Again, we got on the road right away and drove for an hour and a half before stopping for breakfast near the town of Hearst, Ontario.
Most of the people in these northern Ontario towns are involved in logging and the pulp and paper industry. Sure, there's some tourism as well, with lots of hunters and fishermen coming up here during the summer. In the winter, you had better like curling, ice hockey, and snowmobiling!
Between the towns of Hearst and Kapuskasing the road condition is pretty bad. Prior to Hearst, it had been really good. We bumped our way along for about 50 kms (30 miles), with some bridge and culvert replacement going on. They're obviously working on it...but they waited about two years too many!
Didn't take any pictures until we got to the town of Kapuskasing (pop 10,000). By then, the skies had cleared up and it was nice and sunny.
We parked near the visitors center and used some free wifi, then drove over to the grocery store and did some shopping. I went into the Canadian Tire and got some new platinum spark plugs for Sherman.
Then, we went for a walk along the riverfront.
The Tembec pulp and paper mill operation employs about 575 people in the area.
The town hall and municipal office.
Visitors center.
Sherman, parked outside the visitors center.
Kapuskasing was founded in 1911 when the railway reached this far. By 1914 there was a WW1 internment prison camp located here. Canada had actively recruited immigrants prior to the war, and then when the war started, Canada put about 8,500 of them into prison camps between 1914 and 1920. Many were women and children.
Canada wasn't always the "nice" country it is today!
Here is an interesting story written in 1990...
Kapuskasing today is a totally bilingual (French and English) community. I spoke to the girl at the cash register about this and she said that everybody in town can speak both French and English. Good for them! It's easy when you're brought up that way as a child.
We didn't see anywhere suitable in town to park for the night so we headed down the highway towards a nearby provincial park, figuring we could maybe park outside the closed gates. But before we got that far, we saw a sign for a ski hill. Of course there would be no skiing yet, and a closed up ski hill usually makes for a great overnight spot in an RV!
The road to the ski hill was closed, with a locked gate. No problem, we simply backed in there and set up for the night.
Sherman, parked for the night at GPS 49.37225, -82.19892.
Slept like a log. Quiet as can be.
This morning, I'm going to take the time to change Sherman's spark plugs, then we'll be back on the road. If everything goes smoothly, we should make it to the Quebec border this afternoon.
Yesterday's drive, 272 kms (169 miles).
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It's getting close to Halloween. So start thinking about your costume. Check out the ones for pets...too funny!
Same thing in Canada...
Buddy would have a halloween costume in shreds in no time (stuffy killer). He barely puts up with a rain jacket (mandatory for long wet winter walks here on the island) but mostly because he has no other choice. Halloween is not his favorite holiday....needless to say lots of barking every single time the doorbell rings. Must protect house from every bloody princess and vampire.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for most of the dogs that are all dressed up, many of them just don't look impressed!
DeleteIsn't it Buddy's job to protect the house?! ;-)
My wife's grandfather and his family came to Canada from the Ukraine in 1911 and were interned at Spirit Lake, Northern Quebec during the war. Her father was only 6 years of age and was in prison for over three years. After the war, her grandfather was sent to Montreal to work for the railroad, as were many of the Ukrainians. Others were sent to work in the mines.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is not a good start to life for someone so young. I hope his life improved greatly as he got older. It is sad that people we treated that way, especially after they were originally asked to come to our country to help work for us.
DeleteGood luck with the spark plugs and todays journey.
ReplyDeleteKevin had some issues but Sherman is now running smoothly!
DeleteOne thing I've noticed during your travels in Canada is that every city/town seems so clean and tidy. No clutter. And lots of pride in community. Everything is so pretty with the autumn leaves now.
ReplyDeleteHi Lori. When we first entered Canada I didn't like the idea that they had a deposit for everything from milk jugs, aluminum cans, glass bottles, etc. It took about a week of travel when I realized what a great thing it was. Too bad the rest of the world doesn't do that. You're right when you say Canada is a clean country. That's one thing we liked about our adventure there.
DeleteIn general, yes Canada is a very clean country and most people take pride it keeping it clean but there are always going to be some places that are quite so nice.
DeleteChris, I love it that Canada is so good at recycling, more people need to make the effort but at least the option is there and a good majority of recycling does get done.
As we head further south the colours should get even better because then we will have the reds and oranges from the maple trees added in with the yellows and greens that we are already seeing now.
I love the sculpture outside the visitors' center. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteHope the spark plug issue was resolved successfully.
It surprises me how well these small towns make people feel welcome here and are proud of their town. Many have gone to lots of work to make them interesting and pretty with sculptures and parks along the lakes and rivers in these communities. Almost every place we have stopped at has a special feature that we have enjoyed.
DeleteI am enjoying reading about your travels. Wish I was able to do what you are doing. Lovely locations and communities.
ReplyDeleteWe are glad that you are enjoying our adventures! We have been having fun on this drive through an area we haven't visited before and we have been very surprised with the communities up here in the "north". :-)
DeleteFunny how that wasn't part of our history classes in school. History does repeat itself! Where are you guys heading to after Ottawa, Montreal?
ReplyDeleteI think there is a lot of history that we aren't told about in our schools!
DeleteOur motorhome travels stop in Ottawa where we will fly to Romania for 6 weeks and then return to Ottawa again for Christmas and in the New Year we fly over to Spain where we will be RVing for 2 months in a motorhome that we borrowing through a motorhome exchange that we have done with a couple there.