Planning Part 6 - Day Three Winnipeg to Thunder Bay

The bulk of day 3 will be spent in the car as we make the trek from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay - an 8-9 hour journey unto itself. We'd be remiss, however, not to make a detour for our first National Historic Site - Lower Fort Garry. Lower Fort Garry was built in 1830 by the Hudson's Bay Company as a trading post, and became a major centre for business for the Red River Settlement and surrounding area. Being located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers it was also a shipping port for the York boats that transported goods to the Hudson Bay. Most notably, it was the location for the negotiation and signing of Treaty No. 1 between the First Nations and the Crown in 1871.

Preserved within the grounds are original stone structures as well as many reconstructed or replica buildings that display various architectural styles. The Fort also contains many collections of artifacts including several York boats. Given the amount there is to see, and daily activities at the Fort, I anticipate we'll spend several hours there. After which, we'll need to hop in the car and start making our way east.

Day 3 Part 1

For this leg of the journey, there are not a lot of planned stops in terms of attractions or historic sites. This is, however, a good time to discuss a couple of our key road rules:

Rule Number 1: If you hear about a good place to eat... you eat there.
As self-proclaimed foodies, eating - in particular, trying local specialties - will factor prominently in this trip. So when we hear of a regional specialty, local hot spot or unique treat, the mandate will be to seek it out. Needless to say then, that when I heard the town of Lockport described as "hot dog stand heaven", it warranted addition to the list.

Rule Number 2: Photos must be taken with all kitschy roadside attractions
Canadian towns have a strange affinity for oversized, quirky landmarks. Don't believe me? Google giant perogy on a fork, or UFO landing pad, or my hometown icon, Pinto McBean. I truly believe our tendency to sensationalize the mundane is a truly admirable trait, and something to be celebrated. There are many reasons to stop in Kenora, ON, not the least being it's the last place for gas for several kilometers. But the real reason I want to stop is "Husky the Muskie"... a forty-foot sculpture of a fish.