Sleeping Giant in Thunder Bay

Reunited in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It has been a long haul. All go go go from one place to another. It has been nice to slow down a bit and catch up with Bro in Chippewa Park. Spent the last few days with Bro sharing stories and exchanging threatening golf challenges. Bro had to go down. He was talking a big game. So we started our reunion with a few days of golf.  Besides.. all I have been hearing from Bro is how I was going to go down real hard.

It turns out I am still golf champion. Although Bro did give me a scare on the first nine holes. He was playing well and I was not. All of sudden I lost my drives and fairway shooting abilities. I had been jinxed I am sure of it. Bro, on the other hand was smoking his drives real well. I was in early trouble. Bro forced me to focus and concentrate. “Super human golf powers unite!” It was an amazing come back and crushing defeat for Bro. Until next time Bro!

On the following day after my golf victory I did a mini research day. We figured we should get a head start on building our Ontario website. I started with the park we are currently camping in – Chippewa Park. The reason I plug Chippewa Park campground is because of the fantastic people who run it. Best we have stayed with this year! In our travels we meet many people, some not so nice and some that should not be in tourism (we keep those to ourselves and make notes).  It is nice to come across some people in tourism who are fantastic hosts and good people.  Hats off to you Chippewa Park Campground!

From the campground I wondered the path to the public park section of the grounds on Lake Superior. Time to dip my foot in the large lake just to say I have. There I found a sandy beach, park buildings and people canoeing. Kids laughing in the playground. Couples holding hands walking the trail. Out in the distance was the Sleeping Giant. A mountain created by an old First Nation tale. I looked closer and I spotted a large boardwalk pier jetting out across the bay of Lake Superior. It was my calling.. it was a picture moment. (main photo)

The next day I hopped into my jeep at 7 AM and headed out with my photo and video equipment.  I started pounding the pavement early. First was downtown Thunder Bay. Hit the downtown streets by 8 AM with a Tim Hortons in my hand. I always try to research before the morning traffic gets chaotic and the parking issues become a reality. Best time to research towns is in the morning. I discovered that a long time ago after spending hours looking for parking and stalled by construction. Today, my walk about in town discovered many beautiful old brick buildings. People were walking, biking, jogging and some, the ones sitting on the benches were sipping a warm coffee.

Downtown finished, I began to explore the surrounding parks.  My daylight time was running out. That was due to me not being able to find the road up to Mt. McKay in the morning. The map I have was wrong to me, so I ended up on some gravel dead end road at the base of the mountain looking up. I moved on.

Monument in the Flower Gardens

Near town there were a couple parks I did fit in. I visited the Kaministiquia Park on Lake Superior, the Friendship Gardens and an unnamed trail system along Riverbend Road (at least I could not find a name). The Friendship Gardens was a treat. They had monuments from different cultures in the park. Some were very  impressive.

I arrived back at the campground and got ready to hunker down in the camper on the computer. Maybe even finish my book I am reading. It is getting good and I am at the end.

Good night all!