Kenora, ON

This weeks excursion was a trip to the top of Lake of the Woods - Kenora, ON.  The drive - notwithstanding the part through International Falls and Fort Francis - was a beautiful drive on two-lane roads that reminded me of what the US would have looked like if there were no interstates.  While you may think that's a nostalgic thought of better times in the past, think more of country economically stuck in the 1950s and 1960s.  Literally.  When talking at lunch with Big Greg over the winter, I told him about ours thoughts of traveling from International Falls to Glacier via Canada.  His response: "Why?"  I fully comprehend his question now.

In all fairness, there's not a lot in this part of Canada.  Scenic nature and sport fishing & hunting.  Nestor Falls and Sioux Narrow's are just gorgeous areas.  RV parks appear nice & basic.  Resorts defined in this area are places to sleep and go fish/hunt.  Look elsewhere if you want a hotel with full amenities. (OK.  Maybe one hotel at the waterfront in Kenora probably meets that criteria.)

Few if any big name stores.  Unless you're into burgers and fried chicken, there's no chain restaurants here.  Food's great though.  We had lunch at the Second Street Bakery in Kenora and would go back again if it weren't three hours drive to get there.  Be a shorter drive if the speed limit didn't drop to 60 km/h every time you passed through a First Nation area.  Other than it's a First Nation community, it looked just like everywhere else the speed limit was 90 km/h.  Same road.  Same road access.  Don't understand.

Of course, if it's scenic nature, then it's also walking, hiking, and biking friendly and Kenora is.  The pictures here are from the Vernon Nature Area at the top of Lake of the Woods, and it's a perfect getaway into the woods.  We really enjoyed ourselves there.  Trails were easy and long enough that you could make it an hour's walk or spend all day.

But I'll end with  our conversation with customs when we returned, yesterday.

Customs agent:  "Place the truck in park and take off your sunglasses. Where do you live?"
Me: "Emery, SD"
Customs agent: "Where'd you go?"
Me: "Kenora."
Customs agent: "Why'd you go there?"
Me (thinking): "Good question."

But Donna had a fantastic time.  Later, David