We drove from the lunchground to Thunder Bay, ON today. It took about three hours to drive as we stopped a few times. The terrain changed from Rocky outcrops along the water at Neys to bright red rock then to slate as we neared Thunder Bay. The red rock was beautiful. In Thunder Bay, along the lake's edge, the terrain is less rocky and beaches are sometimes sandy. For every five deer crossing signs on the Trans- Canadian Highway that you would see is one moose crossing sign. The wildlife seems to have changed as well as the terrain.
Boy is gas expensive here . I paid $1.10/liter for gas yesterday. If you factor in the US to Canadian currency exchange rate, that equates to $3.91 per gallon. I am told the difference in cost is taxes. I remember when the exchange rate was 65 cents US to the Canadian dollar and now it is 94 cents US. I heard some idiot at the Sault Sainte Marie campground say that the Canadian government should change the exchange rate so US citizens will go over and spend money. He said "how do they expect us to afford to visit there"? If I get a vote, I vote we deport that idiot.
Deb was talking to somebody at our current campground's dog park (the dogs are happy but are barking 94% less due to the exchange rate) that sighting a cougar was extremely rare. He said he often hikes around all over Ontario and has never seen a cougar. Well he must not have gotten the memo that cougar sightings are only for the US citizens, so that we will come up here and spend money and not feel so bad about it. Geez. As much as gas costs here, that cougar should have put on a tutu and tap danced for us or maybe called a few bears over and had a really wild chorus line.
The reason this blog posting is late is because the wifi in this kiddie laced campground was not working last night when we arrived. But, there was one thing working that we didn't want or need. It was the mouths of the children of the "gentleman" next to us. All evening, his kids circled our motorhome yelling and screaming like the Indians did to the cowboys. One of the little monsters kept running around yelling "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy". Today, if Mommy, Mommy, Mommy doesn't shut that kid up, I will put my foot up Mommy, Mommy, Mommy's..... You get the picture. Why do idiots expect us to put up with their children like that. Had I acted like that as a child, my mother would have beat my..... Again, you get the picture. We saw a sign in Neys Provincial Park on the beach that said, "Parents, you are responsible for your children. No lifeguard on duty". Well that would never go over in the US (or this campground for that matter). Clearly, US parents are not responsible for their children. US parents force their responsibility on the neighbors, teachers, police, camp counselors, or anybody else but themselves. Canadians have strange customs at time.
Get this, it is going to be 81 degrees in Thunder Bay today and tomorrow. What happened to the nice cool weather?
I'll try to update tonight if the wifi works. We are staying in Thunder Bay tonight and leaving tomorrow for Nestor Falls which is 265 miles away. Nestor Falls is beautiful.
Al
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Daylight,, Ghost Town, and a Prison Camp--Marathon, ON June 30, 2010
The days here are really long. It gets dark about 10:30-11pm and is bright very early. How early it gets light is a guess, because we are both sleeping late as we have finally resolved to being on vacation. It took several days but we made it. My cell phone did not ring a single time today with work problems. Anyway, the weather is cold at night (4o's last night), and hot in the sun and mild in the shade. This I would classify as the Canadian weather that I know.
We went searching for an elusive ghost town called Jackfish, ON. It was a railroad town that fed coal to the steam engines and was abandoned after diesel locomotives were introduced. I hope the same thing happens to the oil producing countries after another form of cheap fuel for cars is found--bless their hearts. The dirt road that led to the former town of Jackfish was supposedly after this certain bridge and over the valley and through the woods right next to Grandma's house. Needless to say, we never found the town. We drove several miles of dirt roads and saw all kinds of railroad stuff but not the town. But guess what we did see? Go ahead guess. Ummm nope. It was a cougar. She/he was sitting in one of the dirt roads as we passed by. At first I thought it was a wolf, then it got up and moved across the road and the silhouette was clearly feline. The cougar was far enough away that we didn't want to disturb it. Yeah right. When Riley gets scared he sometimes pees a little puddle where he is standing. Between Riley and me we had a good sized puddle going. As far as I was concerned, that cougar owned that dirt road. Deb asked me why didn't we go closer because we were in The Crapper, and it couldn't hurt us. Yeah right, that cougar could be one of the cougars that carries a can opener and then where would we be. The dogs would be whining, Deb would be screaming, and I'd have to get out and go beat up on that cougar for scratching The Crapper. I would too. If it messed with me, I'd drive back to Tim Horton's and get Mama Godzilla. That would make that cougar pee in its tracks. If you don't know who Mama Godzilla is you need to read the old stuff first.
