The Road from Sault Ste Marie to Ottawa

Saturday, June 26, 2010
While the leaders of the G20 are sitting around the fake lake in Toronto, we are driving around great lakes of Ontario. Our first stop on Lake Huron was in Blind River. Here I learned the difference between the Subway restaurant in the east and the Subway in the west. To allow for the large amount of snow in the east, there is a step up in the entrance to the restaurant (which we don't have in the west). If you don't step up, you can easily trip. (at least this time I wasn't carrying the camera)
Today we are trying a training technique from Ed's running group - 10 and 1's. We drive 100km, then rest 10 minutes. One of our stops was in Massey. We were driving along when I told Ed to pullover. There at the side of the road was a Mennonite couple with a baked goods stall. I knew that there was a large Mennonite population in the Kitchener/Waterloo area. And I had been told that anything that the Mennonites make is good. So we stopped and I bought a pie to take to my brother. (The pie was good, but not as good as Maureen's pies). We found out from a volunteer in the museum in Massey that the Mennonites are taking over farms in this area that people have walked away from. There are small townships all along this part of the highway and each seem to be different from the last. Tall water towers and church spires are visible long before you come into the town.
The scenery varies with almost every curve along the highway. We see mining operations, sawmills, farms, ranches and dozens of lakes. This is cottage country and we can see how this area would be a welcome retreat.
After a quick bite to eat at the Petawawa McDonald's! we were on the home stretch.
(Yes you can eat healthfully at McDonald's. I had the grilled chicken breast with southwestern salad, hold the dressing, Ed had his annual Angus burger and fries. He is good now until next year)
We left Victoria on June 19 and after 7 days of driving and 4850 kilometers were finally arrived in Ottawa. We were received with open arms and big hugs from my brother and Diane. It is good to be here.