It was a perfect morning in Kingston when Erin, my wife, Caspian, our son, and I packed our car, ready for an unforgettable journey to Northern Ontario. Finally a vacation after 3 years.

With the excitement bubbling inside us, we set off for Thunder Bay, nearly 1800 km away. Our first destination was Sudbury, where we planned to spend the night.

The drive was long, but we made it to Sudbury just as the sun began to set. Pulling into the hotel parking lot, I immediately sensed something off about the area. Despite this, the Radisson hotel turned out to be quite nice, complete with a cozy restaurant and a swimming pool. Just what we needed after a long day on the road.

Day 2 took us on the road again, winding through the beautiful landscapes of Northern Ontario. Our next stop was Marathon Ontario, where reality hit hard when we checked into the O-100 Motel. The reputation of the place was spot on; it was indeed a dive. However, we kept our spirits high, knowing that the drive to Thunder Bay was ahead of us in the morning.

Arriving at Thunder Bay on day three and knowing we have made it to our furthest destination on this trip, felt like hitting the jackpot. We had the privilege of staying at a family cottage nestled along the shores of Lake Superior.

The long weekend brought a tight-knit community together, and an action packed calendar of activities. Caspian was in his element, racing with his cousins, potato sack racing, kayaking, and participating in swimming events.

The community BBQ on the last day was a feast, with hundreds of community members gathering to share good food and good times.

I of course had a chance to get out and meet some local Detectorists in Thunder Bay and got out for a beach hunt with a new friend Rien Fehrling.

Just after meeting Rien i managed to get a ring recovery call from a woman that saw my vehicle and looked me up to see if i was able to fing her 2 lost rings in her front yard. Long story short. SUCCESS lol i was able to return both of her rings.

On our final day, we managed to get to the Amethyst mines just east of Thunder Bay, where we learned about these stunning gems and had the chance to choose some to take home.

With memories made, we bid farewell to Thunder Bay, setting our sights on Manitoulin Island. The first leg of our journey towards the reality of knowing we will be getting back to work in the next week took us back to Wawa, where we checked into the White Fang Motel. This time, comfort found us. After settling in, we took a trip to the local beach, where I couldn’t resist pulling out my metal detector once again, & Erin and Caspian set off to explore two nearby waterfalls, later joining me for a swim, & wrapping up a perfect day.

Day two and still heading towards the Manitoulin Islands took an unexpected turn. We were supposed to reach another family friend’s cottage, but car troubles struck, forcing us to call for a tow truck. Our adventure led us to Esplanola, the beginning of the Manitoulin Islands where we spent the night in a rather sketchy motel called the Esplanola Motel (not recommended) lol. The next morning brought a series of phone calls with KIA, leading to another tow truck ride to Sudbury for repairs on our KIA Sportage, which had a recall on certain engine parts. Apparently the make and model has had issues with the engine coils and when it happens to one of these vehicles then KIA forces dealerships to replace all the coils

Erin and Caspian managed to hitch a ride with a kind-hearted gentleman who worked at a Ford dealership while I sat with the tow truck driver to Thunder Bay. When we reunited at the KIA dealer, I learned about the extensive issues with our car. The realization that we would need a rental car to continue our journey was the last thing we wanted to deal with. However, picking up a rental meant we could finally head to the cottage on Manitoulin Island.

When we finally arrived at the cottage, it was everything we dreamed of and more—a tranquil haven in nature. Finally, we could unwind after our long travels.

Our days on the island were filled with exploration, we managed to see a couple more amazing waterfalls one where we were able to go swimming right at the bottom of the falls.

And again several amazing beaches are on the island where we were able to take Caspian so he could run and swim off some of his built up energy from all the driving we have done over the past (almost) 2 weeks.

As I reflect on our adventures in this little piece of Canadian Paradise, I know that I must eventually return to Sudbury on Monday to collect our car. But for now, we have at least 1 more day to enjoy the beauty of the Manitoulin Islands. I just hope that my car is actually ready for pick up on Monday.

For now tho, I choose to focus on the fun and exploration ahead as our family adventure continues, embracing every moment. After all, these experiences, with all their ups and downs, are what make for the best stories.