Canada, Fathom Five & Coyote's Birthplace

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Tobermory, Ontario, Canada

COYOTE'S BIRTHPLACE

Our Coyote was born in 2008 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada at the Roadtrek RV Factory. Who knows where it was for the next six years but in 2014, we rescued this critter from an RV sales lot in Sandy, Oregon. Since then we’ve driven about 30,000 miles and brought him back to his birthplace. The Roadtrek Factory in Kitchener is the only delivery room for Roadtreks in the world. We were treated to an outstanding tour of the facility, walking around the factory from the painting room to the fiberglass shop to woodworking to mechanical to the cutting section. They transform a tin-box panel van tearing out the sides and top and replacing it with fiberglass roof and sides (for the RT Popular model) and then outfitting these babies inside and out to produce an awesome Class B Recreational Vehicle. We saw these transformations going for new Coyote brothers. Special thanks to Dennis and Karen, our tour guide and receptionists for treating us like VIPs!

BRUCE PENINSULA - BETWEEN LAKE HURON AND GEORGIAN BAY

Bruce Peninsula is wedged between Lake Huron and Georgia Bay. See the little dot in the right center of the Great Lakes Map. It is pointing to the Bruce Peninsula. Our adventure heading north in Ontario into the Bruce Peninsula on blue highways with Lake Huron to the west (Canadians pronounce it Hu-ron). This is Amish and Mennonite country again. The horse drawn buggies and people on bicycles are fascinating. The weather is awesome, blue skies and temps in the 70s.

In Kitchener we stayed in a Walmart and in Hanover we stayed in a Walmart as we realized that this was also Labor Day weekend for Canada …. no spaces in any campsites anywhere. For those who worry about us in a parking lot … consider this: the edges of the parking lots face out on acres of trees and meadows and streams. The silence is deafening as there are no cars, no highways and no employees or shoppers around. It is free and with our solar panels, we need nothing to plug into. And all Walmarts have security patrols.

 Owen Sound

As we pulled into Owen Sound (check out the map picture –Owen Sound in the bottom right corner). Our next stop will be at the norther tip of this peninsula (see arrow pointing to Tobermory). We stopped at the Visitor Center (a habit we have in every city). Such a good move. We discovered a big event happening in the sound. (Sound: an inlet from a lake or sea; a fjord). 

We headed to the City owned campground, Harrison Park, and asked about overflow as we knew the campground would be full. WHAT-REALLY! Someone just left … there was one site waiting just for us. You may have noted we rarely make reservations as we are never sure what direction we are going in next, so this is fortunate. We're tucked in as part of the crowded weekend campers attending the salmon event -- see green oval in the picture. We stay 2 ½ days, got caught up on laundry and showers and do some sightseeing in the sound.

This weekend there is a huge event in the sound … Salmon Spectacular Derby. Fishermen from all over are fishing for the largest critter for huge prizes. Saturday night there is a huge fish fry (that tent was huge … figure 1000 people fed. 

We traveled to the event by riding our bicycles the 5½ metric clicks (3½ miles) from campsite to the sound. One thing about cycling, you see fascinating places you miss zooming by in a car … like unique landscaping, charming houses, funny signs and even a salmon ladder right in the middle of town. See the funny planters in the picture. 

 At the fish fry we meet Lois and Ernie, a young engaged couple. They are retired and their wedding is in December in the church where they volunteer and met. Most interesting and happiest couple we’ve met thus far. He from Holland originally and she who lived in Owen Sound since the 60s.

Heading north from Owen Sound on Labor Day, we are bound for the Roadtreking Group Rally at Cyprus Lake at Tobermory. (Tobermory means ‘Mary’s Rest’). Large boondocking campsites on the lake filled with about 50 Roadtreks. Our coyote is in RT heaven. This is the only stop on our way that we’ve reserved. The rally affords us the opportunity to meet, share with, and laugh about our RT lifestyle.

The 4 days includes a boat trip to Flowerpot Island which is a Marine Park called Fathom Five. See picture for more info. The Island is one of 14 islands at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula in a Marine Preserve.

The ‘flowerpot’ rock formations are formed by lower layers of limestone eroding and leaving upper layers of dolomite to form these remarkable structures.

We hiked the loop through the island and around the edges … an actual rainforest with large sprawling tree roots and boulders and ferns and high humidity. Pictures of the inner loop hike shows a dot of blue … that’s Dan in his blue shirt. The island is eroded down to hard rocks that provide nature’s stair steps to the beach. The white beach is not sand … lots of small rocks.

These pictures are at on our hike through and around the island. The seagull stood until we took his picture. Steep parts of the trail in the center of the island are enhanced with these steps. The Grotto on the Island is a tricky hike over boulders and rocks --- spotted a mermaid.

This is Sunset from our campsite on Cyprus Lake on the Bruce Peninsula

Next … heading northeast to Newfoundland … heading up the St. Lawrence River … 3,300 Km. (2,000 miles). We need to get there before it ices up. Every time we mention our destination, the reaction is awe and a note that we will not regret it, it is worth the drive!