We went to Neys Provincial Park today. It is a small park near Marathon, ON. Actually it is right across the street from the lunchground. The interesting thing about this park is that it housed high security risk Nazis during the second world war. There were several prisoner of war camps along Lake Superior's Canadian side. It seems Britain was overflowing with Nazis POWs and Canada decided to take around 7000 of them. About 500 of them came to Neys. Isn't that fact interesting? I learned something new today. How many of you knew that 7000 Nazis and Japanese were billeted in this area? I'll bet none of you. It seems the POWs were treated so nicely and they liked their captors so much that some stayed after the war. The Nazis were allowed to take correspondence courses from the University of Saskatchewan (where Deb graduated from college) during their detainment. I won't go into this further because you can google it, but it was interesting to learn of the camps and the northern hospitality. I know where those Guantanamo knuckleheads can go. They come here terrorists and leave Mormons. I'm not sure which is worse. Okay, Mormons.
We had lunch at the lunchground today. Again, if you don't understand what a lunchground is you should have read the former blog entries first. If so, my rantings might make better sense; however, my rantings will never make good sense, because I am at the wheel of this sucker. Anyway, we went to the lunchground for lunch today. The Lunch Lady was in there and she did a good job of preparing lunch. What caught my eye (Yall know that I'm not going to talk about some stupid lunch don't you) was this spray bottle that she placed onto the table along with ketchup and salt. Of course I picked it up out of curiosity and found it to have vinegar in it. What you might not know is that some Canadians like vinegar on their french fries like some Brits do. What you normally see is a bottle of malt vinegar. Oh heck no, there are no bottles in the lunchground. What made this unique was the spray bottle. I picked the thing up and smelled of it, and I thought it was Windex or 409 or something she used to clean the tables. Oh no, it was intended for you to spritz your french fries instead of drowning them in malt vinegar. Deb thought that was it was a great idea using a spray bottle, and I'll bet we have a dern vinegar spritzer when we get home. I thought that was totally silly unless you wanted to wash windows or get bugs off your car's bumper. Yuck. Nasty. Deb saw me look at the spray bottle and laugh fully knowing I would talk about it here. Well she was correct.
Tomorrow is a short drive of 150 miles to Thunder Bay, ON where we will stay two nights. If I use the analogy of Lake Superior being round like a clock, we are at 12 o'clock now and will be at 10:30 tomorrow.
Manana Yall.
Al
We went searching for an elusive ghost town called Jackfish, ON. It was a railroad town that fed coal to the steam engines and was abandoned after diesel locomotives were introduced. I hope the same thing happens to the oil producing countries after another form of cheap fuel for cars is found--bless their hearts. The dirt road that led to the former town of Jackfish was supposedly after this certain bridge and over the valley and through the woods right next to Grandma's house. Needless to say, we never found the town. We drove several miles of dirt roads and saw all kinds of railroad stuff but not the town. But guess what we did see? Go ahead guess. Ummm nope. It was a cougar. She/he was sitting in one of the dirt roads as we passed by. At first I thought it was a wolf, then it got up and moved across the road and the silhouette was clearly feline. The cougar was far enough away that we didn't want to disturb it. Yeah right. When Riley gets scared he sometimes pees a little puddle where he is standing. Between Riley and me we had a good sized puddle going. As far as I was concerned, that cougar owned that dirt road. Deb asked me why didn't we go closer because we were in The Crapper, and it couldn't hurt us. Yeah right, that cougar could be one of the cougars that carries a can opener and then where would we be. The dogs would be whining, Deb would be screaming, and I'd have to get out and go beat up on that cougar for scratching The Crapper. I would too. If it messed with me, I'd drive back to Tim Horton's and get Mama Godzilla. That would make that cougar pee in its tracks. If you don't know who Mama Godzilla is you need to read the old stuff first.
