And in Conclusion.....

So here we are – 13,774.9 km from the beginning. Home again and looking back on another incredible journey.  No accidents – plumbing or otherwise; no speeding tickets; no big weather events, no problems crossing the border; no vehicle malfunctions. All 21 fingers and toes accounted for(41, if you count Ann's) and all 40 little claws.  I learned a lot over the 9 weeks I was away and here are some of my thoughts:

• Canada is the most beautiful, awesome place and we should never take it for granted.
• For women, camping is an art and for men it's a science.
• Friendship that is long and enduring is a priceless treasure.
• Cats can be good travelling companions – and quite entertaining as well.
• Family living and dead are a fascinating study.
• I'm not related to everyone in Nova Scotia but almost. (hence, the extra toe).
• Camping isn't about driving, it's about stopping.
• A nap is one of the nicest things you can give yourself
• Every tombstone represents a life and a story that could fill a 300 page book
• Soft summer mornings under the trees and cool summer nights under the stars are something to remember in the long cold winter.
• Angels come in many forms and touch your life every day.

The summer was about learning more about my family and friends and the people we encountered along the way.  There were the tireless folks who manned the tiny museums and archives we visited; my cousins Charlotte, Fonda, Clay, Debbie and John who all added to the delight of the holiday; people who manned the campgrounds and provided such warm hospitality; the friendly people of Nova Scotia who seem to enjoy striking up a conversation with any old stranger and who feel like fast friends after about 5 minutes.  To the meals we enjoyed - lobster in Lunenburg, amazing fish chowder at Fox Harb'r, the fish cakes at Whirligigs in Wallace by the Sea; to the incredible maple flavoured soft ice cream at Bragg Farms in Vermont, and even our favorite Kraft dinners - You didn't get the best of me - I still lost a little weight, but I loved you all.  And - my discovery of the summer, Habitant Chow Chow - which I eat on everything, now.  My favourite camping site is still at Scotia Pines near Truro.  Happy memories of Scotty McCreery, Johnny Reid, John Denver, Josh Groban, Sugarland and 200 oldies and camp songs - that kept us humming and bopping down the road.  One day's scenery surpassing the scenery of the day before - mountains, sandy beaches, lots of forest and thousands of lovely lakes - and then, of course - the vast Atlantic shore and the Bay of Fundy with its red sands and incredible tides.  It just all makes me smile!  And, of course - Kindred Spirits!  And Clark who was our on-call coach when we needed to solve a problem.  And lastly, to all of the people who read and responded to the blog over the summer - over 1,000 all told.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.

So here's to Ann and here's to me and here's to what is next to be!

The End!!!!!

Agh!!! I've been Boonie-fied!

Booney-fi is the wifi you don't get when you're out in the boonies.  Since Wednesday morning I have been bereft of my favourite appendage and it has been like going without water on a hot day - However, I am now slaked and ready to blog!

This is my last day on the road and I realize it's time to go home as I'm having a spirited conversation with a fly that keeps peering up over the top of my computer screen and sticking his tongue out at me - or that keeps dancing a jig on the top of the Raid can.  Time he moved on - and so for me too!

I stopped at a rest stop for lunch today and this Canada Goose stands near the entrance.  He's about 15 feet in wing span and appears to be taking off over - two picnic tables.  I don't imagine too many people sit there to eat.

Wednesday, I had a great supper with Russ, Linda, Roan and Kieran in Winnipeg.  My favourite meal - BBQ and corn on the cob!  If this summer has taught me anything, it's the importance of family and so it was nice to have some time to catch up on all their news, see how much the boys have grown and admire Russ's carpentry skills - most impressive!

As I rolled along the Yellowhead west of Portage la Prairie this morning I was reminded why I'm a prairie girl at heart.  The sky was so big it felt like you could see forever (which is almost true).  The colour and texture of this part of the world changes from small town to small town.  At one place the fluorescent canola fields spread as far as your vision will take you.  Miles a sunflowers follow that, nodding to passersby as they follow the sun across the sky.  Lacy fields of ripe oats and big fat bales of hay and marshes guarded by tall bullrushes and teeming with waterfowl - so much to enjoy and no traffic to interfere with the viewing.

This afternoon, I stopped at Binscarth, Manitoba, just a tiny bit east of Russell.  This is one of those freaky little community campgrounds that costs next to nothing and has ------WIFI-------!  There is also an enormous community swimming pool and a miniature golf course.  So now I'm going to cap off my last full day by going for a swim, enjoying a glass of Fonda's fantastic wine and wifi-ing my head off.

To be continued..

It's Prawda dahling!

