Day 24 - West Hawk Lake, Manitoba to Vermilion Bay, Ontario

Saturday, June 10, 2017

The team left early this morning and it wasn't long before it was raining.  This is the first rain they've had to ride in,  although they say that it is what they're used to back in Victoria.

First rendezvous of the morning and they grabbed a few snacks before continuing on.

I stopped a little bit further down the road at a snowplow turnaround spot to capture this video.

I went to take a picture of the creek behind and below me and realized it was the old roadbed from years before!

We hooked up in Kenora at Tim Hortons.   Kenora is on Lake of the Woods.  One of my "Fifty Things To Do Before I Die" is to go fishing for Musky on Lake of the Woods.  Unfortunately, they're out of season and we didn't have time anyways, but as a consolation prize I at least got to see Husky the Musky (not just another Big Stupid Thing)!

Caroline had another great ride today, completing almost 98 km!👏👏👏

Notice on the map above how the geography changes as soon as you enter Ontario.  Lots and lots of lakes and the start of the Canadian Shield!  I feel right at home.  I am in my comfort zone!

Ritchie rode it out to our destination for today, Crystal Lake Campground just outside of Vermilion Bay.

This is Crystal Lake, a small lake with Pike in it.

 So, while Ritchie changed his first chain of the trip.........

I assembled my rods and decided to "Take a Hike" down the trail around the lake.  Hey, I'm in Ontario and I have a valid fishing license (Seniors)!

The owner suggested that I start at this spot.

 It took awhile (I went through everything in my miniature tackle box (all 5 lures!), but finally caught a "hammer handle", 23.5" long.  Not my favourite species, but it was nice to feel that tug on the other end of the line.

No fish were hurt in the shooting of this video.  He was released after that.

There is something special about the North country.  It is where I feel my closest relationship with  God and it always rejuvenates my spirit to be in what I consider the closest environment I can come to heaven.

You are totally surrounded by the wonders of nature.

We are a little over half way on the time schedule and our riders are doing amazing!!
Caroline has ridden almost 1300 km and Ritchie has gone almost 2800 km.
Kudos to the two of them!

Day 23 - Winnipeg to West Hawk Lake

Friday, June 9, 2017

Got off to another great start today after 2 days rest.  Ritchie and Caroline  were looking strong as they pulled into the first checkpoint.

We have a new enemy!  These large Deer/Horse flies!  They were surrounding the RV as we waited for the Dynamic Duo at a checkpoint, constantly whacking into the windows.  Fortunately, they don't seem to want to attack us when we're outside.  Maybe they're attracted to the colour of the RV?????

After 1000's of km of four lane highway, we have been reduced to 2 lanes and oncoming traffic.😠  No so good for our riders either as the truck drivers can't always move over for them.

We got to our destination, West Hawk Lake Provincial Park and one dear watched another deer.

We walked down to the water.  The lake was formed by a meteorite and is 320 feet deep, the deepest lake in Manitoba and the Park is a training site for emergency divers from the Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

It looks like our deer got here before us.

It started to rain, but that didn't stop our riders from walking into town for some beverages!

Tomorrow we enter our final Province.

Day 22 - Rest Day #2 in Winnipeg

Thursday, June 8, 2017

We woke up this morning to see this out the window of our hotel room.  The hotel (Sandman) is a very nice hotel, but I must say that I've been getting better sleeps in the Queen bed above the cab of the RV than the double bed I've had for the last two nights.

Ritchie took the opportunity of an "Off" day to check and see if he needed a new chain and change the derailed holder.  It turns out that my bike rack makes a great bike stand!!   Now I'll have one when I get home.👍

The bikes get cleaned and chains cleaned and oiled at least every second day.  Here's some of the tools of the trade.

This is Caroline's bike.  Evidently, she gets off of bike maintenance detail!😜

We went to enjoy the atmosphere of downtown Winnipeg one more time.  The joys of driving an RV in the city.😐 Ritchie and Caroline got their cappuccino fix and then we then moved on to our site for tonight, Town & Country Campground, a well laid out property with over 200 sites.

We were hoping to finally be rid of the tent caterpillars, but a few have tried to set up house with us.  Probably found about a dozen making their "tents"!

Day 21 - Rest Day #1 in Winnipeg

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

What kind of person lends their car to a stranger?

Lynda McKerchar does!!

Rick & Nancy Bennett (our neighbours at home) who were from Winnipeg, contacted their friend Lynda when they found out we were in the area.  We were out in the van getting a few things when this stranger pulled up, introduced herself to us and immediately asked why I wasn't fishing??? 

