Mid-June
POW- that is what makes this province tick- Potash, Oil and Wheat. We passed 4 potash plants in about 30 kms- they mine it 1km under ground. Canada produces the majority of potash for the world!

 

 

We haven’t seen the oil fields along the way here, but we have seen lots and lots of HUGE farms- and HUGE equipment, too- get a look at these-

 

Some of these combines cost over $300,000! The combine stands about 20 ft tall and almost as wide. That tractor has TWELVE tires- 4WD- actually 12wd!  It has a planter on behind which, when laid open, is bout 50 ft. wide. They drive these rigs down the road- that would be Trans-Canada Highway 16- to get to their next

field!

Wheat, canola, flax and soybeans.
One night at a rest area that is off the road and large enough for about 20 RVs- Free and we were the only ones there that night- very quiet- a wooded area with grassy patches to park in.The next night was behind a First Nation Casino- not ideal- several big rigs nearby running reefers all night, but it was free, too.

Even the clouds are huge out here 🙂 This one looked particularly menacing!

Mid-June
Vast, have we mentioned this before? Ontario was vast- really wide, Manitoba is not so wide but there is not much here- Winnipeg houses over half the provinces population- 700,000. The rest of the province is lakes, wetlands, flat farm fields- they grow the majority of the worlds flax (linen, flaxseed and linseed oil). We had errands to run so spent a night on the outskirts of Winnipeg at a Cabelas- residential, industrial, commercial and retail all mixed together within a few kilometers.
The roads here are not so good- really rough and patched; most side roads outside of the city are gravel- very dusty gravel!

We are spending a couple of days a Spruce Woods Provincial Park- there are sand dunes here! We took a covered wagon ride through the meadows and pastures which now cover most of the sand.

The dunes are 40 f.t high in places and are a sacred spot called Spirit Sands. Tthere is an area called Devil’s Punch Bowl that is very deep and the sand slides down into it and it never fills- as it turns out there is an underground river that moves the sand away.

The glacial history of this province is very interesting- from Hudson Bay to a huge inland sea formed by the glacier, sand here, river bottom plains, prairies, etc.
Poison Ivy like you have never seen before- 12-18 inches tall, leaves 4-6 inches wide- it makes a luxuriant mat under the trees, almost everywhere. They do not even try to control it! And wildflowers grow in and amongst the poison ivy.
Temps in the 80s, in June! Yikes! Lake of the Prairies – Assesippi Provincial Park-

The Assiniboine River flows from way north of here to here where it is dammed, down to Spruce Woods and back up to Winnipeg, then on to Hudson Bay- Crazy, huh?

June, 2018
We keep re-living spring- March in Georgia was starting to be spring-like, then April in Virginia, then May in Maine, and now again Lake Superior slows spring down and the trees are just starting to leaf out.
Nipigon, ON- they have pelicans here- how can this be? so far north? We did see a moose and an eagle today- oddly enough we have seen very little wildlife for all the kilometers of wild land we have driven in the past week.
We went amethyst digging at the biggest amethyst mine in North America- it was so cool and easy! They dig the amethyst our of this 100 ft wide, 1/4 mile long and 50 ft deep (so far- they have 100ft deeper to go). They take the best stuff, of course, and then spread the rest over a couple of acres, adding new stuff every few days.

 

You literally walk all over chunks, big and small, of amethyst! We looked for small pieces that had facets, but we could have taken chunks the size of softballs.

Quetico Provincial Park- there is SO much water in this province (Manitoba, too)- swamps, bogs, ponds, rivers, lakes…and bits of land in between- kind of like the Louisiana Bayou without the alligators- just moose and beaver. This huge park borders the US and meets up with the US Lake Superior Park. It is very popular for canoeists and anglers (haven’t seen much for kayakers). Local guides and outfitters take groups, or you can go on your own- up and down rivers, and in and out of lakes. Back in the day, “Voyageurs” canoed the Great Lakes and all these rivers and lakes to bring beaver pelts out to be shipped to Europe. The canoes held 6 paddlers, sometimes a coxswain, food and pelts. They might paddle 3 months in and then out again, or even 6 months in and not go out until the next spring. Canoeing here is a big thing, kayaking not so much.
Lake of the Woods Region- more water than land- lost of fishing camps and lodges, cabins on the lakes, fly-in to fish charters. And a couple of really small towns to get a few services.

