French River Provincial Park

A lot of this trip had been about seeing as many provincial parks and natural wonders as I could. When I get to the end of my trip, I'll have to post a complete list of the ones I visited. The last 2 days though, I saw a total of 7 - although a lot of my stops were limited to stoping, hopping out of the car, taking a picture and hopping back in. At the French River, I stopped and checked out the new visitors centre as it had been under construction the last time I was out this way. They've done a great job of putting together a display highlight the local fur trade history in particular. Owing to the wet conditions, and the number of km and stops lefts ahead of me, I opted not to hike up to Recollet falls (although I hope to do this sometime). I have been on the other side of Recollet falls (I believe named after some missionaries who perished in its wrath. At the time we were looking forward to an easy portage as there was a kind of rail cart for canoes back then at the site, however when we paddled up the the falls (in early may) they were raging and unapproachable and the contraption to assist in portaging not to be seen. So, we pulled out at a resort downstream and 2 of our teachers hiked/hitch hiked back to the lot where our cars were parked and came to pick us up on the beach. I'd love to canoe the French River again too... perhaps one day.

Wading in the Water

Remember that I hiked 13 km + the day before, so this felt good. The water was cool, but not icy and it allowed me to get a bit closer to the falls. You'll note that my sandals don't match. I managed to kill the left one of my old favourites (the brown Jack Wolfskin ones) and one of the newer wind river ones (that I bought on sale for $4.99) a couple of years ago. Unable to find a new pair that was either fantastic enough to pay a significant amount of money for or cheap enough to buy for the sake of having matching sandals at the end of the summer - I decided that I'd hold out and finish out the year in mismatched ones.

2nd falls, Les Chutes Provincial Park

I didn't actually get that close to the falls... it was a fair hike to a place where I could zoom in and I decided I still had some serious ground to cover and I wasn't really dress (i.e. sandals) for a long hike.

Here is teh view from the Viewing Platform at the falls.

Les Chutes, Massey

The rain was still driving down when I stopped to check out the round barn - a drafty, 12 sided, 78 year old barn that held a craft shop. I took a quick look, dashing from my car to the door in an attempt to minimize how soaked I got. Its a landmark - see the link for a picture and description. The building style dates back to early settlers in the area.

The Chutes Provincial was my next stop. I had a nice chat with the Parks Warden upon entering. The falls, although small compared to the roaring Kakabeka, Pidgeon River and Agaussabon falls. They had a picturesque charm. I was able to wade in the pool at the bottom. The Riviere Aux Sables - lived up to its name - and the pool was a sandy area used for swimming in warmer weather. I took some time to hike up river and check out the upper falls and it finally stopped raining long enough for me to dare take out my camera. I did hike in my sandals at the risk of getting Poison Ivy.

I'd definately camp out there sometime on route West or East. It may not have been huge, but it had a nice trail and the sites were wooded.

Carolyn Beach Motel

I've actually stayed here on dark and snowy December night when we rolled our station wagon just outside of Thesselon, ON. In fact, you can litterly probably see the point where we flipped in this picture... The quick version of that story was that the roads were somewhat bad, and the driver had mistakenly picked the wrong leg of a V - heading into Thesselon rather than Toronto. The front passanger had suddenly noticed this and called out and the driver had tried to switch legs - at which point I woke up in the middle of the back seat where I'd been dozing and seen snow flakes spinning in circles. Giving the driver credit she did manage to pull out of the spin and into a straight skid - until the car hit some slush and proceded to spin in the other direction until we came to a stop facing backwards on about a 45 degree angle on the edge of the road. It might have all ended well there - but as I declared "Thank God, we are going to roll" and ominous creak in the car top carrier as the drivers books shifted toward the downhill side and the car rolled over into the snow filled ditch. However, whatever diety was out there was watching out for us as the injuries were limited to me getting a fat lip (I was trying to help the driver out of the car - and her seat belt whipped me in the face when it was released) and the damage was limited to a cracked CD case that got crunched as we tryed to exit the car, the scattering of a 2 kg bag of worthers candies and both side view mirrors bent, a couple of litres of fluid lost and a small dent in the car.) This time I just stopped for a lovely cup of coffee and to read my map and then it was eastward ho.

