Day Four

So, it is the end of day four of our cross the middle of Canada trip and we are spending the night in Sault Ste Marie. The motel tonight looked a little dodgy when we drove up, but after a wonderful supper at Sando’s we are now relaxing in middle class comfort.

The drive was winding all over the place, and up and down hills. I talked to a long time resident of northern Ontario at breakfast and he described it perfectly. The country is very beautiful but not at all scenic. Basically we drove through a green and rock coloured tunnel with a blue roof. Not unpleasant, but God could have done better.

The roads are in much better condition than they were fifty years ago. I had hoped for a full twinning of the highway, but all good things come to those who wait. We weren’t sure if we would come back via the US, but as it stands now we will Canadian the hell out of our return trip.

The highlight was the Wawa goose of course. Who doesn’t love a dinosaur sized bird? The other highlight of the drive was the views of Lake Superior. There wasn’t enough of that beautiful lake. In the US they would have put the highway right along the lakeshore and capitalize the shit out of it. There would have been 4385 kilometres of mini putt, go karts, golf courses, McDonalds, palace sized cottages, etc. the entire distance. I am sort of glad it is the way it is.

You know that the US is eyeing all of that water and making plans about how to pipe it down to the dry states. They need to keep those Las Vegas fountains flowing and fruit and veggies growing in the desert.

Tomorrow is our last day of driving and we get to see Maegan and family. I am looking forward to that.

King Size Bedbugs

 

Well, third day of a five day trip and can hardly wait until it is the sixth day of the five day trip.

Don’t get me wrong, northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful… northern Ontario is beautiful…

Too much of anything gets boring really, really fast. Plus, the number of people that can be taxed to improve the roads and services is pretty small so they do the best they can do. It is a process. I imagine it will be a decade or two until there are enough charging stations to drive an electric car from sea to shining sea.

It has been a long day. Mind you, I guess anyone that starts their day in Winnipeg gets to say that every day. I have a feeling the same will apply to Thunderbay. On the plus side, three fifths of the trip out has been accomplished and now we know what hotel won’t be getting any more business from us. I know that COVID has given the hospitality industry a nut punch and I am willing to overlook certain things that are an expense which were allowed to slide until the cash started to flow again. No wifi because the hotel is full is just bullshit. They seem to have wifi at the front desk to take reservations and credit cards. Oh well, I do have a book and I could talk to Louise, but I suspect that after a full day of driving with me in the car, she is less than willing to chat.

Tomorrow the destination is Sault Ste. Marie. Hopefully it will be a day without the sporadic rains that were the norm today and that the hotel there will have wifi and I will be able to post this then. Good news for me, bad news for anyone reading this drivel.

At least we have a king size bed. The hope is that we don’t have king size bedbugs. I live to dream…

PICTURE THAT

 Toronto Trip September 2022

We are driving to visit Maegan and Ryan in their new house. It has been quite a while since we have been in Ontario and are looking forward to seeing Maegan in her natural habitat. 

I remember when the kids were young and my mom and dad came out west to visit us. They were always welcome of course but there was always some stress. Anytime that more than two adults shave a home the dynamics get very complicated. I missed my parents and couldn’t figure out why they visited so seldom. I mean, it was much easier for them to come to us than for us to load up the kids and travel to them. Now I understand.

I have become the age they were and find that my world has condensed and continues to shrink. I suppose that my world will eventually consist of memories and pain control. I am very comfortable in the world I have created and resist change. At home I don’t have change, but travelling is change by its very definition. I don’t particularly enjoy driving and paying hundreds of dollars for gas and lodging over days just seems crazy. However, this trip is the right thing to do and I am trying to enjoy it.

We just drove thru Winnipeg for the first time in fifty years and I now remember that fifty years hasn’t been nearly long enough. The only plus is that it isn’t winter or mosquito season, meaning that I have managed to hit a two week window.

Also for the first time in fifty years we are driving the trip entirely within Canada. Our last trip left  a bad taste in our mouths and the rest of our bodies. Yes, it is a very beautiful country but it is also a very large beautiful country. I wish I could say that we have gotten the worst of the trip done, but that would be a lie. The worst (and most beautiful) begins tomorrow and carries on for the next two and a half days. 

I am excited by the possibilities the trip will bring me.

Oh, I have somehow forgotten to bring my two camera battery chargers so there will come a time when that perfect photo presents itself and I will be holding a dead camera. Thankfully, I do have my cell phone camera and Louise did remember to bring her charging cables.

Picture that.