Western Canada Adventures – Todd and Cindy's Travel Blog

Final Blog for Our Western Adventure

Day 31

Well, this is it…..Our Western Adventure is (sadly) at the end.

Next door to the White River Inn (our sleeping accommodations last night), is a Robins Donuts, so Todd went there for coffee this morning. We packed up and were on the road by 8:15.

Many of the rocks from the Canadian Shield along the highway must have had graffiti on them because areas were covered in blotches of red or grey. Now, while I don’t condone graffiti, I really thought the paint-overs were ugly couldn’t the company doing the work, at least try to colour coordinate with the rock (grey on red, or vice versa just looks sloppy.).

For the first time since we left home, we had rainfall (heavy at times) this morning on our drive between White River and Sault St. Marie. (We have had excellent weather this vacation.).

We stopped for lunch in The Soo at Swiss Chalet. After lunch Todd got gas and decided to take the filthy truck through the car wash. Now, the Tacoma has been through many car washes, and Todd has never yet taken the antenna off (needs a wrench to do so), but todays car wash bent the antenna. When Todd went to try and straighten it, he barely touched it, and it snapped off. Now the visit to the Toyota dealership will be: oil change, front window replacement, and new antenna.

Shortly after leaving The Soo, we spotted some cows in a field on the roadside the first cows weve seen since leaving the Prairies. We also saw Mennonites on the roadside and riding in a horse-drawn buggy. We had no idea there are Mennonites this far north.

Tonight we are in Sudbury, staying at the Fairfield. Dinner is going to be at a restaurant called Mr. Prime Rib (Fairfield offers numerous dinner discount coupons and the prime rib restaurant is one of them).

Tomorrow HOME. Time to lose all the weight we have gained this trip! (So glad I brought my workout clothing with me….made for great leisure wear.).

Stay tuned for our next Adventure

Day 30 Western Adventure

Day 30

Driving 860 km + 1 hour time change = A Very Long Day

Since beginning our journey on the TransCanada ( BC, AB, SK, MB ), the speed limit has been mostly 110 (so usually going 120) except for construction zones and the odd city/town, but as soon as we hit Ontario, the speed limit changed to 90 km (Why??)

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Just outside Kenora, on the Trans-Canada (Hwy.17) BANG! A rock flew off a lumber truck in the oncoming lane and smashed onto our front window…creating an artistic 4 diameter 3/4 moon with multiple swirls. Now Todd needs to get an oil change AND a window change when we get home.

Not even 5 minutes later, another transport in the oncoming lane, came barrelling around a bend, swinging into our lane, causing the car in front of us to veer off the road to avoid a collision CRAZY!

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We passed through Thunder Bay and saw the sign posted where Terry Fox ended his Marathon of Hope 5,373 km after 143 days. Just prior to the sign we stopped at the Terry Fox Memorial, a viewpoint that overlooks Lake Superior and Thunder Bay.

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We have seen so much of the Canada/Canadian Landscape this trip Pacific Ocean, The Rockies, Glaciers, The Plains, numerous rivers and lakes, and now the Canadian Shield along with Lake Superior. The rocks of the Canadian Shield are so colourful whites, greys, charcoals, browns, reds..an artists palette. The land is filled with gently sloping hills that changes from densely covered forest to bare rock back and forth.

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We are staying at the White River Inn tonight about as far away from the Chateau Fairmont Lake Louis as you can get! The one plus is this town is actually famous (well, maybe famous isnt the right word, since you and I havent heard of it before.).

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In 1914, Ltn. Harry Colebourn, bought an orphaned black bear for $20 at the White River Train Station as he was passing through. He named the cub Winnie after his home town of Winnipeg. Harry was on his way overseas to fight in WW1. He gave the bear to the London (England) Zoo to look after while he was away. Winnie captured the hearts of many visitors, including Christopher Robin Milne, the son of A.A. Milne. Father and son were frequent visitors. A.A. Milne began writing stories based on the bear at the zoo.and the classic Winnie the Pooh was born.

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Tomorrow Sudbury (and a nice hotel.)

Day 29 Western Adventure

Day 29

Winding down Regina SK to Kenora ON

We checked out at 7:45 AM, got gas and an Egg Sandwich from Tims before hitting the Trans-Canada just after 8AM. Saskatchewan does not change to daylight savings time, so we were still on Central Time today.

Today the destination is Kenora ON (still CST). Tomorrow the plan was Marathon ON, but when I called to book a room (remember we are literally talking the middle of nowhere), the woman told me they were full (shocked!!), but did offer an alternative motel in White River. Although another 60 km further, I booked it (beats sleeping in the truck).

We saw buffalo just outside of Regina at a range along the roadside. Shortly after Brandon MB, the Prairies pretty much disappeared and numerous trees began to appear. We passed the Longitudinal Centre of Canada!

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As we came into Ontario, numerous trees (so many Birch), rocky landscape, and lakes made up the landscape.

Dinner was at The Cornerstone Restaurant in Kenora a short walk from the Best Western. They were out of wine glasses, so we were given water glasses. Service was a bit slow, but the food was excellent. We shared their Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Brushetta (a warm ball of goat chevre to spread on toasted crustini and top with roasted red pepper and bruchetta), Caesar Salad (romaine with shaved parmesan and homemade butter croutons tossed in a creamy mild garlic dressing), and local Lake of the Woods Walleye yes I agreed to fish (walleye lightly dusted and pan fried, drizzled with a light herb butter and served with homemade tartar sauce and yam fries). It was actually (very) good!

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Early morning and long drive tomorrow.