I woke up refreshed and ready to start the day. Having packed up my things I took a trip to the office to pay. While there I loaded up on ideas for some of the scenic spots worth seeing before saying my goodbyes and venturing south. The long stretching pavement cut a path through the thick forest that surrounded it on either side. A train track ran parallel to the road for some time before it darted off into the brush and the road became a lonely path of it’s own once more.
A good ways into the drive and I noticed a creative arrangement of stones as people had left names and messages for passerby’s to see. Some were spray painted and others plain, a neat little addition to the scenery.
The journey was lengthy and the heat of the day scorching, I found myself stopped often to refill my water bottle. One of these stops I noticed something standing out along the side of the road, sure enough I’d just discovered a wild raspberry patch. I smiled as I walked up, proceeding to stuff my face.
I was determined to cover a lot of ground and kept good pace as I ventured south. The roads guided me through thick forests that turned to farmland and swampy fields where bulrushes grew in abundant number. At last I arrived in Dauphin where I placed my tent for the evening.
I had my destination in mind the moment I awoke. Packing up my things I quickly cleaned up and set off on the road. The sun shone brightly as I soon arrived at the star attraction of the day, Riding Mountain National Park.
Picking up a map at the booth on my way in, I promptly found myself exploring the forest that lay before me. My first hike of the day took me to Kippan’s Mill. Winnie being the entertainer she is tried to pounce on every butterfly that flew across the trail, the simple joys of being a dog. As I read the various signs along the path I learned of the lands unique history. Not even 100 years ago this was where so many people spent their lives chopping lumber and making their homes. Now tall grass and wildflowers were all that remained of the once bustling settlement.
It wasn’t long before I back in the car and heading deeper into the park. As per usual time was flying by as I found myself constantly stopping at the various sights spread about. Lakes lay scattered in abundance among the thick timber.
My dawdling eventually took me to the biggest pool of water in the park, Clear Lake. The weather had changed, growing cloudy with strong winds. Waves came crashing into shore as the waters grew tumultuous. I watched as the sea birds navigated the strong gusts with masterful finesse. Flying my drone all the time I get a feel for what it’s like to navigate through the air, finding new appreciation for the various creatures that find their home among the skies.
As I sat there I noticed an older man setting up a board and sail. It wasn’t long before he took it out to brave the waves. His wife stood on the shore taking pictures and I walked up to chat. Turns out he was 61 years old! Age hadn’t dimmed his sense of adventure as he now moved along the waters with surprising speed. Though I never did meet him face to face I was inspired, I hope to be as adventurous at his age.
Having spent an hour at the lake I took to exploring more of the park once again. A short drive down the road led to a twisting dirt path that took me to the Wishing Well, an area adorned with carefully tendered flowers leading up to the well itself. I peered over the edge, looking down into it’s depths before making a wish and being on my way.
A little aimless wandering and I found myself in the main town of the park. I took some time wandering around, grabbing a bite to eat and taking a stroll down to the water before I said my final goodbye.
Heading south out of the park I set fourth to a town called Brandon to set up camp for the night. The setting sun in the west and a rainbow vibrantly glowing in the east kept my mind in a state of awe. I looked to my right and saw the sign, I had arrived in town at last. I made my way to the campground where one of the owners greeted me. We talked for a bit as she shared some of the history of the campground. It was owned by a group of LOL (little old ladies, her words) that kept the campground tidy and functioning. With the arrival of dusk it came time to head to bed, a full day of adventures coming to a close.
I was up bright and early taking advantage of the wifi to catch up on the blog. With a full day ahead of me I decided I’d grab some breakfast and take Winnie to one of the nearby dog parks as she had been bouncing all over the place since I’d woken up. A short little drive through the city and I’d arrived at one of the nicest off leash parks I’ve ever seen. A huge open area had her frolicking all over the place, playing catch with jubilant glee. Other folks began showing up and with them came more friends for Winnie to play with. I found myself getting in all sorts of interesting conversations as Winnie darted all over the place playing about.
Having been at the park for a while it came time to say goodbye and venture south. Hills began to rise out of the earth, rich green shrubs finding their home upon them. As I drew closer to my destination I watched as the shrubs grew less abundant, soon revealing massive mounds of sand. The entrance wasn’t far off and soon revealed itself at last, I had arrived at the Spirit Sands.
I laced up my boots, loaded up on water and smothered myself with a generous amount of sunscreen before I was off on the trail. A grassy path cut it’s way through the various trees and hedges before the sand began appearing, every step revealing a greater abundance of the tiny grains.