We went to Neys Provincial Park today. It is a small park near Marathon, ON. Actually it is right across the street from the lunchground. The interesting thing about this park is that it housed high security risk Nazis during the second world war. There were several prisoner of war camps along Lake Superior's Canadian side. It seems Britain was overflowing with Nazis POWs and Canada decided to take around 7000 of them. About 500 of them came to Neys. Isn't that fact interesting? I learned something new today. How many of you knew that 7000 Nazis and Japanese were billeted in this area? I'll bet none of you. It seems the POWs were treated so nicely and they liked their captors so much that some stayed after the war. The Nazis were allowed to take correspondence courses from the University of Saskatchewan (where Deb graduated from college) during their detainment. I won't go into this further because you can google it, but it was interesting to learn of the camps and the northern hospitality. I know where those Guantanamo knuckleheads can go. They come here terrorists and leave Mormons. I'm not sure which is worse. Okay, Mormons.
We had lunch at the lunchground today. Again, if you don't understand what a lunchground is you should have read the former blog entries first. If so, my rantings might make better sense; however, my rantings will never make good sense, because I am at the wheel of this sucker. Anyway, we went to the lunchground for lunch today. The Lunch Lady was in there and she did a good job of preparing lunch. What caught my eye (Yall know that I'm not going to talk about some stupid lunch don't you) was this spray bottle that she placed onto the table along with ketchup and salt. Of course I picked it up out of curiosity and found it to have vinegar in it. What you might not know is that some Canadians like vinegar on their french fries like some Brits do. What you normally see is a bottle of malt vinegar. Oh heck no, there are no bottles in the lunchground. What made this unique was the spray bottle. I picked the thing up and smelled of it, and I thought it was Windex or 409 or something she used to clean the tables. Oh no, it was intended for you to spritz your french fries instead of drowning them in malt vinegar. Deb thought that was it was a great idea using a spray bottle, and I'll bet we have a dern vinegar spritzer when we get home. I thought that was totally silly unless you wanted to wash windows or get bugs off your car's bumper. Yuck. Nasty. Deb saw me look at the spray bottle and laugh fully knowing I would talk about it here. Well she was correct.
Tomorrow is a short drive of 150 miles to Thunder Bay, ON where we will stay two nights. If I use the analogy of Lake Superior being round like a clock, we are at 12 o'clock now and will be at 10:30 tomorrow.
Manana Yall.
Al
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Bears and Magpies--Marathon, ON June 29, 2010
We left Wawa this morning and meandered to Marathon, ON where we are camped for two nights. The drive was only about 150 miles, so we took our time. We are in the Neys Lunch and Campground. I was wondering earlier why it it not called the Neys Luncheonette and Campground. I now wonder what a lunchground is? I try not to dwell on the meaning too much because this type of thing makes my head hurt. Anyway, the campground is small and deserted. There are other RVs in here but unoccupied. The lady at the campground office ( lunchground office too) said something when we checked in that disturbed me. She said we couldn't put trash into the trash house ( I kid you not a building just for trash) after 8pm because that was the third and final trash run of the day to the dump. Deb asked why and she said that they didn't want bears to get into it. In case you are bad at math, 1 + 1 + 1 =3. One, we are in a deserted campground, two, there are bears nearby, and three, they make three runs per day to the dump. Hum. Maybe Yogi is going to pay us a visit tonight hunting for our picnic basket?