Today was one of those "If you don't like it..just wait a moment days".  From the scenery to the weather to the road  conditions - it was all over the place.  We started out at Davy Lake in a monsoon and ended up in Prawda, Manitoba in a dazzling, sunny afternoon.  From Davy to past Dryden was rolling farmland which surprised me a bit and then we got into the more expected Canadian Shield.  Again we encountered hundreds of little roadside lakes but there was one difference. While the little islands in the lakes north of Superior are treed and topped with all sorts of vegetation, the ones at this end are smooth and smaller.  They looked rather like so many little white bums sticking out of the water and mooning  the travellers going by.

I've tried to make a point of stopping in the middle of the day at one of Ontario's roadside rest stops.  It's amazing how, just a few feet from the highway, there are these beautiful little oases, usually set beside some form of water and equipped with washrooms, picnic tables and garbage cans.  Today we sat beside one of those bum lakes and enjoyed lunch with a couple from Kitchener.  It makes for a refreshing break and gives you that "stop and smell the roses" feeling.

Manitoba!  Can't believe it.  Just crossing the border provided 4 lane divided highway and a 10 kph increase in the speed limit - and a 10 cent drop in gas prices.  You have to love that.

Tomorrow I'm having dinner with my nephew, Russell and Linda and their two boys in Winnipeg.  I love it that I'm their great aunt and that's in quality, not quantity.  Am so looking forward to our visit.

To be continued........

Everything's - Oh Fine!

Digit

OK, so here's how the day started.  I got all packed up and hit the road at a relatively early time.  About 10km down the road, I hear a loud howl from Digit, who is safely stowed in my bed - and I know what it means.  She has just dispensed a big, soggy hairball right in the middle of where I'm supposed to sleep tonight.  I find a place to pull over, clean it up and decide not to change the bed because who knows if there's another one in there just waiting for some clean sheets to defile.

Just get on the road again and I run into construction.  Not one, but four zones with flag people and a wait of about 20 minutes each.  Not batting a thousand here, so far.

Davy Lake

I'm finally cruising along on some fairly decent highway when the wind comes up.  I've mentioned before that this motor home is anything but aerodynamic.  It tugged and pulled me every which way and finally with a heavy rain starting, I decided to cry "Uncle!".  So here I am in Davy Lake (bet you can't find it one the map!) and as my Camping Angels would have it - they have a full service campground with wifi that works!!!  Thanks again, angels - job well done!  Only problem was hooking up in the pouring rain - Ann where are you when I need you?

Old Dotten Cemetery, Wallace Bay Nova Scotia

I had an interesting email yesterday from Richard Webber about one of my cemetery ramblings.  He is related to me 6 ways from Sunday and he was asking why it was so important to see the graves.  I thought about it for a bit and then decided that it is because it links a tangible object to what had been just a name or set of dates.  What did these people look like?  How did they speak?  Did the ones from Northern Ireland sound like Bono?



To be continued........

Lord Thunderin' - Oh no, that's the wrong province.

Thunder Bay Grain Terminal

I always forget that Thunder Bay is a seaport city and that it is also a border city, so as I set out to do some exploring yesterday I kept being surprised at what I encountered.  I took a look at the enormous grain handling terminal at the port and all my Grade 8 Social Studies came flooding back.  This is North America's largest and covers acres and acres along the shore.

The Falls at Kakabeka

I drove a few km out of the city to visit Kakabeka Falls - having seen this sign but passed by on each of my other trips.  I truly am running out of words to describe the beauty of this country and this was a prime example.  I stood there in the heat of the day being cooled by the spray as the water hit the bottom of the falls and in the brilliant sunshine, little rainbows danced their way through the trees.  Awesome!

Old Fort William

Old Fort William was the original headquarters for the Northwest Company which, along with the Hudson's Bay Company had a major role in the opening up of Western Canada (more Grade 8 Social Studies).  The Fort has been restored with care and respect for all the people involved in the fur trade in the 1800s.  The interpreters, all in costume and character explained what they were doing as you passed by and the exhibits include sampling fresh bread from a stone oven and churning butter.  Really enjoyable!

When I did a blog about the way men set up a campsite as compared to the way a woman would, I was surprised by the response.  Of course, your motorhome has to be level!  I watched for a few days and sure enough it seems that the other thing men like to compare is the size of their level.  Swear to God - the guy next to me right now has a level that spans his whole back bumper.  So I thought I'd better do some research to find out what they knew that I didn't.  What I found out is that there are thousands of companies out there making money from a hundred different levels and just as many selling devices to level your RV if it's not!  My research told me that a level motor home is more comfortable.  So I guess I'm going to stick to my iPod level app and if I find the blood rushing to my head some night, I'll just get up and pull forward a foot or two.

To be continued................

Just for the Hill of It!

