From Montreal To Winnipeg -A Road Trip
At the end of September, we hopped in my car and drive from Montreal to Winnipeg.
After waiting 18 months without seeing my son and my only grandson, it’s time to go Covid or not.
With the pandemic rules and the restrictions, I am not sure I want to pay extra for the Covid test plus a plane ticket. The cost of the test is between $75.00 to 150.00 one way, it is expensive.
As we drove from Montreal to Winnipeg, the weather was cloudy, rainy, and sunny all in one day. There were many great stops on route to Winnipeg. We stop at Wawa, Marathon, Old Woman River, Agaway Bay.
On the highway, you can see all the big signs with “Get Vaccinated!!” you cannot forget it!! The scenery is beautiful, but not all the trees are colorful yet, maybe in three weeks when we are coming back.
Wawa*Agawa Bay &Old Woman Bayre
We stop at Wawa on our route to Thunder Bay.
Wawa is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario in the Algoma District. You can see a large goose in the Wawa area.
Along the way, my son texts me to suggest stopping at Old woman river and Agawa Bay.
Sometimes pictures on google photos look very interesting to visit, but with gloomy weather, it was not as WOW I expected.
Since this was a short stop on our driving day, we did not explore further to get to the bottom of the Bay, I did not have the right shoe to go down, too many slippery rocks.
The Old Woman Bay was very windy and cold.
We stayed on the route that took us through the last major town of Kenora. It looked much like most small towns in Ontario.
We said goodbye to Ontario as we crossed into Manitoba on our three weeks vacation to see the kids.
Day Two
On our first and only night driving to Winnipeg, we found a small motel.
The motel was our last resort and not to my taste, but cheap. When you don’t know when you are stopping for the night at the end of the day, you take what is available. Lesson learned. Another long day is waiting for us. So we packed and left Thunder Bay very early in the morning. We had no stops planned along the route. Only eat and rest a bit. We will be in Winnipeg late tonight.
Winnipeg. Manitoba
Kildonan Park
Finally here, took only two days of 18 hours driving.
In Winnipeg, you can find lots of walking trails and beautiful parks.
One of them is Kildonan Park. You can see the house of the wicked witch from Hansel and Gretel.
Walking through the North flower garden, many flowers are still blooming.
The Kildonan Park Loop is a 1.2 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Winnipeg, Manitoba. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and running. Dogs are welcome on a leash.
The Forks
The Forks is a historic public spaces site and green space in downtown Winnipeg located at the confluence of the Red River and the Assiniboine River. A must-see for any visitor with all the restaurants and boutiques. I go there every time I am in Winnipeg.
This year with the covid-19, you have to show your passport even to eat outside !!
You can walk from the Forks to the Children’s Museum, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and more if you have the legs to go further.
Grand Beach And Brokenhead Trail
Grand Beach And Brokenhead Trail.
Beach in Grand Marais, Manitoba. Grand Beach is a freshwater beach located within the Rural Municipality of St. Clements on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. Grand Beach is on the historic La Vérendrye Trail. A beautiful beach, the wind was very cold, no walk on the beach today. Driving around the town we found “Trish’S Just fries” to eat, I recommend the fries, very good.
Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail
The trail is 1.73 kilos. It takes approximately two hours round trip to walk. The trail is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers and there is ample parking, washrooms, garbage and recycling bins, and picnic tables at the trailhead. It will be more interesting to walk there during the spring or summer season.
Pack out what you carried in. Be Bear Smart. · NO DOGS, NO BICYCLES, or ATVs allowed.
Trappist Monastery Ruins
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This Monastery was established in 1892 by five members of the Trappist Order from the Abbey of Bellefontaine, France. In 1978, the Trappists moved to a site near Holland, Manitoba, to protect their contemplative life from the effects of urban sprawl.
Fire gutted the vacated church and residential wing five years later. Information about the Trappist monks and the monastery is on display at the remaining ruins. The former Trappist Monastery Guesthouse, now called The St. Norbert Arts Centre, is home to many resident artists and is located on the grounds.
The Indigenous Peoples Garden
The new garden beside the Zoo is the “Indigenous Peoples Garden”. It was still underway when we visit. With every step, there is something new to discover, so much to see. Put on your good running shoes.
Next time I go back to Winnipeg, can wait to go back next summer to see the finished gardens.
The Indigenous Peoples Garden is a gathering place that recognizes our country’s strong Indigenous heritage.
The beliefs and traditions of Indigenous peoples reflect a deep philosophical understanding and respect for nature. Their stories, dances, music, art, clothing, and spiritual rituals reflect the belief that spirits exist in the natural world. Here, in the Indigenous Peoples Garden, the relationships of Indigenous cultures with the environment, both past, and present, will be explored.
Kitchen Garden
Seasonal Garden
Sensory Garden
Performance Garden
The Grove
Things to remember
On the Bad Side:
*Before you leave for your trip, take a note that not all gas stations are open because of the Pandemic.
Gaz stations in some areas are limited throughout the seasons and also depend on the time of day. Make sure you have at least four hours’
worth of gas to ensure a safe return home.
Gaz stations are non excitant on route 10 !!!
*Not very many places to eat except the usual Tim Horton and …..
*Lots of restaurants and motels are closed due to the Pandemic. It is very sad to see.
*Hotel is hard to find when you cannot book it because you don’t know where you end up at the end of the night.
*The color-changing was on our way back only.
On the Good Side:
My two weeks stay lasted one full month. We visited lots of old and new places.
Share my iPad with my grandson. (Let me tell you, I don’t have it anymore lol.) I got a new and bigger one!!!
The weather was 27-30 every day and this was in September.
Don’t do what I did : Crossing the highway at 7.30 am to take pictures. BUT No traffic.
