Saturday June 27, 2009 - A Day Trip to Wawa

Gordon went out for sunset last night and I stayed home. Gordon saw a moose, to read his journal, click here.

I was up a bit earlier than usual this morning for our planned day trip north to Wawa, Ontario. We’ve been unable to get any response from the campground there (there is only one other than the provincial park) despite registering for a reservation online and leaving a telephone message. I don’t know how people stay in business when they don’t answer their phone or at least return their calls.

I made us a lunch, washed the bugs off the truck windows and didn’t go for my walk. Bugs on the windshield do not make for good photographs so I also packed the paper towels and windex.

We left shortly after 9 a.m. The sun was shining on our way north so we stopped in various places for photos. Our first stop at Wawa was at the campground (Wawa RV Resort and Campground) that we'll be moving to on Monday. We got our site firmed up. We then toured Wawa, it's a small town literally in the middle of nowhere and the downturn in the economy shows in the closure of businesses in the area. In fact it shows in this whole area, there are lots of abandoned motels, restaurants and gas stations.

Photos of our trip north

Beautiful views

Dense forests

Lots of steep inclines

Lake Superior view (Ojibwe language, the lake is called Gitchigumi, meaning "big water")

Lots of blasting to create this highway

Overlook

We have red rocks here too


The site we've reserved at Wawa RV Resort and Campground

The RV Resort is on the Magpie River

The local car wash called Wawash

Masks of Gitche Gumee at Tourist Information Bureau

The Magpie River Valley - taken at the Tourist Bureau

It started to cloud over and by the time we arrived back at Batchawana Bay, it was cloudy. We were both tired so I lay down and had a long nap and only got up in time to make dinner.

Friday June 26, 2009

Darn black flies! They love to get up under your hair in the back and bite! I don't put Deet in my hair nor do I have any intention of doing so. I guess I'll have to put up with bites!

Last night we went out for sunset. It was a pretty one!

Interesting sky on the way to the place we like for sunsets.

One of the sunset photos

Golden light

Beautiful drive

More interesting clouds - see the one peeking over the hill

Another sunset

And yet another....


This morning was bright and sunny and 13C (55F) but once I've gone around the campground once I come back to the rig so it only takes about 15 minutes. That's enough of battling the bugs for me!

I'm having problems with people's blog photos loading. We had been on good wifi at the campground in Carleton Place for so long I had forgotten that our internet satellite is much slower so I have to miss reading some blogs. It's the same problem that I have with music on blogs unfortunately.

There are a lot of our fellow RVers in Oregon this summer. I really miss the scenery there but I have to say that the scenery here at Lake Superior is pretty nice too. For those of you interested in jigsaw puzzles, jigzone.com has a puzzle today of the Cape Blanco lighthouse.

I saw on the RV-Dreams forum today where you can make your own license plate for your blog. Click here to go to the site. I have made ours and posted it on my blog's sidebar.

Dee also sent me a new game that takes no time to load. It's called Circle the Cat. And I won it - twice! Here's proof...stinkin' cat. LOL

Early this afternoon we got the email that Gordon's lens was in at the Camera Craft in Sault Ste Marie. I had just finished two loads of laundry so away we went to pick it up.

We stopped again at Walmart on the way back as I needed to get some 'after-bite' for my black fly bites. After that was accomplished we started on our way to Batchawana Bay with a few stops to try out the new lens. We also drove the road that goes around the bay and saw more fog coming in. It's really interesting the way in comes in, just like smoke!

Pretty spot on the way from Sault Ste Marie to Batchawana Bay

White caps

Fog rolling in

Steeple on an old church

The old church from across Batchawana Bay

Another beautiful spot


We might go out for sunset again tonight...stay tuned!

Thursday June 25, 2009

Last night after I posted my blog I happened to look out the window and fog was rolling in from the lake. It was so pretty. Here are a couple of photos. The photos, however, don't do it justice. They almost look like they were taken in sepia.



Today was cooler when I got up. I only went on a short walk as we had to go into town.

Gordon's wide angle lens is causing problems. This is the same one the we sent away three years ago for repair so he decided to get a new one. We had looked on line last night and found a camera store in Sault Ste. Marie. We were going in anyway for groceries so our first stop was the camera store. Of course they didn't have one in stock. He was looking for the Canon 18-200 mm lens. They sent us to Black's in the mall but they didn't have one either so while I looked around the mall, Gordon went back to the camera store to order it. The lady at the store seemed to think it wouldn't be in till Monday. We supposed to leave here on Monday as someone else is coming into this spot.

After the camera store, Gordon picked me up at the mall and we stopped at Wendy's for lunch. Then we stopped for groceries, got diesel etc. On our way back we stopped at a couple of RV parks that we could stay at for Monday night. When we arrived home, Gordon had an email saying there's a good possibility that the lens will be in tomorrow. Great! That solves a lot of problems. So it's on with our plans to head north on Monday.

