Ontario's Georgian Bay and Northern Shore of Lake Huron

The past 2 days we have spent our time in Ontario's Bruce Peninsula and Georgian Bay area.  The Blue Mountains, just south of Georgian Bay and northwest of Toronto, are smaller in size than a lot of the other mountains we have seen on this trip but they are still beautiful with loads of green trees and waterfalls.  The Georgian Bay of Lake Huron is filled with small islands some are only accessible by boat and inhabited.  I bet the stars are unbelievable at night out there.  We then took a ferry across the bay and are currently heading up the northern coast of Lake Huron which is quite stunning with granite tree covered mountains.  Every turn in the highway presented a new color of granite, first pink, then a combination  of white and grey, and then finally a beige and ivory.   Just beautiful! 

We stopped for the night in a little retirement village called Elliott Lake where they used to mine uranium.  We are spending our night at Miners Park.

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

Waterfall in Blue Mountains 

Ferry across Georgian Bay 

Gordon on the ferry with some of the many islands in Georgian Bay 

Georgian Bay 

Gordon and I thought this was funny, a dog driving off the ferry.  LOL!

Mountains north of Georgian Bay 

View from boondocking spot Miners Park un Lake Elliott 

Back in Canada - Ontario Georgian Bay Area

Travel days can be stressful especially when there are large cities and lots of traffic.  Today was one of those days.  We left the Finger Lakes region of New York and headed back into Canada to the Georgian Bay area going through Niagara Falls traveling on Interstate 90.  Once we got on the highway the traffic became more and more congested as we were entering the Buffalo and Niagara Falls area.  We chose not to stop and see the falls close up as we had a great view from the US - Canadian border going over the Rainbow Bridge.  Going across the border was easy and we immediately went to the Ontario information center and obtained maps and advice as to whether we should go north on the Georgian Bay or south.  The southern route is the less popular route  but still has good views so that is what we plan on doing.  Tonight's boondocking spot is a small park overlooking the Nottawasaga Bay.

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

NIAGARA FALLS 

Boondocking Spot Thornbury, On

Finger Lakes - New York

After talking to someone folks last night at our boondocking spot overlooking Lake Ontario we decided to head down to the finger lakes region for the day.  Cayuga Lake State Park off of state highway 89 which has a nice little swimming beach and an ok campground.  We mainly used this time to perform some housekeeping chores and moved on to another state park hoping to find a better view for lunch.  We ended up at Taughannock State Park also along Hwy 89.  It was a popular swimming spot with a waterfall across Hwy 89.  It was packed with people!  Another popular State Park we stopped into was Watkins Glen.  There was a nice waterfall, but, there were 7 large tour buses of people and 100 + cars in the parking lot.  Way too many people for the trails.  The finger lakes region is nice but a little too touristy for our taste.  The lakes and waterfalls were beautiful though!

Tonight we are fortunate enough to be able to spend the night at a winery with a great view of Seneca Lake.

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

Taughannock Falls on Cayuga Lake

One of the many produce stands along Hwy 89 we stopped and purchased some good looking tomatoes 

Watkins Glen Falls

Watkins glen falls a little further along the trail 

Another waterfall along the Hwy

Tonight's view

Lake Ontario Coast - New York

We traveled along the New York coast of Lake Ontario today.  Visiting the towns of Clayton and Alexandria Bay which is the Thousand Islands area.  There were tons of large boats traveling extremely fast churning up the water.  I was happy we were on land as it reminded me of Lake of the Ozarks on a weekend.  We then ventured along the coast for a few hours looking for a boondocking spot for the night.  Finally at 6 pm we found just the right spot, a lighthouse and museum overlooking the lake at Sodus Point.

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire

We have spent the last three days passing through some beautiful mountainous country.  Traveling through the rural wilderness and lake areas of Maine and the green mountainous areas of Vermont and New Hampshire.  We took the Kancamagus scenic trail through the New Hampshire White Mountains and another scenic  trail along route 302 in Vermont.  Ending up in Waterbury at the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory and the Green Mountain coffee factory.  We didn't take a tour of Ben and Jerry's due to huge lines and time constraints.  Then onward to see our boat friends Marv and Beth.  We had a delightful evening with some of their local friends.  A lot of smiling, laughing, good drinks and good food was had by all.  Then we got to sleep in a real bed and take a shower that was not a campground shower.  Yay!!!!  Thank you Marv and Beth for your wonderful hospitality!

