The summer was upon us when I realized there was still a lot I wanted to do before experiencing a new season.
Our love for long road trips started many years ago. We find joy preparing a road trip, and get excitement to the max with every new adventure on the road. Having our own schedule leaves us the flexibility to adjust the plans on the go, giving us a certain freedom, especially in these pandemic times.
The story began on August 24th, 1914, when a small black bear cub was orphaned by a hunter, and brought to the Canadian Pacific Railway Train Station in White River, Ontario.
Located 95 km west of Sudbury, the town of Massey is known today for its little provincial park, named Chutes, after the chutes that used to bypass the rapids on the Aux Sables River.
We have always been fascinated by rural roads, always eager to jump in a car and go on a road trip. Even close to our home, or in a new country, I feel amazing since the moment I start planning one. This time the final destination was Manitoulin Island, with a couple of stops in Killarney Provincial Park, and French River Provincial Park.
If you have found yourself reading this post, you might be planning a road trip to Manitoulin Island. Or wanting to go after you finish reading it, as I will try to summarize what some of you might already know, plus a touch of a little bit more.
Continue readingConsidered by the locals The Beach, Providence Bay is famous for an obvious reason.
About 6 hours north from Toronto, located on a picturesque, southern side of Manitoulin Island, Providence Bay is the perfect place for a getaway. Looking upon Huron Lake, one of the Great Lakes of North America, the bay offers one of the longest sandy beaches I’ve ever seen in Ontario. Early natives, Ojibwe people called the place Bebikodawangog, which translates as ‘where the sands curve around the bay’.
First time we visited Manitoulin Island was back in 2017, when we did a road trip around Huron Lake, one of the five Great Lakes of North America. This time we decided to take more time and do a road trip around Manitoulin Island itself, searching for the island lighthouses.
Manitoulin Island is the world’s largest freshwater island, and it is considered by natives The Heart and Spirit of the Great Lakes of Canada. Home to three distinct cultures – First Nations, Francophone and Anglophone – this region has a diverse culture and a rich history. The island itself is considered sacred by the Native Anishinaabe people, who identify themselves as the People of the Three Fires.
With fond memories of our first visit to Manitoulin Island still fresh in our mind, we were not so lucky this time to book a reservation with MS Chi-Cheemaun Ferry Service, as due to Covid-19 restrictions, the passenger capacity could not exceed 50% of the vessel’s certified capacity hence we could not find spots available for our August trip.
Continue readingTrying to outsmart the rain, we left Sudbury, where we’ve had our base for four nights, quite late in the morning. Getting to French River park was an easy one-hour drive South from Sudbury (or 3.5 hrs North from Toronto).
The Visitor centre is near the highway and was closed due to covid situation, but the bridge we’ve seen from Hwy was right there, a two-minute walk, never mind the light drizzle that has just started. The lonely bridge was waiting for us: it is the best outlook point where one can admire the canyon that French river forms here.
Continue readingThe Crack
As soon as we got on the trail, I knew it. All the street noise has suddenly ceased, the only family we passed by got quiet, the silent forest enveloped us in its magic touch, and then I knew I’m going to love the place. Was it the park itself, or just my desire to get out after so much social distancing, time will say.
After a torrid month we’ve had some rain in the forecast, which made us decide to start with the most difficult day hike of the park: The Crack.
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1000 Places and Memories 