Ontario to Thunder Bay

This was another great day. Cool temperatures, 60 and highs in the 80's. We are still on route 11 going to route 17 through Thunder Bay. The drive down here was so beautiful. There was an interesting drive to a amethyst quarry. The mine was established in 1860 as the largest amethyst deposit in North America. It was discovered in 1955 as the result of a road being built to the forest fire lookout tower. We drove about 7 miles on a dirt road with the trailer but all went well. It was hard to dig since they would not let us use a shovel...just a piece of metal bar that could only scratch the surface of the dried talus. It was still fun and we found $26 worth of scrap.
Interesting fact...Ontario's southern boarder has shoreline along 4 of the 5 great lakes...Ontario, Huron, Superior, and Erie.
Gene had a little excitement when we took the wrong turn and ended up on a dead end street. He was pulling the trailer and could not turn around. Until he asked one of the people on the street if he could use his driveway to back into and then all was well. No street sign indicating a dead end.

Ontario, July 8

It is a very scenic drive. Camped in the woods at Wild Goose Lake with the lake below us. Pulp wood stacked by the train tracks. I also notice a mine that is mining for gold and molybdenum. The main sorce of income in the area is lumber, mining and railroading.

Ontario July 7

Note the houses on the little islands. There are more large lake & streams in this part of Canada than I have ever seen.

Ontario

Ontario

July 7, 2010

I am writing from Ontario, Canada. The signs are in both English & French. We both remember when Quebec voted to keep French as there main language but I felt they were not welcoming to travelers. We saw the Quebec flag but rarely the Canadian flag. I would have liked to stop at a Mineral museum but felt that the signs would be in French, so we did not even try. There were many mines & logging roads all along rte. 117.
As soon as we entered Ontario every sign was in both French & English and it was much more welcoming.
The country side is beautiful with rolling hills, lakes and trees. Although Ontario seems flatter. We pulled over at the rest area that had a sign for the Atlantic water shed and Arctic water shed. Then we went to a campground and the owner was very friendly. We got the last space…right on the water and our neighbor came right over and introduced himself. His wife said the family left Quebec in the 1700 and she understands why. I expressed my feelings and she validated them.

Quebec

Quebec