Pancake Bay Provincial Park - my second last night

Well, we've reached the final leg of my trip. After completing the 8 km Orphan Lake (and earlier in that day, the challanging 5 km trek up the Nokomis trail), I was exhausted. I drove down to the Trading Post (Agawa Indian Crafts) and bought some gifts for people. A neat carved face for my dad, little soapstone boxes for my mom and Gabe and probably something else I don't remember. I then went to Pancake Bay where I claimed my free 4th night at a provincial park and took a few pictures. I had canned spaggetti for supper and camped in a pretty site next to two college students up from Sault St. Marie - one of whom was a fabulous guitar player. Shortly before I had supper properly cleaned up, the sky opened up and poured a torrential ammount of rain everywhere punctuated by frequent and intense bursts of lightening. I grabbed everything I didn't want wet and chucked it in the trunk then ran for the comfort station where I made some short nervous calls home (lightening and phone calls don't mix and I crawled into my back seat and read for a while until the storm let up long enough for me to feel somewhat safe having a shower (the lightening was really intense) and make it back to my car just in time for the rain to resume. Meanwhile my neighbours came by and offered me some extra spaggetti they had, but I think they though I was nuts of hiding in my car. I slept poorly and it continued to rain unabated all night - until I gave up at 5 am and hit the road (in the pouring rain) and headed south to Sault Ste. Marie. I stopped in the Sault where I believe I had a yummy McDonalds Breakfast and bought gas at a petrocan on the highway strip. Both times I ended up talking to random people. In McDonalds I chatted with a table full of older folk about the weather and weather it was unusual and in PetroCanada I talked to the attendent about thankgiving and familes and stuff... Nice folk there... then I started heading east. I guess I should say something about driving in the rain. There was a lot of it. Rivers were swollen and at one point only the flashing lights of an attendent cop car warned me that there was water flowing over the road at one point (which I think later resulted in the closure of the road - so my early start might have worked out for me. I drove through the water slowly and carfully (it wasn't deep, just crazy). It was dark until well past Sault St. Marie and my wipers were in overdrive (my wipers are one of the suckier things on my car and even in overdrive there was a limit to what they can do with that much rain. There is a strange and comforting feeling to driving dark roads on rainy nights with Dave Matthews crooning and Tim Reynolds working miricals with a guitar - its one of those moments that you feel alive and centred. It was a good morning - although I was sad that I didn't get more of a chance to explore Pancake Bay - there were at least 2 trails that sounded great - but the rain looked to stay until later in the day.. and I had some serious ground to cover still.

Snake just up from the lake

The second time I had a more cooperative snake and I managed to get 2 photographs of him before he slithered under a rock.

View from Beaver Dam Across Orphan Lake

My watercolour paints would love to try this..... one day... one day...

Dragonfly Dance

What a fantastic shade of red. I suspect that if my brain is pumping out the correct info these two critters are actually meadowflies (which I believe are damsel flies rather than dragonflies). They are busy on this log jutting out of a beaver dam at the outlet of Orphan Lake.

Falls on Orphan Lake Trail

Orphan Lake trail is said to have something for everyone - lookouts, beaches, streams, woodland and a wonderful set of small waterfalls cascading over time-smoothed shieldrock.

A chipmunk on the rocks, please!

This charmingly photogenic fellow accosted me (probably seeking handouts) just as I was leaving the beach and heading up a small stream in the general direction of my car...

Orphan Lake Trail meets the Coastal Trail

For the span slightly longer than this beach, the Coastal and Orphan Lake trail share the same space. Another pebble strewn Lake Superior beach that was charmingly abandoned while I was there.

High Lookout on Orphan Lake Trail, Lake Superior Park

I couldn't decide which to post, so I just put them all up in one post. A view well worth the hike up the ridge.

Knitwit On the Road

One of the best parts of being a passanger on a long drive is time that can only be used for knitting, talking and listening to Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe. Not that there isn't anything esle you can do, but the there are things that you should do that can't be done so you can feel like you are making good use of your time. The top photo is a scarf in progress for a christmas pattern with a seed stitch. The big scary scarf at the bottom is the same deal, but different wool, the middle picture is my first dishcloth using a mix of basketweave and waspnest stitches and the pale green scarf at the bottom is a basketweave with bamboo yarn. Its curling around the edges, but its silky soft. Now that I don't have any future car rides coming up, I suspect that I won't get much knitting done. I'm aware that none of these are particulary challanging pieces (aside from finding time), but for me it inovled learning 2 new stitches (waspnest and basketweave) and working with different types of yarn. Should I have time - I have a pair of mittens that are nearly done and just need the top and thumb on one of them to complete, a half started pair of wool socks and 2 balls of kroy socks yarn in paintbox that would like to be a pair of socks and 3 or four projects started on round needles that should either become hats or neck warms evenutally. One day.... but not soon.

Sunset at Denis Beach

Weird clouds... the sky is blue behind me - its all very atmospheric..

Driftwood on Denis Beach

Here is one of my first views of Denis Beach

New Year at the Old Favourites

Well, I was lucky enough to spend the first day of the new year visiting the prettier parts of NB. We skied in Fundy Park (breaking the trail in the pristine snow) then visited Alma. Our next stop - see photos above - was Denis Beach followed by a drive through Moncton and back to Sussex for dinner at the diner at the Fairway.... all in all a beautiful day!

View from the top of the ridge - Orphan Lake Lookout #2

So here is a piece of the spectactular view I've been warning you about. Over looking autumn bronzed, tree clad hills and the glory of Lake Superior's open water. Note that I started at the bottom of this valley and hiked strait up along the ridgeline to get here....

Strange Sentinals

Almost to the top now (and feeling it - I Garuntee you). This lookout was probablythe most challanging for me - likely because it was on the tail of the 5 km Nokomis trail and because the sun came out (nice for pics, but hot and encouraging to small biting flies). Still.... the view was great and the rest at the top greatly enjoyed. Good place to linger and think.