Day 20 – Batchawana Bay, Ontario (On the shores of Lake Superior)

Day 20 – Batchawana Bay, Ontario (On the shores of Lake Superior)

Sorry for the late post, but we had absolutely NO internet connection up where we were...(So happy kind of belated birthday, Dad...)

Today we were headed to Sudbury, Ontario. We woke up after a…well, interesting night. (We discovered that some of us have an impromptu singing talent…And that there comes a time when snoring isn’t considered snoring anymore…) We had our sandwich breakfast, and quickly moved out; on our way to Sudbury, via Sault Ste. Marie.

Imagine driving for a long long long long long long long LONG time. Now imagine that period of time doubled. We drove for longer than that. (At least, that’s what it felt like.)

We stopped at a Manitouwadge roadside attraction. There was a lot of information posted on the town’s history of gold mining, and forestry. They also had machinery (disabled, of course) on display there. Bulldozer wheels are GINORMOUS! Their wheels are pretty much the same size as the Sprinter! (This is a fact, as Billy drove right beside it to show us by comparison!)

We took a break for lunch at the same place that we were at on the second day. Agawa Indian Crafts. I do believe that we even ate on the same picnic table. It was (sniffle) our last (hiccup) sandwich meal! (Bawling my eyes out here) Man, those sandwiches really grow on you, ya know?

We then got back on the vehicle, with the intent to continue on to Sudbury. But Billy pulled over beside Lake Superior. Then, changing his mind, turned back West.

We watched, confused, as Billy pulled into the parking lot of a building. That building turned out to be a lodge. We’re staying in another junior suite right on the shores of Lake Superior. All we have to do to get to the beach is cross the TransCanada highway right in front of us. (Such is the spontaneity of Billy…but he’s right, we’d rather be here than still in the car, driving until really late at night to Sudbury.)

We obviously took the chance to go swimming in the biggest freshwater lake in the world. The waters were surprisingly warmer than expected (pretty cold :D); but there were noticeably warm and cold spots in the water. The water was also shallower than expected.

We had mudfights, played ball, and even made an epic sandcastle! That was truly a beach experience. Team Monticle having fun under the (real) sun! xD

We, as a team, have been trying to name the colour of Lake Superior’s waters in the afternoon. It’s a sort of sapphire, faded denim shade. But, driving alongside the shores for the better part of the morning, noon, afternoon, and then, now, seeing it at night, you can see the changes in colour.

In the morning, it was a light, aqua, and turquoise. At noon, it was teal-ish. In the afternoon, it was the sapphire, denim shade; however, up close, in the water, it’s an olive green colour. Now, at night, with the moonlight shimmering on the lake’s surface, it appears as a gossamer cream and pearl.

That poetic streak being over (for now)…We had ice cream for dessert! X ) Woot!

This suite is really small, so you can probably already assume that it’s going to be another long night. :P (That’s for all you showerhead singers out there!)

Day 19 – Terrace Bay, Ontario (Again!)

Day 19 – Terrace Bay, Ontario (Again!)

Today was also spent mostly on the road. As expected, we crossed the border, and arrived in Ontario. It was another long, twelve hour drive for Billy.

We passed many of the same places and landmarks that we’d driven by and visited when travelling the other way, to the West. It was very reminiscent.

Driving past both time zone changes (we’re finally in the same time zone as everyone back in Toronto), past Lake Superior, and even past the same little sandbank that we’d seen before.

And now, we’re staying in the same motel, in Terrace Bay, that we stayed in on the second day of the expedition.

We skipped lunch, and kept driving, trying to get more mileage. Billy was probably as bored as we were. Imagine being lulled to sleep by the vehicles’ suspension system, and rocking motion as it rolls down the highway. Then, waking up to Billy singing, opera-style, at the top of his lungs. It’s…well…it’s not something you see every day, I’ll give it that.

We stopped at a grocery store to buy our dinner of pork button bones, and chicken, oh, and fries too! (We also had Haagen-Dazs ice cream for dessert!) :D

So after our nostalgic return trip, we’re back at that same motel. There was only one room available…so now we learn the joys of 8 people crammed into one motel room, sharing one bathroom. Whoopee. (Sarcasm font needed once again. xD)

Oh…not to mention the stinky feet…

We’ll talk more tomorrow, that is, if we survive the stench…

And P.S. Since tomorrow’s update may be very late at night, me (Jenn) and I speak for my brother (Jason) as well, wish our AWESOME Dad a happy birthday! :D

Day 18 – Almost Ontario…(Manitoba)

Day 18 – Almost Ontario…(Manitoba)

Today our aim was Ontario. Wouldn’t it just be awesome to have breakfast in Saskatchewan, lunch in Manitoba, and dinner in Ontario? But unfortunately, we almost made it.

We woke up at almost 8, and started packing away our damp tents. They were wet from the thunderstorm last night. There was a lot of mud and twigs stuck to the bottom of the tarps and on the tent pegs. We had fun packing them away though.

After the tents were forced back into their respective bags, we had a quick sandwich breakfast. Then we were on the road once more.

Another long, eight hours or so later, with only one gas/bathroom/snack/power nap break, and crossing the border between Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we stopped for dinner after Billy had an uncontrollable urge to kill a chicken. Yes, everybody, we had KFC for dinner (that’s the boring way of putting it).

Billy then decided that we’d try to reach Kenora, Ontario, tonight. But, we didn’t make it. So we stopped at a motel about 100 km west of the Manitoba-Ontario border, just past Winnipeg.

It’s amazing that Billy had intended to keep driving. The twilit sky was beautiful, but dark and somewhat dangerous-seeming. The dusky clouds became a great black eagle, veiling our beloved moon, in all its pale loveliness, under one of its dark wings, and tucking the crimson sunset under the other. The shadowy bird spanned the entire expanse of the sky above, almost as if flying directly overhead us.

During the long, eight hour drive, a daring plan was hatched; if I remember correctly, it was around 2:30 in the afternoon, at the peak of boredom. It incited much excitement, but it’s still in its fledgling stages, so stay tuned for updates on that.

Tomorrow, we’ll definitely be in Ontario. (Remember, it took us like 3 days to get out of Ontario in the beginning?)

Wish us a good sleep tonight. Goodnight, our darling readers!