Kakabeka Falls: The Soft Flow Before the Fall — Ontario, Canada

Come on… another tough night.

My comfy cocoon becomes a cage when I have physical pain and cannot move or stand to give myself some relief.

I know there is a good lesson my hip is trying to teach me. However, I prefer to be in denial. Sometimes it is easier to ignore the natural aging process. :)

At the end of the day, all lessons seem to come back to one big understanding: letting go, acceptance, flexibility, and adjusting to the flow of life.

I totally refuse to acknowledge that I might need to scale back the mileage on my hikes. That is where my stubbornness is actually working against me.

It will be a challenging negotiation between my spirit and my body to find a middle ground. I am 58, and I still consider myself a baby with good fitness and stamina. I do not want to give up what brings me so much joy. My only hope is that this is just another hiccup that will pass with good rest and a few adjustments.

I have over five hours of driving today. Yes, I know, it’s too many hours of driving. I plan to be disciplined and stop every hour to walk for 15 to 20 minutes. It is not an easy task, as I love driving. I find it so relaxing.

Ontario’s landscape offers a change of scenery for my landscape movie. There are more dimensions now, as rocky shores are added to the blue lakes. I still have different shades of green from the sea of trees, and a large sky to hold all the fluffy white clouds.

So here is an interesting concept in Canada. There are signs along the highway informing you of the simple consequences of going over the speed limit. You are told in advance what will happen if you choose to go over the speed limit. The signs even tell you how many points you will gain against your license.

I find this to be a great reminder about choices and the consequences of our actions. I raised my boys on that foundation. It is a simple lesson and a simple concept, and one I keep coming back to in my own life.

Every choice has a ripple. Some ripples are small, and some are much bigger than we expect. Some bring goodness, and some can cause harm to ourselves or to others.

The five hours turn out to be more like eight. My thought is to stop at Kakabeka Falls for a short visit and then find a free spot in Thunder Bay, a town only 30 minutes away.

By the time I get to Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, I am done for the day. I did zero research on Kakabeka Falls. When I put together my travel map, the name popped up, so I added it. Anytime I have the opportunity to see waterfalls, I go for it.

I am glad the park has a campground.

Oh, how I love the surprises I get on my journey. I know this is a big waterfall, and still, I am in awe of its majestic size and the stunning cascade it creates as it literally falls right at the edge.

This waterfall carries a story of calm before the storm. The river’s quiet flow just before the falls hardly suggests the drama about to unfold.

It is a captivating ending to a long day.

Good morning, what a relief. I had a good night’s sleep!

I start my day with a short hike in the park and another glimpse of the waterfall. I am still stunned by its beauty and power. I take advantage of the showers and take care of laundry.

My plan for the next two days is to stay in Thunder Bay and catch up on my writing. I love this process of capturing my experiences in words. It helps me understand my emotions.

I also need to take care of administrative and everyday-life tasks, restock my cooler, and fill my gas tank before heading east again.

I know that for a while, a big city is not on my horizon.

Just before I head to the free spot in a local park, I stroll at Marina Park, enjoying the sailboats on the horizon as they sail on Lake Superior.

Thunder Bay is my first stop on Lake Superior. I will be traveling for a while, hugging its shores.

I do feel safer when other vans are parked next to me at the free camping spot I find on iOverlander. Sometimes it is also a nice way to socialize.

The first night, I converse with Charlie and Bridget, who are from Quebec and are traveling west for the next two months. We set our camping chairs between our vans and have a friendly conversation. Charlie provides very helpful information about their area, which I will be passing through in a few weeks.

Information from locals is priceless.

The second night, I have the pleasure of sharing a conversation with Alexia and Sajj, a young couple, also from Quebec, who are traveling to Alaska.

Tomorrow, June 24, I will continue east.