Day 4 A mouse in the house!

My hunting instincts have been fully awakened. I got myself in BIG trouble this morning. I saw a black squirrel in the campground and I crashed at the screen door, it flew open and I made a mad dash across the campground after the "black tree mouse".  My mother nearly killed me.  (when she actually caught me).  Then as were driving... Im sure Iheard another mouse in the floor vent. So I sat watching and listening for that thing for hours!  

Day Four - Route

Me trying to find the mouse in the airstream

We travelled 565 km today from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC to Trois Pistoles. The town is said to have been named for a silver goblet worth three pistoles, an old French coin, and not the bang, bang, bang pistoles! 

We had a big long run today - but it was all smooth sailing once we got past Montreal then even better past Quebec City.  We decided to re-visit the same campground as last year … La plage a Trois Pistoles.  We pulled in to great spot over looking  view.  And we enjoyed an absolutely gorgeous afternoon!

La plage aTrois Pistoles

Puzzle of the day find Milou!

Papa went to a walk around the campground and look what he found!  The Western Flyer - from late 1960 to early 1970. Imagine travelling in that in that era!  Amazing!

Check out the rear windows

And check out all the stickers. Even Rouyn Noranda - Papa's home town!

Day 3 A Very Scenic Drive

 I'll start today's story with the high points 7:00 am departure this morning. Yeah!   Now that's more like it. We want to avoid the labour Day "bug out" of hundreds of people at Sandbanks park. One of the main goals for the day was to avoid heavy traffic.

Sunrise at Sandbanks

Crystal Palace Picton, ON

 A BIG ten  out of ten for our scenic drive today. From Picton ON we followed 

Highway 2 through Deseronto, Odessa and into Kingston. Then on to Ganananoque where we travelled on the Thousand Island Parkway - which was incredible - perfect road which followed the St. Lawrence River. Beautiful river views with unique homes and marinas and lots of interesting places to explore. 

1000 Islands Parkway

Travelling along the 1000 Island Parkway.  Past the Tower Barn and  monument to the Battle of Crysler's farm.  http://www.eighteentwelve.ca/?q=eng/Topic/38  Then on to the Long Sault Parkway an 11 km scenic drive through a series of islands and causeways.

Tower Barn Heritage Parkway

We had done all this before lunch. "too early to pull off the road" said Papa. "If we keep going we will be into Montreal" said Mom.  So they decided to cross into the US at Cornwall to avoid Montreal. Here I am arriving in New York State.

International traveller

We travelled from Cornwall to Fort Covington NY and back into Canada at Dundee PQ. A total international trip of about 15 KM!! 

Crossing back into Canada at Dundee PQ

Here's where things started to go off the rails.  Not many campgrounds in this area. We find one… but its "too dumpy". The next one is nice,  located on Lac Francois… but it doesn't allow DOGS!!???  We keep going .. Papa locates a KOA on his GPS and we head for that one.  "OMG we are headed right back across the river to Montreal"  says Mom.  There was yelling.  But it was now nearly 3:30 and we are all tired of being in the motorhome  so we are now at the KOA west of Montreal! 

But that isn't it.  I was allowed to play with my ball off-leash at the campsite.that is ... until I spotted a baby squirrel - which I ATTACKED.  My Mom thought I killed it. But Papa checked the squirrel  and it was only paralyzed with fear.

"More beer please" said Mom.

Motor home confinement for me

And it looks like a big storm is headed our way!

Today's route…well kind of.  Google maps would not show the actual route .. it kept showing us on HWY 401 - which we didn't travel. Only the back roads for us today! 

Day 2 StoneCliff to Sandbanks Provincial Park

Kind of a late start today.  Papa cleaned the motorhome before we left.  So we started out at about 10:00 am. Highway 41 Eganville to Napanee has new pavement!! We love a new road.. gives us a break from the rattles and shakes! This is a very scenic drive some big climbs with sparkling rock outcrops topped off with huge white pines. 

The best view of Highway 41

We are always curious about Provincial parks.  With lunch time nearing, we decided to stop at Bon Echo park for a scenic lunch.  It is a very pretty and well maintained park.  Here we are parked along the river - boat launch area.