Early June, 2018
This is one WIDE province, about 2000km-  it has taken us days to cross it!
Did we ever mention that we like remote…well, Canada is remote- 36.9 million people in the whole country. Most of them live within an hour of the 10 major cities as well as within 300 miles of the US border. In comparison, the US has a population of 325 million people. Of course, much of Canada is so remote that hardly anyone lives there. However, our drive across Ontario is really showing us how few people live here- mile after mile of woods, or lakes, or swamps, or farms; with an occassional small town at a crossroads.
We have driven some longer days because the Trans-Canada highway is in good condition, is very straight and has very little traffic on it-which is because no one lives here! lol Overnighted at a Walmart in Sudbury and the staff were so nice- totally interested in our on the road lifestyle and where we are headed.
Remember way back in February when I wrote that the song “Sweet Home Alabama” came on the radio just as we drove into AL? Well, it happened again…as we started to drive up the north coast of Lake Superior the song “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” came on the radio. Now we all know it went down in Lake Superior, however did you know it went down off Pancake Bay? No? well, neither did we, until we read about a trail at the campground we were headed to- Pancake Bay Provincial Park- the trail takes you to an overlook where you can look out over the bay…strange for that song to come on the radio, eh?

June 1st- the temp hovered around 40 degrees all day! Talked to some locals and they were not expecting it either. June 2 – chance of frost last night, but we missed it! We had 75-80 degrees just three days ago!
White River, ON- where Winnie the Pooh started- did you know that? In 1914 a British soldier brought a black bear cub back to England and gave it to the London zoo, where A.A. Milne and E.H Shepard saw Winnie- named after Winniepeg Manitoba and thus the stories began.
Pukaskwa National Park on Lake Superior- awesome place!

Looks much like the Maine coast, only Rhylee will attest to the fact that this “ocean” has fresh water in it- not salt! Pristine is the word they use to describe Superior, and they are right!

The water is crystal clear; from high perches along the shore one can see straight to the bottom. The rocks are shiny from the river sand constantly washing over them. And wild blueberries in bloom!

Also, there is no litter- not one little scrap of litter, no human debris washed up on the shores- just driftwood, massive amounts of driftwood.

 

 

May 26, 2018

 

We are on the road again and are Happy Campers! First night in a small free park along a river in Cookshire-Eaton QC. Then a provincial park (which is also called a national park but isn’t really as our Canadian Park Pass does not work here…go figure). The mosquitos are huge and vicious, the price seemed right, until they added  the day use fees which added about 50%…go figure. And then we found a little city park in Shawville that had water and electric hookups for about 10 sites along a stream- asking only for a donation! We were the only overnighters there- quiet and peaceful.
Saw this turtle crossing the road and streamside park while having a picnic lunch along the stream. And Rhylee drank amongst the dandelions.

 

May 2018
[won-der-luhst]
noun
1. a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

And that   /\ /\ /\   just about says it all for us!
We have enjoyed our time back in Maine- seeing friends, readying the camper for the next 15 months on the road, planning and plotting the journey ahead, getting healthcare appts. done, etc….but, we are antsy and ready to hit the road again!
We are heading northwest- across Canada taking 6-7 weeks and then 2+ months in Alaska, taking the Alaska Ferry from Haines to Prince Rupert, BC by the end of Sept.
Thanks to everyone that visited with us, helped us while we were here, and reminded us why we do love Maine.
Please remember- our cell phones work (almost everywhere we go:-), calls or texts are appreciated, our email works and you can comment on the blog (that of course can be read by all blog readers)
The long range plan is to be back in Maine in the Fall of 2019, so until them- happy trails to you, as we continue on ours.

