We began today by heading for what the locals call the North Shore. We followed the lake heading vaguely North. We passed through small communities which mostly looked to be supported by small tourist enterprises, accommodation, restaurants, shops selling curios, wild rice and smoked fish.
We stopped at Gooseberry Falls State Park and went for a walk to the falls, it was pleasant but the falls themselves unremarkable.
We also stopped at split rock lighthouse but just to see the outside of it they wanted $Au25 so we gave that a miss. Call us cheap but we can't see the value in that, fair enough charge if you want a tour or want to go into the lighthouse but just for access to the cliff top is a scam.
We stopped by the lake for a delish turkey and salad wrap before hitting the road again. Not long after a highway patrol car coming towards us motioned for Pete to pull up. The patrol woman asked for his licence, as usual thought it looked more like a credit card and said she stopped him for going 10mph over the 55 limit but would only issue a warning this time. He received an official warning but no fine. It all took a few minutes, maybe 7 or so while we sat right beside the lake admiring the view.
We stopped again at Grand Portage State Park and walked to the falls, quite a bit bigger then the earlier ones and the walk through the cool trees was lovely. From the top of the falls if you look across the river it's Canada. The trail was lined with trees, berry brambles and wild flowers with bees buzzing all around them collecting the last of the summer nectar.
We are both almost back to being well and being able to do the walks again that we both love is fantastic.
Not far from the park you cross the Pigeon River and there is the Canadian border crossing. There was a bit of a wait, only two lanes open for 20 or so cars.
Into Canada without a hitch and we headed for Thunder Bay. We tried a few ordinary hotels and after they wanted over $100 for the night we tried the Prince Albert Hotel on the waterfront. I'd seen it advertised for $89 a night and sure enough we got a fab, huge room with water view for that price, very happy. We settled in and went for a nice long walk around the marina returning to the hotel after the sun went down at about 8.30pm. Baked stuffed spuds for dinner and a couple of glasses of red to round out ta great day