#northern ontario highways

[hearditinapastlife2019]

southern ontario is draining me so much… i need to move mary and i to like victoria or montreal or halifax. anywhere but this stupid conservative province made of concrete and misery!

[eddiethehunted]

i’m so envious of people who can travel by train

[motelpearl]

[vox-anglosphere]

Three railways cross Northern Ontario but there's only one main road

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"HEAVY SENTENCES FOR STRONG ARM MEN," Cobalt Daily Nugget. October 22, 1912. Page 6. --- NORTH BAY, Oct. 21 - Two ex-convicts named John Hergin and H. Blanchard, were sentenced to five years in Kingston Penitentiary by Magistrate Brodie, at Sudbury, for highway robbery, the victim being an elderly Swede who was decoyed to a lonely place in the C.P.R. yards at Sudbury where he was beaten and robbed of eighty-one dollars. Both had just finished prison terms within the week. [Both men had been released from local jails. Bergin was 30, a fireman (i.e. shoveled coal into a boiler), and an Irish immigrant with many tattoos - a heart cross anchor motif, a dove, a horsehead on his left forearm, a crucifix on his right, and a shamrock, closed hands, heart, and on his outside right arm. He had a U.S. flag on his hand. He was convict #F-487 at Kingston Penitentiary and mostly worked at the stone pile and excavation at the prison until promoted to the engineers. He was reported once, in May 1914, and given three days off his good time. He was released in early 1917. Blanchard was 38, from Quebec, a 'labourer,' and likewise had tattoos - clasped hands on his forearm. He was convict #F-488 at the penitentiary, and worked in the quarry. He was never reported, and released in late 1916.]

[blue-car-road-tripper]

Summer road trips always have me finding some cool stuff.

Take for instance this statue of this guy thingy .... always remember to stop and get a picture with the things you see along the way...

Small towns are so awesome because they always seem to have hidden treasures.

FYI ——-> Ignace is a township in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada, located at Highway 17 and Secondary Highway 599, and on the Canadian Pacific Railway between Thunder Bay and Kenora. It is on the shore of Agimak Lake, and as of 2016, the population of Ignace was 1,202.

[shannastmartin]

Exploring Canada's Natural Wonders

Canada is an ideal travel destination for nature enthusiasts and adventurers, boasting vast and diverse landscapes. From the majestic Rocky Mountains to the rugged coastal cliffs on the Atlantic, Canada's natural wonders offer a breathtaking array of experiences that are as awe-inspiring as they are unforgettable.

Niagara Falls, one of the world's most famous natural wonders, is a majestic sight that any visitor should experience. The power and beauty of the waterfalls straddling the Canadian and American borders are awe-inspiring. Visitors can join the Maid of the Mist boat tour for a closer look at the impressive falls, enjoy a panoramic view from the Skylon Tower observation deck, or hike in Niagara Glen.

Banff National Park, situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, showcases Canada's breathtaking alpine scenery. The stunning landscape of towering peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, and lush valleys looks like something out of a fairy tale. Lake Louise, a beautiful jewel of the park, is famous for its crystal-clear waters that reflect the surrounding peaks. The smaller Lake Moraine is no less stunning, with its turquoise waters surrounded by snowcapped peaks. The park offers many adventure opportunities, like hiking through pine forests, biking along scenic trails, and paddling around the lakes.

For travelers looking to explore the coast of Nova Scotia, the Cabot Trail is a picturesque highway winding through the Cape Breton Highlands and offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean. The Cabot Trail is spectacular, with its rocky cliffs, verdant woods, and quaint seaside towns. Visitors can explore hiking trails like the Skyline Trail for panoramic coastline views or join whale-watching tours to see marine life up close.

