Day 20 - Another Day, Another Province, Another Time Zone - Hello Ontario

We wake up very early with an alarm clock!  Don't miss that from my working days.  Up at 6 am and we are on the road at 7 am!

It is a Saturday morning and it is quiet on the roads.  

We have a long day of travel and we did not have a lot of options.  There is not a whole lot of places to stop and stay at between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay that we are interested in.  So we have an 8 hour day of travel today.

The Ontario boarder is only a few hours away and we stop to take pictures.  

Ontario has a special spot in my heart.  I was born in Ontario - Kitchener, Ontario to be exact quite a few years ago.  However I moved away when I was only 3 years old.  My Mom did move us back here in the 70s but again not for very long.

You can see how different the landscape is here. And it is now down to single lane traffic with the occasional passing lane.  Speed limit is at 90 km too! That is 20 km less than what we are use to.  It is slow, and thankfully there is not too much traffic.

After 4.5 hours we stop in Kenora for lunch at this small bakery/diner.  The food was good and home cooked. But check out their restaurant system!  I think it is from the 80s and still working - must take forever to update!

I decide to drive from here as I need something to keep myself busy.  As a passenger I just get too bored!  I should state now that Bernie has been doing most of the driving, around 90% of the driving.  It works for us, he loves to drive and I love to take pictures, research and report on the towns we are passing thru, navigate and control the GPS and research places to eat at.  

Now Bernie is the navigator and he is falling asleep!  I am jealous!  He tries really hard to navigate and locate a place for dinner tonight and use the GPS but he struggles!  So I know that tomorrow we will be back to me being the passenger and Bernie doing what he does best - drive.

I should let you all know now that even though we are happily married we have had struggles in the car at times.  Thankfully we know each so well and one takes the load when the other needs a lift.  For example today I am tired and grumpy and Bernie stops for a coffee and buys me a latte.  It worked. 

Oh but neither of us likes each other's choice of music so sometimes it is difficult to pick what to listen to.  Often we travel with no music.

We have been enjoying listening to the radio from the various towns.  I also download a lot of podcasts and have been listening to them along the way.  Bernie is now hooked on Cruise Radio!

We pull into Thunder Bay at around 4:30 pm.  We are staying the next two nights at the Hampton Inn and Suites, a brand new hotel here.  The room is lovely and well appointed and lots of space.

Oh and our clocks were moved forward an hour too today!

I should point out now that we usually plan a few days in advance, sometimes up to a week ahead. Like right now, we know we are in Thunder Bay for two nights as the drive was so darn long and the next leg is long to Sault Ste Marie so we opted to take a day to rest in between and see some sights here.

We are meeting up with a friend in Ottawa and wanted to be there for the weekend so that determined the pace from here to Ottawa.  Nothing is booked after we leave here until Ottawa but we will review our options probably tomorrow.

I check out sites like Kayak, Trip Advisor and even the cities' web page for options.  I then compare prices on a few sites.  For example this hotel was cheaper thru Booking.com, around $30 total cheaper.  Even cheaper than the hotel's own website.

You can see immediately that Ontario is in the midst of a Provincial Election that will take place June 7th and right away we are seeing lots of campaign posters.

After checking in we relax for about an hour while Bernie is tackling Yelp to see some restaurant recommendations.  I have to say Yelp has been the best and most used App for us.  Because it shows most restaurants that the restaurant does not have to pay for ad space and of all types and shows honest reviews.  So far we have not been disappointed.

Bernie chose the restaurant tonight called El Tres!  I would share their website but it really has nothing on it.  The link above will take you to their Facebook page.  A Mexican Restaurant in Thunder Bay.

It is busy in here but we take two seats at the Bar.  Which was a good option because the bartenders were very interesting to watch.   We order drinks!  I am enjoying 

We order a cheese queso dip and an Empanada (yes that whole dish has one empanada in it) and guacamole and shared. It was so darn good!  And the drinks were so yummy too.

Check out all their hot sauces

We are back at the hotel.  I am going to get this blog posted and then we are going to watch tv then crash.  

