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August 1 to 15, 2010   August 16 to 31, 2013



Sunday August 1st, 2010


I am getting breakfast ready for Pearl and André so when they come back from mass it will be ready.


Relaxed or what?


We had an excellent weekend with Pearl and André.


They are leaving, but we will see each other soon.  Our next stop is at their place.


We went back to Nipigon in the afternoon to check out the activities of the Blueberry Blast.


The Nipigon marina.




There was some entertainment going on.


Michèle really loved the small playground...


Back to the campground trying to adjust to the heat and humidity.



Monday August 2, 2010


Monday being the last day of the Blueberry Blast, we decided to go with the free bus and pick some blueberry.
We left at 9 am and got back at around noon.  Good thing we picked Monday to go because it was the "coolest" day of the long weekend.






Since we are on a roll, why not go and check out the Ouimet Canyon!  It was recommended by a lady who was picking berry with us.


A neat little bridge.


This canyon is the only one of a kind, it has a sub-arctic flora on the canyon floor.  The only one this far south.


One of the observation platform. Notice the Indian Head?
Just to the left of Michèle, between the bars!


Here it is!
The sun was just right and highlighted the head in a very special way.


A view to the north.
It takes a special permit to go to the bottom on the canyon and even then, you need to be a scientist to get there.


Nothing to say about this one other them we are very happy!


On the way back from Ouimet Canyon we stooped at Eagle Canyon.


Can you see both suspended bridges?
The closest one is "only" 300 feet long and the farthest one is 600 feet long, making it the longest one in Canada.


The "short" bridge!


Way at the bottom of the lake you can see the landing platform of the zip line.


A view of the north, we can barely see the long bridge.
Notice the stairs!  We will come back that way.


The bottom of the canyon is about 300 feet below the bridge.


The small bridge.


The long bridge!


A view from the long bridge.


Start of the zip line.


Can you see the "zip liner" ?




Raspberry, must stop and enjoy!


It looks pretty small from the bottom.


We are at the landing of the zip line. A view of both bridges.




Tuesday August 3, 2010


Did not do much today
We even had a short, but intense rain storm in the afternoon.


Time to recharge our batteries.



Wednesday August 4, 2010


Easy day driving today.
We left Nipigon behind us and we drive north on highway 11.  Very nice scenery.


We must be "very far north" because we saw a snowman in Beardmore!


A few hours later we arrive in Longlac.


Pearl was waiting for us.


Our campsite for the next 5 days.


After pulling the car behind the motorhome, it needs a good wash.


Here we are with Pearl and André.


Longlac is a small village with a large francophone community.  We were very surprised to see an "enterrement de vie de garçons", I do not know the English term, it is the burying of the bachelors life.

A good supper with friends.


Pearl and André children will be here tomorrow and for the next few days.

Note:  I did not forget Thursday the 5th, it is just that we did not take any picture that day and it was a relaxed day.



Friday August 6, 2010


No need for air conditioning last night with a cool 6 degrees.


Andrea, Molly and Jack arrived today.


So did Claudette's other sister Barbara, her husband and son, Luka.


A really happy Dad with his family.


A very happy Jack going for a short quad ride.


André and Pearl.


François and André getting the table ready for supper.


Getting ready for the fire later on.


Jack "the big hands!"


Again, a good meal, as you can see we are all wearing a jacket.  When the sun goes down, it gets cool.


This is the first time we meet the rest of Claudette's family.  Very happy to have met them.



Saturday August 7, 2010


As you can read from the plaque, Longlac goes a long way back.  After the fur trades, it was the mines and the wood products that took over the economy.  We all know what happened to these two industries, they eventually closed their doors.  Some recent finding in the mining field may prove to be worthwhile to exploit, but at this time it is uncertain.




There is an Indian Reserve next to Longlac and we could hear the drums from André's place.
A POW-WOW was taking place, so we decided to go and have a look.  A POW-WOW is a gathering for dancing and spiritual time for the native people from all over North America.  Some of the costumes were great.






Pearl and André had to go to Thunder Bay and pick up Claudette and Miranda. They got back home after supper.


We ended the evening around a nice fire.


We were very happy to see Claudette and Miranda again.



Sunday August 8, 2010


If memory has not failed me, every few weeks a group of musicians gather and play music just for the fun of it.
André belongs to that group.  They were playing this afternoon.
Michèle and I went to listen to them and we liked it and stayed for a few hours.  They are very laid-back.
People would stop in the parking lot from a few minutes to a few hours.  We liked it.


  

Our first official picture with our baseball cap given to us by the "Camping Crew" in Cold Lake.
Of course, in the background is a poster given to us by Shelley and Dave.  Yes, Life Is Good!


