Sometime between the first and second COVID-19 lockdowns, we packed up the van and drove north. Our destination was Neys Provincial Park on the northern shores of Lake Superior. It was the furthest we have ever been in Ontario.
I made a video of our trip and I encourage you to watch it on YouTube. :-)
First contact with Lake Superior was at Pancake Bay Provincial Park where we met up with my sister and her family.
We walked along the shore and dipped our feet in the water expecting it to be bone chilling cold but it wasn't that bad. We then continued on Trans Canada Highway, stopping at the Alona Bay lookout point next.
It was our first glimpse of the grandeur and ruggedness of the shores surrounding the lake. Truly breathtaking!
We walked along the shore and dipped our feet in the water expecting it to be bone chilling cold but it wasn't that bad. We then continued on Trans Canada Highway, stopping at the Alona Bay lookout point next.
It was our first glimpse of the grandeur and ruggedness of the shores surrounding the lake. Truly breathtaking!
Pancake Bay Provincial Park
Alona Bay
We then stopped at the picturesque Katherine Cove within Lake Superior Provincial Park.
It is along the Group of Seven driving tour around the northern shore of the lake.
It is along the Group of Seven driving tour around the northern shore of the lake.
After hanging out at Katherine Cove, we continued our drive north through Lake Superior Provincial Park. The next stop was the majestic Old Woman Bay.
We made a promise to come here for at least a week next year and pushed on, driving past Wawa, Pukaskwa National Park, Marathon, finally arriving at our final destination - Neys Provincial Park. By then, we've covered about 1200 km and we were still about 800 km away from Manitoba's border. Ontario is huge!
We survived a thunderstorm on our first night. Our tent and tarp - not so much.
Jungle of the north.
Our group of avid campers and glampers.
New tech meets old tech meets nature.
Living, breathing forest.
In a way, we were lucky there was a thunderstorm and a downpour at night. The forest came alive with vegetation, color, and the smell of fresh northern air (a bit musky).
I last experienced this in the tropics (Ecuadorian jungle and on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica).
It was unbelievable - a treat to the senses.
I last experienced this in the tropics (Ecuadorian jungle and on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica).
It was unbelievable - a treat to the senses.
Once the sun came out, we acclimatized ourselves with the surroundings, and decided to start exploring the park.
We checked out the heritage museum and learned that Neys was once the site of the former "Camp 100" which housed high-taking German officer POW's during World War 2.
A short hike towards the shoreline brought us to the stunning Prisoner's Cove.
We checked out the heritage museum and learned that Neys was once the site of the former "Camp 100" which housed high-taking German officer POW's during World War 2.
A short hike towards the shoreline brought us to the stunning Prisoner's Cove.
We returned to the beach just before sunset. The hope was that sun and higher temps during the day would have warmed the lake and make it swimmable. Not so! Big lake! The water was very clean but super icy. We decided we needed more time before going for a dip.
A stunning sunset just before our campfire.
The next day after breakfast, Matthew became our first swimmer. The rest of us relaxed on a giant rock which was nicely warmed by the sun.
After lunch, we drove to the town of Marathon, stopping by at the lookout point overlooking the park.
One of the main attractions of Marathon is Pebble Beach.
CN train delivering goods from the west coast to Southern Ontario.
With nothing but sun in the forecast the next day, we drove in the opposite direction towards Terrace Bay. The first attraction were the Aguasabon Falls & Gorge and then we hiked the Casque Isles Hiking Trail towards the shore. By now it was getting pretty warm and our troopers were getting a little tired.
The trail ended on a sandy beach in Terrace Bay.
Terrace Bay lighthouse
View of the pulp mill
After dinner, the kids wanted to try some fishing, but, as I later found out from a local park guide, we'd have to come back in early fall.
Our next day trip was to Pukaskwa National Park. We hiked the Southern Headland Trail from the Visitor Center to one of the pristine beaches. I guess I'll let my photos tell that story as I would just keep repeating myself; beautiful expansive scenery, fresh air, perfect weather - by now a familiar theme of our trip.
Our last day together with my sister's family was spent relaxing on the beach. By now we were used to the water temperature and went for a refreshing swim. We also went on a short trail and enjoyed the sunset contemplating nature, our work-life balance, and other life priorities. We said our goodbyes and went to bed. Something else I should mention - sleeping and napping up north is very restful.
Last day. I wish we could have stayed longer but as the saying goes...all good things must come to an end.
For our final day trip, we drove towards Marathon, looking for Carden Cove Beach.
For our final day trip, we drove towards Marathon, looking for Carden Cove Beach.
TO BE CONTINUED
The happy mule. Alicia on my shoulders, camera bag, camera, GoPro.
