My next stop was an old hometown in the Pittsburgh suburbs, Pennsylvania. I lived in Beaver County from 2000 to 2005, and one of my sons still resides there with his wife, three children, and a grandchild of his own. I did not get to see much of Hoggin (my son) because of his work […]
Leaving Owen Sound, I embarked on a journey toward Kitchener, Ontario. Although I had frequently traveled from Owen Sound to Guelph, this was my first time passing through Kitchener. Road construction led me on a more scenic route, which turned out to be a delightful detour. I found myself deep in Ontario’s dairy country, surrounded
I want to start by telling regular readers that this entry will be a little different. Usually, I try to provide my observations and advice on what to see in the locations I visit. However, Owen Sound, Ontario, holds a special place in my heart. It’s the place where I met and fell in love
I left Saint Ignace, and headed to Canada. To get there, I had to go to Sault Ste. Marie and cross at the Soo Locks. I had spent some time in Sault Ste. Marie on my 2013 gypsy trip, so I didn’t spend any time exploring the locks, although they are fascinating. If you’re interested,
As I left Voyageurs National Park, I headed south. I first came upon the city of Duluth, Minnesota. I’m not sure what I had in my head, but I don’t think I envisioned a natural resources port as large as this one. It was interesting to see all the different types of facilities there for
Voyageurs National Park is located about a two-hour drive almost due north of Bemidji, Minnesota. It is one of the few national parks where you need a boat to reach the bulk of the area, as most of it is not drivable. The land area of the park is contained within the islands of the
Over 700 miles separate Medora, North Dakota and Voyageurs National Park in International Falls, Minnesota. I made three stops along the way. The first stop was in Jamestown, North Dakota. It is on I-94 and is home to the world’s largest buffalo statue. I spent the day there. The statue is in Frontier Park, which
My third Badlands in 30 days. First, I didn’t know there was more than one Badlands. To me, the only Badlands I had ever heard of was South Dakota’s National Park. I’d been there a couple of times. They were interesting colors, and stark rocks with striated hues showing the different geological formations that had made
The drive (almost due north) from South Dakota to North Dakota was anything but straight. I zigged and zagged around towns, farms, and outcroppings of rocks (bigger than hills, but not exactly mountains). Along the way, I started seeing a crop that didn’t look familiar. I had to look it up. It turned out to
The South Dakota Badlands are about 50 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota. The significant town is Wall. In the 1930s, Wall Drug Store was just a small shop on the main drag. They started giving away free ice water as vehicles came across the South Dakota prairie. It was hot, dry, and generally miserable
