Us at Birchwood RV Campground
Not enough is said about the Trans Canada. What an amazing road! Coast to coast and then some. I remarked to Elsie that I'd love to spend a summer doing the entire stretch, Atlantic to Pacific. I'd have two expectations, firstly to be free to stop whenever we wanted to explore and or speak with someone and also to stop to 'picture take' whenever the scene called out for it's picture to be taken. Oh what a summer that would be. We agreed that the trip would likely turn into a two summer project.
We stopped a few times on the way back from Manitoba. The second night we stopped near Nipigon at Birchwood Campground and Cafe. Besides being tired and ready to stop, the camping guide indicated that they had internet access. Well, Birchwood was a highlight! Yes definitely a highlight. Birchwood was a highlight for a number of, you might say small, reasons that all added up to make the stay one to remember and cherish.
Was Birchwood clean you might ask. Very much so and tidy. Were the buildings new and fancy? Not on your life, They were simple, tidy and comfy cozy. We did some laundry and it was as if we were in our own laundry room at home. No surprises. Just a nice clean, cozy place to read your book while you waited for the laundry to be done. And with a tasty hot cup of coffee from the Cafe.
Marjorie at home in the kitchen
And the Cafe? Well you knew how your meal was being prepared because the clean and homey kitchen was totally open to the eating area. So no surprises, but we were ready when the meal came because, just like at home, the smells of cooking drifted over to the table as we drank our coffee and chatted with Josee and Marjorie, daughter and mother as they made the meal.
Fresh bread, Denis and Josee
In the morning I sauntered over to the Cafe just as Denis, dad, was opening up. He invited me in and busied himself getting the coffee on while I browsed the rock collection that sat in the front window. Of course I ended up with a few. Amethyst is indigenous to the area. What a place!
It's my impression after listening to a few of the others from adjoining camp sights, that if possible, people tend to linger a day or two. It's difficult to leave what feels like home. One difference is that my home doesn't have a mountain staring down on me from across the road. Neither do I have access to such an array of tempting fishing opportunities. Denis says what you catch will be determined by the season that you're available to be there fishing. As well,at home I can't walk up the trail and pick blueberries as had Josee and her mom the previous day. By the way as I was reading the paper I overheard Marjorie mention to some locals who had stopped by for breakfast, "we didn't see any bears along the trail or at the blueberry bushes." Okay.
Well we did leave and so did 1/3 of a very homemade blueberry pie. Damn, I wish I could stop by for another slice and a good cup of coffee.
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park
Uhmmmmmmmm you can stop by here for a slice of homemade 'berry' pie...just took it out of the oven. I'm not quite sure what the berries are called....they came via my sweet 'mature' neighbor, Margarite, from her son in Montana. Btw....brilliant post.
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