Ohio, Michigan and back to Canada

OK where were we? After getting the new tire installed on the trailer we took off on I 80 which was now called the Indiana Toll Road. Similar to some of the toll roads in Europe where you get a ticket when you get on and pay when you get off. After streaming along for 3 - 4 hours it was getting to be a bit boring and it was time for a stretch and something to eat. So we got off at an intersection that promised another quieter route to our destination, Harrison Lake State Park in Ohio (oh and just happenned to have an Outlet Mall). Unfortunately it also had a major construction project and detours from my planned route so we spent a frustrating hour as Garmin Gertie led us through the rural Indiana coutryside past many farmhouses such as this.

In the end what was supposed to be one of our shortest driving days ended up being pretty long and we missed getting a campsite on the more developed northside of the lake by nanoseconds and camping on a large grassy patch with a friendly family with six (yes 6) boys as our only neighbours. They were tenting, driving the twin to our van. They are entitled to be driving such a van. Today's thunderstorm came early and began with a terrific wind that had us scrambling to rescue the trailer awning. But the skies cleared after dinner and we had a lovely walk around the lake. That evening, knowing that we were returning to Canada the next day on a Saturday,we made a reservation for Wheatley Provincial Park, near Point Pele National Park

In the morning we again traversed our way through the farm fields of Ohio, past many corn fields that did seem to be suffering from the drought and a number of small churches many with small graveyards alongside with remarkably large headstones. But soon we were back on interstates making our way through Michigan. Unfortunatley I was too slow to take a picture of the most interesting road sign of the trip:

PRISON AREA

DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS

Pete requested that we avoid driving through Detroit on our way to Ontario so we crossed over by the bridge between Port Huron and Sarnia and then started to make our way down to Wheathley on Lake Erie. This was perhaps our most meandering route to date, now through Ontario countryside of potato fields, old brick farmhouses and United churches but eventually, much to our amazement we arrived at the very poorly signed park. It almost seems as if Ontario Parks didn't want you to find this place.

Our campsite was spacious but with no power and the most expensive to date. The park was filled with family weekend campers, lots of kids on bikes everywhere. But a short walkvia a dilapidated foot bridge over a lagoon filled with frogs and bird life took us to the banks of Lake Erie and down the banks to dip our toes in the lake.

And guess what no thunderstorm tonight. Canada eh.