Driving Thru Ontario

I spent the day driving through a stretch of Ontario. The photo is of a nice roadside stop outside of North Bay, Ontario, called Duchesnay Falls. After hours on the road, it was nice to have a short trail to a place where the nature sounds drowned out the highway noise, and Charley appreciated all the forest smells.

Mackinac Island

The Grand Hotel

Took a break from driving today and ferried to Mackinac Island. It’s a popular tourist spot where no motorized vehicles are allowed, and people get around on foot, bicycle or horse carriage. I walked around the town and took a carriage tour to see more of the island. I’ve never seen so many bicycles in one place before. It seemed busy enough to me, but I heard someone say in the summer the downtown streets are clogged with people so much it’s hard to move. Glad I went today!

Planning to cross over into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie tomorrow morning.

Charley enjoyed sight-seeing from the horse-drawn carriage

First Time I’ve Seen the Great Lakes

Reached the Great Lakes today. The photo is my first view, of Lake Superior from above Duluth, Minnesota. I’m spending tonight in Marquette, Michigan, also along Superior. 

Since entering Minnesota, my driving route has been more interesting, as I’ve gotten off the interstate and onto smaller highways. The only wildlife I’d seen earlier was deer, including a lot of beautiful bucks in Montana. Now I’m seeing a ton of wild turkeys, a fox, and eagles, including one that had been on the road shoulder and took flight just as I was approaching. It threaded the needle between me and an oncoming pickup so closely I was concerned about it (and my truck). Thankfully, all was fine.

Walked Across the Mississippi River Today

This evening I visited the headwaters of the.Mississippi River, where it exits Lake Itasca. It’s hard to comprehend that this modest-looking stream becomes the mighty river. 

Today was another full day of driving, but at least I was able to take a little time at Itasca State Park. Tomorrow’s another long drive, but hopefully Friday will be mostly sight-seeing when I hit the Great Lakes.

Glendive, MT

Sept 13: I can’t get my location map to work, so I’ll just update here. Another full day of driving and now I’m in eastern Montana, along the Yellowstone River.

Big Sky Country is Looking Like Brown Sky Country Today

I’m on the road again, this time to see the autumn colors on the east coast. These next few days I won’t be doing much sight-seeing. I’ll mostly be driving  But I’ll try to at least keep my location updated on the map each night. 

My posts will be pretty basic since I didn’t bring a computer. But hopefully I can share a few photos here. Bye, for now, from smoky Missoula. 

John Beck

Johnny Dale Beck, born May 23, 1941 in Ryderwood, passed away February 10, 2020. He was a life-long Winlock resident.

John attended school in Winlock then enlisted in the Army, serving from 1959-62 in Germany and Korea. He met his wife Sally during the Columbus Day storm, and they married in 1963.

He was a logger with Weyerhaeuser for 46 years. After retiring he continued to work at farming and logging. He was a hard worker and would do anything to help family and friends.

John was a private pilot and loved to fly. Many who knew him reflexively look up when they hear a small plane, to see if it’s him tilting his wings to say hello. He and Sally enjoyed going to grandkids’ sporting events and to the casino. He liked breakfast with the guys, reading, hunting and life on the farm. He was a Mason.

John is survived by his wife Sally; brother Raymond (Jo) Beck; children Kathy, Steve, Michelle and Annette; grandchildren Casara, Zabrinna, Trevor, Kasen and Brooklyn; and great-grandchildren Carter, Cayden and Dax. He was preceded in death by parents Leonard Beck and Ellen Zion, brother Tom Beck, newborn son Bobby, and stepfathers Stanley Perkins and Joe Zion.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Olequa Senior Center in Winlock on Saturday, February 22 at 1:00.