Yesterday I speculated that the price of gas was the main reason you don't see a lot of transport trucks on the Trans Canada Highway - most of them opting for the 90 something cents a litre south of the border.  This afternoon I was reminded of the other reason.  The trip from Marathon to Thunder Bay is amazing in its splendor, but there are some very long, twisting hills along the way.  I was behind one guy who was doing less than 15 kph by the time we reached to top of one of those hills.  That has got to be a tough way to make a living when every hour counts and every load is money in the pocket.  You can't blame them for choosing the flat, four lane divided highways of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas.

And speaking of those hills:  What would possess a relatively normal looking group of folks to hop on bikes and ride through this area?  Yesterday I saw a group of about 80 blue shirted members of some bike club pumping their way up and down some pretty steep inclines.  I'm sure going up is difficult but I think coming down the other side would rank up there with the Confederation Bridge for scary.  Hats (or should I say helmets)  off to you!

When I was about 12, my family took the Canadian Pacific Ferry, S.S. Keewatin from Midland, Ontario through to Port Arthur (Thunder Bay).  It was quite that journey including going through the locks at Sault Ste Marie and then travelling across the length of Lake Superior.  It was a two night, three day trip that included dining and dancing in the dining room (dressing for dinner, of course) and skeet shooting off the stern.  I danced with my Dad which was, I think, the one and only time that happened.  It was a highlight of that summer and the nearest I've been to a cruise.  Fond Memories!

For most of this summer, we've experienced rain, clouds and the occasional fog at night so last night was just a treat!  It was a clear night and out in the wilderness it felt like the stars were sitting on the tree tops.  Somewhere in the distance there was the flash of sheet lightening.  I sat out in the cool evening and enjoyed it better than Coronation Street.

To be continued........................

Just Call Me Mother Superior!

So, today I drove from Sault Ste Marie (gas $1.32) to Marathon (gas $1.45).  Fortunately I filled it way up and have enough to get me to Thunder Bay tomorrow where according to GasBuddy, KP Variety and Gas is selling for $112.5.

I'm actually at Ney's Lunch and Campground about 20km west of Marathon.  I stopped in to say hello to my saviors from my first trip east.  They took pity on me and gave me a full tutorial on all the systems in the motor home.  I was so naive and didn't know that I had propane tanks to heat up the water for a shower or that there was actually a furnace on board.  They showed me the ins and outs of the plumbing system and how to hook up the water.  I was trying to hook up to the water holding tank.  So, even though it isn't the KOA, these folks deserve my gratitude and my business.  Plus they sell beer which I'm going to get some of to enjoy with my book this afternoon.

I always dread the long loop up over Lake Superior and when I get here, I am again gob smacked by the extremes at every turn.  The Lake itself is so overwhelming that 30 minutes along the shore, you can't see the other side..  Thousands of miles of dense forest, hundreds of glassy little lakes each with tens of islands of all sizes and each island, populated with it's own unique flora (and fauna, I suppose).  Huge geometric rock formations of every colour loom over the highway and water gushes straight out of some of them to tumble down smooth rocky stairways and on down the ditch beside the road.

Notable, too are the number of businesses closed and abandoned along this route. I saw one 60's style motor inn with a big vacancy sign in front.  Unfortunately the roof was caving in, most of the windows were gone and there was a tree growing out of the office door.  With gas so cheap south of the border, I suspect many travellers and most truckers are going that way instead.,  Too bad.  The roads are great, traffic light and the scenery spectacular!

I'm always looking for little projects to make life easier in the motor home.  Last week, I decided that all my venetian blind chords were way too long.  So I got out the scissors and cut them all to just below the bottom of the window.  Now when I hit a rough stretch of road, it sounds like the nuns in the back are saying their rosary really fast.  Lesson learned!

So Sault Me!

Soo Locks

That's right I have spent the last couple of days at Sault Ste. Marie.  This is such a pretty city and I managed to tag along with some neighbours in the campground to visit the locks.  Pretty awesome sight.  They call them the Soo Locks so as not to confuse the folks in Michigan.  We watched a Great Lakes Tanker to through and it was so amazing to see that big ship just manhandled around by the rising and lowering water.  

Crow on a beach

Crow at the Cemetery

One of the constants on this trip has been the  presence of crows.  Everywhere we've been the crows have come out in droves to meet us.  My friend Judy is a highly creative person and an incredible photographer.  She loves photographing crows - in fact I've seen her jump out of an almost moving vehicle to get a shot.  So these pictures are for you, Judy.  We've seen crows in campgrounds, on beaches, at lighthouses, beside lakes, in a ghost town and most creepy - they seemed to follow us through many of the graveyards we visited over the summer.