I had decided I was gonna take the scenic route and explore as much as I could. This led me to journey deeper into the dunes for a better glimpse at the shifting sands. Up and down the mounds I went, a solid workout! I had been careful to keep an eye on Winnie, making sure she was holding up alright. By the end of the first big loop around the sandy dunes she was looking thirsty. I had a map with me and knowing a water pump was close at hand I set off in that direction, soon arriving at the pump where I doused her in water as she lapped up as much as she could. The pep in her step returned as she leaped about.
The various signs along the trails shared the history of the land, once home to aboriginals who lived off it’s scarce sustenance. I’ve always admired the way they would connect with nature, learning lessons from the creator as they studied the plants and animals. I feel it’s something easily lost in today’s hustle and bustle of busy cities mixed in with endless entertainment as many of us stare at screens all day. It’s nice to disconnect from the online world at times, choosing instead to admire the earth in all it’s mystery as it shares it’s wisdom with those who apply themselves.
With the first big loop done it was time to head to the next main attraction, The Devils Punch Bowl. The path was much easier than the first part of the journey as much of it was grassy with shallower inclines. I found myself walking through grassy fields and thickets of trees as I ventured fourth.
I decent hike took me to the attraction at last as I stood on one of the lookouts gazing out at the pool of water. It was interesting reading about the science that shaped the view before me, learning that water deep in the sands worked it’s way to this spot, pooling up for a time and then moving elsewhere as the sands shifted and changed the land over time. I walked down to take a closer look at the pool where I noticed turtles swimming about in it’s waters.
With the sun drawing closer to the horizon with every passing moment I decided it was time to make my way back to the car. Upon arriving I re-hydrated up and set off back to Brandon for the night, staying in Meadowlark Campground once more.
Some days are slower than others. I set off towards Winnipeg around noon having spent the morning lazing about. Vast stretches of farmland spread themselves out to the horizon, a diverse blend of crops finding their home in the rich soil.
I decided to turn off the highway and venture down an old farm road. Having stopped to appreciate the scene before me, I found myself admiring the myriad of wheat as their stalks flourished in the boundless fields.
Upon arriving in Winnipeg I found myself craving anything but a big bustling city and didn’t do as much exploring as I’d planned. I found a nice off leash dog park to take Winnie to and spent the remainder of the day there. Being the social animal that she is, I watched as she eagerly introduced herself to every canine on the trail. One of the paths led to a wide open field where we played catch as the sun went down.
I found a campground and looked over some of the areas I’d explore tomorrow, saying my goodbyes to the city for now.
The morning started off rather rough. Winnie ended up urinating in the tent, all over her bed and blankets. Luckily there was a washer and dryer on site so I spent the morning cleaning. Noon had arrived just as I’d finished and I set off into the heart of Winnipeg. My first destination of the day took me to Leo Mol Sculpture Garden. An arrangement of statues lined the path in, bringing the tourist to a pool of water where stones maidens posed in their natural bathing suit. All sorts of creations from animals to humans found their home under the canopy of trees, a unique blend indeed.
As I walked about I noticed a path leading into an area full of vibrant color and simply had to take a closer look, I’d discovered the English Garden. What a find! I’ve walked through all sorts of gardens in my time but this one was the best. An incredibly array of colors lined the paths at my feet. Exquisite blends of unique flowers I’d never seen before dazzled in the sunlight, sharing their beauty for all to admire. I walked every path, taking the time to appreciate the hard work that had gone into producing this elegant marvel.
It came time to continue the daily exploring, the next destination being The Forks. It wasn’t long until I’d arrived, quickly finding a place to park as I set off to explore something new. Strange but fascinating structures spread themselves out among the area. One of these was a star gazing attraction. The viewer stood in the middle of odd looking horns with circular attachments. At certain times of night the stars would set themselves perfectly in the circles, the fixtures serving to point out the various constellations that found their home among the heavens. I slowly wandered about exploring the other attractions the park had to offer. Restaurants, old trains, paths along the river, various stone creations, there certainly wasn’t a shortage of things to see and do.
Having been there a good few hours my parking was getting close to expiring. Returning to my vehicle I set off towards the campsite I’d stayed at the night before. As I was driving there I got a notification on my phone, severe storm warning. With a chance of extreme wind and rain I decided I’d hold out on setting up my tent, choosing instead to drive into the heart of the storm to watch the lightning. My excursion was rewarded as bolts of electricity arced across the sky, occasionally crashing down to the earth. With the storm moving I saw an interesting sight of a sunset on the right and stormy lightning on the left. This got even better as the day faded away into night. To one side I saw the starry firmament and to the other yellow lightning darting through the clouds. It was growing quite late so I drove an hour back into Winnipeg where I camped north of the city, a place close to the Honda dealership I was bringing my car to in the morning. The stormy weather had cleared up and I set my tent up under the stars, a wonderful end to the day.