April 26, 2018

We’re Here!! 10 months, 35 states and 20,000 miles later we have returned to Maine to visit with friends and family, to do doc and dentist visits, and collect the tailgate, tonneau cover and back seat of the truck- all in preparation for the next chapter of our travels- 7-8 weeks to cross Canada then 8-10 weeks in Alaska, heading south again by late Sept.

We’re at Sennebec Lake Campground until about May 22nd. Hope to see you all!

G
April 20, 2018

Gettysburg National Military Park
There are no words to describe what we saw and felt during our time at Gettysburg. It is a very moving place, physically and within our American history. If you have not visited here, you should.

170,000 soldiers fought here over three days in early July 1863- 50,000 casualties- about 8,000 dead, the others injured, captured or missing. There are hundreds upon hundreds of monuments and memoriasl throughout the 20 sq mi park.
Col. Joshua Chamberlain, 20th Maine Militia, led his men “against all hazards” with bayonets on the left flank on day 2 of the battle, changing the course of the battle.

…in the cold, snow and ice

April 17, 2018
This was the COLDEST day, and night, we have had in our 10 months on the road. And it is APRIL! The overnight low was 25 and the daytime high was 33 degrees. We are shaking our heads and wondering if winter will ever end, as we see more cold and snow coming across the US.

We drove the Skyline Drive today in fog and flurries…see?

And the temps kepy dropping, and dropping….
We have a campsite with a beautiful view…we think…see?

Today’s snow made us think back- in the 10 months we have been on the road we have had snow in 6 of them and freezing temps in 8 of them! How can this be? One of our goals was to seek out warm, moderate weather- not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, not too dry. Epic fail, I guess

We hiked down, and I mean down, to this waterfall- 900 ft drop in a mile, and then back up!

 

We did get a few clearer views the second day. Yes, we did fit through this tunnel- driving down the middle!

Back in Time, as we play tourist again!
April 9-13, 2018
We have spent the better part of a week at Colonial Williamsburg, experiencing life in the 18th century Colonial Virginia, and specifically the weeks leading up to July 4th, 1776. There are over 80 buildings here that are original from that time and probably 100 more that have been built as replicas.

We have talked to dozens of costumed “interpreters” about what their life was like in 1776 Williamsburg, watched many tradespeople do their work the “old fashioned way”, attended several small productons of historic moments, and enjoyed serveral meals in the historic taverns.

This place is amazing! If you have never been here, we highly recommend it!

We have very few photos,

because we were so busy watching, listening, and learning that taking pictures was off our minds! We talked to interpreters about the day in time, as well as their careers at Colonial Williamsburg. We talked to other costumed staff about what it meant to Virginians to choose to support the Boston Colonists against the King of England- it was treason for all who supported separation, it would certainly impact the strong economy that had been established and it would divide families and communities.
One “play” moved us to 8 years after the Revolutionary War and supposed that England had won. The British had a Virginian Plantation owner on trial for treason against England. The evidence was undeniable, of course. Yet the modern day Amerians in the audience, swayed by our school book history and patriotism, deemed him innocent! We had a great conversation with two of the actors after the show about this American point of view of the war.
And, we learned to throw axes- a localized activity that bored militiamen took up to pass the time.
We spent one day at Jamestowne Settlement- the FIRST settled place by English in North America ( not Plymouth, as we were taught in school) in 1607. The settlement suffered through the “starving winter” but 60 did survive and kept the settlement growing. It was only 25 years ago that the any of the orginal fort and buildings were found, as it have been thought that it had been washed into the James River( thus there is a “re-creation” of Jamestown right up the road, that we did not have time to visit). This place is fascinating and the archaeologist’s tour gave us interesting, detailed information about the people that lived here- Capt. James Smith, Pocahontas who married John Rolfe and others.