LIVING THE LIFESTYLE - November 2, 2017


Catherine Cummins's photo.

I wake and stretch languidly and listen to the steady drum of rain on the roof. Not much of a day for re-positioning from Schreiber to Thunder Bay, but I am warm here in my nest of blankets and my driver is experienced and no matter how bad the road ahead gets, we have everything we need on board. We wash, dress, eat and do the dishes then transition to the cab where we snuggle Manny in and fasten our seats belts for takeoff.

As we traverse the highlands east of Pays Plat, snow squalls whiten the trees and outline the sharp contours of the landscape. The temperature is mild though, and the road remains only wet. Lake Superior, gun-metal grey below banks of clouds, rises in desultory swell on the rocky shores at Rossport. The freight train that departed Schreiber with us, has kept pace and when it comes out into the open at Cavers Hill, we chase it to beyond Gravel River, windows open to listen to the horn blowing for the crossings, the tone mournful in the snowy stillness.

Gas Buddy GPS app finds us fuel at $111.9, and as we strike out west again under the triple arches of the Nipigon River Bridge, Captain Carl announces, "Sunny skies ahead."

All these experiences and I haven't even had to leave home!

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