Today we are in the New York countryside.  Going through the Adirondack mountains, just beautiful.  But pretty crowded as Lake Placid is holding an ironman competition on Sunday.  People are running and biking all over the place.  Next stop, over to lake Ontario's coast to find a boondocking spot for the evening.

So far this trip we have been in 2 countries, 17 states, 4 provinces, and been on 6 ferries.  Not done yet!

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

White Mountains 

Creek in White Mountains 

Waterfall White Mountains 

Same Waterfall 

White Mountains 

White Mountains 

White Mountains 

Marv's beautiful Home. in Vermont 

Marv's Gardens 

View from Marv's House 

Beth and Gordon at Beth's cute cottage 

Beth's view of Lake Champlain 

Ferry from Vermont to New York across Lake Champlain 

Lake Placid 

Back in the USA

We crossed the border at St. Croix, New Brunswick around 9:30 am after stopping at a diner along the Canadian border  for a hearty breakfast of biscuits, fried bologna, fried potatoes and eggs.  I purchased some Smarties chocolate candies, simular to M&Ms, as recommended by my friend Beth who was a boat neighbor at our Marina in Florida.  We got to the border and were the only people crossing.  It was fairly easy as we didn't purchase anything but some tomatoes and the smarties.  The border partrol checked out the van and confiscated the tomatoes. And jokingly they wanted the smarties!  I couldn't believe it!  They were of course kidding with us...it only took a little pouting and the smarties were safe.  :)  After we were on the road again it dawned on us that the next people probably had to give up their bread, lettuce and bacon so they could jave BLTs for lunch.

We traveled across Maine on highways 95, 2, 11 and 302. Our boondocking spot for tonight is on a lake near the Maine - New Hampshire border overlooking a marina.  Needless to say we feel right at home.

The weather is beautiful, 80 and sunny!  It's nice to have cell coverage.  The first thing I did was turn back on my phones data and text my kids.  :)

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

PEI

Although PEI is quaint and cute with it's tiny towns and farms.  We are heading back to the mainland via the bridges. We are ready to be back in the USA with cell phone coverage and better weather!

A few pics of PEI

Mussel farm 

PEI national park Greenwich beach

PEI national park Greenwich 

Ferry from Nova Scotia  to PEI 

Prince Edward island

We are currently in Prince Edward island.   Lots of farms and beaches.  The Candian Maritimes are definitely diverse from the quaint fishing villages in Nova Scotia to the mountains in Newfoundland and the tundra in Labrador. Such a great trip...but wait we are not done.  Next up heading toward Wisconsin wit h lots of sites along the way.  We probably stay one more day here then start heading back to the USA.  Can't wait to have cell coverage again!

Back in Nova Scotia on to PEI

Yesterday we took the ferry to Nova Scotia out of Port aux Basque, Newfoundland.  It was an uneventful 5 hour trip.  The seas were fairly calm so I read a book while Gordon watched the TV show MASH that was playing on the boats big screen TV, it was very relaxing.  Afterward we headed straight to  the same Wal-Mart we boondocked at before we went to Newfoundland.  Today it's raining and cold so our plan is to have a travel day.  On to Prince Edward Island!

Happy Travels!  Joni :)

Back to Civilization

Yesterday we went back to Corner Brook, Newfoundland getting ready to head back to Nova Scotia on the ferry.  Went to the grocery store and then as a treat went to the Minion Movie in 3D.  We laughed and enjoyed the movie immensely.  We bo ondocked at a little spot called wreckhouse.

Patty!  You have to see the movie! :)

Happy Travels!  Joni

Western Brook Pond Fjord Boat Cruise

One of the most popular attractions at Gros Morne National Park is the fjord boat cruise on Western Brook Pond.  To get to the pond we hiked 45 minutes on a easy to moderate trail through forest and bogs with beautiful wildflowers.  At the end of our hike there was a little restaurant and staging place for us to hang out until our boat was ready for us.  The boat took us on a 2 hour cruise of the freshwater fjord lake with it's stunning billion year old cliffs and 2,000 foot waterfalls.  Absolutely beautiful and well worth the 4 hours we spent. 

After the cruise we hung out and spent the night at the SS Ethie picnic area which is the same boondocking spot we stayed at the night before.

It was a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable day.

Happy Travels!  Joni :)