"Wagons Roll!": Heading West

July 29:  Back to the long drive we know well, the almost 10 hours from Thunder Bay to the Soo.  It really is a breathtaking drive.  Unfortunately, the best vistas are when you’re going 90 kph and at the top of a hill!  To see gorgeous blue Superior spread out to your right, dotted with evergreened islands, and walls of rock on either side.  We said “Oh look!” almost as often as we did in the Rockies -- even though we were here two weeks ago.  Three weeks ago?  How many days ago? Who knows?! Tonight’s hotel is right downtown near St. Mary’s River and the U.S.  We went for a walk by the waterfront, which is pretty.  Another beautiful day; I think it hit 27 eventually, though it was only 15 degrees when we left this morning.  Definitely need tonight’s swim, too. It's a long day sitting. Quality Inn and Suites. We ate at the hotel. St. Mary's River Boardwalk, Sault Ste Marie. My poor bug-smashed car!!

Northern Ontario! July 28:  We’d forgotten how beautiful the lakes are in Ontario!  Today was a lovely drive with all the northern Ontario rock and evergreens, and hills again.  And roads that turn.  I think Lyndsey in particular is gaining a new appreciation for the beauty of her province, now that she has some other Canadian provinces outside Quebec to compare it to.  Today’s picnic lunch and short hike were at Sandbar Provincial Park:  what a spot!  There were tons of campsites and each was a little private room with trees for walls.  Wonderful privacy.  Also lovely woodsy smells and a nice beach.  I felt extremely nostalgic for my years of camping and missed it, for the first time in years.  Highly recommended camping spot.  Finished the day in Thunder Bay, though this time we’re staying in the north end of the city near the university.  We’re both looking forward to enjoying the north shore of Lake Superior again tomorrow.  Oh -- and we hit the landmark of 8000 km today!

July 27:  This morning we drove up for some swimming and sunbathing at Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg -- the sixth largest lake in Canada.  CBC tells us it’s been called one of Canada’s best beaches, with its 3 km of fine white sand a remnant (along with the lake) of a prehistoric glacial lake.  It was quiet when we arrived and only families came.  I didn’t take any pictures because it was calm blue lake under a brilliant blue sky, so not very interesting photographically; but we thoroughly enjoyed the break (even if Lyndsey did miss a couple areas with the sunscreen). We’re back in Ontario now; seems weird to have all the license plates look familiar.  We were enjoying the change.  Kenora hotels were surprisingly full (and surprisingly expensive!) but we were able to find one of the last rooms in a not-too-bad motel to the west of town.  The Lake of the Woods is so beautiful!  I can’t imagine having that landscape right at the edge of where you live. Waterview Lodge.  Small

My daily view July 26:  Back into Manitoba!  Unfortunately, more straight-as-an-arrow roads.   We stopped for lunch and a stroll by the beach at a charming park in Minnedosa, Manitoba (no, I didn’t spell that wrong).  A town of only 2,500 with this lovely lake and beach in its centre.  Then later we stumbled upon Margaret Laurence’s former home in Neepawa -- the town from which she borrowed liberally for her fictional creation of Manawaka.  I really like her books; I’m so delighted we just happened by the site.  This is the sort of thing we wanted to be able to do to be spontaneous!  Tonight we are in west Winnipeg, near the highway we want for tomorrow.  No pool, but we took a short walk through the park behind the hotel. Super 8, and another Chicken Chef. Not as scrumptious as the first one; disappointed. Picnic lunch -- strategizing dinners for leftovers! Minnedosa Laurence lived her for about 11 years when she was young

July 25:  Got away in good time so that we could visit the Wanuskewin Heritage Park outside of Saskatoon.  Once again the website sums it up the best: ...Wanuskewin’s uniqueness is not just the fact that there exists evidence of ancient peoples, but rather the composition of many different aspects of habitation, hunting and gathering, and spirituality – all in one place. The Wanuskewin area contains some of the most exciting archaeological finds in North America, many of which pre-date the pyramids of Egypt. (...) The result is a remarkable complete and intact record of cultural development in the region over that time span. (...) Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains came to the Opimihaw Creek area year-after-year. (...)  Wanuskewin today gives us the opportunity to delve into the past and discover what life was like for these nomadic hunter-gatherer peoples. The theme of Wanuskewin Heritage Park is one of interpretation – exploring and explaining the meaning of Plains cu

July 24:  We left Alberta. We drove. It rained. It’s chilly. We’re in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. We will not come back here. Lone Star Hotel.  Smells, some stains on mattress pads, not as clean as it could be, out of date bathroom.  Not recommended! Nice dinner at Boston Pizza, though. World's largest pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg) at Vegreville.

July 23:  This morning was nostalgic exploration, looking for the two houses I lived in when I was very little.  Unfortunately, despite driving back and forth and Lyndsey’s awesome navigation skills, I never did find the first house.  The second one I found with no trouble, only to discover they have completely redone it so it is unrecognizable!  And quite recently, by the looks of the front and back lawns.  My one consolation was that the trees that were planted for each of us kids when I was six are still there in the back yard -- and enormous, as you can well imagine. For the afternoon we picked up my aunt Bobbie and went for lunch at my aunt Joyce’s.  Both women are my mother’s brothers’ widows; both are in their late 80s and as funny and feisty as ever, allowing for the natural slowdown of age.  I was a little concerned Lyndsey might be bored, as I knew the talk would revolve at least partly around family members she’s never met, but she assures me she wasn’t bored at all.  

July 22:  Having arrived so late and our Edmonton destination being close, we relaxed in the room until check out.  Went to the West Edmonton Mall because you sort of have to.  Extra everything:  not only extra things to do (the well-publicized waterpark, bowling alley, bingo, sea lion show,......), but extra big stores with extra-great selection.  (Two floors of Sunrise records!)  Our room tonight is actually a “studio suite” so instead of our tiny fridge we have a full kitchen, yet the price is terrific.  Another evening swim.  (Not that we didn’t get any exercise walking around the mall!) TownePlace Suites, Marriott; full kitchen, sofa bed and king bed, pool and hot tub. Ate at Denny’s:  who knew it was good! Hotel room kitchen One of the pictures in the hotel

July 21:  Today was the most beautiful day of our trip. We went through Canmore on our way to Banff:  nice town, actually.  The main street is entirely lined with inns/hotels/lodges but it felt unpretentious despite this, nicely cradled by the Rockies.  Banff (town) is nice too, although it even more clearly caters to tourists.  Took a look at the Banff Springs Hotel, the admin building and other attractive sites but the numbers of tourists made stopping problematic (and the bug cemetery on our windshield made pictures through it inadvisable!).  We were able to get a spot to see the lovely Bow River falls.  Temperatures by this point were 13 degrees and less and there was a cool breeze; it was kind of odd to see everyone bundled up in long pants, sweaters and jackets.  (Even saw one soul in a tuque and mitts!)   From there, of course, we went to see Lake Louise.  Nineteen years ago when Garry and I brought toddler Samantha here, we parked on the side of the road or in a parki