Canada Day in MB, Day 2
September 12th, 2007 @ 13:41 by NormMonkey
Let us continue traveling in our mind across Northern Ontario on our vicarious holiday. But wait! Before we do that, I ginned up another version of the “Sunset in Northern Ontario” photo from the last entry. You can click here to compare the old one to the latest.
I like the darker sky from the first one, emphasizing the clouds and the beautiful sunset. As well, the dark foreground is more in keeping with our impression of the true dusk scene. On the other hand, there’s a lot more detail in the second one, and the sky is perhaps a more pleasant colour. I can’t decide which one I like better. What do you think?
June 30th, Day 2
Wake up, close down the camper and grab a shower. For those playing along at home, it’s silly to shower first and close up later. We stopped in Wawa where we found the elusive cigarette lighter power bar thingy at Canadian Tire, breakfast at Tim Horton’s and geese statutes everywhere else.
We stopped in White River for gas. As we pulled into the gas bar, the trailer hitch popped off the ball. A driver pulling out of the station frantically gestured at it. At least it popped off here and not on the highway at 100+km/h. For those wondering why it wasn’t locked down, I did close it and lock it down with a padlock when I attached it earlier in the morning. I guess the tongue wasn’t seated under the ball properly (why does that sound dirty?). Hooray for safety chains.
We decided to be a little more creative for dinner so when we got to Thunder Bay we hit an A&P for some kielbasa, bread, cheese, apples, and a quiche for breakfast. Then we hit an LCBO for a box of red wine (yeah, ain’t we the fancy schmancy trailer trash, eh?) and while FBD picked that up I wandered across the street for gas and an oil change.
We pulled into Cobblestone Campground at Raleigh Falls at a decent hour. After checking in (and borrowing an extension cord) we went for a swim in Raleigh lake. Apparently lakes in Northern Ontario are slightly colder than where we come from. Who knew? Not enough to deter us, in any event. After showering when we got back from our swim, our neighbours - their trailer is permanently anchored at the spot nearest the restrooms - offered us some leftover trout they’d caught earlier that day. Prepared, cooked and served with lemon slices, even! How could we refuse?
Back at camp, I hunted down a flat rock to use on my stove for warming the fish and frying kielbasa. This plan met with mediocre success. I blame the fuel as there was half a tank left when the flame died out. Old stuff, I guess. I did the fish first, so that at least worked out. Kielbasa is just as great cold as fried.
After dinner we watched part of Down With Love (stupid DVD player) before going to bed.
PICTURE TIME!
Camping at Raleigh Falls
Cobblestone Campground is a great place to stay if you’re ever making the Hwy. 17 trek across Northern Ontario. There’s a smaller, private section up the hill for tent-goers, those true-and-true proper campers, not for sissies with our fancy, warm, padded beds. For us there’s a well laid-out and nicely landscaped area for up to 11 trailers, each with a picnic table, electricity, water, and a bargage bin. If you think these are standard campground fare, wait ’til you read about staying at Neys Provincial Park on the way home. There was a sewer outlet at each, too, for the big ‘uns. All the spots are big, clearly planned out for larger trailers. There’s also a separate resort section, presumably with cottages and stuff, but we didn’t visit there.
Our camper itself is the coolest thing since spiders walking on water. It weighs nothing (a large motorcycle could drag this thing) and has support legs built into the undercarriage. It takes less than 5 minutes to open it up. The top half folds sideways to become the floor while the part with wheels under it holds the mattress.
Dinner in Our Camper
The bed holds two while the carpeted floor has enough space to spread out your suitcase and toys, a table and a coule of small folding chairs. The canvas walls have built-in screens with zippered soft plastic windows for rain and blinds for privacy. The room is big enough to stand in.
Here I am slicing apples up for dinner, a box of red wine on the floor. Off to the left are my laptop case and camera bag. Edging out of the picture on the right sits a small folding chair. Clothes on the ground are just the beginning of the mess we will make before we take off for the final leg of our journey.
Next time:
Canada Day!!
