Post - Posting

OK.  I confess.  I'm sure anyone who has been watching this blog has figured out that I've been post dating entries for the past couple of weeks.  When I started this process a couple of years back, I clearly stated no intention of being current, accurate, or otherwise responsible for any of the rambling content.  I've since proven that I pretty much as lazy as I suspected I might become.   So, in the interest of bringing this trip to a close, I'm going to crash through the last several days of the venture.

Nothing terribly exciting took place on this final leg and there were only a limited number of occurrences worthy of snarky comments.  (However, I will not let them pass.)

The last post left us over-nighting at Voyager Provincial Park just west of Ottawa Ontario.  Contrary to my preconceived prejudices, Quebec had turned out to be an enjoyable cultural experience and has even led me to explore the early history of the French presence in eastern Canada.

Moving into Ontario did however bring the comfort of being able to read the road signs a bit better.  And the feel of the countryside became more like "home", but with a certain frontier outpost sort of feel.  The run to Sault Saint Marie, (with an overnight in Sudbury Ontario), was a day and a half at our typically slow pace and the scenery, while not dramatic, was still pleasant.  A lot of woodlands and clear blue sky and lakes,

Sault Saint Marie Crossing

About mid-day we re-entered the US.  This is obviously NOT a flamboyant entry point.  No "Welcome to the United States" signs or waving flags.  You are greeted by a no-neck kinda guy with fu-manchu and a 2-day growth in a drab, no-nonsense grey uniform.  No smile, no welcome home, just that disinterested, (but not really), look that says without saying,  "You got any IED's in that rig?"   A look that probably derives from being too many months in places where that is a very relevant question.




Aside from the 500 lbs of Canadian rocks, we
had very little to declare at customs so we were on our way to Pictured Rocks National Seashore without further ado.









Now I have to say coming "home" via the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a little like coming home via Kazakstan.  Da Yoo-Pers, (as they refer to themselves), do speak a form of English in the presence of foreigners, (Fudgies).  I suspect however that in our absence, conversation is a series of grunts and growls interspersed with adopted words like "beer" and "fish", preceded by dem and de and always proceeded by Eh!,   They eat things like Cudighi and Pastys and have Quill Pigs for pets.

At a local bistro called the Bear Trap, out of curiosity I did order a Pasty, not sure that being a good idea in front of Val.  To my chagrin, it turns out the word is pronounced with a short "a", not a long one.  In any case, what I got probably tasted better than what I thought I might get.   The ATV guys sittin' nearby undoubtedly got a chuckle out of that.  All-in-all, the culture was more exotic, but substantially less sophisticated, than French Quebec.  And you can be DAMN sure they don't have sassy chickens.



A day at Pictured Rocks and a 28 mile bike ride (up hill both ways) in Minoqua, WI literally finished us off.  Head for home and the fun of cleaning out the Funmobile after 31 days and 5,964 miles.

Bear Skin Bike Trail Minoqua WI

FINALLY A @%@~#%^ MOOSE

I always feel a little guilty about babbling along about our trips but we enjoy sharing our experiences and thoughts.  It's not high adventure, but it is now a major part of our lives.

Love You All

Brad & Valerie

Good Night From Downers Grove

No, No, I'm Not Ready To Go Back!

Today is the official "turn-around-and-head-for-home" day.  However, this is the first vacation trip I've ever taken where the turnaround point didn't generate the same response you get from a stable nag when you turn her for the barn.

In my past life it would have meant a 24+ hour marathon drive to get back to the office and deal with two weeks of neglected tasks.  To  be sure, there are a stack of things needing attention.  It's just that the urgency isn't the same as it used to be.

So instead of the minimum-stop run, we start the day at 9:30 and make a short back-track to St Anne's Canyon.

BUT - - - I must first relate last night's camping experience.  Since the previous day's activities were totally ad-hoc, I didn't try choosing a camping spot until late in the afternoon.  There being no parks along the route, I just pulled an RV campground out of my .... book... and hoped for the best. Named "Camping du Lac Something" it sounded decent.

As my trusty GPS said I was there, the only thing that appeared was what looked like a conventional trailer park.

After "discussion" with a guy who spoke English worse than I spoke French, I was assured this was Camping du Lac Something and that it was a very fine place.  As I followed the gentleman to our assigned spot, what had appeared to be a trailer park was in fact a trailer park.

Now Val and I spent the first year of our marriage as trailer trash, so we know it when we see it. Except this particular establishment had the added attraction of on-site entertainment.  It being Labor Day weekend, there was an all-hands party being held two sites away from where we were to park for the night.  Picnic tables lined up with pot-luck dining AND A LIVE BAND!

After endless crowd chants of "plus, plus, plus" at the end of each rendition of Proud Mary, The Macarena, You shook Me All Night Long and other timeless favorites, the crowd finally died from exhaustion about midnight.  My temptation was to just lay on the horn as we left in the morning.

Anyway, back to Canyon du St Anne.  Shortly after leaving the previous night's accommodations, about 1/2 mile back up the road we came in on, we pass a sign "Bienvenue a Camping du Lac Flambeau", which is really a quite attractive municipal campground only about 1/4 full.  I won't comment on my comments.