Oh I forgot to add that we saw an old VW Bug, but it was part of some artwork.  It was up high, painted and had six steel legs coming out of it that kept it up in the air.  It looked like a BIG BUG!  I did not have the camera out and sorry I missed the picture because it sure was funny.

People have also asked me about gas prices.  Let me refer to Bernie as he keeps track.  The cheapest gas we saw was in Saskatchewan at $1.25 a litre, Highest was in Ontario today at $1.35.   Still cheaper than Vancouver that is around $1.60. 

Thanks everyone for all the lovely comments.  It is wonderful to hear how people are reading my blog each day.  Some have commented how they have learned things about our Country.  Many have said they have always wanted to do a trip like this and love following.  Others from all over the world are impressed with what Canada has to offer.

Here is our scavenger hunt list today:

• Moose
• Deer
• Hitchhiker
• Eagle/Hawk
• Licence plates from every Province in Canada - but you can not count the province you are in.  So if we see an Alberta plate in BC then it counts, but not if we are in Alberta. British Columbia  Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon, and North West Territory
• Skunk - saw a dead one
• Sheep
• Beaver
• Goslings
• Buffalo
• Goat
• Owl
• Bear
• Loon
• Crane
• Prairie Dog
• Fisherman fishing
• Canoe
• Hummingbird
• Antique car on the road
• Old VW Bug
• Car broken down on the side of the road
• Helicopter on the ground
• Airplane on the ground
• Speeding ticket- hopefully not our own
• Ambulance with sirens on
• Dump truck
• Line painting crew at work
• Mail delivery person walking their route
• Cruise Ship 
• Coyote 
• RCMP officer
• Hop on Hop off Bus
• Sea Glass
• Lobster

If you have any items you think we should add to our scavenger hunt list, let us know.

So Today's Stats 
Driving distance today 700 km 
Total distance 5420 km

Thanks for following. 

Day 19 - A Loonie for Your Thoughts at the Canadian Mint

You know I never would of thought about visiting the Canadian Mint but Bernie was really into it.  And since marriage is all about give and take we went.

The Winnipeg Canada Mint was built just over 40 years ago.  As you approach you see tons of flags flying high.  We later learn that these flags represent all the countries that this Mint makes coins for.  Yes!  65% of the coins produced here are made for other countries.  Only 35% are Canadian coins - our nickle, dime, quarter, loonie and toonie that are in circulation.  The Ottawa Mint makes all the decorative memorable coins.

We arrive and pay the fee to do a tour.  Note you should call to reserve a spot in a tour ahead of time but we did not but were able to join a tour at 11 am.  They should make it possible to book their tours thru their website.

Until the tour we wander around the gift shop and take some pictures.

Check out this gold bar!  This gold bar is worth $750,000!  We were able to lift it to feel it's weight (note there was a lot of security) and it was darn heavy.

The Canadian Mint also produced the Olympic medals for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010.

Bernie asks about the toonie that has the Northern Lights that actually appear in the dark.  Sadly they do not have anymore.  We continue to chat about where we are from and what we are doing.

A woman (we find out later her name is Tracy) overhears and comes over and says she has one.  The coin is in circulation and she happened to get one in her change and just kept it to the side.  She offered it to us for another toonie.  

Isn't this so special.  This is why we love travelling - connecting with people.  Thanks Tracy!

We did end up buying a coin called - The Great Trail to commemorate our cross Canada trip.  Here is a link to the coin. 

While waiting I sit on a bench and chat with this couple who I find out live in Winnipeg but are from Zimbabwe, Africa. We pick their brain about visiting Zimbabwe as we hope to get there this Fall.

The tour starts and we are not allowed to take pictures.  But I sure learned a lot.  

I highly recommend that if anyone is coming to Winnipeg you should make sure to visit the Canadian Mint.  

Here is a picture I found online that represents our coins - note we not longer have pennies in circulation.

