Star Motel North Bay

... the house they w**e born in, and the poor guy that showed me and Kristina around, which took about 3 minutes was visibly uncomfortable about asking for the $7 fee. We saw a cot, 5 dresses, the stove their mum cooked on and a bed. Please google this, it is a weird palce.

We managed to hold back the s******s as this poor guy tried to get enthusiastic about showing us 5 baby bibs. The story is really sad, but not as sad as this tribute to them.

Next we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's place --on Bear Mountatin -- just off the north-west corner of Algonquin Provincial Park (and close to North Bay, Ontario) for a few days before Gustavo's first official oncology appointment in Hamilton on July 25. This place was our home for six years when the kids were small and we both went to Nipissing University, so it was really nice to be able to hang out there again. Here are some pictures...

... Then there is the true North Ontario which is just wilderness. Almost nobody lives there, there are no roads. Very few people ever venture out there as it is expensive and hard to reach. North Bay is known as the gateway to Northern Ontario. It's a small town, although large by Northern Ontario standards, that is located on the shores of Lake Nipissing. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it was a fun weekend. Downtown ...

... almost as much as the 7 hour flight to Europe. We go down on Sunday and - horrors - the traffic is stop-and-go already from Bracebridge. It takes us a while to realize that there has been no accidents or road construction. It's the %$#%$# cottage owners from the Big Antheap going home Sunday night. In the end we only lose about an hour of time but we lose a lot of patience.

... I spend the winter in warm places. As you might have noticed. It's a violent shock! When it's -45 degrees outside up in the sky, it's not really warm in the cockpit. It's not great to try to close the baggage door by -20 on the ground either... I'm happy no matter what: I always liked to fly at night. And here, we do a lot of that: early in the morning, or in the evening...

... in the "Frew" to buy a camping stove, then smoked by the "Broke". Drove through "Deluxe Rivers" (Deux Rivieres) as my grandmother used to call it!!! We didn't make it very far today, ended up calling it a day at North Bay. Tomorrow hopefully a nice early start and then lots of miles. Maybe Thelma might even drive a few! haha....

... nouvelle aventure commence... It's been 9 year that I drag my self just above the ground. It's time for me to see the horizon from higher. I am given the chance to see it through a bigger window. I can't miss it. And I was getting a little too comfortable in my old office. It's time to get a new one... Here comes a new adventure

... to be out in the wilderness, although it was too hot to see any scarey wildlife that wasn't stuffed in the visitor centre!!!! Evenings were spent round the campfire with acoustic guitars - but we wished the Chalmers were here!! Had to put up with a bus load of annoying teenagers, they get everywhere, but I suppose in the maturity of our years we have to allow them a little grace!!!! (How old and grumpy are we!??!?!) The sights and sounds were amazing....photo's to follow shortly!

WOWZERS! It is the long weekend and I am already wishin it over! Is that sane? This Friday my Homes and I are goin to PERU! WHOOHOOO!! Today I am just goin over some final details of our trip such as flights, layovers, and what type of plane we will be on! such a airplane nerd! But I am more excited of our Homes reunion in YYZ this Thursday night! WHOOHOO! It is gonna be a jovial riot! 3 more days till PERU! WHOOHOOO!!

After numerous telephone calls and plan changes, we have opted to drive along the coast in Canada, and meet up with Kathie over the weekend. We're late leaving Toronto thanks to all of the delays, of course inevitably, we find ourselves in Chinatown trying to find something to eat! Chinatown is by far the best place to get any good deals u want, but not always food! After lunch ...