headed West

A light snow is blowing around us as we drive. We’re on Highway 11 West out of Thunder Bay after stopping for a quick lunch break. The sun is shining. This past week has been a whirl wind trip of Ontario. After two nights and three days in Killarney, we drove the hour into Sudbury and an hour out towards North Bay to spend two nights, which turned into three, at my cousin’s lodge.

Pine Falls Lodge is nestled between two lakes. Tall and looming pine trees that hold stories stand around the lodge and it’s surrounding cabins. The water’s edge meets both sides of the land. We arrived on Wednesday evening at the lodge to my cousin, his two kids, and my uncle jumping off of their pontoon boat to greet us. The last time I was there it was the beginning of July and my sisters, dad, and I were arriving to meet our new puppy. There were mosquitoes all around us, the sun was hot, and the water was warm. By this time of year, the water is a lot colder, rain comes in sheets, and the sun only comes out to say hello every few days. Still, there is something beautiful and mysterious about cloudy days by the lake with a mug of hot chocolate in hand and the smell of fried eggs and toast wafting from the kitchen.

We had intended to leave Sudbury on Friday morning to reach Lake Superior by Friday night. We woke up on Friday morning to thunder and heavy rain. So, instead of jumping into our Honda Fit and driving winding roads in the rain, we stayed another night at the lodge, helping out with tasks, cooking up a storm, drinking hot chocolate, running back and forth between the sauna and the lake, and snuggling up with Chini, my cousin’s dog, by the fire. It feels right to start my journey off to the West Coast in this way. Some of the first real overnight adventures that I ever had were on lakes around this area, backcountry canoeing with my cousins and family. My love for outdoor adventure began on those lakes. Now I’m off to explore a different part of the country, this time, in my own way.

Saturday morning we got up early, had a quick breakfast with my aunt and uncle in Sudbury, then hit the road for our long drive North to Lake Superior. The moment I set my eyes on Lake Superior I was reminded of the vastness of water and the vastness of the Great Lakes. The highway around the perimeter of Lake Superior winds its way through massive rock formations, smaller lakes and rivers, and tall trees which at this time of year, were covered in snow. I loved it there. On our first night at Lake Superior, we parked our car by the water and fell asleep to the sound of the waves. There was something incredibly special about standing before the waves of Lake Superior and the rapids of the rivers that feed into its body and being reminded of the power of water. Such deep gratitude washes over me as I stand before the water and recognize what a gift it is for me to be alive and witnessing this all.

“I want to stand by the river in my finest dress. I want to sing, strong and hard, and stomp my feet with a hundred others so that the waters hum with our happiness. I want to dance for the renewal of the world.” – Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer

Another evening parked along Lake Superior and here we are, spending our last night in Ontario in the parking lot of the Ontario Travel Information Centre. Tomorrow morning we cross the border into Manitoba. We begin the next leg of our journey, out of Ontario and into the prairies where flat stretches of land and minimal trees make you dizzy. Tomorrow night we sleep in Saskatchewan. The next day, we’re off to Calgary. The rest of this week will be spent in Banff, within the presence of a comfy bed, warm shower, and a wood-burning fireplace to keep us company, along with some great hiking. Until then, I’m embracing the flat lands of the prairies as we make our way West.

All for now,

All my love,

Onward.

-m