Pukaskwa National Park - Travel Photography - Trans-Canada '25 (IV)

June 11^th, 2025: Day Seven

Distance Travelled: 290KM (approx.)
Days in Hotel/Motel VS Campgrounds: 3/3

Stop Along The Way Campground (Near Schreiber, Ontario) –
Wawa Campground (Wawa, Ontario)

At this point I am glad I am keeping a daily journal because everything is starting to bleed together.

I woke up this morning at three but was able to get back to sleep and woke up around ten. My Garmin watch said something new. It said that I got too much REM. How does one get too much dream sleep? One of the dreams I had was of Sarah and I eating somewhere and when we get the bill, we have all these bullshit charges, like “Mario Kart Tournament” and the like. It’s some kind of arcade place and I said, “what are these for?” and the guy tells me the events bring in people but some of the ones on the bill weren’t even in the same city. I threw it at him and told him to do it over or try again or something like that and he said no, and it was about then I woke up. I hate that. Dreams with no resolution. I was ready to throw down.

I was on my way at about 11:30am and got myself a nice coffee in Terrace Bay then set out to Pukaskwa National Park for my second hike. This is the first official time of using my Discovery Pass which allows me access to Canada’s National Parks & Historic Sites. This will also be my second hike in a row, and my body was feeling it from The Sleeping Giant Provincial Park the day before.

When I got close, I saw a sign that said Ojibway Territory and I thought that was neat. Maybe they have signs like that in Alberta, but I am pretty well travelled there, and I haven’t seen them.

After making a wrong turn I arrived where I needed to be and confirmed my pass was valid. I parked, switched shoes and put on the proper hiking socks this time. I also decided to leave the tripod in the car. The pack is heavy when lifting it out but as soon as it’s on my back it’s manageable.

When I asked the toll booth girl how far of a walk the suspension bridge was (something I was considering crossing to push my comfort zone) she told me 9KM, and 18KM total to get back of course. We laughed and said I wouldn’t be doing that and asked if there were any shorter hikes. I was given a map.

The first hike I picked was supposed to be done in under two hours but fifteen minutes in I was met with a rock face and there was no way I was climbing with 35 pounds of gear. This was already after some sketchy foot placement and a few stumbles. I went back the way I came and took the coastline trail, the one that would eventually lead to the bridge, but decided to just take it a ways and then head back. My total hiking time was 1 hour 27 minutes with a distance of 3.5KM and ascent of 75 meters. I got an amazing shot of Hattie Cove and that made it all worth it. I pushed myself but not too far.

After that it was an uneventful drive to Wawa where I found a campground with an amazing shower facility. Oodles of room. The opposite of Stop Along The Way with a flimsy privacy curtain. I just ended up using one of the towel-sized wet wipes I brought with me for there. This evening though, I basked in the hot water & privacy. I solidified a bed to crash on at my Uncle Glen and Aunt Jodie’s in Mississauga too.

Postcard obtained at the grounds.

June 12^th, 2025: Day Eight

Distance Travelled: 240.6KM
Days in Hotel/Motel VS Campgrounds: 3/4

It was a cold night in Wawa. It went down to at least three degrees but thanks to my wife’s excellent advice I had brought a sleeping bag instead of bringing my typical blankets. So far, I just slept with it unzipped but this time I went full baggy-mode, and it was pretty amazing. I was snug and cozy.

When I was up at 10am my fellow car camping neighbors Doug and Rene were already gone: A senior couple from Saskatchewan. Married for just ten years and their first marriage. I had a couple brief, but pleasant chats with them. I showed Doug my setup, and we all exchanged a laugh when I just about tipped over with my laptop on a flimsy bench. I guess it’d also happened to Doug a few years previous.

I got my stuff packed up and headed out. Another cup of awful coffee and my journey continued down Highway 17.

The views in this Provence are astonishing. It seems there is a mural worthy view every time I turn my head. Funny though I wouldn’t take a single photo today. I love what I am doing and after a week I know I am on the right track and while I have a lot of gear it’s not my main goal.

In Pancake Bay on Highway 17 there’s a store called Agawa Gifts, and I saw signs for it 50 KM out, so of course I had to obey, and pop in.

I grabbed a pin for my bag made by an indigenous artist, and a shirt, red of all colours (breaking my all-black rule) with Mishipeshu, a mythical creature in indigenous folklore relating to Lake Superior.

I made it to Sault St. Marie by 3pm and checked into Adam’s Motel. After settling in with a medium pizza and bread sticks, I drove to a car wash and had 3000KM worth of bugs blasted off my grill.

I’m considering staying an extra day so I can check this town out, I hear good things and the guidebook I picked up at the office has some neat ideas which I have earmarked.