Meet Lulu – and Lessons Learnt

Lulu  (the Leprachaun), will be our home for the next four months.  Spending our first night in a campsite very near the Motor Home depot, proved very useful.

The very helpful staff at Motor Home Travel, sorted out various niggles, and sent us on our way rejoicing!  As you will see from the map below, we plan to do a big figure of eight  – from Toronto, east, to Newfoundland – then back across northern Ontario, and west, to Vancouver – and back to Toronto.

Stopping for a photo call outside my childhood home, proved a poignant moment  – such a tiny little place, but full of happy memories   – long hot summers, snowy yet sunny winters – wonderful that we all remember the good times, and not the bad!

Heading east, we kept well north of the busy roads around Toronto, travelling mostly on Hwy 7/21 and 40.  First lesson is that Canadian road surfaces are terrible. Thanks to extreme frosts in the winter, with constant snow ploughing and salting, followed by extreme heat in the summer, the roads heave.  Believe me, the potholes in Herefordshire are nothing compared to Canada! The Motor Home Owners amongst you will know, that everything must be stowed safely before hitting the road. Despite this, we’ve had the fridge door fly open (not locked properly), and the cushion above the driver’s head, landing on the driver!  All part of the fun!

By far the quickest route for us would have been Hwy 401, which is part of the TransCanada Highway.  The road surface is kept in pretty good nick, and you can travel at motorway speed (100km/hr).  Miles are covered quickly, but conversation is well nigh impossible, thanks to the road noise!  To keep our sanity, we took several detours.

We loved the Thousand Island Parkway – a blissful area, of little islands dotted about in the St Lawrence River.  Gorgeous houses (both mansions and cottages) –  some enjoying an island to themselves and only reached by boat.

Too much time on the back roads meant we were too late to get to the intended campsite for the night.  Second lesson of the week, is to ring ahead and book, even though this is low season and campsites (if open at all) are practically empty.  In the end, we located a KOA  – Kampgrounds Of America.  These are huge sites, with all facilities, and have a much longer season than some of the smaller sites that we would prefer.

Third lesson of the week, is that Mother’s Day, is a HUGE commercial celebration here in North America.  There was one space left on the KOA site at Brighton – yes, you read this correctly.  Most of the names in this area are either English or Scottish.  This was a fabulous introduction to the Canadian love of the outdoors.  Despite quite cool temperatures and a chilly wind, every family had lit their campfire (every site has its own fire pit), and huge families were huddled around the fire, with winter coats and woolly hats on.  Rather like the Brits on a beach holiday, cuddling up behind a windshield . . . . . . if that’s your plan for the weekend, then ignore the weather and get on with it!

The TransCanada Hwy was our principal route again yesterday, but with a very pleasant detour along the Long Sault Parkway, which skirts the St Lawrence River.  Glorious sunshine, bright green grass and trees just bursting into bud, ripples glistening in the sun, and the odd honk of the Canada Geese made a very memorable stop for lunch.

KOA Montreal South has been our refuge for two nights.  Warm, bright sunshine made sightseeing in Montreal all the more pleasurable.  A horse and buggy tour gave us an insight into a bit of history.  Exercise became the aim of the day, as we huffed and puffed our way up Mont Real (Montreal’s very own mountain) – but were rewarded with some fantastic views.  Pavement cafes and very French architecture adorn every street.  Every language in the world being spoken on every corner.  Despite it being a Sunday, there was a real buzz – from student to tourist, from street vendors to taxi drivers – everyone very helpful and friendly.

Is it really only a week since we left home?