Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario Canada

Since we drove the distance to Thunder Bay, it was time to visit our highlighted Provincial Park, Sleeping Giant.  One of the larger PPs, Sleeping Giant encompasses most of a peninsula which juts into Lake Superior.  From the shoreline, we could see Isle Royale National Park; an island park we have wanted to visit and camp.  Maybe another trip?  This PP has lots of trails and great views of the Lake Superior coastline.



Besides hiking, we also biked around the southern tip of the peninsula with many quaint summer cottages.

Nice to see all of the fall color on our hiking and biking.

While at Sleeping Giant, we camped at another nice campsite with a view of the Marie Louise inland lake.  Nearby, we hiked the nature trail which exposed an incredible array of  mushrooms!  This must be why on the next night's dinner menu was mushroom barley soup.  With the rain and the cold, it was even better!

Speaking of food, we also enjoyed our smoked whitefish and trout pate that we purchased from a small local shop where the Finnish proprietor was correct to brag about her fish.

After a few days, we headed back to the USA, driving the Canadian highway with all of the many views of Lake Superior.

From Sault Saint Marie to Thunder Bay

We just completed 450 miles from the locks at the Soo to the largest town on the north shore of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay.  Dodging wind, rain, and brilliant sunshine, we drove the Trans Canadian Highway, Rt 17 through some incredible vistas.

Our first night we pulled into the Agawa Bay Campground, a beautiful campground right on the shores of Lake Superior.  Having to drive through a narrow road between birch trees, we found a great site overlooking the lake.

The next day we drove through the town of Wawa, with a stop for some fried whitefish (yum!) and continued to the Rossport Campground and snagged the last sight with a great view of Lake Superior (again!).  The pouring rain stopped and a rainbow appeared over the waters.
A very good omen.

The following morning we took a drive and then a hike to Rainbow Falls and the magnificent fall colors.  Then onto our destination of Thunder Bay, where we are camped at Fort William Historic Park and toured the fort.  The North West company built this fort in the late 1700s as a central point to trade and process the furs arriving from the west and north of their location.   This fort was not built for military or protection needs, it was built as a place to trade.

Pure Michigan !

There is something special about Michigan.  Maybe because both of us grew up here...……………
It feels good to be home.

Crossing the Michigan border, we headed to Ann Arbor and camped out on the driveway of our friends, the Simons, and before leaving town, we met up with many of our old friends from our couples club, while being at University of Michigan.  None of us have hardly changed!


Then to Saginaw for the big event, Ruthie's 50th High School Reunion.  And again, hardly anyone changed!  We camped at Bay City State Park while in the area and rented a car at MBS International  Airport (formerly TriCity) and cruised the old neighborhood.  A good time.

Next, headed up I-75 to St. Ignace to camp at Straits State Park.  Crossed the Big Mack.  When opened in 1957, this bridge boasted the longest suspension in the world.  This is still a mighty impressive bridge, and interesting to drive with 30 MPH gale winds.

Today we took Shepler's Ferry to Mackinac Island.  A Michigan must do.  Docked in town and quickly checked out the official Mackinaw Fudge.  Then we rode our bikes on the 8.1 mile coastal road around the island and also some inland roads.

Since no vehicles are allowed on the island, the biggest hazard was what the horses left as they pulled their carriages of tourists.  Finishing up a terrific day, we made a stop for a Sundae with Sander's Hot Fudge.  

Flight 93 Memorial

On our drive across Pennsylvania on the way to Ann Arbor, we found ourselves camped at Shawnee State Park, only a dozen miles from the Flight 93 Memorial.  We can all remember where we were when the fateful news occurred on 9/11.   The fourth plane, tells the most heroic story of this tragic day.  If it wasn't for the crew and passengers, these 40 heroes, Flight 93 would have crashed into our Capital Building with Congress just beginning their fall session.  This Memorial tells the story.  

We stopped at the visitor center and then walked the over two mile walk that circles the area where the plane crashed, and where today there are memorials to the passengers and crew.  A story that has to be told and remembered.  

Just dedicated four days ago on the 17th anniversary of 9/11, 
the tower rings in the winds of this Pennsylvania valley 
with its 40 chimes.  

This Saturday we're on the Road !

We drove our Winnebago out of storage, gassed it up, and started loading it with all of our essentials for a 10 week road trip.

With Hurricane Florence making landfall near Wilmington NC tomorrow, and then slowly heading inland and then north, we decided to leave a day earlier to avoid all of the rain coming our way.

Drove our RV over to the beach parking area so we could open our bedroom slide to pack in our clothes.  Also used the level parking lot to start up our propane refrigerator.  All systems:  GO.

This Saturday we drive to central Pennsylvania, and then spend a couple of days on Lake Erie.

Looking forward to Hitting the Road !