North Bay, Ontario

June 29 to July 2, 2007

We were guests at Beaucage Park campground, just west of North Bay. It is a beautiful waterfront location on Lake Nipissing on the Nipissing First Nation land. We thoroughly enjoyed the camp and visiting North Bay. I had the wonderful opportunity to renew my friendship with Joseph Cloutier, a young man with FASD from Sudbury. He is very active in spreading the word about FASD. I had met Joseph 4 years earlier at a conference hosted by the Missiway Health Centre in Timmins, Ontario.

The North Bay event was held July 2nd with a traditional indoor powwow at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre. It was well attended, refreshments served and a rewarding experience.

No specific events had been planned for Sudbury so we headed for Blind River.

July 3, 2007

The planned ride at Blind River had to be cancelled because our local rider had broken her collarbone in an endurance ride. The horse was OK but the rider suffered. We continued on to Wawa.

We camped overnight on the shore of the lake at Wawa and awakened in the morning to a beautiful sunrise over the glassy waters of the lake. Packed up and continued to Thunder Bay.

On the way, we encounted two Black Bears alongside the highway. Dutchess was very protective of us when we stopped to photograph and would have gone nose to nose with the bears if given the chance. Not necessary. Mostly the bears ignored us.

Did not see any moose in spite of many warning signs. Did see a doe and her fawn beside the highway.

The trip North of Lake Superior is incredible scenery. Every Canadian should have the opportunity to see it. We drove past Marathon and the rock cut beside the highway where Canada's richest gold dicovery was made. It was missed by the engineers and workers who built the highway but discovered by a local prospector years later. The gold was under our noses all the time. Hmmm.