Jun 24, 2017 - Sault Ste Marie

I wasn’t planning on going anywhere today because rain was forecast & I also felt like a rest but this morning was beautifully sunny so I felt I shouldn’t waste it. First of all though I spent some time planning what I would do this week because it’s been on my mind that next weekend is a big weekend & I should have a reservation somewhere. July 1st is Canada Day & because this is Canada’s 150th birthday, they’re making a big deal of it. It’s a long weekend so it would be busy anyway but it will be extra busy this year. Added to that, it’s...

Jun 24, 2017 - Whistler - 100 Mile - Prince George

Travelling up from Whistler to 100 Mile yesterday we drove through mountains, stopped at several lakes just because we could, visited Lillooet (a Gold Minning town) that looked like it hasn't changed much in many years, through deserts, over raging rivers, past waterfalls and farming country. So much change in scenery in just a short time like it does in NZ. The Gold Trail runs from Lillooet to 150 Mile, so the names mean how far from Lillooet. There is 50 Mile, 75 Mile (both these places look like you may never leave if you stay overnight)...

Jun 24, 2017 - St Johns

St. Johns, NL MILES DRIVEN 47 WEATHER 70 ish for a high and lows started at 61 this morning. The wind strong all day 20 something. BUT on Signal Hill it had to be 40 to 50 WHERE WE STAYED Pitt Park STORY; 6/20 a travel day slept in then drove to Pitt Park in ST John, NL. Set up camp and after lunch we set out for Signal Hill. The high rock formation over looking St Johns has been a military post since 1500. Cannon were placed on the rock as early as 1700. It changed hands between the French and the English multiple times up till 1762 when...

Jun 24, 2017 - Cowshit in the morning....

Woke up early this morning in the farmlands of Canada. I do love the smell of cow shit in the morning. Short breakfast and we were off by 8 am. As we left Brooks, the rolling farm hills quickly gave way to open, flat spaces. Lots of hay and beautiful canola fields. Not a bad ride at first and we made great time with good speed and little traffic. But it went on and on and on. Lots of fields, cows, oil pumps and even a few windmills. Kind of the Texas of Canada. As we left the Canadian 1 and headed more south, the roads got a bit rougher...

Jun 23, 2017 - The Baccalieu Loop

LOCATION: still St Johns MILES DRIVEN 90 WEATHER Great day no rain no fog lots of sunshine. Low of 55 high of 67 WHERE WE STAYED STORY; We did the Baccalieu Loop around Conception bay. The first town is Cupids and the last is Dildo, Hearts Desire is in the middle. Our first stop was at Baynoody Knitwear, Spinning & Weaving in Conception Harbor. Baynoody is a sheep farm that has been in the family since the 1600's. The owners raise the sheep, sheer the sheep dye the wool and then they spin it. Barb found two hanks of yarn that she will be...

Jun 23, 2017 - Whitehorse, Yukon

WHITEHORSE, Yukon Territory: Started up the Alaska Highway on Jun 17/17 and drove through to Fort Nelson, BC. Road pretty good and relatively flat and straight. We saw 2 deer, 2 black bears and LOTS of trees. Next day we camped at Liard River after starting back into the mountains again. Did a scenic stop at Muncho Lake – really pretty – and our wildlife spotting for the day was a buffalo, 2 female moose and a black bear. We checked out the hot springs and then after dinner Ron, Don and I walked over to the hot springs and stayed in the...

Jun 23, 2017 - Twillingate.........as pretty as it sounds

Twillingate is the gem of the central region of NFLD………..that’s what the tourist brochures told us. With this destination in mind we moved on up the line to Dildo Run Provincial Park, about 40km south of Twillingate. The stop at the visitor’s information centre at Notre Dame Junction had proven fruitful as the lady who worked there lives in Twillingate so could give us all kinds of useful tips. Most importantly to us was the condition of the road – well…..”I won’t lie to you,” she said……”there are potholes. It is doable but you have to slow...

Jun 23, 2017 - A Restful Rainy Day in Essex

Sue went out this morning for her walk though it was misting. Soon, however, the skies opened up and she scurried back to the RV. Spent most of the day just resting. After a busy week at home and two days of traveling we were beat. In the afternoon we headed out to a bank to exchange some money for Canadian. Then we went to Paul and Susan's who drove us around Windsor with its lovely parks along the river. We went to the Caesar's Casino for dinner and some gambling. It was a wonderful buffet which we managed to fit into our Weight Watchers...

Jun 23, 2017 - Wawa to Sault Ste Marie

Still beautiful driving along the north shore of Lake Superior. It was foggy this morning which apparently is common at this time of year when the air temperature warms quicker than the water. It made for some fantastic views though. I came across a sign pointing to the Agawa Rock pictographs which I thought was worth a stop. I met a couple in the parking lot who had just come back & they told me it was a pretty rough track & a bit scary to actually get to the rock art but there were other people in front of me so I gave it a go. The path...

Jun 22, 2017 - Whistler BC

We picked up our hire car - not the one Lui ordered, so I've heard about that for the last 2 full days. They upgraded our reservation to a BMW that does everything, except go to the washroom (toilet) for you and its a bloody gas sicking monster (according to Lui), anyway we managed to navigate our way out of Vancouver. Driving on the right side of the road is nerve wracking and feels bloody weird. Once we got on the road - the scenery was breathtaking! Photo's don't do it justice. Our first stop was Shannon Falls were the sign 'caution Bear...

Jun 22, 2017 - St. Antonin to Montmagny

Ride Day Eight; June 22 St. Antonin to Montmagny 8 hrs 8 min 137.1 km 636 meters of climbing Ha. So much for having a hard day of riding, tucking it into the tale book and getting back on the trail. Ha We were now along the St. Lawrence River. The wind was blowing. And we were heading into the maw. There would be no getting up early to outrun the wind. We would alter our course slightly. Rather than ride along the edge of the river and enjoy the scenic towns and vistas along the way, we would parallel the river from a ten to twenty km set...

Jun 22, 2017 - Mama bear with triplets

Mom says this is starting to sound like Greatgrandpa Hancock with weather updates and breakfast from Arizona. What can you add new when you're enjoying yourself so well, today we had a long walk and got to play ball before we ever loaded up the truck and left camp. Great pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Out of camp we saw a mama black bear and three bear cubs. In Houston we saw the world's largest fly fishing pole that would be used to catch a 200 lb steelhead. Took a short hike then Mom and Dad decided it was time to sit in the Sun so...