While staying at the campground in Wawa, the park had a fifty gallon, steel can partially buried at each campsite. We put our trash into it and the magic trash fairy made it disappear. The only problem was that the trash had gotten strewn around the can a couple times, once which occurred in the night and made the puppies jump on our bed. We thought a raccoon was the culprit but who was to blame greatly surprised me. This morning we were busy packing up The Love Boat when I heard the trash can lid go bang, but I thought it was Deb taking out the trash. When I walked around the bow of The Love Boat I saw trash strewn around and a couple gargantuan magpies picking at the trash. Gargantuan doesn't quite describe these muscular beasts, pterodactyls would be a better way to describe them. The river near the campground was called Magpie River and now I know why. The night before I had heard the magpies braying outside a few times and thought they sounded like Gilbert Godfrey but didn't give them much thought. The magpies that pulled that heavy steel lid off the trash can must have been Terminator model robotic magpies or something. I would have set the puppies loose on them but was afraid they would snatch the puppies and carry them off. The current campground doesn't have magpies only trash eating bears. Good times Yall.
When we were at Tim Horton's yesterday, Deb and I were sitting at a table watching The Crapper where the puppies sat in the backseat entertaining themselves watching people pass by. They would stick their heads out the window so people could pat them on the head. Well, that was until this "woman" drove up and parked next to them. The puppies took one look at her and decided she was not going to touch them. This "woman" was mean looking and about the size of a silverback gorilla. Deb and I saw her, and I told Deb to not make eye contact with her or one of us was going to get hurt, and it wasn't going to be me. There was no way I was going to fight Mama Godzilla. She looked like she was a lumberjack, bulldozer, or car crusher. We left shortly thereafter. I'll bet she wouldn't have any trouble snatching the feathers off those campground magpies. Come to think of it, maybe what the lunchground office lady was referring to getting into the trash was not bears but Mama Godzilla checking out what she thought to be the salad bar building. I'll fight a bear, but if its Mama Godzilla, Deb is on her own. The puppies are in total agreement with me.
Bye for now.
Al
While staying at the campground in Wawa, the park had a fifty gallon, steel can partially buried at each campsite. We put our trash into it and the magic trash fairy made it disappear. The only problem was that the trash had gotten strewn around the can a couple times, once which occurred in the night and made the puppies jump on our bed. We thought a raccoon was the culprit but who was to blame greatly surprised me. This morning we were busy packing up The Love Boat when I heard the trash can lid go bang, but I thought it was Deb taking out the trash. When I walked around the bow of The Love Boat I saw trash strewn around and a couple gargantuan magpies picking at the trash. Gargantuan doesn't quite describe these muscular beasts, pterodactyls would be a better way to describe them. The river near the campground was called Magpie River and now I know why. The night before I had heard the magpies braying outside a few times and thought they sounded like Gilbert Godfrey but didn't give them much thought. The magpies that pulled that heavy steel lid off the trash can must have been Terminator model robotic magpies or something. I would have set the puppies loose on them but was afraid they would snatch the puppies and carry them off. The current campground doesn't have magpies only trash eating bears. Good times Yall.
When we were at Tim Horton's yesterday, Deb and I were sitting at a table watching The Crapper where the puppies sat in the backseat entertaining themselves watching people pass by. They would stick their heads out the window so people could pat them on the head. Well, that was until this "woman" drove up and parked next to them. The puppies took one look at her and decided she was not going to touch them. This "woman" was mean looking and about the size of a silverback gorilla. Deb and I saw her, and I told Deb to not make eye contact with her or one of us was going to get hurt, and it wasn't going to be me. There was no way I was going to fight Mama Godzilla. She looked like she was a lumberjack, bulldozer, or car crusher. We left shortly thereafter. I'll bet she wouldn't have any trouble snatching the feathers off those campground magpies. Come to think of it, maybe what the lunchground office lady was referring to getting into the trash was not bears but Mama Godzilla checking out what she thought to be the salad bar building. I'll fight a bear, but if its Mama Godzilla, Deb is on her own. The puppies are in total agreement with me.
