIVE mosquitoes if you like and we did try this. Doug got bitten 3 times before his butt hit the chair so we bailed. Thus ….NO blog until we move on!!

 

Nice spot if not for the highway directly behind us!!

Oh well, this makes for easy highway access when we leave!!

 

Also nice recreation room if not for the over zealous

caretaker who locked it up at 7:00 pm....really??

 

Nice little bay and dock area though.... 

So, Monday is another day of pushing hard to get to the next stop. We are hoping to make it past Thunder Bay, even if just a little. Sort of  a mental marker for us!

See you there.....internet hopeful!!

Go team Beglaw!!!

Peace….

Thought for the Day: I love that point when you are so tired that everything is funny. Yes, we are sometimes at that point!!