July 5

Walked outside my little Blind River motel room this morning and ducked back inside.  Peeked back outside.  BLUE SKY!  I was happy, but there was a crowd of agitated people pointing at the sky, cowering, pointing again.  Afraid the gods were angry, they were preparing to sacrifice a waitress.  I pointed out that in old days blue sky was a sign of favor from the gods.  I don't know whether I convinced them, but at least they let the waitress go.

Got on the road, sans breakfast because dinner the night before was substantial - pickerel, I had - and commenced motoring.  Stopped after four miles and put on my jacket because the temperature dropped from 68 to 62.  Now warmer, but looking cool, I blasted off.  Glorious day.  I started with Lake Huron on my left.  Eighty miles on, I hit Sault Ste. Marie and started riding up the east shore of Lake Superior.  130 miles from my first encounter with the mysterious blue sky, I stopped for breakfast.  I mention this only to note that, while data are still very preliminary, I begin to suspect that Canadians are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the omelet.

After breakfast, traveled on through Lake Superior Provincial Park.  This is a real jewel.  Lake Superior on my left, with its headlands and bays, and on my right a succession of small blue lakes strung on the deep emerald forest.  This goes on for 142 miles.  And blue sky, did I mention the blue sky?  Temps in the 70s, not much traffic.  Below is a picture of what turned out to be one of the least of the overlooks.

Note the straps for the Camelback.  I am hydrating.  Also note the pot belly from the vast quantities of good food people are making me eat against my will.

Continued on from this overlook and came across a mini-van with Idaho plates.  The most surprising thing was that it was driven perfectly well despite having 2C plates.  In joke.  Apologies to non-Idahoans.

By this time the temperature had risen to 84.  Then it dropped 6 degrees in about as many seconds.  I think the wind must have shifted so it was coming off the lake.  Later in the day, after it rose to 84 again, it dropped to 59 over the course of about 30 miles.  18 of that drop was pretty fast, too.  Of course, by that time, I'd taken my jacket off so it was downright chilly, being a 25 degree drop in temperature, and all.

Before that, though, and just north of the provincial park, I stopped in the town of Wawa to see the goose.  I knew the goose was there, because I saw a sign for it about 750 kilometers to the east.  Behold the Wawa goose.  This is a side shot.  From head on, the goose has its wings partially extended.

Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.  Next is the goose's view.

Somewhere in this drive, by the way, there appeared another winner.  Anal Intruder.  Proctologist?  Tapeworm?

I am also playing the license plate game for Canada.  Pretty sure Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland/Labrador will be joining South Dakota and Delaware wherever they are hanging out, but the others are a lock.  Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, at least.  Not so sure about Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories.  Of course, these are territories, not provinces.  10 provinces, 3 territories.  I imagine the territories have their own plates, but I'm not even sure of that.

Factoid:  Canada is the world's second largest country by area.

I am staying the night in Terrace Bay, a pretty little town.  Went to the town beach and saw this.

Turned 180 degrees and saw this.

Did I mention the blue sky?