Over the past month I have been assembling numerous items to make my North American travels easier - the main one being a van, which can stow my bike for long haul trips while still making it easily accessible once I arrive in the territory to explore; the other is a new digital camera, which I hope to enjoy - you will get to see some of the results. No more 20 below trips on the bike; thank God because I'm definitely not a teenager any more. Although I consider myself a nomad (a.k.a. gypsy) effective August 1st, Christopher (Adrienne's son) calls me "homeless" which is technically correct but sounds somewhat negative - however, I can even live with that nomenclature.
The van, with overdrive gets 22-23mpg (imperial) @ 100kmph and only ticks over at 2Krpm at 110kmph
. After loading baby, my BMW, I took a run up to Moyra and Dave's place east of Parry Sound in a quaint town called Dunchurch; their house overlooks Whitestone Lake. On the way, I stopped at a lumber store and negotiated $20 under the table for a ¾ inch laminated piece of plywood, including a 26-inch length cut, with a six-inch gouge along one side which I didn't need - Buttle luck strikes again (normal cost is $80+). With access to power tools, I quickly added a travel bed that folds up when loading my bike and also has lots of storage underneath. I also installed a rear view camera on the van.
Since I am dog sitting for a week and no provincial parks had openings, Toby and I canoed into the middle of nowhere on Whitestone lake and camped out on crown land for an extra long weekend (5-days); really quiet here since motorboats can't easily ford the beaver dam into this spur of the lake. Every day was hot with a little wind to keep the bugs away plus the water is clear and spa-like. It's a shame that some campers don't carry out their garbage - I hate cleaning up after other people
.
Toby was amused at my swimming and bathing but will only get to the water's edge; I have to catch and carry him to put him in the canoe (he's okay once underway) --- maybe poodles sink? Renewal (rejuvenation) for me, unlike seven of nine (Trekkie term), is viewing trees, clouds, water and rocks plus hearing birds and the wind - this is heaven on Earth. I expect to do a couple more days of nothing. I don't think Toby has heard his echo before; he spent 10 minutes barking at himself one evening :-).
I am camped next door to a beaver family and in a neighbourhood frequented by snakes, deer and heron plus the whip-o-will serenade you to sleep after the mosquitoes appear out of nowhere as the wind drops at dusk which quickly drives you into your tent to read.
Modifying the van plus the first short trial seems to have worked but will give it one more trial before heading east --- stay tuned for "The Party".
01 Homeless
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Goderich, Ontario, Canada
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Comments

2025-02-12
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wemerkel
2007-07-31
GREAT WORK
This is neat. A lot of work to get organized, but we are sure going to have fun reading and SEEING your pictures.