Bye for now.
Al
Monday, June 28, 2010
Lake Superior near Wawa, ON, Canada
Monty and Riley sticking their tongues out at you. Years of training and this is what they do in public
The Love Boat and the Crapper on Lake Superior.
This is a glimpse of the shoreline of Lake Superior "near" Wawa, ON. The remaining pictures are more of the same.
Let's play what is this.
What is this? Is it a huge goose? That is just what they want you to think.
It is actually the new stealth bomber. Here we see a closeup of the bomb bay door.
Here
It is actually the new stealth bomber. Here we see a closeup of the bomb bay door.
Here
Weather, AC, Tim Horton's -- Wawa, Ontario, Canada June 28,2010
We turned on the furnace this morning, because it was about 58 degrees last night. Today's high was 62 degrees and tonight's low is 42 degrees. This brings me to my first topic, Canadians and air conditioning.
We visited Deb's hometown a few years ago, and the daytime high was around 90 degrees. The Canadians that read this blog converted 90 degrees Fahrenheit into 32 degrees Celsius in their head while reading the last sentence. They are very good about converting US measures into metric measures. US citizens generally suck at it. Even though Canadians are excellent at converting units of measure, they have a ways to go on installing air conditioners into their homes. I come from the land of air conditioning, and we use it about eight months a year. We don't understand why everybody doesn't have air conditioning. Being married to a Canadian has helped me to understand-- well sorta kinda. Most of this region only gets hot for a short period of time which is something like a month. I figure the Canadians like the heat to help them defrost from the god awful cold temperatures that happen here. In Naicam, where we are headed, the temperature will drop to -40 degrees below zero and stay there for a very long time. So, I figure the people here go into deep freeze and thaw out in August. Now Southerners are slow broiled eight months of the year. We don't need to thaw out as we will spoil if left unrefrigerated over night. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.
Speaking of air conditioning, we had dinner tonight in a local restaurant. It was called The Viking. On the huge sign out front of the restaurant was large lettering advertising "Air Conditioned". I didn't see anything else on that sign except the part about air conditioning. It made no difference the temperature outside was 58 degrees, I saw the words "air conditioned". Deb saw "Lake Superior Trout and White Fish". I did not and to each their own. Now remember it was 58 degrees outside. About fifteen minutes after we sat down a couple came in the front door who were dressed like they came from Palm Springs or some hoity-toity place like that. The front part of the restaurant had large windows with tables next to the window. Needless to say, I sat my Southern butt away from those solar collecting, plate glass windows. It is instinctual for me. Anyway, the hoity-toity couple came in and the waitress told them to sit anywhere they wanted. Of course they waltzed over to table next to the solar collectors. Just before sitting down the woman looks up at the waitress and states that it might get hot in the sun and asks if the air conditioning was on. The waitress calmly told them that it was not needed as it was 58 degrees outside. The couple looked like moose in the headlights for a few moments then sat down. Of course, Deb and I had a good laugh at their expense. Now that I think about it, I understand their concern about the heat. However, I am smart enough to know it was 58 degrees outside. Geez. Duhhhh.
I honestly think the puppies are enjoying themselves now. They are the center of attraction everywhere we go which is nothing new. People always want to know their breed and "do they shed a lot". They are Keeshonds and yes they shed a lot. Believe me when I tell you they shed much more when The Love Boat is going BRRUUUUUPPP on the interstate, but they still shed a lot. I had some joker ask me a few days ago how much they cost and were worth. It took all diplomacy that I could muster to not tell him that the puppies surely cost more than that skank wife of his, but I didn't want to hurt his sister's feelings. Geez, what kind of a question is that? It takes all kinds.