She  gave us some tourist tips and insisted we use her car (it's a Dr. Seuss mobile - Nissan Cube).  What she didn't know was that we tried to rent a car today, but had no luck finding one. Serendipity!!  

Part of this trip is about meeting beautiful people in this country of ours.  They don't come any better!

Turns out she works for Big Sands Lake Lodge, a resort 600 miles north of here.  She does all the logistics for them here in Winnipeg (picking up clients at Winnipeg Airport, driving them to hotels and the small airport where they fly out in a DC3 north and every job in between).  She's been with them for 17 years and they're darn lucky to have her!

The girls did the laundry today and then we picked up Lynda's car and headed downtown.  One of the first things I noticed (other than the rough roads.....rougher than Hamilton's!) was all the signs still on brick walls from times past.  Here's just a few samples, the Pepsi one is my favourite.

\

 MTS Centre, home of the Winnipeg Jets!

 Okay, maybe this wasn't on my 50 Things To Do Bucket List, but it certainly was necessary once I got to Winnipeg,  Standing on the corner of Portage & Main!  It was the only thing I didn't want to leave without doing.

I also crossed the Red River.  Both of these landmarks are part of Stompin Tom's Red River Jane.
Interestingly, I think I might have actually been at the performance below, recorded at Hamilton Place!  A true Canadian Icon.

We drove down to The Forks.  This is where the Assiniboine River meets up with the Red River and is at the core of the City.  Its also where Union Station is located.  I can only imagine the activity there back in the day.  The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is located here, but we didn't have time to go through it.

Some of the old stables have been converted to over 200 stores and eateries!  Its a very cool place, not unlike the Byward Market in Ottawa.

 Strawberry and Tiger!  Mmmmmmm.............

 I love Buskers!

 Some of the old Heritage is still around.

 It was a great day and I'm glad we got to stop in Winnipeg.   There'll be more to see tomorrow!

Day 20 - Oak Lake to WINNIPEG!!!

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

I think the caterpillars are starting to slow down, building their "tents".  Ritchie had to clear a few nests from his spokes this morning.

We gladly left Aspen Grove and headed for Portage La Prairie 185 km away.  With great tailwinds it wasn't long after Lynn and I got the RV packed up and cleaned the RV of Caterpillars that we got a text saying he was going beyond Portage!
We eventually picked Caroline up 117 km down the road!  A new personal best on this trip!

Awesome job Caroline!

The trains out here continue to be looooooooooong!

Here's a blend of old and new in Grain Elevators.

As Ritchie neared Winnipeg, we stopped every 10 km to ensure he didn't "Bonk"!

Determination wins again!!!

259 km!!  A great accomplishment today!

A shout out to our neighbours Rick & Nancy Bennett!  They're from Winnipeg and we're reminded of them as we drive into town.
We're rewarding Ritchie's accomplishment (he's now over half way and a couple of days ahead of schedule) with a 2 Day layover in Winnipeg!  We are booked into the Sandman Hotel to give ourselves a break from the Tin Can we've been living in for the last 3 weeks (almost 5 for Lynn and I)

A great celebratory dinner tonight at the Chop House beside the Hotel.

We finally have internet!!!  Yeahhh!

Day 19 - Whitewood, Sask. to Oak Lake, Manitoba

Monday, June 5, 2017

We left Whitewood, Sask. and Ritchie and Caroline headed into some pretty tough head winds.  Before long we reached the Manitoba border!  That's our fourth province!  Two of them, Saskatchewan and Manitoba being a first for me.  We were also hoping that we were leaving the Saskatchewan tent caterpillars behind.

This was a real tough day for our riders.   Caroline joined us at the border and Ritchie pressed on for 130 km today.  Said that was the closest he's ever come to "bonking" (like runners collapsing in a marathon).  Thankfully, he made it okay.

Our stop tonight was Aspen Grove Campground.  More bad news.  They were dealing with the caterpillar problem.  One half of their park was in good shape.....

......the other half wiped out by the little bas$#&ds!

One plus was that they had a swimming pool.  You can see the owner sweeping away invading caterpillars!  A few were seen swimming in the pool (I suppose to cool off).

We got back to our site to witness this!  Disgusting!  New item to add to my Departure Checklist, "Sweep 100 caterpillars off each wheel".😯

As fast as you swept them off the carpet, they would reappear!😡😡

Ritchie went into "attack" mode!

Needless to say, the afternoon and evening were spent inside😥