Thursday, July 31/Friday Aug.1 - Gainford, AB to Thunder Bay, ON
courtesy Markus
The Yellowhead Highway
Although we didn't specifically intend for it when we got up, this turned out to be the marathon driving day of the whole trip. We started out at 5:30am from Gainford and made our way west along the Yellowhead Highway (16), through Edmonton. Having clocked up so many thousands of kms on the vehicles, we stopped in Lloydminster AB/SK for an oil change.
Oil change in Lloydminster
By mid-afternoon we were driving through stereotypical Saskatchewan rural farmland, with grain elevators and wide vistas. We stopped at the small sleepy hamlet of Wynard, SK, and found the local park (which was deserted). Here I had a short nap while everyone else cooked up some lunch at a picnic table. Luc "played" on the kid's playground structure in the park.
courtesy Markus
Luc's climbing playground
At
this point we'd sort of half-decided to try and make it all the
way to Markus' sister's place in Thunder Bay, still another 1300km
away (we'd already come over 800km so far). This would mean driving
through the night. I was up for it, and so was Luc. So, this would
be my first 24 hour driving adventure!
Saskatchewan Grain Elevator
After our little break, we continued east on the Yellowhead. It wasn't too much longer before we entered Manitoba, and crossed the scenic valley of the Assiniboine river.
courtesy Markus
Road Hazard Damage
Soon afterwards, a nasty chunk of some sort of machinery punches a huge hole in Markus' car's exhaust pipe, instantly changing markus mellow exhaust note to an unholy exhaust roar. After pulling over and verifying that the damage is contained to that alone, we continue onwards.
We reach the Winnipeg area at dusk, and desptie Ewart's warnings about moose and the northern ontario wilderness, we continue on carefully into the night.
courtesy Markus
Careful driving
Now that we are back east the weather turns damp foggy and drizzly. We stay close behind some large transport trucks and eventually make our way through the night uneventfully to Dryden, where I take another quick nap in the van. From there it is a few more hours to daylight and, not long after, Markus' sister's place in Thunder Bay.
Quite a day's journey: Total distance: 2117 km, Total elapsed time: 24h 03m, including all stops.
Friday,
Aug.1 - Thunder Bay, ON to Camp Amogla, ON
After some sleeping on the couch at Markus' sister's place. We go out for a quick breakfast and are then heading east on Hwy 17 to reach the Sault Ste Marie area by sundown. We visit the moving Terry Fox memorial outside of Thunder Bay, and then continue along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior. Lots of wild, rugged scenery - cliffs, lake vistas, etc.
courtesy Markus
courtesy Markus
courtesy Luc
courtesy Markus
courtesy Markus
courtesy Markus
Hwy 17 through Northern Ontario
Markus stops to take pictures of the big goose at Wawa, and we stop at a few other overlooks in and around Lake Superior Provincial park. Other than that, its straight to Markus' parent's camp, where good food and comfy beds await.
Total distance: 755km, Total elapsed time: 8h 50m, including all stops.
Saturday,
Aug. 2 - Camp Amogla, ON to Ottawa, ON
The
last day of our journey has arrived. Funny how the 8 hour drive
from Markus' parent's camp to Ottawa doesn't seem so long after
having just done a 24 hour driving marathon.
The drive back is uneventful, and the weather is crappy anyway, so Luc and I play video games in the back of the van. After 9 hours of driving we are back in Ottawa, where I make the rounds and drop everyone off at their houses.... and the journey is completed!
Total distance: 736km, Total elapsed time: 9h 15m, including all stops.
Road
Trip Summary
| Date |
From |
To |
Distance |
Driving
time (including all stops) |
| Thu
Jul 17 |
Ottawa
ON |
Camp
Amogla ON |
752
km |
8h
53m |
| Fri
Jul 18 |
Camp
Amogla ON |
Watertown
SD |
1381
km |
18h
35m |
| Sat
Jul 19 |
Watertown
SD |
Sheridan
WY |
1256
km |
18h
16m |
| Sun
Jul 20 |
Sheridan
WY |
Yellowstone
NP WY |
444
km |
7h
54m |
| Mon
Jul 21 |
Yellowstone
NP WY |
Grand
Teton NP WY |
86
km |
1h
45m |
| Thu
Jul 24 |
Grand
Teton NP WY |
Butte
MT |
431
km |
6h
24m |
| Fri
Jul 25 |
Butte
MT |
Glacier
NP MT |
489
km |
9h
54m |
| Sun
Jul 27 |
Glacier
NP MT |
Lethbridge
AB |
164
km |
5h
00m |
| Mon
Jul 28 |
Lethbridge
AB |
Calgary
AB |
221
km |
2h
56m |
| Tue
Jul 29 |
Calgary
AB |
Banff
NP AB |
218
km |
4h
00m |
| Wed
Jul 30 |
Banff
NP AB |
Gainford
AB |
468
km |
5h
32m |
| Thu
Jul 31 |
Gainford
AB |
Thunder
Bay ON |
2117
km |
24h
03m |
| Fri
Aug 1 |
Thunder
Bay ON |
Camp
Amogla ON |
755
km |
8h
50m |
| Sat
Aug 2 |
Camp
Amogla ON |
Ottawa
ON |
736
km |
9h
15m |
|
|
GRAND
TOTAL |
9620km |
117h
45m |
Detailed Map - Our Actual Route - click to expand
The GPS tracklog for the entire driving route is available from the
GPS Tracklogs page.
