Day 7 - Thursday May 25/17

We departed Caliper Lake Provincial Park at about 10am. Caliper Lake wildlife report: marten, shore pelicans, red squirrels (Learning: keep truck doors closed - we had to shoo a red squirrel out of the truck!)

Short hop to Nestor Falls (a hidden gem) just north of Caliper Lake. Nancy’s friend Luella Cook had worked there at tourist facilities for several summers many years ago (she was from Thunder Bay) (photos)

Crossed over the spot on Highway 17 where the headwaters of the Mississippi (the north-south water route from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico) intersect the Trans-Canada Highway (photo)

Go west, young man!!

Travelled to Kenora. Went to Lake of the Woods Museum in Kenora - very impressive (photo). Lots of local history, including about mining (photo). Who knew that in 1907 the Kenora Thistles won the Stanley Cup!! (photo)

Did you know that the name “KENORA” was a combination of KEewatin and NOrman (nearby towns), and RAt Falls (the name of the original community on the Kenora site).

Great french fries at a chip truck in downtown Kenora

Crossed into Manitoba at about 3pm (photo)

Within an hour of driving the topography changed dramatically to flat with straight roads - and we knew we were on the prairies!!

Arrived at Birds Hill Provincial Park, Manitoba just northeast of Winnipeg at about 5:30pm, where we are staying for 3 nights, until Sunday.

A great day of travelling! (340 km today; In mostly sunny weather (it had clouded over by the time we got to Birds Hill). But still fairly mild, and no rain so far.

Total distance travelled in our first 7 days 2,517km - averaging 360km/day.

Tomorrow exploring Winnipeg!!