Alrighty Yall, we are in Canada now. We went to Tim Horton's today. Southerners have no idea what a Tim Horton's is, so I'm going to tell you like it or not. Tim Horton's is like a Krispy Kreme of Canada. Canadians flock to Tim Horton's like Baptists to fried chicken. I don't get the attraction but what do I know. Maybe it is because Tim Horton's is air conditioned. That's it. They go there to be in air conditioning. I'll have to remember that even though The Love Boat's AC is superior might I add. Sorry, that is air conditioners, plural as in two. While traveling in The Love Boat, I have watched several Canadians stopping and envying The Love Boat's air conditioners, then they shrug and go to Tim Horton's. You might say Deb and I are air conditioning ambassadors.
Well, we leave Wawa tomorrow for a place called Marathon, Ontario which is near Ney's Provincial Park. We have seen all we wawant to see here in Wawa, weally we have. Weally. We are weady to move awong.
Bye for now.
Al
We visited Deb's hometown a few years ago, and the daytime high was around 90 degrees. The Canadians that read this blog converted 90 degrees Fahrenheit into 32 degrees Celsius in their head while reading the last sentence. They are very good about converting US measures into metric measures. US citizens generally suck at it. Even though Canadians are excellent at converting units of measure, they have a ways to go on installing air conditioners into their homes. I come from the land of air conditioning, and we use it about eight months a year. We don't understand why everybody doesn't have air conditioning. Being married to a Canadian has helped me to understand-- well sorta kinda. Most of this region only gets hot for a short period of time which is something like a month. I figure the Canadians like the heat to help them defrost from the god awful cold temperatures that happen here. In Naicam, where we are headed, the temperature will drop to -40 degrees below zero and stay there for a very long time. So, I figure the people here go into deep freeze and thaw out in August. Now Southerners are slow broiled eight months of the year. We don't need to thaw out as we will spoil if left unrefrigerated over night. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.
Speaking of air conditioning, we had dinner tonight in a local restaurant. It was called The Viking. On the huge sign out front of the restaurant was large lettering advertising "Air Conditioned". I didn't see anything else on that sign except the part about air conditioning. It made no difference the temperature outside was 58 degrees, I saw the words "air conditioned". Deb saw "Lake Superior Trout and White Fish". I did not and to each their own. Now remember it was 58 degrees outside. About fifteen minutes after we sat down a couple came in the front door who were dressed like they came from Palm Springs or some hoity-toity place like that. The front part of the restaurant had large windows with tables next to the window. Needless to say, I sat my Southern butt away from those solar collecting, plate glass windows. It is instinctual for me. Anyway, the hoity-toity couple came in and the waitress told them to sit anywhere they wanted. Of course they waltzed over to table next to the solar collectors. Just before sitting down the woman looks up at the waitress and states that it might get hot in the sun and asks if the air conditioning was on. The waitress calmly told them that it was not needed as it was 58 degrees outside. The couple looked like moose in the headlights for a few moments then sat down. Of course, Deb and I had a good laugh at their expense. Now that I think about it, I understand their concern about the heat. However, I am smart enough to know it was 58 degrees outside. Geez. Duhhhh.
I honestly think the puppies are enjoying themselves now. They are the center of attraction everywhere we go which is nothing new. People always want to know their breed and "do they shed a lot". They are Keeshonds and yes they shed a lot. Believe me when I tell you they shed much more when The Love Boat is going BRRUUUUUPPP on the interstate, but they still shed a lot. I had some joker ask me a few days ago how much they cost and were worth. It took all diplomacy that I could muster to not tell him that the puppies surely cost more than that skank wife of his, but I didn't want to hurt his sister's feelings. Geez, what kind of a question is that? It takes all kinds.
