Turkey Point Provincial Park

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I have this funny way of thinking that if I follow the curve of the Earth, I will travel the shortest distance between two points. Thus, I thought it would be a good idea to travel to Maine from Wyoming through Southern Ontario when we took the kids to Bar Harbor in the Summer of 2002. Alissa didn't mind, having not seen the northern shore of Lake Erie prior to our trip, so off we went. I chose this provincial park quite at random. Close to Niagara Falls, far from Detroit, and, for us, unseen. Traveling out of Detroit into Windsor seemed natural in person, even though on the map, we were heading South into Canada! We headed for Lake Erie, and were soon lost. I had no idea where we were. At one point, I saw a work gang of blacks in a well-tilled farm field, walking in parallel, hoes scraping away at each loamy row. I stood outside the minivan where I could hear their conversations. Instead of hearing the black ghetto-speak that I am used to in the U.S., I heard nasal Canadian accents in the distance, men talking about their daily lives in a fashion which more resembled my own American ethnic group, and I was stunned. I didn't ask them for directions, so typical of a man, I guess. Figured we'd just continue along the lake shore, getting there eventually. When we reached a larger town, I was again surprised. Stopping to buy a food at a Mexican mercado, I asked the store owner in Spanish how much the produce cost. He replied, in nasal Canadian English: "I can't understand a word you're sayin', there, eh?" "Oh," I stammered. "How much for these tomatoes?" "Oh! Them tomatoes? Why, they're two dollars." "I only have U.S. money," I replied. "Oh. You're from the States. Okay, them tomatoes... why, they're two dollars."

"Loyal She Began, Loyal She Remains" Coat of Arms

Provincial flag of Ontario

Lost after Windsor! Tiny Red Line to Turkey Point

Although hopelessly lost, we eventually found the park! We picked out a site at Turkey Point, and set up camp. The essential rain tarp went up over the table, and the tents were duly erected: the boys with the boys, the girls with the girls, and parents with each other. Sanity.

Tar paper siding on farm barns 8 July 2002

North shore jetty, Lake Erie, Ontario 9 July 2002

Eli showing the fish bait, Lake Erie 9 July 2002

Brianna, Taylor & Eli at our campsite 9 July 2002

Round One, Boys under the sand... 9 July 2002

Page from the journal: "9 July 2002. Rain. Rain drizzle, rain downpour. All depends on where you're standing... "A low cloud cover gives Lake Erie the look of... a motion picture, shot through Vaseline... The boys assail an old bass angler whose bait tactics attract almost everything but bass. He is kind & curt, giving [the boys] a sheepfish. I chop out its eyes & slime one each onto the boys' hooks. I caught a 4-inch bass, and released him... "Later, I am fed up... big rain, anyhow... the girls... are admiring Canadian boys playing football on the beach... I am content to throw Frisbee with Jenna until the rains come... we return to camp and set about conjuring fire from wet wood... we cook hobo dinners... the girls are often at the flush toilets, near the Canadian boys' camp... the night is cool. What a pleasant change..."

Canadian shore of Lake Erie 9 July 2002

Brianna, Kara & Jenna. Lake Erie 9 July 2002

Jenna, Taylor, Eli & Alissa. Lake Erie 9 July 2002

Eli getting a spa treatment, Lake Erie 9 July 2002

Eli & Taylor tending the fire 9 July 2002

On the 10th, we drove to Saint Catharines, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We had a great time on the Maid of the Mist, a big boat that motors near the huge relatively debris-free Canadian falls. We wore blue plastic slickers, while the folks hiking under the American falls wore bright yellow slickers. I had never spent so much money on stuff like this before I met Alissa. I would have been one of those drenched hardcore hikers we watched from the boat, under the torrent across the border. Even though I was having a good time here in Canada, I identified with those poor bastages. After getting a proper soaking, we had a bit of lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Guitars of the Stars! I took pictures of Johnny Winter's red Firebird & Kieth Richards' blonde Telecaster. Whatever we ate was fine, but, Jeez, I wanted to play those guitars... The next day, we broke camp & headed for New Hampshire, on our way to Maine...

The fire & Taylor, supper time 9 July 2002	Making up their Hobo dinners 9 July 2002	Jenna waiting her turn for supper 9 July 2002	The boys get the big Kiss! 10 July 2002	The sisters & Mom at Niagara Falls 10 July 2002
Dad FREAKS OUT at Niagara Falls 10 July 2002	Maid of the Mist in the midst... 10 July 2002	Alissa rockin' it at the Hard Rock Cafe 10 July 2002	Johnny's Guitar, Hard Rock Cafe 10 July 2002	Kieth Richards' Fender Telecaster 10 July 2002

Supper at the Hard Rock Cafe 10 July 2002

Sunny time at Turkey Point 10 July 2002

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