The rest of the evening we spent relaxing. I didn't take any photos in the city today as I didn't see anything inspiring.

Our high today was 27C (81F) but it's cooled down to 23C (74F) with 59% humidity so it's really nice!

Wednesday June 24, 2009

Although it was warm and humid this morning for my walk, a cold front came through late in the morning and cooled things down considerably. There was a nice breeze when I took the garbage over to the bin. We had both sun and cloud and at one point it looked like we might get a storm but that passed.

My nephew and godson's birthday is tomorrow. Happy Birthday Nick! I'm sorry we won't be there for his birthday but we'll see him at my sister and brother-in-law's cottage in August for our annual cottage weekend.

Tomorrow is also my friend, Laura's birthday. Happy Birthday, Laura!

This morning I spent most of my time on the computer and chatted with Dee on Yahoo. I also got the vacuuming done. Reading and a nap took up the first part of this afternoon.

Here are some photos I took around the campground this afternoon. There are lots of cottages for rent.

Roads in the park. You can hardly see the RVs and park models with all the trees.


Looking toward our RV

Chairs on the beach


It had cooled off and there was a nice breeze this afternoon which kept the bugs away so I sat outside and read for a while. Our high today only got to 21C (70F) so it was a much nicer day than the last couple.

Gordon went out to take some mist photos when mist came in this afternoon but I stayed at home as I had just gotten comfortable in my lawnchair.

Gordon has updated his journal too, click here to read it.

Tuesday June 23, 2009

Last night after I posted we walked out to the beach for sunset. It was very pretty but unfortunately the last part of sunset takes place behind the peninsula that's beside us. I'm amazed that it's 9:30 p.m. here before we have sunset. I guess we really are 'up north'.

Last night's sunset

Our site from the beach

The marsh next to us



I was up before 8 this morning. Could have slept longer but I heard the temperature on the radio and figured if I wanted to walk I should do it before it got too hot. I started out walking/running around the campground but even though I was liberally sprayed with Deet the moosequitoes (they’re as big as a moose up here) kept buzzing around my head and ‘bugging’ me so I opted to brave walking along the Trans Canada Highway and the semi traffic instead.

We had a rain shower over night. I had to get up and close the windows but the sun was shining by the time I was about half way through my walk.

We decided to take the most of the day off from sightseeing today and rest a bit. Gordon was coughing a lot overnight so he needed some rest time. As it turned out we both got rest time. I lay down on the couch around 10:30 a.m. and woke up at 1 p.m.! Lazy!

I took a walk on the beach this afternoon in my bare feet. It was hot! That's the first time I've walked on the beach in bare feet in years. Usually when we get to a beach it's too cold! It's also very convenient here being about 10 steps outside our door!

Mid afternoon we drove north and found some scenic spots so we decided to go back for sunset.

Views from this afternoon's drive






From tonight's drive


It was 30C (86F) here again today!

Monday June 22, 2009 - Now at Batchawana Bay, ON

I just love that name - Batchawana Bay. It means 'water that bubbles up' in Ojibwe. This occurs between Batchawana Island and Sand Point, where the lake narrows and a strong current and undertow results. The Ojibwe believed this was caused by an underwater spirit about to surface.

We weren't in a hurry this morning since we only had a 45 minute drive from Sault Ste Marie to Batchawana Bay. Gordon called Sunset Shores Resort to be sure they had a spot for us. I got to do a nice walk around the park. The KOA is pretty heavily treed but it is a lovely park. We're lucky we got a site with a spot through the trees to see the satellite.


Gordon sitting on the front porch of the office accessing their wifi but the mosquitoes drove him inside.

Neat name for the cafe

Interior office and cafe


Our site is somewhat different. It's a drive in site. To get out we'll have to back out. But it's right on the beach!


Around the campground

I took some photos along the way north from The Soo as it's called.

One of the first sightings of Lake Superior (this trip)

We saw the moose sign but.....
We arrived at around 11:45 a.m. and were shown a couple of full hook up sites but there was no way we would have satellite access due to the trees so we were shown the site we're on which is on the beach. Should be good for sunsets!

The good thing is they also have wifi, unfortunately not at the sites but in the office and restaurant. They have a little cafe that's part of the office and some tables and chairs out on the porch if you want to sit outside. They also have quite a good menu. We might just have to take advantage while we're here.

After we got set up (except for the TV) we took off to see a little of the area. We went further north and found the camp store that advertised groceries. I think we'll be going in to the city for groceries. There are also lots of Indian craft places and we did the touristy thing there but didn't buy anything. Took a few touristy photos.

Pretty leaves at the Batchawana Provincial Park

More lupins

Me beside a very tall Indian sculpture

This might be the only moose we see!


Interesting door handle


Then we went back the way we came for photos of Chippewa Falls.

Trail at Chippewa Falls

Sunlight on a leaf

Chippewa Falls

Before dinner we got the TV set up so now we're all set for the week. We've signed up here until next Monday.