Beautiful Kakabeka Falls

After leaving the southern town of Fort Francis, Ray decided that we would drive part way to Thunder Bay. We had asked someone at Starbucks if there was camping between Fort Francis and Thunder Bay and were told that they thought there was camping in Atikokan which is in Quetico Provincial Park.  About 2 hours later we come to Atikokan and look for a campground. We find a cute little spot. The problem was there was way too many Mosquitoes. These Mosquito's were the size of house flies. The site were also very uneven, so we decided to go a bit farther down the road. I looked on the map and asked Ray if he thought he should gas up. He said no we had a bit more than a quarter of a tank and he said we were good until the next "town".   I bet you know where I am taking you with this story?  We get to the next "town", which consists of a rundown little gas pump and a store selling "live bait" and hunting licenses.  We pull up to the pump and Ray sees the price is $1.46.9.  So he puts the truck in gear and takes off saying "I am not paying that for gas!".  I lean over and see the gauge is just above the red line. I take out the map and see there is a junction in the hwy coming up where we would be turning to continue into Thunder Bay. This place was about 27 kms away and would surely have a gas pump. About 20 minutes later, we get to the junction where this so called town is supposed to be, and there was nothing there! No store, no gas pump, no people and no cell service! We are well into the red by now on the gauge!  I am seriously starting to panic. Kakabeca Falls (just outside of Thunder Bay) is about 25 kms down the road, but I know we are not going to make it. We will run out of gas and with no cell service, then what? We go around a couple of bends in the road and what to my delight,,,,a gas station! As we pull up to the pump, the bell starts dinging! Seriously! The best part? It cost $1.43.9 per liter, so Ray saved himself 3 cents a liter and almost gave his wife an ulcer!  And you wonder why I called this Lori and Ray's Bogus Adventure?

We make it into Kakabeka Falls where we camp for the night.  We had a beautiful quiet spot.  So quiet in fact that I had a hard time sleeping! But eventually I slept!  In the morning we packed up and left early and drove back to the Falls.  Ray has never been to the northern part of Ontario and the falls are so beautiful that I wanted him to see it.

We had a long drive yesterday (9.5 hours) and we have two more long days (1 really because today is over!) of driving to make it to my sister Joann's, place near Haliburton. I had wanted to hook up with Camille from work who now lives in TB but was only able to talk to her on the phone.  Did you know that Thunder Bay has about 110,000 residents and a Police Force of approximately 200 members?  Their dispatch office answers only 911 calls (non-emergency calls are answered in a different area by Cadets who are wanting to get on as members).  So to answer the 911 calls there are 3 full time call takers, one CPIC Dispatcher (who does not add any CPIC's only does the queries for the members) and one Dispatcher.  Thanks Camille for that info, our friends at Abby might be interested in that.

Our travels today took us around Lake Superior.  That is one huge lake!  It is the largest of all the Great Lakes.  It actually looks like an ocean not a lake.  The beaches are sandy and the water at the beaches is blue/green.  It is just beautiful!  Driving from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie (fondly known as "the Soo") Ray was very surprised to have to take that poor Chev up so many inclines!  The Chev worked very hard, and not once did the gas gauge get lower than a quarter of a tank!

Along the way we stopped for a stretch and a coffee (Tim Horton's this time) at Wawa.  For those of you who have never driven in this part of the country Wawa is know for its very large goose statue at the entrance to the town.  If you Google the Wawa Goose, you will find out why the statue is so popular.  Right now, my fingers are aching and I am fading away, so I am not googling it for you... I will say good night and leave you with these pictures of the Wawa Goose!  

Stay tuned for more Bogus Fun on our adventure,,,,,Lori and Ray

 

And of course,,,, Mr Funny!