The sweltering heat from the morning sun beating on my tent helped me wake up bright and early. I loaded up my things and set off to a local Honda dealership to get an oil change. I was glad I booked an early appointment. With so much ground to cover it was a nice feeling being back on the road around 10:30am venturing east. The heat that had woke me up was growing in its intensity, cooking me in my seat. It was one of those days I was thankful for AC. Despite the constant stops to refill my water bottle I was covering a lot of ground and in good time made it to the provincial border. I said my farewell to Manitoba as a welcome sign greeted me, I had arrived in Ontario.
The highway worked it’s way through the wetlands, cutting through blasted out rocks as it snaked its way through the obstacles put in its place.
Water was found in abundance as a plethora of lakes and ponds spread themselves out among the rocky land. A true fishman’s paradise.
I made a stop in Vermillion Bay where I decided to grab a bite to eat. Having seen a couple of signs for a place called Busters Barbeque, I’d noticed an irresistible craving growing within and simply had to give it a shot. Upon arrival I wasn’t disappointed, picking up a beef brisket and chowing it down rapidly. With an appetite appeased, I set back on the road once again.
It was growing dark, the last light of day quickly fading away as the stars began to grow in number. I decided I’d do some night driving and continued heading east. I could feel exhaustion setting in, the driving had been taking it’s toll. I made a stop in the town of Ignace to take a break, soon deciding I mine as well just camp there for the night and start again tomorrow morning when I was feeling refreshed. A short drive took me to a campground where a friendly clerk greeted me as I drove in. We talked for a short while before it came time to say goodbye and catch some sleep. It was definitely a long day but with so much ground covered, a productive one.
Waking up in a shaded area was nice. I packed my things, showered up and worked on the blog. I was eager to get back on the road but decided I’d take Winnie for a stroll first, burning off some of that pent up energy. A dirt path behind the campground was the perfect spot for Winnie to do her laps, face full of elated excitement she raced back and fourth along the trail. With a freshly tuckered out puppy I returned to the car, beginning my travels for the day.
The campground owner I’d been chatting with before I’d left had recommended a few places to see, one of these being Kakabeka Falls. Upon my arrival I’d noticed a dark layer of clouds gathering above me. Rumbles of thunder echoed across the land heralding the coming storm. I wasn’t gonna miss the chance to see what I’d came for and set off down the walkway to view the cascading water. The falls were a lot better than I thought they’d be. The river split into two separate paths where the rushing water tumbled over the cliff to the valley below, an incredible sight. I decided to walk over a nearby bridge to the other side for a different view. That little jaunt cost me as the rain began to fall in a torrential downpour as soon as I arrived. I snapped a quick picture and ran back to the car, getting completely soaked in doing so. A small price to pay to glimpse such a marvelous wonder I suppose.
It wasn’t much further to Thunder Bay and I soon arrived there, drenched and famished. I grabbed a bite to eat and set about viewing the Terry Fox monument before being on my way. Having arrived I stood there gazing up at the statue. We never know just how many people may inspire when we take the path less traveled, stepping fourth into something bigger than ourselves as Terry had done.
Having lost an hour on the time change I noticed the day coming to a close noticeably faster. I decided to make one more stop before the sun went down, Ouimet Canyon. A bumpy road took me a ways off the main highway into the woods. With the sun now a fiery orange I arrived and made haste as I jogged down the path to the lookouts. A deep valley greeted me upon arrival, tall rocky cliffs lining it’s walls. I peered down into the deep canyon below. What an incredible display of the immense power of the earth to rip the rocks open in such a way, creating the marvel that lay before me.
With another day full of wonderful sights I set about finding a campsite where I could rest up before continuing the adventures tomorrow. What will it bring I wonder, only the dawn will tell.
Heading to bed so late the night before I could feel the struggle in the morning. I took a short stroll on a nearby beach before setting off into town to grab a bite to eat, finding a cozy little shop that served me up a tasty veggie sandwich and a much needed coffee. With some food and that sweet sweet caffeine running through my veins I took to the roads.
The drive east was a scenic paradise, a stunning blend mountains and colorful rocks spread themselves across the immense landscape. I had a desire to cover a lot of ground but alas, found myself stopping constantly to take in the breathtaking views.