Lunch spot at Bon Echo Provincial Park

Route for Day 2

Day 2 travels end at  Sandbanks Provincial park. My Mom was here 30(!!!) or so years ago with her university friends. The Park has the largest fresh water sandbar and sand dune system in the world. We arrived to a huge queue at the gate…well I can understand that...the weather was beautiful so there were hundreds of people using the beautiful beach for the day.  

Sandbanks dune beach - pet area

There is a pet beach here - but it is located about 3 KM from our campground. My Mom rode her bike there - but I didn't get to go.  NO chance of me swimming today!  But while I was outside our camping neighbours started asking Papa questions about me.  As it turned out they had a male wire fox terrier! His name is Finn and he is 4 years old.  Apparently he doesn't like other dogs either. But we met face to face and butt to face and it was all good.  NO growling or anything.  Everyone was impressed at how well we behaved. Sorry no pics of Finn. 

Scenic Farm along Country Road 12

Departure Day and we finally on the road! 35 feet of air bus and guess where I'm going to sit today?? 

Me and Mom

Today's route 267 km

First stop … OMG…You've got to be kidding …shopping (/!?)  

Target North Bay

Finally,  here I am at Driftwood Provincial Park - along the Ottawa river.  This is a very small park - about 80 sites but very scenic. The electric sites are at the top as you drive toward the boat launch.  My Mom didn't see the sign for our site so we drove past and ended up down a big hill which terminated in the boat launch!!! Papa had to make a tight turn then drive straight up the 10 percent grade … (there was some yelling).  

Posted on the road near Pembroke... poor cell service in Park!

The Day before Departure 2013

One more dog-sleep before we depart on our East Coast adventure. Papa and Mom are busy getting the motorhome ready for the trip.  Lots of hustle and bustle.  All kinds of stuff getting loaded and unloaded.

First on my Agenda .. the oil change.   Papa expertly drives the Airstream into position.

Then I take over.. making sure that the mechanic uses the correct oil.. High Mileage 10W-30! Of course we use 10W-30 on a trip like this cause it extends engine life in our "older engine" by reducing oil consumption and reducing engine wear. :)

Me ...supervising the oil change

 Meanwhile back at the office..the loading and unloading continue. OH but Kaya is in trouble... destroying the swimming noodle ..when my Mom wasn't looking.

Shredding the noodle

Barking about Pancake Bay Provincial Park

All dogs and dog people... if you haven't been to Pancake Bay Provincial Park, you need to go! This is one of our most favourite places to visit. Why?  Five kilometres of sand beach on Lake Superior, crystal clear water and most importantly... a DOG swimming area is WHY!

Here's a family movie starring me at Pancake Bay a few years back!

My family and I visit at least two or three times each season...the beach is so huge it is never crowded.

Pancake Bay July 2013

Our favourite campsite- right next to the beach!

Lots of great digging!

Running with the family!

Enjoying the view

Sharing the "Air"

I'd like to introduce Kaya, she's my officemate and closest dog friend. I have to tell you I'm not really a fan of other dogs..but Kaya has been around for a couple of years and so we are used to each other. Earlier this summer we brought Kaya on her first Airstream trip.  I'm not a good "share-er" so my parents were a little apprehensive about bringing Kaya the big dog. As you dog people know, Kaya is an Airedale, three times my size, kinda goofy, and kinda clumsy! 

OK we're off.  So lets get this straight .. I'm the top dog of the Airstream.  Normally, I settle in to my upfront position right away.  But with Kaya on board, we had to sort out who sits where. Kaya definitely wasn't going to fit in the upfront position above the dashboard. And I wasn't too keen on sharing my couch. 

Well there is the motor cover position between the front seats.. but this a bit too close to my Mom and Dad for my liking.  

So we had to do a bit of wrestling.

That left Kaya standing, swaying to and fro in the centre aisle.  For a while she was like a drunken sailor ..staggering up and down the aisle while we were moving.  Eventually she found her "air" legs she walked down the aisle, she found the perfect big dog spot...where she lay lounging on the bed and enjoying the view!

Kaya enjoying Canada Day at Meldrum Bay, Ontario.