From One Bay to Another

Thanks to all for chiming in to the blog……..many have asked what we chose to name the Airstream, and after numerous suggestions, Jutta came up with just the right handle…….”Plan B”.  

B is loaded with everything we can imagine we will need for the trip and a whole lot more I’m sure.  
It was 4:30am when it finally became clear that we were never going to get to sleep, and the best thing to do was get up, and get on the road.  We were all hooked up and parked a few cottages down at the Bulger’s, whose driveway was a blessing compared to ours, so with a few last minute additions to the load, we were on the way at 5:15.  Our target destination was Pancake Bay Provincial Park, an hour west of Salt St.Marie, and with the early start we would be there in plenty of time for a hike.  

One of the last minute additions was this mini-croc that I found on the shoulder of the road outside of Brooks, Alberta, on the ride with Sid.  It was a good luck charm back then, and will get us through this one also.  
With only two drives under my belt with the Airstream, and only limited previous experience towing, I was quite apprehensive, but that vanished very quickly………towed like a dream all day long……..now I be a PRO! We made great time in the darkness of the morning, and as the sun rose we were greeted by brilliant fall colours on both sides of the road.  I must admit I am not used to being one of the slower guys on the road……..more cars passed me today than have done so in the last year, but I was happy at the speed limit…….safety first.

We made a few stops along the way, and according to tradition……..never pass a chip truck.

Chippewa River Falls.
It wasn’t until we passed Espanola that things became much more familiar, as that is where Sid and I turned right heading south to Manitoulin Island and the Chi Cheemaun.  Memories of the ride flowed non stop, but passed very quickly at 100km/hr, instead of the 120km/day we were doing on the bikes.
We arrived at Pancake Bay around 2pm……..quick overnight setup, and off to the beach for a hike.  So very similar in many ways to our bay in Tiny, but no cottages, and much larger…….absolutely beautiful.  

Jutta couldn’t resit going for a paddle along the shore, and apparently would have gone for a dip with a little coaxing……….I think its a German thing!
I had great plans to cook Jutta a pickerel dinner tonight, but after bypassing two possible locations with signs out just north of Parry Sound, we didn’t see another all day.  We called a commercial fishery in Wawa, and found out that……..you guessed it……..Covid has screwed up the supply chain.  Can’t find pickerel anywhere. The search will continue tomorrow.  We made do with one of our pre-prepped meals…..chicken curry……not bad, then grabbed a bottle and headed to the beach for sundowners.

Warm and toasty in the trailer, but pretty chilly outside.  Back on the road tomorrow morning…….Thunder Bay by mid-afternoon, hopefully with some pickerel on board.  Until then.