Alrighty Yall, we are in Canada now. We went to Tim Horton's today. Southerners have no idea what a Tim Horton's is, so I'm going to tell you like it or not. Tim Horton's is like a Krispy Kreme of Canada. Canadians flock to Tim Horton's like Baptists to fried chicken. I don't get the attraction but what do I know. Maybe it is because Tim Horton's is air conditioned. That's it. They go there to be in air conditioning. I'll have to remember that even though The Love Boat's AC is superior might I add. Sorry, that is air conditioners, plural as in two. While traveling in The Love Boat, I have watched several Canadians stopping and envying The Love Boat's air conditioners, then they shrug and go to Tim Horton's. You might say Deb and I are air conditioning ambassadors.
Well, we leave Wawa tomorrow for a place called Marathon, Ontario which is near Ney's Provincial Park. We have seen all we wawant to see here in Wawa, weally we have. Weally. We are weady to move awong.
Bye for now.
Al
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Wawa, Customs, and Deliverance--Wawa, Ontario June 27, 2010
We left Sault Sainte Marie today and drove to Wawa, Ontario. No there are no towns named Wewe or Caca, and I have no idea where the name originated. In order to help you try to visualize where we are, try to think of Lake Superior as the face of a clock. Sault Sainte Marie would be at 5 o'clock and Wawa would be at about 3 o'clock.Our next stop day after tomorrow is Neys, Ontario which is at 12 o'clock. Now for you folks that attended UNC, Sault Sainte Marie has the big hand on the 12 and the little hand on the 5. I wont go any further because that might confuse them.
When we crossed over into Canada, I noticed a profound difference between the Canadian customs people and the US customs people. The Canadian custom agents were dressed like what a policeman would wear. They spoke nicely and joked around with me. They were truly pleasant to deal with. Not so with the US customs. They were harsh to speak with and were dressed in para-military dress. I had to go into the Canadian customs building for something that I needed and spoke to a customs agent there. She was a lady and was pleasant to talk with. I asked her why was there so much difference between the US and Canadian customs and she smiled and told me that there shouldn't be but there was. She said that she took her kids to a snow festival in Sault Sainte Marie (US portion) this past winter and when she got to the US customs, US customs decided to take her car apart. The agents that did it knew her and interrogated her in front of her children. She even showed the US agents her badge, and they did it anyway. Folks, something is wrong here. I'll bet you that she reciprocates the fun times with the US agents when they cross over the border into Canada.
We drove through some of the most rugged and beautiful country today. When we left Sault Sainte Marie (Canadian side) we left civilization. We drove for over 100 miles before seeing any kind of a building. The scenery was magnificent and the traffic was non-existent until we got to our campsite in Wawa and disconnected The Crapper (PT Cruiser toad) and went for a drive. Then the semi-trucks lined up to ride my back bumper. Of course that is always the case when we drive The Crapper-- bullies. Anyway, the shore line of Lake Superior in this area is really rocky, rough, and often steep. If you tried to dive off into the water (cannonballs naturally) from these cliffs, you would likely need a full body cast later. On second thought, your attempt at cliff diving would likely result in you smashing your head, knocking out all of your brains, and voting for more democrats.
The puppies are beginning to settle down and return to their puppy gypsy attitudes. Last night in Sault Saint Marie, there was a fireworks display near the campground. Monty thought he was back in Nam and his PTBSD got infinitely worse. Each time a firework burst occurred Monty would act like he saw Michael Jackson and whirl around and jump up on stuff. Riley would sense that Monty was upset and join in on the fun. Good times Yall.