I made the right choice taking the number 17 highway as it hugged much of the Lake Superior shoreline. Beaches were found in abundance and I stopped at plenty of them on my way east.
Always on the hunt for a good waterfall I noticed a sign for Aguasabon Falls and decided it was worth taking a peek at. A short walk along the boardwalks and I had arrived, staring out across a deep gorge. I took a separate jaunt down one of the nearby paths to get a better view of the falls themselves, a path that revealed the natural wonder in it’s majestic beauty.
As I continued my pursuit east the roads took me to the town of White River, where a Winnie the Pooh statue greeted me. It turns out this was the town where the honey loving bear was created. I could feel my inner child bring forth a mirthful smile.
It seemed like there was always something unique waiting just around the bend. Upon arriving in the town of Wawa I noticed an enormous goose standing tall on the hills. I set about taking a closer look and soon stood under the fowls immense wings. I took a moment to stretch my legs and admire the creative monument before returning to the roads once more.
I came to my final big destination of the day when I saw a lengthy beach in the distance. I knew it would be a great place for Winnie to play a bit and decided to check it out. As I arrived on the beach Winnie ran up to greet another dog that had been walking about and they soon chased each other back and fourth. I ended up getting in a conversation with the owner, a kind soul named Aimee. We shared stories with one another as our dogs ran in and out of the water, constantly darting past us in a sprinkle of sand and water. With the sun having set we said our farewell, going our separate ways.
I decided I’d do some night driving but with such a scenic drive ahead of me I cut it short, knowing I’d appreciate it much more during the day. For the first time so far in my trip I decided to doze off in my car, a twinkling sky above bidding me goodnight.
I hardly got any sleep the night before and found myself feeling pretty exhausted as I began my drive east. I pushed myself as much as I could but found I was having a hard time focusing, realizing I needed to get some rest if I was gonna drive safely. I pulled off down a quiet side road and proceeded to doze off in my car. I managed to get a few hours sleep, feeling surprisingly refreshed when I awoke. With a sense of rejuvenating vigor returning to me, I drove to the nearest coffee to keep my focus sharp with that precious caffeine.
I kept my stopping to a minimum, wanting to make it to North Bay before the day was over. I did however make a stop in the town of Bruce Mines due to an irresistible aroma finding its way to my nostrils as I drove through the streets. Like a cartoon floating to a freshly cooked meal I felt myself lifted from my path and set before a nearby chip wagon. Soon I held the golden french fries in my hands and proceeded to indulge myself.
The chip wagon was the perfect place for a stop as an open field along the edge of Lake Huron lay behind it. Winnie had a blast running about as I finished my meal.
I was determined to make it to North Bay and continued pressing on. Certain towns and places have a warm draw to them, as though I could live there in the future, while other towns have the opposite feeling and I can’t wait to leave them. When I arrived in Sudbury I had the feeling of wanting to be anywhere else but there. Bikers with their leather jackets and gang patches grew in number as I drove deeper into the city. I refilled my gas, picked up a healthy smoothie and left as quick as I could. At last I arrived in the town of North Bay, greeting my friend Jayro I hadn’t seen in eleven years. It was awesome seeing him once more and we proceeded to chat the evening away. Time had flown by and and I ended up passed out on the couch, a full day coming to its close.
I woke up feeling refreshed. Jason and his mother Sonya had gotten up and greeted me in the living room. We noticed Jason’s cat had stranded itself on a shed and as he was helping it down the poor guy got a claw to the face, so much for the feline appreciating a helping hand! The three of us found ourselves getting hungry so we set off to a local all you can eat sushi restaurant. The meal was nice but I’d had better, I’ve become a bit of a sushi snob living in Vancouver as there seems to be an endless supply of competing restaurants that I frequent far more often than my wallet desires.
As we rolled out of the restaurant and back to the car we decided we’d relax for a bit, letting the heat of the day subside before going for a hike. Having rested up we set off to Duchesnay Falls. A dirt path guided us in, taking us along side a cascading river that gradually worked itself down the hills.
We slowly worked our way onward as we continued down the path, often taking plenty of stops to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding us.
Having reached the end of our hike we turned back, returning to the car once more. A short drive took us to a school both Jason and Sonya had gone to in the past. Geese flocked around a nearby pond we had stopped at as wild flowers grew along the waters edge. We took some time taking pictures before heading back to the house where we spent the rest of the evening sharing in great conversations, a wonderful way to finish off the day.