Did you know that the initial loonie coin was not actually suppose to have a loon on the coin?  The original design was suppose to be a voyageur in a canoe but those plates got lost so they went to the loon to make sure it was produced on time.

Across the river you see the Human Rights Museum on left

After the Mint we went to St. Boniface Cathedral and Museum.  The museum is small but filled with tons of information!

A large exhibit about Louis Riel.  Louis Riel was born on the Red River in 1844 as the oldest of a large family.  When the Canadian Dominion was formed in 1867 they wanted to settle this land and started selling off parcels.  But no one consulted with the Metis who had settled here a long time ago.

When the government came to survey the lands Riel and a group of Metis challenged them.  Louis Riel who spoke both English and French quickly emerged as a leader.  

Negotiations began and a settlement was reached; however the government saw Riel and the Metis' actions as act of treason against the government.  Even though Riel was elected numerous times to Canadian Government he was never able to take a leading role in the formation of the new Province of Manitoba.  

He was forced to flee and went to the US and even after he was pardoned he ended up staying away for five years until the Battle of Batoche which we visited while in Saskatoon.  You can read all about it here. 

After the battle of Batoche and Riel was captured he was held to stand trial for treason.  He was found guilty and hung.  

Here is his actual coffin that he was transported in initially but was buried in a different one.  Sorry it is not in focus.

We visit the cemetery where Riel is buried.  Also the beautiful St. Boniface Church.  There have been many churches on this site but the stone one that burned down in 1968 is still visible with the newer smaller one seen just inside.

After all this we are ready for lunch.  We visit the Red Roof 
Diner as it was featured on the show "You Gotta Eat Here".  It was quite good.  We end up ordering take out for our dinner tonight.

I then steer Bernie to a bakery called Baked Expections that our friend Megan recommended.  Yup this is my kind of place.  We each get a piece of dessert to go for dessert tonight.  Bernie got key lime pie and I got the salted caramel chocolate cake. 

this is their box - too cute

Back at the apartment around 3:30 and we do a load of wash, make reservations for the next two nights and coordinate some plans for the next week.  We are excited to see Dave and Pat in Sault Ste Marie.

Later we heat up some spaghetti that we got from take out and we open a bottle of wine and top it off with some amazing dessert.

We are aiming to be on the road by 8 am tomorrow.  It will be a long day of driving to Thunder Bay.

We saw two mail delivery people today walking their route.

Here is our scavenger hunt list today:

• Moose
• Deer
• Hitchhiker
• Eagle/Hawk
• Licence plates from every Province in Canada - but you can not count the province you are in.  So if we see an Alberta plate in BC then it counts, but not if we are in Alberta. British Columbia  Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon, and North West Territory
• Skunk - saw a dead one
• Sheep
• Beaver
• Goslings
• Buffalo
• Goat
• Owl
• Bear
• Loon
• Crane
• Prairie Dog
• Fisherman fishing
• Canoe
• Hummingbird
• Antique car on the road
• Old VW Bug
• Car broken down on the side of the road
• Helicopter on the ground
• Airplane on the ground
• Speeding ticket- hopefully not our own
• Ambulance with sirens on
• Dump truck
• Line painting crew at work
• Mail delivery person walking their route
• Cruise Ship (from Janice and Jim)
• Coyote 
• RCMP officer
• Hop on Hop off Bus
• Sea Glass
• Lobster

If you have any items you think we should add to our scavenger hunt list, let us know.

So Today's Stats 
Driving distance today 50 km 
Total distance 4720 km

Thanks for following. 

Day 18 - Human Rights Museum and Sore Feet

When I wake up at 7:30 I know Bernie needs to sleep.  He was up from 3 to 4:30 and needs his sleep now.  Usually it is I that is up in the middle of the night and Bernie lets me sleep in.  So I am okay today waiting for him.

We get moving around 10 am.  Today we are walking.  Our first stop is Stella's Bakery.  It came recommended from a friend and it was very yummy.  So I enjoyed a latte and a chocolate croissant.

We keep walking towards down town.  It is around a 30 minute walk and it feels good to be out of the car.

