White Lake Provincial Park

Sept. 9

This was a nice little provincial park half way between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay

On the way we stopped at Young's General Store for an Ice Cream. Jan shared hers with the resident Moose 

Off season, tough times? Whatever the reason this provincial park was a self check in that went like this.

1. Read instructions on board
2. Look for registration form
3. Dive 15 minutes to camping area
4. Spend 15 minutes locating the "perfect" site
5. Fill out the forms ( why is there no spot for campsite number)
6. Look for exact change
7. Seal envelope and drive 15 minutes back to camp office.
8. Deposit envelope and drive 15 minutes back to site.
9. Set up.
10. Realize we should have filled in forms at registration area (remember no spot for campsite number?) . Oh well wast's 30 minutes of driving time and $10.00 worth of gas anyway?

Park was quiet, clean with roomy sites. Short walk to a long sandy beach. Too bad swimming season is over. Bear warning signs posted but no bear sighted. Wash rooms had posters showing how to identify mountain lion scat (poop as it's more commonly known) Why??? mmmm.

Would stay at this park again.

Next Stop Sudbury

Sept. 6
Saw a helicopter land beside Tim Horton's and 2 OPP cops walked out.Man those guys will do anything to get their donuts. ( actually they went to the OPP station across the street)

Didn't have much planned in Sudbury and stayed only one night in the Mine Mill Local 598/CAW Campground. If camp sites were rated on the managers enthusiasm and friendless alone this park would be a 10 out of 10. However taking all things into consideration and being generous I'd rate it a 4 out of 10.

CAW, I hope your union is in better shape than your campground.

Sault Ste. Marie

Sept. 7,8

Pulled into the best KOA we ever stayed at. super staff, super facilities, sparkling clean showers and washrooms. Definitely a 9 out of 10 or better.
There was a bear running around the park before we came, but it didn't show when we were there.

Got some inspiration for decorating the fifth wheel while at this KOA.

What do you think of this look?

Visited the locks and watched a tour boat go through, quite impressive,.

While I wasn't looking, Rosie decided she wanted a better look and strolled through the railing to stand by the edge. I did have her on the leash and couldn't figure how the leash got wrapped around the railing.

Because we both had coupons worth $15.00 of slot play at the casino we decided to pay it a visit. I lost all mine but Jan turned hers into $21.00 of winnings, enough to buy lunch. ( thanks Jan)

Stopped to buy some groceries for dinner. We're doing good so far, the only meal out so far was at the Casino paid for with Jan's winnings. ( Tim Horton coffees don't count)

Algonquin Park

Sept. 4,5


Ontario's great wilderness park. We got up close and personal with a chipmunk, wow! However a bear did visit a campsite the next loop over.

We stayed in the Cannis Bay campground and had a nice big site. Some of the leaves had started to turn and the temperature was significantly cooler than in Collingwood.

Great place for a walk with the dogs. Glad we stayed there a few days.

                                                   

Anne Orr's Bed and Breakfast

Sept.1, 2, 3

Anne Orr's Bed and Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes we're off to Jan's mom's place for the Labour day Weekend. Last 3 days of hot showers, spacious beds and 3 great meals a day cooked by someone else.

Jan's mom's basement also serves as Anne Orr's climate controlled storage where we were able to leave a few more of our "necessities" and freeing up some of our 69 sq. ft of floor space.

Pre trip shake down

Aug.30, 31

Aug.30, and we are ready to load the camper and head up the road to Craighleith provincial park for a 2 day, pre trip shakedown. Oh oh!, check engine light is on in truck. Please Mr. Canadian tire can you check it out while I wait. Oxygen sensor you say, shouldn't drive it you say, $385.00 you say, be ready by 2:00 pm.

Go for it I say. Phone call at 1:30, truck not ready, threads stripped, unable to get new sensor in. Option 1: install new exhaust piece that has good threads, expensive they say, not in stock they say, take several days they say. Option 2: Call Mr. Threader, a local guy who makes his living repairing threads other guys have stripped. Could be done today if they can locate him. Ok I say. They find him, he fixes thread ( takes him 2 hours). I get truck back at 4:30 with a $650.00 bill.

We literally throw belongings in camper and head to Craigleith. Real easy set up with the truck camper, plug it in. Everything works and we spend the next 2 days trying to pack all of life's necessities (and a little more) into 69 sq.ft . Who says that you cant pack 10 lbs. of sh*t in a 2 lb. bag.

Laurie , Noel, Avery and Shelby came buy for BBQ'd hot dogs and to say good bye and its on to the next step

The next stage

Our lease is up Aug.31, Avery is going to day care, and we're hitting the road.

Destination: Marble Falls Texas via Tofino BC

Time to destination: approx 60 days

Method of travel: 69 sq. ft.  Bigfoot truck camper on 2003 Ford F250
Distance : approx 11000 km   - 7000 miles

Travelers: Jan, Bill, April and Rose

Marble Falls is our home away from home during the winter months. We'll be staying at Sunset Point RV Park where the sites are large, the management is friendly, and the park guests quickly become your friends.

We are taking the long way around and will be stopping in Tofino for a couple of weeks to visit Scott, Stacey, Presley, Weber and of course our new grandson who is expected any day now. 

For those who don't know, Tofino is on the west coast of  Vancouver Island. The next stop after that is Japan. The Tofino region is certainly a different area in terms of nature and life style. It rains often but has beautiful beaches and fantastic ocean waves. Everyone in Tofino owns 4 essential items: a rain coat, a dog to walk on the beach with, a surfboard  and a wet suit. Scott had the first 2 and acquired the second 2 shortly after his arrival.