Day 22 -- Lake Superior goes one forever ... and ever

Continuing eastward

Summary:

• Continue Eastward along Lake Superior ... the largest freshwater lake in the world
• Distance Traveled: 750 km
• Time on the Road: 12 hrs
• Random Oddities Seen: (3)
• Wawa Goose
• Huge Dinner Table & Chairs
• Giant Loonie

Today was a long day on the road ... the first few hours from Thunder Bay were incredibly boring.  Ontario, what's the deal with the 90 km/h speed limit ... on a 4-lane highway?!?!  There were a few scenic stops along the way ... but they were few and far between.

Aguasabon Falls

Once I got past the Goose at Wawa, things got a lot better.  

Could this be more Canadian?  Wawa, ON

Shortly after I entered the Lake Superior Provincial Park, I actually saw a moose ... at 2:30 in the afternoon.  Just chilling by the highway.  A semi scared him away before I could get a picture.  Oh well.

I have to say, hearing waves lapping on the shore when I'm in the middle of Ontario is a bit disorienting ... if it wasn't quite so cold out (~ 55℉; an adjustment after my 75℉ degree day yesterday), I could have mistaken this for the Pacific Coast Highway Drive.

Katherine Cove

I had a good dinner and respite in Sault Ste. Marie ... a brief stroll around town was much needed after my Miuo dinner.

Any idea why there's a giant dinner table and chairs in Sault Ste. Marie?

On my way to my AirBnB for the night, I saw a sign for Echo Bay ... and had to go see the giant Loonie.

Giant Loonie in Echo Bay, ON

Day 21 -- The Scenic Route

Made it to Ontario (and the Eastern time zone!)

Summary:

• Drive from outside Winnipeg, MB to Thunder Bay, ON
• Distance Traveled: 850 km
• Time on the Road: 11 hrs

a lake in Minnesota

Lake Superior, Susie Islands

In an effort to avoid what everyone warned me was a forever, boring drive along the trans-Canada, I decided to take the scenic route through Northern Minnesota today.  I'm not 100% sure it was worth the extra 2 hours as the views weren't breathtaking ... but I am sure that it was a more interesting drive than the main highway.  The drive was mostly fields and forests ... I was along the Rainy River (US-Canada border) for a while, which was pretty.  The last bit of the drive in Minnesota was along Lake Superior, which was really amazing.  

Along Lake Superior

For a bit of the drive today, the only radio I could get was a comedy show on CBC radio called "The Debaters" ... as comedy isn't normally my thing (one must have a sense of humor for that), I wasn't sure if I could tolerate it and was about ready to break out a new audio book ... but to my surprise, I found myself laughing out loud ... does this get me closer to Citizenship?!?

I don't really have too many thoughts today ... it was basically just a day of driving.  While in Minnesota, I was surprised, and then angry, at how cheap gas is in the states.  And how expensive it is in Ontario!  Seriously, 30 cents more than Manitoba (which is still almost twice as much as the states) ... what gives?!?!

along Lake Superior

Tomorrow will be more driving ... mostly along the lake all day.  Hopefully there's a bit more scenery than today.

Day 20 -- you can't drive over a lake

Not much progress Eastward

Summary:

• Drove south from Northern Manitoba
• Distance Traveled: 640.5 km
• Time on the road: 9 hrs

This morning, I realized that I'd drive not quite 8000 km since picking up the CRV, which meant I was due for an oil change.  Funny thing about Northern Manitoba ... there aren't a lot of car garages and the few that are around are booked solid for weeks.  So, I gave up on going to Gimli (site of a miracle plane crash and an old Icelandic settlement) for finding a garage that could take my car today.  The google gods smiled upon me and recommended a small shop outside of Winnipeg.  One quick call and they said they could take me this afternoon ... time to make tracks south!

seriously, this is Northern Manitoba, NOT the Caribbean

But first ... I wanted to visit Little Limestone Lake ... literally the only reason I drove northward in Manitoba.  I drove 45 minutes north of Grand Rapids to take a peek, eat my breakfast of yogurt and an apple and enjoy the peacefulness before turning around and driving south.