Here is the Provincial Legislature.

One place I have really been looking forward to on this trip is visiting the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.  It has been open only a few years and I am so excited about visiting today.

First of the building itself is stunning.  The building was designed by architect Antoine Predock and intended every part of the building to have meaning for human rights.

The outside is made of glass which they call the cloud because it reflects the Winnipeg sky.  

exhibit for same sex marriage

this exhibit represents the murder and missing indigenous women along Yellowhead Highway

There 7 exhibit floors and moving thru each floor was such a beautiful experience.  I was moved emotionally at every turn.  Some things made me happy, some things sad.  I basically went thru every emotion.  But I left with hope.

I was so impressed with the exhibits and how they were presented.  Lots of videos, displays, participating activities.  

large exhibit about the Holocaust

I had installed the App prior to visiting and it was a nice app but it kept crashing and stalling.  Bernie got so fed up with the app that he just forgot all about it.  So one negative was the app. But other than that I thought it was amazing.

The staff there are wonderful too.  So helpful.  In fact when Bernie and I met back up at the end of the day here he commented that many staff were always offering assistance and offering to restart a video in English if necessary. He ended up talking to many of them.

A few years ago I use to facilitate a week long Human Right's Course for my union.  I use to teach members all across Canada.  So none of the information in the museum was new to me but I certainly learned more about some events.

When we finally leave it is 2:30 pm!  Boy time flew by.

We are hungry and we head to a restaurant nearby that faces The Forks called The Smith.  Bernie said this place had the best Moscow Mules every.  The food was good too but service was really lacking.

After our meal we walk around the sites at The Forks where the Assiniboine and Red River meet.

Long before Europeans arrived The Forks was a traditional Indigenous Peoples' stopping place for camping, gathering provisions and trading with other First Nations.

these structures when looking from the center below you can look up and spot the constellations in the night sky

In the 19th and 20th centuries The Forks was a staging point for fur trade, exploration, and settlement.  It served as the yards of major railways including the Canadian Northern, The Grand Trunk and the Canadian National Railway.

The small settlement of Winnipeg grew into the principal metropolitan centre of Western Canada and became Canada's gateway to the West.

so Canadian!  Art made of hockey sticks

We walk back to our apartment along the Assiniboine River and it is very apparent that the low level walkway was flooded recently - later I find out it was back in April.  Boy it went high and the mud and debris left behind means we need to clean our shoes when we get back.

Oh and while walking we spot two young adults fishing!  We even chatted with them a bit but I totally forgot to get a picture but I swear I did see them.

Back at the apartment we are both beat.  We have log 15,000 steps!  We are not really hungry for dinner so we just eat what we have in the fridge.  Toast and some cheese and some left over salad.

We have not travelled today so nothing to report.  But I did add two items to the scavenger list.  Linda suggested sea glass and lobster to the list.  

Here is our scavenger hunt list today:

• Moose
• Deer
• Hitchhiker
• Eagle/Hawk
• Licence plates from every Province in Canada - but you can not count the province you are in.  So if we see an Alberta plate in BC then it counts, but not if we are in Alberta. British Columbia  Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Yukon, and North West Territory
• Skunk - saw a dead one
• Sheep
• Beaver
• Goslings
• Buffalo
• Goat
• Owl
• Bear
• Loon
• Crane
• Prairie Dog
• Fisherman fishing
• Canoe
• Hummingbird
• Antique car on the road
• Old VW Bug
• Car broken down on the side of the road
• Helicopter on the ground
• Airplane on the ground
• Speeding ticket- hopefully not our own
• Ambulance with sirens on
• Dump truck
• Line painting crew at work
• Mail delivery person walking their route
• Cruise Ship (from Janice and Jim)
• Coyote 
• RCMP officer
• Hop on Hop off Bus
• Sea Glass
• Lobster

If you have any items you think we should add to our scavenger hunt list, let us know.

So Today's Stats 
Driving distance today 0 km - but a shit load of steps
Total distance 4670 km

Thanks for following.