Surprises from Thunder Bay

A have spent a couple more days researching in Thunder Bay, Ontario under sunshine. However.. the golf badgering continues. The challenges keep on a coming. The strategy keeps on changing. Finally.. another golf date has been confirmed for just before I leave to begin researching the northwest of the province. After the game Bro is going to continue to hunt down some good reasonable accommodations with some good people running it. I too will be looking for accommodations on my travels. One of us will find something ideal. The insanity has to stop.

It is funny how every province is different. Out here in Ontario there are “golf course cops” and “accommodation bankers”. “Golf course cops” are these men `riding on golf carts (with logos and egos)  making sure we all rush our game and if someone is in front of you playing too slow.. the “golf course cops” jump into action and start combining golf parties so we all get to finish our golf games with total strangers. Whoopie! Lucky Us. What a great time. It was the last time we golfed there.

Ontario has been a handful finding accommodations. There are the “accommodation bankers”.  Hosts of accommodations, mainly in the north, who feel OK with reaping huge amounts of cash for monthly rentals with all kinds of extra conditions.  Rentals with  hidden fees and add on expenses.  The “accommodation bankers”  do not tell you this up front. It is unbelievable what we have heard. I mean there are too many accommodations who seem to think it is OK to charge a $600-$1000 monthly fee and then later on tell us there is a damage deposit, two months rent required and up front cash for power. Huh! Like I could put a down payment on a cabin for that!  Do they charge all their visitors this way?  Insane Tourism.

What happen to the monthly fee that includes everything like in good old British Columbia. What happen to honesty?  That is all we want is a monthly lump sum with no hidden surprises. Be up front will ya! We have never come across this much gibberish in any tourism province yet. The sad thing is none of them know what a great opportunity it would be for them to get in on the ground floor and assist us with accommodations before we explode wide open.  Not only is the industry out of touch – their internet know-how is really poor and, unfortunately quite funny.

Anywho.. we move on. No rush or worries.. one nice host will come along and we will spoil them! In the meantime my circle of research widened the last couple of days before the big rains and I was able to explore some natural parks on the outskirts of town. Now we were talking more my thing – I enjoy the outside fresh air, dew drops on leaves, mist rising off the ground, exposed tree roots, rapids and rivers and creeks and cliffs. It is all what I wait to explore for.

Marina Park lighthouse on Lake Superior

The parks I visited included Boulevard Park, Marina Park, Centennial Park, The Terry Fox Statue and the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Marina Park on Lake Superior was well laid out with fountains, canons, a marina, a walking path, flower gardens, picnic tables, a bandstand and some fantastic views of the Sleeping Giant and a lighthouse.

Centennial Park included a network of nature trails following the shores of Current Creek which feeds into Lake Superior. This trail caught my attention and therefore I hiked it.

The trail lead me through the trees to a bridge connecting to a campground. Every once in a while a path would lead down to the river bank. The path I took lead me to a waterfall and some flat rocks (main photo). It seemed people all along the river had picked out a piece of flat rock and made base camp for swimming and a picnicking.

The statue of Terry Fox in Thunder Bay

The Terry Fox Statue was a large tribute situated on a ridge looking over the highway, Lake Superior, the Sleeping Giant and Thunder Bay. It was tastefully done.

The rains were coming and I had some time left so I took a trip out to the lookout at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. To my surprise the park also included a large network of hiking and backpacking trails. No time for me but I made a note for the return trip. I found my way to the lookout and the views were far reaching. Even on a cloudy day the clouds formed layers. I stood there at the end of the over hanging lookout with a big smile on my face.

Now we hunker down for the rains. It is suppose to get nice again on Saturday. Till then I will be cocooned in my camper on the computer working away.

Be well, Be active.