The Superior Lake

Ok ok ok... Lake Superior is aptly named, I'll admit it. In fact... I'd go so far as to say it's modestly named. It is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes I have ever experienced (and as a well-travelled soul I think I get to say this with some level of authority).

Mon 13th

For those who have lost track... we're up to Monday 13th May. I spent the night on a lovely family farm, waking early as I had to put some miles on the tyres today, driving through Lake Superior Provincial Park. Y'all.... I wasn't ready for the utter beauty that this landscape provided. It was so different from what I experienced last week (which sort of heralded echo's of Europe and The Med sea with clear waters and grottos). This was...quintessentially Canada. It was the Canada you see in the movies. It was pine trees, and vast mountain-scapes, and the Lake...oh my goodness THE FREAKING LAKE. My jaw hit the floor around every corner. The drive was fun (winding) and utterly awe-inspiring. This is when I wish I was a more skilled photographer because my poor skills and iPhone camera will simply never do it justice. My drive took far longer than intended because I was pulling off at every opportunity to simply stare at the view. The vast beauty and the feelings that in inspires simply cannot be captured by a lense...I've checked, I've googled photos and nothing comes close to making you feel the way you feel when you're standing there for yourself. Friends... if you have even the slightest opportunity to visit this corner of our globe... jump with both feet.

My drive took me out the other side of the Provincial Park for the night, to stay in Wawa at a local blueberry farm and winery (super cute).

Tues 14th

I got up the next morning and headed full pelt back into the park to explore. I found an idyllic park-up by the beach, and heading into the woods for the best hike I've done so far. I was actually video messaging Laura at the time, so she got my true reaction as I hit the summit... safe to say I was gobsmacked. I may have cried. I was filled with a moment of such intense gratitude that I get to live this life, and experience these things that the tears just came bubbling up. Thank god I was alone on the trail hahaha. I spent as long as possible in the park - and yes, true to my self-imposed pact to swim in all water I come across, I did swim in the Lake. It was a little cold but I was pleasantly surprised it was nothing like The Grotto back on the Bruce Peninsula.

I headed back to my blueberry farm as the sun set, to spend the night with several other campervans, though they weren't overly friendly so no new friendships made....yet!

Wed 15th

Today was another big drive day - my ultimate goal is obviously The Rockies, so while I am heading West at a cracking pace I am trying to balance stopping to see things with getting over there as soon as possible. The drive was more of the same... in other words completely other worldly and beautiful. I stopped for lunch on a beach, with picnic tables directly on the sand next to lake, and then pressed on to my camp spot for the night. Tonights parkup was at a local Co-op, it wasn't anything to write home about but offered a safe, quiet park for my evening.

Thurs 16th

I'm going to say something totally unpredictable and unexpected...ready?... I got up and drove into another Provincial Park. Lol. This time we're meeting Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. It was a bit of a detour down a small Peninsula, but well worth it. I hiked some of it's 'shorter' trails (6-8km each) and was treated to more substantial sightings of deer (they were everywhere) and even a wolf. At first I thought it must be a coyote but as I got closer and saw it was clearly a wolf I was so surprised I almost drove off the road. Hope I don't meet one on a hike...yikes! I stayed as late as I dared in the park, before driving to a local Dairy Farm for the night - and was treated to free wifi for the evening, such a luxury ;) I had a movie night in the van to celebrate, complete with snacks, fairy lights, and face masks. My little home on wheels is starting to actually feel like home now, which is a nice feeling to have.

Fri 17th

I woke up feeling pretty worn out and exhausted, and didn't have a huge drive to my next spot, with little in the way of sight seeing in the area. Perhaps my body knew this and picked today to force me to rest. I drove to a local Walmart to park for the day. I know...so glamorous, but this is the side of long travel trips and van life that people don't talk about. It's not all amazing scenery and gorgeous drives. Sometimes you park in a Walmart parking lot for a day, where you can scab free wifi from the nearby Starbucks, use the restroom, get supplies and just.....rest.

Tonights parkup was this amazing family farm with a unique silo they have converted into a mini farm store. At night they light it up with fairy lights and it really is beautiful.

Sat 18th

Having recovered from my rest day yesterday, and in a new area with things to actually see, I ventured to Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park. The falls were amazing and I was treated to another utterly amazing hike. The river I was hiking along was only missing a bear fishing for salmon to complete the classic Canadian vista - it could have been on a postcard. It was pouring rain, but I strapped my boots on, put my raincoat on, and forced myself out into nature anyway. It was well worth it. By the time I finished my hike I was dirty, sweaty and soaking wet. I was alone in the park, so I decided to have a shower out the back of my van...despite the fact that I hadn't heated my water. I figured it couldn't be colder than any of the water I'd swum in, so I braved it and had a shower in the most beautiful place, in the pouring rain. It was actually utterly delightful. Given I'd lazed around in the van the entire day previously, I also took advantage of the local carwash and laundromat to give the van a decent clean inside and out and give myself fresh sheets and clothes.

I headed back to the little farm with the silo to sleep, getting some gifts for people back home to support their local business and my gratitude for letting me stay.

Sun 19th

Today was another drive day...very little to report to my devoted readers...I sat behind the wheel of the van for far too long...anyone got any good audiobook/podcast recommendations, please Whatsapp text them to me! I headed to Mud Lake today, staying on the property of a lovely couple who are fellow caravaners themselves and like to open their home to others on their travels. They reminded me of kind old grandparents in the movies, inviting me in for tea, and insisting that I park right by the river. I was so close to the boarder between Canada and the USA that if I spit I'd hit the USA. Their property was on the edge of a tiny river, with the USA on the other side. If you were by the river, you'd pick up USA cell towers, and if you walked to the road edge of their property you'd get Canadian. They each had 2 mobile phones - one for each country! My reception here was appaling due to this, with my phone unable to decide which country it wanted to be in. This would have been ok on any other day - I genuinely enjoy being phone-free - however being the 20th back in Australia, dad was going in for his first knee surgery, and two of the most important people in my life had small disasters (that's all I'll say here about it) and I wanted to be able to support them, and felt a little trapped and useless. Needless to say...it was a sleepless night. The rain was a nice comfort, listening to it fall on the roof of the van is so cosy when you're all snuggled up in bed, but was about to prove troublesome.

Stay tuned to find out what happened in the morning....