Although a privately owned attraction, St Anne's Canyon turned out to be quite spectacular in spite of the giant sized statues of bears, wolves, and woodpeckers (???)

OK.  You're probably right.
It's time to send him home now.

 
The falls are awesome, but access is a bit challenging.

The gorge contains a 150 foot cascading waterfall and is crossed three times with suspension bridges.  Not a large attraction, but well worth the stop.

From St Anne's, the drive continues west along the north shore of the St Lawrence with numerous quaint small towns until you approach Quebec City.  Fortunately it started to rain heavily so I had a ready made excuse not to venture into old QC winding streets in the 24 foot beast.  Unfortunately, the entire population of Montreal and Ottawa was returning from Quebec along with us on this last afternoon of the holiday weekend.

As if to apologized for the less than peaceful stop last night, our campsite at the mostly empty Voyager Provincial Park in Ontario with a beautiful double rainbow over the pond outside our back window.

Goodnight from Voyager Provincial Park, Ontario.

From France To Norway

Can Moose Swim?

Labor Day weekend of Saturday and Sunday found us moving inland from Tadoussac through Saguenay National Park.  This large waterway stretching some 70 - 80 miles from the St Lawrence into the interior of Quebec Provence is technically a fjord.  Although puny by comparison to the fjords experienced by the Lichon family on their recent Scandinavian trip, it never-the-less was magnificent with crystal clear blue water, endless forests and towering cliffs.



                                                                     

It's OK Hon.  I PROMISE not to
jump up and down on the bridge.

Ha Ha  - Kings X

p

Are We Still Friends?

Guess who found the only snake
in Canada?

For our last venture into the wilds of Quebec "we" chose a trail leading from Riviere du Enternity out around the headland figuring there would probably be a nice view of the fjord.  The map showed it following very close to the shore so a lot of nice places to dunk you feet in the water.

The trail follows the estuary for the first couple of km.

Then starts to climb to 180 meters

Then to 280 meters

Then to 380 meters.
ALL FOR A SWINGSET?

Turns out the trail was probably only 40-50 feet in from the shore most of the time, but your legs would need to be 1,000 feet long to dip you toes in the fjord.

Ran out of time, so back down the hill.

 By mid-day we made if back to the St Lawrence and began the quest for overnight stop.

Good night from Saguenay

Rounding The Horn And Heading West

Well, we've gone as far east as you can go without a boat so we are heading back west, albeit by a somewhat circuitous route.  Poking around in various towns, some hiking, (and sacking in late), make it a 2-day trip to the next major stop, Saguenay National Park.  Following the north shore of the Gaspe Penninsula from Forillon west to Riviere du Loup, Then crossing the St Lawrence by ferry, and then back west a bit to Tadoussac, bring view after view of the rugged coast and sleepy towns against the massive St Lawrence Gulf/River.

Trying to make me jealous

The highlight of this leg of the trip was on the ferry ride across the St Lawrence when we spotted a whale about 400 yards away.  It surfaced about 6 times.  No big show, but an added attraction to the ride.  People pay big money for a whale watching cruise.  We paid big money too, but got the Funmobile across the river included in the price.

Good Night From Tadoussac

Death March to Forillon Point Lighthouse

FORILLON NATIONAL PARK

Looks Like A Porpoise?

Today's objective is to recreate the historic DEATH MARCH TO FORILLON LIGHTHOUSE.  For those who've never heard of that event, it took place in this exact same spot some 25 (+/-) years ago on a fiercely hot, sunny day in late July.

Participating were yours truly, Valerie, and two mid-teen aged daughters, (not attending the reenactment),  both of whom would rather have been ANYPLACE but at this God Forsaken ends of the earth.  I would like to say they toughed out without complaint, but that would not be entirely accurate.  "Open Revolt" might be a better description.

Urged on by the promise of whales and the now time honored response of "..just over the next hill and around the next bend...", both made it to the end.  There were NO whales, and it certainly was more than one more hill and bend.  A father's credibility was destroyed in the course of that afternoon.

(No lie - it WAS a b...ch.)

Wonderfully, the original gravel road has now been mostly replaced by a beautiful trail and 25 years of tree growth and high 60's temps have significantly improved the experience.

Stairs To The Beach (Ha Ha)

Porky #2 of 6

This part of the "trail" has NOT changed.

Nor has the view from the top.

I would also add that this piece of trail was added to the American end of the Appalachian Trail and dubbed as the Sentiers International des Appalaches (International Appalachian Trail).  So technically, we have walked to the end of the Appalachian Trail and back.

Since we finished up by mid-afternoon we decided to drive to the north side of the park to check it out.  We were told that moose were often seen on the drive at dusk, so we hiked a beach for a while and then parked at a lighthouse overlook for dinner to kill time.  Unfortunately, since I forgot to turn the headlights off, we also killed the battery.  Oh well, I'll get my money's worth out of the RV Road Repair Service I subscribed to.

The tiny dots in the background are seal heads.
It was a little creepy having them eye-ballin' you.
Sorta like JAWS with flippers.

Dinner VIEW at the "Lights Out" Roadside Restaurant

So it was a little late to see moose on the drive back unless it was as it crashed through the windshield.

Goodnight From Forillon Day 2