Thunder Bay

The two things I’ll remember most about Thunder Bay are the cold (-) and lots of food (+)!

We decided to spend two nights in Thunder Bay to give ourselves a full day to see Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and to break up some of the driving (before the long haul to Winnipeg).

Turns out Thunder Bay has a sizeable Finnish population – the second largest, in fact (after Toronto), in Canada.  And so, we started the morning off right at Hoiko for Finnish pancakes…and salt fish...and vilii (when in Rome!). Finnish pancakes are a cross between a crepe and a dutch baby, salt fish is salmon preserved in salt (eaten open-face sandwich style with tomato, onion, and pickle) and vilii (‘clabbered’ milk) is reminiscent of yogurt (we added strawberry preserves to ours).  All was delicious, of course!

Finnish pancakes, vilii, and coffee - can't go wrong!

After stuffing ourselves with as much Finnish food as we could handle, we set off to see the Terry Fox monument (Fox’s inspiring journey ended just outside of Thunder Bay) which overlooks the Sleeping Giant.  The monument was awesome, the view unfortunately slightly less so as the grey, overcast day made it difficult to fully appreciate the giant (but we did stop by again on our way out of town before heading out for Winnipeg and the morning sunshine made for a much more spectacular view).

Sleeping giant at sunrise (the morning we left for Winnipeg)

With the Terry Fox monument checked off the list, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park was our next stop.  You can hike to the top of the giant (about 8h), but we opted for something a little less time consuming, the Middlebrun Bay hike.  It was a scenic little hike that afforded us more time with Lake Superior (in an effort to maximize quality time with the Great Lakes before leaving this beautiful province of ours).  Of course it poured rain the entire way there…and the entire way back.  But at this point, we would expect nothing less.  After all, what’s a hike without muddy shoes and drenched clothing?

Middlebrun Bay

Middlebrun Bay beach

Middlebrun Bay beach

Not quite ready to stop exploring,  we decided to drive a little ways out of town to the Ouimet Canyon.  When we got there both the suspension bridge and road were closed for the season.  So, we did what anyone would do, we went in search of our own canyons (it wouldn’t be the first time.  Recall: the grotto incident).  Employing 4-wheel drive, we explored along a muddy, slippery back road and actually did end up finding some smaller canyons (we were just as surprised as you are!).  Happily surprised to have stumbled on a smaller canyon, all was not lost! [Although I’m pretty sure the muddy 4-WD excursion alone would have made the trip to Ouimet worthwhile…at least for one of us ;)].

The almost Ouimet canyons (and lots of snow)

Today, we’re headed to Winnipeg, the start of what will surely be some loooong prairie driving!  We picked up a famous Thunder Bay treat (the Persian) and stopped at the Kakabeka Falls on our way out of town.  The Falls were spectacular, a nice send off as we head for the ON/MB border.

Will check in later!  For now there are kilometers and kilometers of roads and pine trees for me to stare at, trying to will away the snow that’s suddenly become a big part of our landscape!