OPP Out in Full Force

June 20th 


2956 km’s into our adventure and so far so good.  In fact, we could say it has been better than good.  The kids have been traveling well, we’ve seen and learned quite a bit about Ontario although we know now after traveling for a week that this Province is big.... really big.

At the Chutes Provincial Park

Last evening we arrived at the Chutes Provincial Park in Massey and what a beautiful park.  Because it is early in the season, the entrance and admission to the park was on the honor system and you had to fill out a form and drop it into a locked box.  After putting up the tent, which we now have down to an art form with everyone pitching in with their specific jobs, we went for a hike to the “chutes.”  These were a beautiful set of cascading water falls that showed the power of flowing water.  The kids enjoyed dropping little stones into the water and watching them disappear into the bubbling white water as it crashed against the rocks below.  You could hear the waterfalls back at our tent site which was nice to go to sleep with.

We experienced our first rain shower through the night though it only lasted 15 minutes or so and thanks for the warm overnight weather the tent was almost completely dry when we woke up in the morning.  Once we got everything packed we were on our way to Sault St. Marie.  It was a quiet drive this morning and we arrived just before lunch, and then had to do a bit of running around.  Natalie had exhausted her pile of books so she wanted to pick up a few more with the gift cards she received for her birthday.  

We then stopped at a lovely waterside park where we had lunch.  This time it was the seagulls (rather than the raccoon) who were interested in our food.  They circled our table the entire time we ate in hopes of a scrap.... but they weren’t getting any from us.

After a decent break, we headed out again for what we knew was going to be a long afternoon.  There are very few large communities between Sault St. Marie and Thunder Bay and we were going to try and knock off as much of it as we could.  The landscape was very interesting with lots of trees, water ways, lakes and the occasional waterfall.  We were also lucky enough to spot a baby bear on the side of the road and two moose.  

Just after we passed Wawa, home of the World’s largest goose, we saw a sign that said highway closed ahead.  After arriving in White Lake we were advised that we couldn’t go any further than Marathon because there had been an accident.  Once in Marathon, the lady at the grocery store told us that a person who was flagging at a construction site was killed when a man who had stolen a car drove them over.  What a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to this person's family.  Although we don’t know who they are we know that a lot people’s lives were changed in that one instant.

Natalie reading by camp light.

We got word around 6:00 pm that the highway was opened again and we decided to continue to our next campground - Rainbow Falls.  As we traveled we went through three police check points where the police were showing us a photo of the person they were looking for because apparently after the person crashed his car into the construction site he fled into the bushes as was still at large.  The kids had lots of questions about this entire situation and were providing their thoughts on how to apprehend the fugitive.  There was a pile of OPP cars and SUV’s patroling the road and we were told that a team of dogs were also searching the woods.  Just before bed Natalie hoped that the man was caught and I’m pretty sure Tanya was thinking the same thing but just not saying it.  For the sake of the family and community affected, I hope the man is caught as well.

Anyhow, everyone is tucked into bed, the children are sleeping soundly and it is time for me to shut down the computer.  Tomorrow we head to Thunder Bay and start our second week of traveling.  Thanks to all those following our blog and the children really appreciate the notes.  If you have any suggestions for things to see and do in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC, send them along.  We have some things identified but the more ideas we have the better.

Later,

Francois