SOO TO THE VIEW

Sault Ste. Marie is celebrating its 100th anniversary and claims to be North America's largest centre for alternative energy ----- wind, solar, thermal. We also visited the local fish hatchery where Pat's uncle Arnold sired salmon and trout back in the '60's. Ever the farm girl, she remembers being there at age 8 and using a flush toilet for the first time!

Then another scenic ride, this section through the lakes and cottages of the Canadian Shield. One pretty village is South Baymouth where the ferry ChiCheemaun ("Big Canoe" in Ojibwa) arrived to carry us to the other pretty side at Tobermory. What is evident is the lack of American tourists, compared to other years.

So we're back home after a driving trip of more than 5,000 miles. It was reinvigorating to again see the massive size and beauty of this country. The worst damage of the ride was a stone chip in the windshield, the best feeling of the trip is to be home. The ongoing drought has browned the ground ---- those leaves are dry, not frost-bitten! We have been away long enough that the baby rabbits aren't afraid of humans. And how to apologize to the pole beans for running out of pole?? Thanks, angels, now back to chores for a while!

WILD GOOSE CHASE TO OLYMPIC TAIL GATE PARTY

Ontario's big, so we were still driving over the top of Lake Superior this morning. Town of "Wawa" means "wild goose" and they've got the world's biggest. But the just-as-wild shore and endless waterview is way more captivating than the Big Bird. Got to Sault Ste. Marie early to get front row seats for the Opening ceremonies. The "Soo" has historic locks joining Lakes Superior and Huron, plus great legends of bush pilots and miners. We'll have a better look when we're back here in September.

Along with billions, watched the Olympic opening.  The IOC is a crass old-boy commercial racket but they manage to get their franchisees, in this case London, to put on a captivating show. We thought it was the best production ever. Best in show ---- the emphasis on youth, and the Mexican or New Zealand uniforms. Worst parts ---- awkward inclusion of Mohammed Ali, and yet another voice-stretch for Paul McCartney. But it was truly inclusive of all countries through the use of the imaginative multi-petal flame cauldron. Jammy bonkers, Danny Boyle!

Five hours in the crowd (well, 2 of us) in the bleachers of a big game can only lead to one thing ---- tailgate party in the parking lot!!

TRYING FOR MARATHON, ONLY GOING HALFWAY

Thursday July 26...Rained most of the morning, which cancelled our plan to roam Lake of the Woods. Too bad because Kenora is a classic scenic northern woods-and-rock-and-lakes kind of place. And where else can you see a bug made out of a Bug? But on we barreled into our own time zone and the overflowing Kakabeka Falls, higher than most that we saw in the Rockies. In Thunder Bay more historical murals told the local story, even in the rain. Found out that the grain elevators in this top-of-Lake Superior town can hold 100,000,000 bushels of grain. Sandwiches for all!!

Two sombre moments on the highway. First is the monument to Canadian Marathon of Hope hero Terry Fox, at the point where he had to give up his cross country run. Way to go, Terry! The other was an overturned semi. Way to go, idiot! Then majestic scenery for miles as the highway curved around the waterways like a lover caressing a thigh.

In honour of the London Olympics starting Friday, we tried to enter a Marathon but ended up only going to  Halfway!

JULY 25: ENTER CLEVER TITLE HERE:

Woke up in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Surprised to realize that this is the town where exterior scenes are shot for the hit Canadian series "Little Mosque On the Prairie". (Coincidence? this is the Muslim holy month of Ramadan...) Asked at the tourist office and was told the church/mosque was only a facade that has been torn down. But you can still see the restaurant and gazebo where Amar and Rianna made us laugh.

Otherwise, it was a pretty uneventful drive in 3 provinces. Hundred-car trains carrying grain, oil, or these giant wind turbine bases passed often ---- we seldom see a train in Ontario at all anymore. The Red River that regularly floods lower Manitoba seemed very ordinary. The terrain changed from flat grassy prairie to rolling rocky Canadian shield with uncountable lakes. We're at Lake of the Woods for the night, near Kenora. Tonight's headlines say that 3 tornadoes touched down in Saskatchewan near where we were yesterday.

Can anybody out there combine all those bits and pieces into a clever title for today?

HERITAGE HIGHWAY (AND HUB CAP)

Writing this on the morning after a long day's drive into the night. Signs saying "Motel" in the distance turned out to be either long-closed or converted to dog kennels! The Rockies are only in our memories and our rear-view mirror now as we cross the plains of Alberta into Saskatchewan. You can tell there's been rain here --- flowers pop up in unusual places, and the dragonflies are the size of Cessna's.

There are two places en route that are dear to my increasing affection for my Ukranian-Polish-Byelorussian heritage. The first is in Vegreville Alberta, home to the world's largest pysanka , the iconic Ukranian Easter egg. My dad never got this far west but I feel such a strong bond with all the courageous and incredibly determined people like him that made this country.

Then miles of the expected cattle, grain elevators, young entrepreneurs.  Surprise --- a field of canola that mirrors the exact gold and green of Saskatchewan's flag --- look it up!

In Saskatoon, Heart Heritage #2 awaits. My dearly departed sister Ollie was born here, joining my grandfather's brood before they left for Windsor so long ago. What grief and travails awaited them. In memoriam, her name is inscribed in the TransCanada Trail pavilion. Find "Murphy Family" and you'll see her, the wind beneath their wings.

After so much nostalgia and contemplation, it was good to have a laugh. Remember that hubcap I found on a deserted mountain road the other day? We passed the '52 Chevy it came from --- the guy is still looking! So we got out of town fast but didn't settle in til a campground in Indian Head. Where?? Many of you Canadian TV-viewers will recognize it. Stay tuned til the next episode....