Last night, before we left, we went to a drug store. A lady that worked there walked up to us and warmly greeted us. That is when it dawned on me that all the women here speak like Sarah Palin. You betcha. Now there is zero wrong with their accents or Sarah Palin for that matter, but it was fun to experience their accents in large quantities. Now a Southern boy like me is a real novelty up here. When I open my mouth people look at me like I'm from Mars (southern Mars that is). I guess the locals are too used to being here in Arctic temperatures where people spit out words fast so that the words don't freeze on their lips or something. Geez Louise. These people ought to quit watching the Deliverance movie. Maybe that is what they are thinking when I speak. They have this look like I'm straight out of that movie. Speaking of which, I saw this bumper sticker that read, "Paddle faster, I hear banjo music". I didn't know whether to laugh or be mad. You betcha.
I saw a road sign in Ohio or Michigan somewhere that read, " This highway dedicated to Catholic American War veterans. Gosh, I never knew the US went to war with the Catholics. I learn something knew everyday. In small print the sign said "you betcha".
I plan to post some photos soon. Tomorrow the low temperature is going to be 42 degrees if I heard Deb correctly.
Al
When we crossed over into Canada, I noticed a profound difference between the Canadian customs people and the US customs people. The Canadian custom agents were dressed like what a policeman would wear. They spoke nicely and joked around with me. They were truly pleasant to deal with. Not so with the US customs. They were harsh to speak with and were dressed in para-military dress. I had to go into the Canadian customs building for something that I needed and spoke to a customs agent there. She was a lady and was pleasant to talk with. I asked her why was there so much difference between the US and Canadian customs and she smiled and told me that there shouldn't be but there was. She said that she took her kids to a snow festival in Sault Sainte Marie (US portion) this past winter and when she got to the US customs, US customs decided to take her car apart. The agents that did it knew her and interrogated her in front of her children. She even showed the US agents her badge, and they did it anyway. Folks, something is wrong here. I'll bet you that she reciprocates the fun times with the US agents when they cross over the border into Canada.
We drove through some of the most rugged and beautiful country today. When we left Sault Sainte Marie (Canadian side) we left civilization. We drove for over 100 miles before seeing any kind of a building. The scenery was magnificent and the traffic was non-existent until we got to our campsite in Wawa and disconnected The Crapper (PT Cruiser toad) and went for a drive. Then the semi-trucks lined up to ride my back bumper. Of course that is always the case when we drive The Crapper-- bullies. Anyway, the shore line of Lake Superior in this area is really rocky, rough, and often steep. If you tried to dive off into the water (cannonballs naturally) from these cliffs, you would likely need a full body cast later. On second thought, your attempt at cliff diving would likely result in you smashing your head, knocking out all of your brains, and voting for more democrats.
The puppies are beginning to settle down and return to their puppy gypsy attitudes. Last night in Sault Saint Marie, there was a fireworks display near the campground. Monty thought he was back in Nam and his PTBSD got infinitely worse. Each time a firework burst occurred Monty would act like he saw Michael Jackson and whirl around and jump up on stuff. Riley would sense that Monty was upset and join in on the fun. Good times Yall.
Last night, before we left, we went to a drug store. A lady that worked there walked up to us and warmly greeted us. That is when it dawned on me that all the women here speak like Sarah Palin. You betcha. Now there is zero wrong with their accents or Sarah Palin for that matter, but it was fun to experience their accents in large quantities. Now a Southern boy like me is a real novelty up here. When I open my mouth people look at me like I'm from Mars (southern Mars that is). I guess the locals are too used to being here in Arctic temperatures where people spit out words fast so that the words don't freeze on their lips or something. Geez Louise. These people ought to quit watching the Deliverance movie. Maybe that is what they are thinking when I speak. They have this look like I'm straight out of that movie. Speaking of which, I saw this bumper sticker that read, "Paddle faster, I hear banjo music". I didn't know whether to laugh or be mad. You betcha.
I saw a road sign in Ohio or Michigan somewhere that read, " This highway dedicated to Catholic American War veterans. Gosh, I never knew the US went to war with the Catholics. I learn something knew everyday. In small print the sign said "you betcha".
I plan to post some photos soon. Tomorrow the low temperature is going to be 42 degrees if I heard Deb correctly.
Al
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