robanddi
Burton TX USA
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Today we drove Highway 17 from Massey to Wawa (both in Ontario). The highway for the most part is excellent and some of it brand new. However, the contrast between the terrain north of Lake Huron versus north of Lake Superior was quite noticeable. And we liked both.
North of Lake Huron is pretty flat with lots of farms and many old barns which amaze us that they are still standing. Even saw a horse and buggy going down the highway. Once we passed Sault Ste. Marie, the landscape was more dramatic with very few towns. Of course you drive thru the large Lake Superior Provincial Park and there we saw lots of signs to campgrounds and hiking trails. We got teasing glimpses of Lake Superior but there was fog (which looked more like smoke). There are lots of pull offs (for putting on snow tires?). Many of the trees are getting hints of yellow on leaf tips.
Diann
* This post was
edited 09/02/11 04:43pm by robanddi *
Robert & Diann
2001 34' Foretravel U270
2004 Avalanche
Burton TX
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Little Kopit
TheMaritimes.ca
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Diann, sent you PM.
!!!!!
Hmm, this the the area of Ontario where I had a travel job in the 70s. 130 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa.
Did you do any sites around that area, Agawa Canyon, any of the locks, St. Joseph Island?
& how about little bear later named Winne the Pooh's home town, White River?
& I, I took the road less travelled by.
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robanddi
Burton TX USA
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Did nothing but drive today!
Diann
P.S. I 'fixed' southern to ___ Ontario. I refuse to call this northern Ontario even if that's what they call it. It is on the southern border!
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portliz
Ontario
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Robanddi
We did the Lake Superior circle tour last august. There is a campground in Marathon that was wonderful. Marathon is a small town and the campground is run by the town. Full hookup, cable tv, internet and almost all pull throughs on a small lake. You can drive out to a beautiful beach on Lake Superior or go to the beach right in town. I think it was $25. There is a visitor centre on the highway outside Marathon. If you are going to Thunder Bay don't miss the Terry Fox Memorial. He was a young man who had lost a leg to cancer and was running across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He had to abandon his run in Thunder Bay due to the return of cancer which took his life. It is a beautiful memorial with an extrordinary view of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Keckabecka Falls outside Thunder Bay is well worth the drive. You can also camp there. Thunder Bay KOA is a good base to explore the area. Very nice owners. PM if you want more information. Enjoy your trip.
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scorpion
Hanmer Ontario Canada
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Robanddi
The horse and buggy you saw was probably a Mennonite. There are several colonies in the area.
The "pull-offs" are actually snow-plow turn-arounds for return passes of their area of responsibility.
Scorp.
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Supreme Oppressor
Grande Prairie, Alberta
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Quote:P.S. I 'fixed' southern to ___ Ontario. I refuse to call this northern Ontario even if that's what they call it. It is on the southern border!
As with many things in Canada, the designation is seasonal. Try the trip in the winter. The difference between north and south are very noticeable. (12" snowfall in Toronto shuts the city down: 12" in the North is considered "flurries") The Canadian Shield is really big and has an effect on climate.
I was born and raised in Elliot Lake (you passed the turn-off to it about 1/2 hour after leaving Massey). I don't get back there very often, but the Hwy-17 trip is very scenic. Enjoy your trip.
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daveB110
British Columbia, Canada
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Yes, it's now "Northern Ontario " to me, too, after trying to figure out why it was called that, for years, looking at the map (from B.C.) This after a trip two years ago found us marooned in Thunder Bay for two days after an April 1st, 40 centimetre snowfall forced us off the road. Finally back on the hwy west road was closed for the day due to a trucker's accident. The slowest going on a 17000 km 6 month trip.
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robanddi
Burton TX USA
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I must cry "Uncle" and bow to those with superior knowledge. We are in northern Ontario! (I never could understand 'upstate' New York either.) Where I'm from we have Winter Texans; I guess my husband and I will always be Summer Canadians. Y'all would not want me driving up here when it turns white. I don't do snow and I hate ice on the road!
Diann
P.S. We hope to reach Thunder Bay today and definitely plan to visit the Terry Fox memorial.
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Orion
Pacific South West
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We have done that route one time & found it very interesting, although like yourselves , we were disappointed we did not see more of lake Superior. We did not have the RV, we had to motel it and had trouble finding a reasonable place.
I was interested to see a map of Canada broken down into Biotic zones and saw that the, I think, 'Sub Arctic' zone started way up near the Yukon/Alaska border and came down diagonally across the continent and included about a hundred miles of the north shore of Lake Superior.
I was also interested to see that in one section of that route, there are NO paved roads to the north of you. You are on the most northerly route on that part of the continent.
I don't believe in astrology. I am a Gemini and
we're very skeptical.
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robanddi
Burton TX USA
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We continued west and arrived in Thunder Bay. Saw great views of Lake Superior today and our weather cooperated. The highway is excellent and there were pull offs with and without picnic tables.
We are at Chippewa Campground which is off 61 and there is only one other camper here! We have water and 50 amp and a small body of water (attached to Lake Superior, I think). There is something going on in the day area but not sure what. We are delighted with our site.
Diann
P.S. We will be leaving Canada shortly and I am already starting to miss it.
P.P.S. I saw that the highway (100 k's) were named after Terry Fox but missed the memorial!
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