On the east coast, in Newfoundland and Labrador, lies Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing the raw beauty of the Atlantic region. The dramatic landscapes here include fjords, towering cliffs, and dense forests reminiscent of Norwegian landscapes. The Tablelands, a striking feature of the park, offers a unique glimpse into the Earth's mantle, with its exposed reddish rocks. Adventurers can explore many hiking trails, like the Gros Morne Mountain trail, for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

The Great Bear Rainforest on the west coast of British Columbia is a stunning example of natural beauty and power. This untouched rainforest is home to Canada's most beloved wildlife, such as the rare Kermode bear, also known as the "spirit bear." The rainforest boasts towering ancient trees, waterfalls, and fjords cutting through the coastline. Travelers can join wildlife-viewing safaris, boat rides through the glacial fjords, or guided nature walks.

Lastly, Canada is an ideal destination for watching the Northern Lights. The elusive and breathtaking phenomenon draws thousands of visitors to many countries in the Northern Hemisphere, and Canada provides several areas with high chances of spotting the stunning natural phenomenon. The Northern Territories, Manitoba, Yukon, and Nunavut are popular spots to watch the aurora borealis from autumn to spring. Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Alberta are other regions where travelers can experience the dancing lights, especially away from the cities.

Whether seeking adventure, tranquility, or a chance to marvel at extraordinary landscapes, travelers will find it in Canada's natural wonders. The primary requirements to embark on an unforgettable journey to explore Canada's natural marvels are well-equipped bags and hiking boots.

[lynnsworkshop]

Laketober 2022 - Day 1: Future

Hello all! I have emerged from the depths to participate in Rusty Lake’s Laketober event! I hope to be more active soon; still have a couple of stories in the works. Thanks for sticking with me this long!

(More below the cut)

CW: references to a real-life disaster

● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ● ☉ ●

Fall 2022

Ever since I was little, I’d loved the idea of cryptids, animals that may or may not exist. Sasquatch was a favorite of mine. Nessie too, of course. I fancied myself a cryptozoologist, someone who studied such creatures.

Then one day, I caught a documentary on the local history channel about a being known as Mothman. For around a one-year period, beginning in November of 1966, residents of Point Pleasant, West Virginia reported seeing a 5-7 foot tall figure with a 10-foot wingspan. It flew shockingly fast, keeping pace with highway speeds, omitting a shrill screech and lighting its way with glowing red eyes. Its last sighting took place at Point Pleasant’s Silver Bridge about a month before the structure collapsed. Some regarded Mothman as a “specter of death”.

The supernatural implications, along with the multiple eyewitness accounts, are what hooked me. Mothman was unlike any cryptid I’d heard of before. So, when new reports started trickling in last month on my favorite cryptozoology forum, I knew I had to go digging.

It began with a person claiming to have seen Mothman outside of their home in Canada. The creature stood atop a tree “like a great shadow”, remaining still for several minutes before taking flight and disappearing behind a row of trees. The second account described a large winged figure with red eyes flying over a road in northern Ontario. However, as the reports went on, they seemed to describe something more akin to Britain’s Owlman, commenting on pointed ears, clawed feet, and even a feathery appearance.

A location was brought up more than once, somewhere called Rusty Lake. That’s when the figurative dam burst. The trickle turned into a flood as people began to recount events involving not only this supposed Mothman, but also shadow people and even a lake monster. This Rusty Lake appeared to be a cryptozoological treasure trove.

I managed to get in contact with a woman who lived in the Rusty Lake area. She was reluctant to open up about the strangeness surrounding her home at first, but I persuaded her to after promising to keep her identity a secret.

“Things like your cryptids have inhabited Rusty Lake since long before I was born,” she wrote.

I messaged her back. “What kind of things?”

“They used to be human, is what I’m told. Part man and part beast. Ghosts of them too, wandering the Lake.”

“Have you ever seen one?

“Once, the Owl. It’s never a good thing when you do. They’re an omen of death. The Vanderboom brothers tempted them and the entire family was cursed. Generation after generation was met with tragedy. They’re all dead now.”

“Have investigations ever taken place?”

“People have come looking for the Lake, yes. It draws you in. Like a siren’s song, an itch that needs to be scratched, you know? Most haven’t returned. I’d advise against joining them.”

