Shabaqua Corners to Thunder Bay

The morning was bright, the sky was blue, breakfast was very good, there was a tailwind and hard shoulders. Fitting for a birthday! Lois was particularly excited about the hard shoulder! We visited Kakabeka Falls, the “Niagara of the North”, which are quite spectacular. The falls are on the Kaministiquia Rivera, which was a major route to the northwest for the Voyageurs. The name “Kakabeka” comes from the Ojibwe word gakaabika “waterfall over a cliff”.  The rock face of the falls contains some of the oldest fossils on earth and the colour of the water reflects high concentrations of iron. We had camped at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park when travelling as a family, in 1988. We had lunch at the Metropolitan Moose in Kakabeka Falls.

After checking into our hotel in Thunder Bay, we managed to spend a few precious minutes with Tom Dignan, a colleague of Paul’s,  who was on his way to the airport.  We then took a cab  to the Marina, which is part of a large redevelopment of the downtown waterfront. Nearby is a Spirit Garden which recognizes the First Nations presence in the area. Walking around it not only gives you a sense of the relationship of peoples to the land and Lake Superior but also a view of the “Sleeping Giant”, as well as old grain elevators on the shores, reflecting the previous importance of shipping to the local economy. Another part of the development centres around the 1906 Canadian Northern Railway Station. The Baggage Building Art Centre is housed in an historic freight shed.

With a recommendation from Maritia’s friend, Maureen, we headed to The Caribou Restaurant and Wine Bar for dinner. The Lake Superior “Red Fin” Trout was outstanding.

We are looking forward to a day off tomorrow, after 9 days on the road.

Lois: 64 and I have never felt more alive! This trip is amazing!

Wildlife Notes: Broad-winged Hawk

We are on the traditional territory of the Fort William First Nation