Why don't you need a hot pink Hummer

Get your kicks ...

Hwy 6 South is a rather boring drive with alternating views of lakes and marshes with water fowl and trees and farmland, where I played the always-fun-game of trying to pass farm machinery on the highway.  

Tony, me and Darryl

They were EVERYWHERE

But I finally got to the Route 66 Auto Repair in Rosser, MB.  Darryl and Tony had been kind enough to shift things around and promised to get me on my way as soon as they could.  This auto shop was the quintessential garage with posters of half-naked women, gone fishin' signs and all of the Route 66 paraphernalia that ever existed.  But Darryl and Tony were great.  They gave me a heads up on a few issues for my upcoming safety inspection (once I finally get to Halifax), a new air filter, oil change, tried to fix a bad wire connection in my bright beams and topped off all the fluids ... for $70.  If you're ever near Winnipeg and have car trouble, reach out to Darryl!

I couldn't be this close to Winnipeg and not visit the Winnie-the-Pooh statue (sadly, the museum was closed by the time I got to town).  Because I know you are all wondering, Eeyore has been, and will always be, my favorite.  He always makes me think of my Grandpa Sam.  If you don't know, the character Winnie the Pooh was based on a bear named Winnie (after Winnipeg) that was owned by a Canadian solider in World War I; he bought the bear (as a cub) in Ontario and took it to the UK with him ... while he was away fighting (you know, in a war), the London Zoo took care of Winnie and he (the solider) eventually donated her to the zoo instead of bringing her back to Canada with him ... So, there's a very nice statue in Winnipeg ... that I just HAD to track down.  Given that there are no signs about the statue anywhere in the giant park that houses it, this was a bit harder than I imagined.  But it did give me a good stretch of the legs, much needed after the day's drive.

half way?!

I'm spending the night in a quaint little farmhouse in the middle of Manitoba farm country ... in case you were wondering, the farm smells the same up here as it does back in Iowa ... pungently of manure.  On the way here, I crossed this line ... the longitudinal center of Canada.  I wasn't sure whether to be happy or depressed that I was *only* half way done.

A country sun set

Day 19 -- The Plains

Almost 3 weeks in ... not even half way 😢

Summary:

• Moose Jaw, SK to Grand Prairie, MB
• Distance Traveled: ~ 850 km
• Time on the Road: ~ 11.5 hrs (way too long)
• Random Oddities Seen: keep on reading to find out

Taken from the safety of the CRV

Okay, so I was wrong (mark this date in the calendar ... it's a rare occurrence) ... bears are back!  Or, more correctly, I'm further north again so black bears are out and about.  I saw 5 or 6 on today's drive.  2 of which were little cubs darting across the highway.  They certainly hadn't been taught how to cross a road ... neither one looked either direction before darting out in front of me.  They were quick (and scared of cars) so it was difficult to get a decent photo.

I arrived too late last night in Moose Jaw to really explore the town, which is unfortunate.  By all accounts, it's a beautiful little town and worth a day or two.  I did make my way out to visit the Mac, the giant moose.  Apparently he's currently the second largest moose in the world but after an antler overhaul this summer, he'll overtake the Norwegian moose and have the record ... There's such a sense of pride about this in Moose Jaw ... it's quite amazing.

Mac the Moose in Moose Jaw, SK

Just outside of Moose Jaw, there's a tiny museum that houses the remnants of perhaps the most tragic story I've ever heard ... There once was a man that walked from Minnesota to Saskatchewan to visit his brother.  After staying a few years, he walked back to Minnesota to visit his family only to discover that his wife had died and his children had been put in foster care.  After tracking down his son, they tried to walk back to Saskatchewan, but the son was turned away (and the man was deported from the US) ... and then the man went a bit off the rails.

