Day 30 – Wawa, ON to Thunder Bay, ON

This was a day we wished we could capture and bottle experiences. The sights were exceptional.

The Route

We drove 291 miles west on TCH-17 to Thunder Bay. We passed White River, Marathon, Terrace Bay and Nipigon.

The Weather

We awoke to gray skies. The sun came and went all day. It was windy and the temperature stayed in the mid-60s.

Observations

It’s obvious that this part of the country was made for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing and kayaking. There are lots of lakes, rivers and woods. Towns are far apart, but campgrounds and cottages abound. We spoke with an owner at Halfway Lodge who reported that business had been great all year and that they were sold-out through moose hunting season.

Views from TCH-17

Lake Superior

There are lots of small lakes along the way.

There was lots of construction along TCH-17. At least six bridges were being replaced between Wawa and Thunder Bay. Dramatic cuts through mountains reminded us of how difficult it was to construct this highway.

Our trip direction put us on the wrong side of the road for good pictures of Lake Superior. There seem to be very few scenic pull-offs. So, we took a short side-trip at Terrace Bay just to get a close-up view of the lake.

Terrace Bay waterfront

OK Carol, it's time to move along.

The Campground

We’re camped at Thunder Bay KOA. It’s conveniently located near the highway, offers lots of amenities and is quite popular. It lacks the wilderness charm we’ve enjoyed at the last two stops, however.

Tomorrow

We’re going to stay here another day so we can get the car serviced and see Fort William.