Day 27: From the Soo to the Bay

Day 27 was a long day of driving from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay. The journey was over 700 kilometres. We left at 9:00 a.m., stopping at the Panorama Amethyst Mine, the largest in North America, and arrived in Thunder Bay at about 6:30 p.m. As long as it was, the drive was enjoyable since the weather was so nice and there were many vistas of Lake Superior. During our trip east, the weather was so bad that the views weren't anything to speak of. The kids all enjoyed their visit to the mine and bought some Amethyst for themselves. We got in to the Travelodge Thunder Bay, had a swim and dinner, and now we are settling in for the night. Tomorrow is another long day of driving from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg.

Day 26: Back to the Soo

Day 26 was spent travelling the 650 kilometres along Highway 17 from Deep River to Sault Ste. Marie. It was a long drive, but everyone managed. We stopped off at Sudbury to see "The Big Nickel". It is 9 metres high and about 60 centimetres thick. Nickel is plentiful in the Sudbury Basin. We found our hotel (the same Days Inn we stayed at while heading east) and had a quiet evening in Sault Ste. Marie.

Days 21 to 25: Relaxing in "The Deep"

How nice it was to finally arrive back in Deep River after our Maritime excursion. We arrived back on Friday evening and were expecting Bob and Wynn back late Sunday afternoon. The weather wasn't great in Noranda and so Bob and Wynn arrived back home Saturday afternoon, surprised when the kids ran out to greet them. The next few days were restful and relaxing. The kids enjoyed playing down by the river and going on canoe rides to the beach. In particular, all three of them loved to jump out of the canoe and swim back to shore once they got close to home (don't worry, they had life jackets on and the river is very shallow near the shores). See the pictures below.

Sam and Jake swim to shore after a canoe ride (see that white speck in the background??? It's Kate :-)

Kate follows Dad to shore

Kate makes it to shore

An exhausted Kate cuddles with Grandy

A beautiful sunrise over the Ottawa River

On Tuesday, Bob and Wynn were gracious enough to offer to watch the kids while we went in to Ottawa for the day. It was a great day. We had a nice lunch outside on Sparks Street, we visited Byward Market, went on a sunset cruise on the Ottawa River, and took in the light and sound show at the Parliament Buildings.

Tasty lunch at the Byward Cafe

Carrie enjoys lunch on Sparks St.

Rideau locks before

After

Rideau Locks

Carrie and Antonio on river cruise

Rideau Falls

Sir John A. MacDonald's Residence

Parliament Buildings from the Ottawa River

Glorious sunset over the Ottawa River

The Parliament Buildings are lit up!