Tom's route to open water

Tom Sukanen discovered a water route that he was certain could take him back to his native Finland ... so, in the middle of the Saskatchewan prairies, he built a ship that would take him home.  Sadly, he died in an asylum in SK.  Read more here (the ship isn't really that large; 43' long; 26' tall; 12' draft fully laden).

That's his cabin atop his ship

I left Moose Jaw and starting making tracks to Manitoba ... I'm zigzagging across the Prairies, trying to see as much as I can.  Turns out, the prairies all look very similar ... lots of little towns with grain elevators.  Lots of Ukrainian (and a few Russian) churches.  Lots of fields and old buildings.  I did, however, come across a GIANT Swan ...

Somewhere along the drive

Swan River, MB

I can't believe that I've been on the road for almost 3 weeks ... time has flown by.  But I should probably pitter patter and head towards Halifax soon.  Over/under from 2 on how many days it takes me to get through Ontario, anyone?

Day 18 -- Saskatchewan

Summary:

Progress ... slowly but surely

• Explore rural Saskatchewan
• Distance Traveled: 666.5 km
• Time on the Road: 10 hrs

Lighthouse in Cochin, SK

Today was an adventurous day of exploring.  I spent more time on gravel roads that ever planned ... but the CRV held up well, other than it is now in DESPERATE need of a wash.  

The day started with a stop off to visit a lighthouse in the middle of the Prairies ... I don't know why a lighthouse was put on top of a hill in Cochin, SK but it was ... it was good to get the blood flowing as I climbed up the steps ... it was only 153 steps.

Unfortunately the mosquitoes were not going to let me through unscathed.  I swarm descended and blackened the sky around me as soon as I turned into the parking lot (must buy even MORE potent bug spray!).

I was surprised at how pretty I found the countryside today (gravel dust aside).  Old grain storage facilities seem to be in every little town (or remnants of towns).  And old buildings populate the fields, making me ponder who used to live there so many years ago.

I spent probably 3 hours on gravel today trying to find a "Wonder of Canada" (as determined by CBC) ... the Twisted Trees of Saskatchewan.  They're really quite amazing ... no one knows why these Aspen trees grow in every direction instead of straight, like the other Aspens not 10' away.  

Twisted Trees/Crooked Bush 

Random Statue, Manitou Beach

A little shack

Did you know that there's a mineral lake and resort in the middle of Saskatchewan?!  Manitou Beach is a beautiful with lots of fun sculptures.

other random old buildings

Random Fairy Tree in a field, somewhere in SK

I'm tucked away in Moose Jaw, SK for the evening.  I'll visit Mac the Moose on my way out of town.  Tomorrow will take me into Manitoba.  Halifax, here I come (in like 2 weeks).

Day 17 -- Rural Alberta

Made it into Saskatchewan

Summary

• Drove through random, rural Alberta
• Distance Traveled: 662.5 km
• Time on the Road: 8.5 hrs
• Random Oddities: 3

I did see a few falcons today as well as some sort of crane and a lot of other water fowl.  There were even some deer grazing in a pasture ... next to some domestic bison ... but it's just not the same.

Looks a lot like Iowa

Today was a day of rural oddities as I drove through the rest of Alberta and into Saskatchewan.  The countryside looked a lot like where I grew up, except for the pumps (or oil derricks) dotting the fields and pastures as I was leaving the badlands for the prairies.  I was accompanied by a thunderstorm again today (no summer lightening storm yet though) but neither the CRV nor I are worse for wear from it.

are these pumps?

I didn't realize it but the part of Alberta I was driving through today (East and Northeast of Edmonton) is an area with a lot of Ukrainian communities and history.  That became apparent as got to the second oddity of the day ... but before I get ahead of myself, the first oddity today was the largest Easter Egg (techncially, it was the largest pysanka in the world until 2000, when a bigger one was built in 2000 in Ukraine; Pysanka is a Ukranian style of Easter Egg).  Even Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited it in 1978!  Quite intricate and detailed, this is apparently dedicated to the RCMP centennial (in order to get a federal grant to build it).