“Ghost stories don’t scare me.”

“They should.”

Despite her warnings, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this. In the 21st Century, actual cryptid sightings like this were almost nonexistent. Google, surprisingly, didn’t yield a reliable result on Rusty Lake’s location. When I asked the woman, she stopped returning my messages. I was left having to turn to a good old-fashioned library.

My search would’ve lasted much longer if it weren’t for my amazing local librarians. They really took it upon themselves to help me crack the mystery of where in the world Rusty Lake is. I think they were just happy to have something to do.

Finally, yesterday, we uncovered a yellowed newspaper clipping from 1969: “Win a trip to Rusty Lake...”

[pointers4dogs-blog]

Driving The Trans Canada Highway-Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario Is Beautiful After crossing the border into Northern Ontario, the Trans Canada Highway winds it’s way through the tiny lakes that speckle Ontario’s vast North Country. This is a relatively quiet highway through beautiful countryside. It’s truly beautiful here. I grabbed an overnight spot under the thick trees that lined the edges of a peaceful rest stop before continuing to…

[christinamac1]

Is Manitoba willing to accept nuclear waste risks? 

ANNE LINDSEY. 2 Aug 24 ANYONE driving Highway 17 from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay will pass through Ignace a couple of hours east of Dryden. A modest Canadian Shield town with about 1,300 inhabitants, Ignace was built on the forest industry, but like so many northern Ontario towns, today actively seeks other economic opportunities. The alert traveller will also notice many roadside signs between…

[petercookportlandtoalaska]

Sunday, May 26, 2024, Whitehorse to Haines Junction to Destruction Bay to Beaver Creek, Yukon to Tok, Alaska. 385 miles.

Today is our longest day with the roughest roads, but as it turns out, with our best weather. We start out sunny/cloudy in the mid 40°s in the AM but spend most of the day in bright sunshine with temperatures rising gradually into the 60°s, and dry.

The roads are good up to our first stop at Haines Junction, and we make good time. We are still amidst the snow-capped mountains of the St Elias Range, including Quill Peak (7,480 ft) and Mount Martha Black (8,241 ft ) but the topography is noticeably changing.

As we turn NW towards the Alaskan Border, the land becomes flatter, dryer, and more forested with aspen, poplar, larch and birch deciduous trees.

Just after noon, we arrive in Destruction Bay, so named in the 1940s, after a severe windstorm destroyed many of the buildings in what was then solely a highway construction and maintenance camp. The name “Destruction Bay” seemed fitting, and it stuck. Today, Destruction Bay is a convenient stop for travelers on the Alaska Highway, and we do our part by having lunch there at the Talbot Arm Motel on the shores of Kluane Lake.

From there, we continue NW through increasing sketchy roads and unpaved patches, fortifying in my mind what a good idea it was to rent a GS bike rather than bringing my own. Through increasingly flat valleys and dry river beds, we make our way by the late afternoon to Beaver Creek, pop 93, located at kilometre 1870.6 of the Alaska Highway and close to the Alcan - Beaver Creek Border Crossing. It is also Canada's westernmost community. 

After a short break, we head for the border and pose for the requisite "Welcome to Alaska" photos.

The roads in Alaska are a noticeable improvement, and the typography has by now settled into rolling green hills and valleys that remind me of Northern Ontario.

It's been a longer day than usual, but passing into Alaska set our clocks back an hour, so we officially arrive in Tok, pop 1243, and founded in 1942 as an Alaska Road Commission camp used for construction and maintenance of the Alaska Highway.

Youngs Motel awaits us, and after settling into our cabins, we assemble for our usual tailgate party, followed by dinner at Fast Eddy's and back to our cabins to blog, shower and eat.

Tomorrow, we head for Anchorage and ourclast day together on the road. It's going to be bitter sweet.

[ontariocoldcasesthepodcast]

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast: Upcoming episode on the murder of Vale...

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast: Upcoming episode on the murder of Valerie Drew.

