Innocents in La Belle Provence

2011 06 24 to Melbourne QC N 45 39.295' W072 09.750'

Havelock Township Hall built 1868
Now administering an intersection of two regional roads with a Gaz Station and a Fruit Stand.

Build in stone. It lasts.

Fete de Quebec at Melbourne Campsite

Conveniently dated just before Canada Day to exhaust a) Fireworks arsenals, b) beer supplies, and c) the Quebecois so avoiding any pesky outbreaks of national unity on July 1st. We literally get the last available spot because of a cancellation. Our neighbours kindly hung the flag to show our solidarity inspite of our BC plates. When conversation`s broke out, I looked fierce and said "Wai" and "Noon" alternately. We were allowed to live.

 

2011 06 25 to Montmagny N46 56.968' W070 39.659'

In the Museum at Kamouraska a whole exhibit devoted to Adolphe-Basile Routhier who wrote the our National Anthem.

 2011 06 26 to Ste-Flavie N48 35.476' W068 16.504'

Starting Around Gaspie: There are two classes of traveller, clockwise and counterclockwise.

At Saint-Flavie we stayed in a combination Campground and Lobster restaurant right on the beach looking across the St-Laurence. Don't know why they advertise their Homard (Lobster) as "Poison", but mighty tasty.

EsDora continues to find a series of scenic waterfront campsites.

Observe that there is so much coast and so few people along the Gaspie that waterfront is not at a premium.
 

The beach consists of the basement of the Apalachian Mountains which were laid down as sediment in a shallow sea when Europe and North America were joined, thrust up by continental drift, folded and then ground flat by glaciation. A whole geology lesson at low tide.

Meanwhile, a whole sub industry collecting beach glass is underway.

I'm never going to be able to explain this to Quebec Customs.

2011 06 28 to Mont-Louis N49 14.206' W065 43.130'

The road follows the coast in places with warning signs noting the possibility of you and your vehicle being washed out to sea.

Later that day:

Carolyn studies up on Animal Husbandry.

Our reading material is swapped at RV park offices.

2011 06 29 to Forillon National Parc N48 49.632' W064 13.402'

Forillon National Park is at the east end of Gaspe

Even the seagulls are getting Lobster Dinners.

Through Ontario to Quebec

2011 06 20 to Morning Mist Resort N46 11.90'1 W077 52.595'

Highway 17 is rock and water.

And flowers.

Sometimes in Flower Beds.

At Morning Mist Resort, there were many examples of Ant Architecture. Ever notice that Ants build the same design no matter where they are?

At Sudbury, we checked for spare change:

What this country needs is a good Five Cent Nickel.

Sudbury is a city built in an Asteroid crater:

Made such a big hole in the planet that all kinds of minerals splashed out.

But we'll think no more of Inco...

Which way to Ottawa?

2011 06 21 to Ottawa N45 19.195' W75 51.916'

The nation's Capital, or at least where a lot of the nation's capital is sent...

We were greeted by more cousins who also fed and washed us. Every time we see a relative after weeks in EsDora, for some reason, they want us laundered. Then off for a whirlwind tour of Ottawa.

Val & Denny establishing the ground rules.


2011 06 22 to Lyn (Coordinates Unknown)

As we were close to my sisters', why not cadge a night in her driveway? The trusty GPS got us near and then crapped out. After several U turns in the narrow strees of the ancient village of Lyn and a frantic phone call to the west coast, we arrived. Turns out Jane had deprogrammed her address, the only place in all the degrees of Canada where the GPS lady won't go.

And further more, the tree was full of angry starlings that hollered at us all night!


2011 06 23 to Cornwall (Coordinates not taken)

In Brockville, found a really good used book store that meandered through attics and basements. A good haul of Pelicans.

Toured along the north shore of the St. Lawrence, past about 1000 Islands with New York state in the background.

It's a working River.

That night, near Cornwall and the Quebec border....

Let me see that picture on the box again...

INTO ONTARI-ARI-ARIO

2011 06 11 To Falcon Lake N49° 41.018’ W095° 19.529’

Stopping at the Manitoba - Ontario border puts us where our 2009 trip ended eastward progress. To commemorate our adventure into new territory, a giant meteor fell out of the sky and made a big dent. It’s been raining so the hole is called West Hawk Lake. This celestial punctuation mark is right where the Trans Canada Highway crosses into Ontario. Luckily we were camped at the west end of Falcon Lake. Missed EsDora by a few kilometres and 100 million years.

2011 06 12 At Falcon Lake

Some days and places are so delicious that we can't be bothered to move.

Our Neighbour

Let’s Have Dinner Out Tonight

Wash Day

2011 06 13 To Fort Francis N48° 36.539” W093° 25.191’

Carolyn found her birth family a few years ago.

At the Devlin Cemetary

Carolyn Finds a Grandmother and Aunt Elly. Carolyn and her Aunt Ellly had corresponded for a few months.

Carolyn’s Grandmother Nellie Sophia Roulston from a family history in the Fort Francis Library. She had 10 babies in 12 years and died at the age of 33.

More crochet floral arrangements are left behind.

In Ontario so far we've spotted three bears, two mother grouse with flocks of chicks, deer, rabbits and several moose, including this one:

2011 06 14 To West Clearwater Lake N48° 57.683’ W092° 00.791’

EsDora’s Waterfront Property

Look Out for a One-Legged Bare Foot Guy

Awwwe: OK OK No More Sunset Pix

2011 06 15 To Thunder Bay N48° 22.805’ W089° 17.988’

EsDora Shared the Road with This

All Downhill from Here

Kakabeka Falls:

Tried to convince a tourist that this was Niagara Falls and he could go home now... See, look, there’s Goat Island.



Excuse Me, Where Do I Find the Used Book Store?

2011 06 16 To Nipigon N49° 00.676 W088° 19.251’

On Highway 17:

At Terrace Bay I find a book about Trudeau with somebody’s snapshots of him inside:

Same Yellow Jacket

Find this Fire Suppression Crew at Terrace Bay Beach. They were polite but their eyes rolled just a leettle when I described how Bob Bailey and I used to stamp out flaming ducks with just a hard hat and a pevee back in Ought Sixty Six.

2011 06 18 To Sault Ste Marie N46° 35.945 W 084° 17.717’

Stephen King’s next block buster novel is being advertised all along Highway 17:

Monarch of Highway 17...with a Butterfly

To be continued, on to Lake Tamiskaming...

2011 06 19 To Sudbury N46° 26.027’ W080° 55.063’

Domestic Arrangements

Lake Richard

Now Kadulski is having geographical features named after him.

Goosed

There is an entire trip to be made visiting Canada's "superlatives" Which came first, the Wawa Goose or the Vegraville Egg?

There is Amethyst all over the place.

Old Dog Learns New Trick

2011 06 17 To Wawa N47° 58.876’ W084° 48.131’

White River is where a certain Bear named “Winnie” came from. Disney's copywright is acknowledged. Heavens to AA Milne!

Practical Father’s Day Present. One Size Fits All