SUPER VARIO WORLD

Hello from Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake in the world, by surface area. It is so vast that more water falls into it by rain or snow than flows into it from the rivers.

When we last wrote we had just arrived at Aunty Jean’s in Toronto, where we had a lovely weekend including a big family get together on the Saturday evening. It was great for Caroline to catch up with her cousins and their ever-expanding brood – it made for a very special night.

Then it was off to Caroline’s bridesmaid, Jeannie’s, to stay a week with her and her three lovely children, who we haven’t seen for 7 years! We had a relaxing few days at her house in Toronto doing a few jobs to Bowser including a well-earned oil change.  

Jeannie spoilt us rotten, looking after us like an extra couple of teenagers. Then on Friday night we joined her family to see U2 at the Rogers Centre in their corporate box with complimentary food and drink! It was an unforgettable experience for which we will be eternally grateful. There is no way we could repay her – we’ve seen the ticket price and there really is no way we can repay her!

As if that wasn’t enough, Saturday morning, feeling slightly groggy and ears still ringing from the concert, it was off to Jeannie’s family cottage on the Lake of Bays. We say ‘cottage’ as traditionally Canadians have a small house on the lakes that are passed down through generations. This, however, was the large, modern, luxury version with facilities to rival a country club! A great weekend was had enjoying the speed boat, kayaks, tennis court, as well as swimming and fishing in the cold waters.

Needless to say we were very sad to leave Toronto, not least because we do not know when we will see our fantastic Canadian friends and family again. We were both quite emotional getting back on the road and heading West into the great unknown. By way of contrast to our 10 days of being spoilt in Toronto, that night we camped in a wet truck stop – although the fresh tea and coffee the next morning was most welcome and the staff were lovely. As a whole, everyone we’ve met has been friendly and more than willing to pass on their help and advice. Only once have we been told we can’t camp somewhere and even then we were told where we could.

Bowser has been much admired and a great ice breaker. Particularly with British expats who recognise the licence plate, or just general outdoorsy people who recognise that we are on a ‘trip’. We met a particularly lovely couple, Harold and Pat, who moved here from Lancashire back in the ‘60s, neither of whom had lost their accents but now live ‘off-grid’ in a cottage by a lake.

This week we have been driving along the North shores of Lakes Huron and Superior on the Trans Canada Highway. The scenery has been spectacular, with forests, lakes, rivers and waterfalls as far as the eye can see. We’ve stopped off at most of the towns along the way, which have ranged from quaint, picture-postcard to run-down and boarded-up. We’ve seen deer, coyote, chipmunks, loads of big birds of prey and millions of mosquitoes! The only bear so far was a statue of Winnie-the-Pooh in White River, the town where the original bear cub was bought before going to London Zoo and inspiring AA Milne. We spent one particularly nice night wild camped on the shore of Lake Superior, having a beer around a camp fire, watching the sun set.

We are now in Thunder Bay and suitably the weather has turned wet again. The forecast here looks bleak for the next few days, so we are going to head straight to Winnipeg which looks drier. It’s Canada’s 150^th birthday on Saturday and everyone will be celebrating, so we hope to join in the festivities somewhere.

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TTFN