On Sept. 25, 1970, a bright, bubbly young girl named Valerie Drew, 13, was walking back to her Wiley Street house in Kingston, Ontario, through a large wooded field that stretched beyond Weller Avenue, which in those days represented the northern border of the city’s “north end.”

The girl had left Holy Family School that Friday afternoon and accompanied two male friends out to Highway 401, where the two youths hitchhiked a ride to Peterborough.

Valerie never made it home.

Two nights later, a member of a volunteer search party found her lifeless body in the wooded area in tall, damp grass that is now the present-day Compton Street apartment complexes.

An autopsy on the body of Grade 7 student Valerie Drew revealed that death was caused by multiple skull fractures, as if her head had been bashed against, or with, a rock.

Police recovered a heavy stone measuring 10 inches by 15 inches not far from where the teen’s body was found. The rock had apparently been dug out of the ground a few metres away. When detectives placed the rock into the depression in the ground, it conformed exactly to the shape of the hole.

Police confirmed that Drew had not been sexually assaulted, although her panties were reportedly found about her neck.

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[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“ROAD GANG EMPLOYEE TO SERVE MONTH FOR SEDITION,” Porcupine Advance (Timmins). November 24, 1932. Page 2.1.   ---- Amadeo Bonetti, a Swiss who has been in Canada for ten years, and who was arrested after trouble last May at Moore Lake Camp where he had been working with one of the construction gangs on the Trans-Canada highway, was last week sentenced to one month in jail on a charge of making seditious utterances. The accused pleaded guilty and said he was sorry and that his statements had been made in a temper. The fact that the seditious talk came close to helping along a serious situation was not lost sight of by the court and Mr. Justice Wright who tried the case at Pembroke while agreeing with the crown prosecutor, said that he felt that some punishment should be imposed. The month's term was then imposed, this short sentence being no doubt due to the fact that the man had been in jail for six months awaiting trial. The man seems to have been the victim of the agitation and propaganda carried on by aliens in the country for several years. His case should be a warning to all foolish enough to listen to these alien agitators. At the Moore Lake Camp there was a sort of Soviet uprising with talk of pulling down the Union Jack and stepping on it, throwing off all those in authority and all the other disloyal stuff talked about by the group of alien agitators. Bonetti pleaded guilty, and his counsel asked for leniency, pointing cut that he had already been in jail for six months, that he had been a model prisoner in jail, and that though in Canada for ten years he had never been in trouble before. Peter White, crown porsecutor, said he felt it was not a case requiring exemplary punishment. He believed the utterances had been made in a fit of temper, and he was quite agreeable to a lenient sentence, and did not ask for deportation.

[blue-car-road-tripper]

Fire Tree 🔥 🌲

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Well, not really called that .. they are tamarack trees. I love seeing these trees in the fall with their bright orange vibrance. Just driving down the highway they lift my soul seeing them ...

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Today I stopped and snapped a few different pics of them. I just wish they would keep their needles because these trees would be gorgeous for a Christmas tree in my house 🏡

[rabbitcruiser]

Klondike Highway, BC/YT (No. 6)

Tagish Lake is a lake in Yukon and northern British Columbia, Canada. The lake is more than 100 km (62 mi) long and about 2 km (1 mi) wide.

It has two arms, the Taku Arm in the east which is very long and mostly in British Columbia and Windy Arm in the west, mostly in Yukon. The Klondike Highway runs along Windy Arm south of Carcross. Bennett Lake flows into Tagish Lake, so the northern portion of Tagish Lake was part of the route to the Klondike used by gold-seekers during the Klondike Gold Rush.

On January 18, 2000, a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite now known as "Tagish Lake", fell on the frozen surface of the Taku Arm. A number of fragments were recovered and studied by researchers from the University of Calgary, University of Western Ontario, and NASA; the meteorite currently resides in the University of Alberta meteorite collection.

The lake is named for the Tagish people. Tagish means fish trap in the old Tagish language, an Athabascan language. Other sources translate Tagish as "it (spring ice) is breaking up".