Largest Easter Egg, Vegreville, AB

42' sausage in Mundare, AB

After a brief walk through the surrounding park, I got back on the road ... a stop at the visitor's centre had told me that there was a 42' sausage was only 20 minutes away!  The little town of Mundare is, apparently, the Sausage Capital of Canada.  This is actually a tribute to a meat processing plant that has been a staple in the area since 1959.  Less than a block from the statue was an adorable little Ukrainian restaurant ... I decided that the only reasonable thing to do was to have a pierogi taste test to determine the best pierogis, resolving to try pierogis at any future stop.

And I also needed to go try some of the sausage that warranted a 42' statue!  I popped into the sausage shop and immediately started salivating as the delicious scents of spiced and smoked meats wafted around me ...  I now have a car full of jerky ... no promises that any of it will make it back to Halifax. 

Biggest Pierogi, Glendon, AB

my main motivation in life

I started heading East ... my desire to stay off the Trans-Canada has made me meander a bit as I cross the country.  This wandering brought me to  ... A GIANT PIEROGI!  ON A FORK! ... sadly, the pierogi shop was closed by the time I got to town 😒.  I didn't get any more delicious potato dumplings today.

I did have a few other random photos today ... see below for your viewing pleasure.  Tomorrow should be more random oddities as I drive Eastward.

old truck in Glendon

On the drive

Day 16 -- The Badlands

Horseshoe Canyon

The Red Deer River from Orkney Viewpoint

 Today was spent exploring the Badlands of Alberta.  It's very different countryside than how I spent the last few weeks.  But it is very pretty.





Other than birds and rodents (ground hogs?  Gophers?  Prairie Dogs?), no wildlife was seen today.  I have a feeling that's likely the case going forward.

Horse Thief Canyon

waiting for

her escort

I enjoyed my time in dinosaur country today.  Drumheller as done a wonderful job of capitalizing on its locale and cache of fossils.  This would be the perfect place for a weekend with the nieces and nephews.  They'd get a kick of all of the dino-themed silliness.

"the Largest Dinosaur"

Drumheller and the surrounding valley is home to a few claims to fame.  The "largest dinosaur" in at home in downtown Drumheller.  I have no idea if this is true or even how big he is ... but it is quite big.

I also ventured out to Wayne, AB.  This hamlet (more specifically, the drive to it) is in the Guinness Book of World Records) for the most spans in the shortest distance; on the drive to Wayne, there are 11 different bridges crossing the Rosebud River as it winds its way through the badlands over 6 kilometers to Wayne, AB.

 I saw this sign in a washroom at one of the parks I stopped at today ... any idea why people need to be told that they can't fish from the toilet?!


While out exploring today, the skies darkened and I had high hopes that I would witness a great thunder and lightening storm over the Prairies.  Sadly, it only rained with one or two tiny flashes of light.  The wind picked up something fierce though ... it was enough to rock the CRV several different times as I waited out the rain.

such a vivid blue

I had a few side stops today ... wandering through little shops and antique stores.  I saw this tea cup and was struck by the colors.  Finally I picked it up and looked at the bottom.  The year 1984 was written on the bottom ... that was enough of a sign for me to purchase it.  Who doesn't need a random tea cup.

who knew I liked jewelry?!

This afternoon, while exploring Drumheller, I popped into another little shop and saw this gorgeous 1940s necklace ... too pretty to leave behind.

looks about right

There were several other random items today; a church that sits 6 people (and 1 paster) and funny signs .

teeny, tiny church

Life Words

someone has a sense of humor

To end the day, I had a delicious dinner.

when in Alberta ... EAT STEAK!