Crows on Fences

Tomorrow, I start the long haul up over the top of Lake Superior.  A beautiful, but long drive.  Gas was as high as $1.47 when I came through in June so I'm planning to fill way up before leaving here in the morning.    Once again, I'm reminding myself that I don't have to do it all in one day so we'll see how far I get.

I've been watching this guy set up his satellite dish for the past hour, carefully moving it, adjusting the dish and playing with the tripod.  I think his wife just came out and told him to just stand there holding it while she watches General Hospital.  There's something just not right about people who bring their big screens camping with them.  He's still standing there.

To be continued.....

Watch out for Miss Cranky Pants!

Camping Angels – Job well done!!! This morning I got up cranky at the thought of another day of trying to find a decent campground on the Saturday of a long weekend. After a conversation with Ann, I decided to let the angels take over – so I started out for Sault Ste Marie. I figured, if nothing else, maybe I would find some place in Michigan. About an hour down the road, I saw a sign for McIver's Cottages and Campground. I sailed right by but took a quick peek as I went. The place looked pretty empty (Uh, Oh – what's wrong with it?). As I drove along, though, I kept picturing the shady scene right on the river and my angels were telling me “Just go back and take a look!” So I pulled a Uey about 10 km down the road and came back. The place is full service – something quite rare in Ontario and the price was half what KOA was charging. So I booked in for a couple of nights to regroup before the long trip up over Lake Superior. Beautiful scenery, lovely river – Thanks, Angels!!

OK you campground people! LISTEN UP!!! If you have WIFI, say so, but if I have to stand on one foot facing north with a piece of tin foil in one ear, don't call it WIFI – it's NOFI. I know it's hard to keep up with technology – but it looks like you have been relying on your sister's 2^nd cousin's nephew from the Future Shop for your WIFI advice. Here's what you need:

• WIFI – must work consistantly in every site on your campground.
• It is a public network and requires no password. Otherwise, Google Chrome users have to log on for every tab they use. Nuisance!!!!!
• It should always be free – especially if you advertise it as an amenity. I don't pay extra for water, do I?

WIFI service in campgrounds is getting worse but the use of WIFI for travellers is just getting more and more important. I use it to find the most scenic or most direct route; to find campgrounds; to research local tourist attractions; to find service stations; to keep in touch with family and friends; to check the weather and news. It also provides me with music, radio and Coronation Street. SO YOU HAD BETTER SMARTEN UP!!!

OK Sign

Oh, and while I'm on a bit of a rant – Could you do something about your signs? At 100 kph, I don't have time to appreciate your creative little logo and festive fonts. I want CAMPING is big yellow letters on a black background, RV, WIFI and a distance and directional arrow. That's all! And would it hurt you to put out a Vacancy sign when you have spaces available? How much fun is it to walk into a campground office only to have a very self satisfied manager say, “Sorry, we're full”? NOT!

Thank you – I feel ever so much better!

To be continued.....

On a Wing and a Prayer - to the Camping Angels

Cabin at Waterfalls Lodge, Ont.

Once again, I am thanking the camping angels for the spot I'm in right now. On a Friday of a long weekend - what was I thinking? Trust! Just like that parking spot that appears magically right in front of the store, the right camping space will show up. And it did. Last night I stayed at Parry Sound and then this morning figured I'd have better luck going north. And here I am – just where I wanted to be – at Waterfalls Lodge. Just a few miles east of Elliot Lake, it is a lovely little cottage community right on the beach. This is where I meet up with the great ladies who tell me “Good for YOUUUUU!” Last year they made me breakfast the morning I left – very sweet and kind ladies. They aren't here right now so I hope to see them before leaving tomorrow.

Nosey is still looking everywhere for Ann. I believe he thinks she's in the fridge. He just sits and stares at it.

Lake Joseph

I seem to be having one spectacularly amazing scenery day after the other – yesterday and today were the same. I drove up through Muskoka on the east side this time instead of going on the main highway and found some charming cottage areas that just remind you of squeeky screen doors, winnipeg couches, soft ice cream and flip flops. Bala Bay was quaint and the east end of Lake Joseph – like a walk through a Thom Thompson painting.

Blooming Water Lilies

Isn't the area around Sudbury much under rated.? It is majestic, rugged and very graphic. There is just so much scope for creativity here and I can imagine a painter or photographer spending years trying to capture its essence. The colours(from black to white, to red and every tone between) produced by the various metals add such dimension and depth to the designs. And then amid all this angle and rough texture you see a glassy pond where the water lilies are in blossom and each one looks like a tiny tea tray with one perfect creamy porcelain china tea cup right in the middle. Such contrast!

So if the camping angels are listening – I still need a spot for tomorrow – PLEEEEEEESE!

To be continued.......