Source: Wikipedia

[papa-j]

Ontario and back

On Saturday morning we drove south on Hwy 11 through North Bay and Huntsville, then turned east on Hwy 60 through Algonquin Park to Bancroft.

The fall colours throughout northern Ontario were beautiful, but driving through the park was on another level, truly spectacular!  

The maples with their various colours of red to deep red, the birch in gold and all the deciduous trees with colours in between and the evergreens in contrast in between!

It is amazing driving for an hour in all this colourful splendour and when you drive over a rise in the landscape, you can see these colours as far as you can see. If it is not, it should be it should be one of the wonders of the world! Put this on your bucket list, it’s worth it!

We arrived at Linda’s school buddy Joyce and Mitch’s place to a warm welcome.

Joyce and Mitch live on a 70 acre property in a maple tree grove with an old sugar shack. We went for walks on their trails and up onto a ridge on their property to a beautiful lookout over the rolling countryside. Mitch took us for a drive in the area, including a park above Bancroft for a hike in the woods. Nice food, good conversations and Euchre after dinner :)) It was a great visit!

We left our friends place mid morning to drive south on Hwy 62 to Cordova lake to have a visit with a friend of mine from my hometown Jenaz in Switzerland. Hans is a part of my school years and the last time I spoke with him was 40 years ago, so we had lots to catch up with.

Hans met us in Mamora and showed us the way to Cordova Lake where he has a cottage. The cottage is only accessible by boat, so we loaded our gear in his boat and made our way to the cottage. After a 10 minute boat ride we arrived at his dock, where we met his wife Susan and their dog Tucker, a high energy collie.

A set of stairs led us up to the cottage which is build on the edge of a cliff overlooking the south end of the lake.

After settling in, we enjoyed a beer on the deck and reminisced about our childhood in Jenaz and all the people we remembered. Hans is 6 years younger than me, we had the same teachers in school and played in the same places. We talked about the different adventures we enjoyed, the trouble got in and the good times we had in our youth.

The resident chipmunk Missy would come around looking for handouts of peanuts whenever Tucker was not around or was a sleep.

It was sunny and 26c and after lunch Hans suggested we go for an afternoon boat ride on the south end of the lake to check out some of the other cottages. There are lots of little old ones and big new ones along the shores and no ‘For Sale’ signs to be seen. 

We got back to the cottage for cocktail hour, more good conversations and ribs finished up on the open fire BBQ for dinner.  Hans has not lost his touch :))

I was on the deck at 7:30 in the morning to do my stretches and enjoyed the beautiful sun rise. A lone loon was making himself heard on the still waters of the lake along with the occasional few geese flying by, honking their way south. After breakfast Hans suggested we explore the north end of the lake as it would be hotter today. The fall colours were not yet at their peak but never the less beautiful!  Part of the lakefront has road access with most of the cottages being used by weekenders. The shorelines are mostly rocky so most of them have docks and floating platforms.

We relaxed the rest of the day on the deck above the lake, reminiscing and watching the traffic on the lake. Not much of that happening now as summer is over. Another delicious dinner with a glass of wine and more good conversations.  

Hans took us back to the shore the next morning and we were on our way to Elora in southern Ontario. As we approached Peterborough we decided to take Hwy 407 through GTO and we were glad we did. It’s a toll highway so the traffic was light all the way and the speeding was epic. Speed limit is 100k/h, I drove in the 4th lane of the 6 lane highway driving at 118k/h and I was passed on the right by cars doing 140+k/h. We only saw one car pulled over by the cops. 

407 merged with 401 in west Mississauga  and the traffic got really heavy with a lot of transport trucks. We only stayed on the 401 for some 5km, then turned off in Milton onto the country roads to Fergus.

We stayed in this area for several days to spend time with Linda's family to do a memorial for her late parents.  We visited with her cousin Yvonne, her brother John in Elora and brother David in Harriston, where we had a lovely early Thanksgiving dinner.

We stayed in this area for several days to spend time with Linda's family to do a memo