Claudette's sisters went camping with their family. Claudette and Pearl looked after Luka.
Luka took a little dip in the pool.






Somme pictures of the "gang" the night before we left.
Tomorrow we hit the road again.






To Pearl and André, thank you very much for having us at your house like we were part of the family.
It was a pleasure to meet the rest of your family, Andrea, Barbara and their family.
Of course it was great to see Claudette and Miranda again.

Thank you!



Monday August 9, 2010


In no particular order, just picture of stuff we found interesting on our way to Rouyn-Noranda.












The first time we saw this man was just before Thunder Bay.  Who do we see a few kilometers after Longlac? The same man !
That was over 300 kilometer apart!
Who is he?
Where is he going?
Why?
If we see him again I think we will stop and ask him those questions.


Just a cute name for a restaurant, it is a French thing!
After a visit at the information center, we decided to stay only 2 nights in Kirkland Lake.


Highway 11 between Longlac and Kirkland Lake is very nice so we made it to Kirkland Lake, close to 600 km today.

Our son Benoit has sold his house in Bonnyville and will arrive on the August 23rd in Montreal.
We have to be there to pick him up of course.



Tuesday August 10, 2010


The Kirkland Lake area has many lakes, but at the same time very few cottages on them.
Kirkland Lake is more a mining town.


We could not visit the mine, it only opens on Sunday !


The equipment used in the mine look like toys...


Culver Park campground, site A35.
Mostly seasonal sites.




A little disappointed with Kirkland Lake, it is not a very touristy town.

Tomorrow we continue on to Quebec.



Wednesday August 11, 2010



I have to say, in Quebec they make road signs interesting !


Right in Rouyn-Noranda, a beach!
The information center in Rouyn-Noranda was excellent.  They know how to "sell" the town, welcome to Quebec!


We are now driving on highway 117, a good road.  When we got off the 117 and took a secondary road to our campground, it was very rough.   We could only make 50 km/h in a 80 km/h zone because we could hear our dishes making so much noise.  We were sure they would break.   According to campground owner, the road is not that bad.  I sure hope this is not the standard for secondary roads in Quebec!


When we un-hook the car from the motorhome, it is covered with dust and small pebbles.  No opening of windows or using the wipers until it is washed.  Don't want to scratch the windows.


Setting up the antenna for the internet.  I am getting faster and faster every time I set it up.


Wishing my brother a Happy Birthday!


Not sure what our site number is, but at $25 per night with full service, can't complain.


Took the rest of the day in the relaxed mode.



Thursday August 12, 2010


The town of Rouyn-Noranda has made bicycle available at no cost for tourists and local people in town.
What a great idea!  We signed out 2 and took a ride around the lake.




Notice the color of the water fountain?
Hummmm! I will have to ask about that.


After our bike ride, we visited the Hydro Quebec Training and Distribution center for a tour.




Michèle taking pictures of...


... a concrete block with the Hydro logo.


Very interesting tour.  The guide explained electricity and how it is transported, controlled and distributed throughout Quebec and outside markets.



Friday August 13, 2010


Rouyn-Noranda is the capital of copper.


On to visit the Horne foundry where they melt, buy and recycle copper.


Michèle having a good time...


The big round flowers are just like the one we used to have when I was growing up.


Our tour vehicle.


Waiting for the tour by the lake Osisko.




This is the living room in the Horne House. This house is still used by employee and visitors of the mine.
All the furniture and carpet are from the early 1920's.


Here we are ready for the tour.
We cannot take any pictures during the tour to protect the foundry from industrial espionage?


Great tour, the guide was just great!  One hour and forty five minutes later the tour was done.
Let me tell you, it did not feel like 1 h 45, but more like 15 minutes she was that good.
We really enjoyed Rouyn-Noranda.



Saturday August 14, 2010


Easy day today, just a visit to the local garden of flowers and "rocks".




















  

A beautiful day.
Tomorrow, direction Val d'Or.



Sunday August 15, 2010


An easy drive of 125 km today.  As far as the roads are concerns, in this part of Quebec, 50/50 are good and the other not so good.
We noticed there is hardly any warning signs about bumps or dips on the roads.
It woulds probably cost to much to have so many!
Here we see some tailing from the mining industry.


Welcome to Val d'Or.


Almost at the Cité de l'Or, "City of Gold".


Here we are!


Last weekend was the 75th anniversary of the town of Val d'Or.


The campground is right at the Cité de l'Or.
Only $25 per night for all services (5 sites total) and $15 in the gravel lot.


A beautiful +28 with a million % of humidity.
We are not used to this humidity and it is hard on us...


We were treated to an evening of thunder storms and some sunny patches.






Tomorrow we visit the mine, a 4 hour visit

Life is good!

    
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