BAYFIELD TO TOBERMORY ONTARIO…A GREAT FIRST DAY ON THE ROAD:))

It was a bee hive of activity this morning as we scurried about taking care of last minute things.  Went through our house check list half a dozen more times.  Last minute laundry, cleaning etc. etc.  Double checked to make sure all doors & windows were locked.  We have neighbors keeping an eye on the place for us plus our good neighbor Bruce will be coming in to check things.  We are also having our bathroom partially renovated while away so our good friend Rob from Deer Park Lodge  will be in & out over the winter months.  Rolled the rig out & pulled in front of the house to hook up the Jeep.  A quick good-bye to a couple neighbors & we climbed aboard.  I pulled the gearshift handle down into gear, stepped on the gas & had the big wheels rolling at 12:22 p.m.  We were finally on our way:))

AS I BACKED THE RIG OUT OF IT’S SPOT THIS MORNING I THOUGHT AHEAD 6 MONTHS TO THE MORNING I WILL BE DRIVING IT BACK INTO THIS SPOT AGAIN

 

JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM GETTING THE BIG WHEELS ROLLING

Having had no lunch our first stop was McDonald’s in Goderich followed by a $192.00 fuel stop just up the road.  From there it was a relaxing sunny afternoon 3.5 hour scenic fall color drive on quietly paved back roads for most of the way to Tobermory.  We knew all the traffic would be going the other way & it was.  All the week-enders were headed home & by the time we reached Tobermory we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.  Unhooking the Jeep in Tobermory’s large information center parking lot  a cream colored car pulled up.  They had seen our Triple EEE roll through Wiarton.  They too were Triple E owners saying how much they too loved their coach. 

 

We found where the ferry parking lot was located & pulled ourselves into lane 4 where we knew to go from talking to folks at the reservation office a couple days ago.  We ended up being the only vehicle in the whole parking lot for the night.  Now how nice is that.

 

It was only a short minute walk to the Chi-Cheemaun (Ojibway for big canoe) docking area so we walked over to watch the ‘big canoe’ sail into the harbor & nestle into her resting place for the night.  We watched as many vehicles disembarked.  The Chi-Cheemaun was built in 1974 at a cost of 10 million dollars in the Collingwood Shipyards.  Carries approximately 140 vehicles & 638 passengers.  225,000 passengers a season. The bow visor alone weighs 50 tons.

OFF-LOADING THE BIG CANOE

  

 

STEEP RAMPS ARE LOWERED TO DISEMBARK MEZZANINE PARKED VEHICLES

 

I TOLD KELLY ALL THE VEHICLES LOADED IN THE MORNING HAVE TO BE BACKED ON…SHE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THAT THOUGHT:))

We both remarked again tonight sitting in the rig how nice it is having all the additional space compared to our last couple shorter Class C’s.  We wisely left 2 of our 4 dining room chairs at home & appreciate that extra space as well.  We are just so totally happy with this rig.  And Kelly is so totally happy with her Blackberry phone which she received used from her daughter a year ago.  She spent time these past few months learning it’s capabilities & set up a plan for it.  Emails, etc.  I think it does everything except pour coffee.

SEEN IN THE PARKING LOT NEAR THE BOAT DOCK…DON’T ASK CAUSE I DON’T KNOW

And we are so fortunate to have a little doggy who travels so well.  Max used to whine a lot & Checkers just seemed to be frightened of the moving vehicle.  Pheebs just seems to love traveling.  Gets on the couch looking out the window wagging her tail.  Today she was walking around with her Teddy Bear while we were driving wanting to get a game of toys going.

A LOOK ACROSS THE HARBOR AT SOME NICE GLASS TOPPED TOUR BOATS

THIS NEW STATE OF THE ART POLICE BOAT WAS BUILT IN HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA JUST A YEAR AGO & I THINK IT MIGHT BE FOR DUTY HERE ON THE GREAT LAKES

 

So all & all we had a very fine first day without any glitches or screw ups.  The Gremlins left us alone.  Weather was great, rig ran well, very little traffic, & we got to see a big canoe at the end of the day.  Now that was a bonus.  I always enjoy seeing things I have never seen before. 

 

It will be an early start in the morning as this whole place comes alive around 7 a.m.  Apparently we get measured before boarding & I’m sure driving the rig onto the big canoe will be another experience.  Kelly will drive the Jeep on board separately.  It’s about a 2 hour crossing & Pheebs will stay below decks in the rig.  Oh & our Bell MiFi Turbo Hotspot is working like a charm & the internet is reasonably fast.  We’ll see how we make out Monday on Manitoulin Island.

 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A lawyer was well into a lengthy cross-examination when he stopped and said: "Your honor, a juror is asleep." The judge ruled: "You put him to sleep; You wake him up."