Cross-Canada Shenanigans - Rossport to Blind River

While Rossport was nice and all, I was looking forward to this leg of the trip more than any. This stretch of the Trans-Canada has some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere in Canada. Last time Gwen and I made this trip we were driving a 26 foot Uhaul towing our car, so we couldn’t stop as much as we wanted.

This time we took our time along the way, including lunch in Lake Superior Provincial Park. As you can see, Gwen ate an entire loaf of bread:

Cross-Canada Shenanigans - Kenora to Rossport

Right, so we wake up in Kenora, after blowing off Manitoba, to this view from our hotel window:

Alas, we must move on, so after loading up on Starbucks we head east. Destination: Rossport, ON.

I’ve been around the north shore of Lake Superior a few times now, but there are two things I am constantly struck by:

1) The sheer number of small motels. I mean, can these places really survive? How much money can these places really make? And is space at such a premium that desperate families will stay at some of these dumps?

2) People traveling around here must go nuts for amethyst. I mean, there are amethyst shops, amethyst mines, amethyst themed hotels…everywhere! Is amethyst even a rare mineral?

Cross-Canada Shenanigans - Regina to Kenora

Well, sorry for the blackout. Who woulda thought it would be hard to get wi-fi north of Superior. I apologize for the double post, but I gotta catch up.

So, last we left our intrepid travelers, they were waking up after a fitful nights sleep on the worst pillows in Regina. To be honest, most of today is rather unexciting…I mean, there’s only so much of the Canadian praries as we can handle.

However, to Saskatchewan’s credit, they did have some kick ass grain elevators:

Outside of that, not much was happening. And then…in the distance…my arch enemy, Manitoba!

Cross-Canada Shenanigans - Edmonton to Regina

As Edmonton recedes in the rear view mirror of our fully loaded Ford Escape (luggage, not leather and sunroof) I can’t help but smell a whiff of regret.  No…wait…that’s the cat litter from the litterbox at the back of the car.  Never mind.  No regret.

Anyway, the first leg of our cross-country journey is complete.  Greetings from the homicide capital of Canada!  Just a tip…you might not want to stay at the Howard-Johnson’s in Regina.

Thoughts so far:

- I’m pretty sure that the Yellowhead Highway makes the surrounding part of every city it goes through look like a post-apocalyptic nightmare of concrete and big-boxes.  Edmonton, Lloydminster, Saskatoon - none come out looking pretty from the Yellowhead.

- I’m bummed we didn’t stop at the Historic Telephone Museum in Manville, AB.  That is something I’ll have wished I did when I’m on my death bed.

- Our cat stopped meowing somewhere outside of Lloydminster, thank the lord.

- Saskatchewan is kind of boring at night.  I mean, it’s not a thrill a minute in the light, but at least we could see the fields.

What’s next?  Manitoba and beyond!

BONUS GAME:  First person who can tell me where this picture is wins a prize!