Kakabeka Falls, Ontario

The name Kakabeka comes from an Ojibway word meaning "thundering water." The Falls are 69 metres (225 feet) wide and plunge 39 metres (128 feet) into a Precambrian Shield gorge. In Ontario, Kakabeka Falls are second only to Niagara Falls, and are often considered the Niagara Falls of the north.

Ontario

The name Ontario is derived from an Iroquoian word, although exactly which word and which meaning it came from is of some debate:

kanadario - sparkling or beautiful water
onitariio - beautiful lake
skanadario - very pretty lake
one of the above, but meaning only "a large body of water"


Manitoba-Ontario border. Almost there - not! hehe




It's amazing that there are so many trees in this part of the continent. As you can see by this cutaway next to the highway, there's only a very thin layer of soil covering endless miles of bedrock.

Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba

Maple syrup. Maple cream cookies. Maple taffy. Maple candies. Yummm!!

Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba

Campin' out




We enjoyed a lovely breakfast outside on this quiet, peaceful, cool and crisp morning. Ahhhhhhh.

Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba

The Lily Pond






We started seeing lots of deer!


Mama and baby





Next 2 pics - another mama and baby

Rennie, Manitoba - Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary, Whiteshell Provincial Park

Our lodging secure, we left our tent behind and went on a side trip to go check out this sanctuary for giant Canada geese. When we arrived at the sanctuary, we heard some wicked-sounding thunder and boy were we thankful we weren't caught in that. Then when we got back, we found out that a nasty storm had just slammed the area where we'd set up camp, unleashing torrential rain and lightning and the works. By a pure stroke of luck, we had narrowly evaded the whole thing! Thank goodness we'd bought a nice sturdy tent, and had the good sense to put up the rain fly before we left, just in case.

I'd paraphrase the story of the goose sanctuary, but it's actually so interesting it's worth quoting here (to make it easier than if I posted multiple photos of text on placards):

Alf Hole's Legacy

The story began in the spring of 1939. A local storekeeper brought four abandoned goslings to Alfred A. Hole, a mink rancher and outdoorsman. He bet Alf a crock of whiskey that the goslings would not survive for six weeks. Alf met this challenge, and won not only the spirits but also the spirit of the geese.

Although he did not realize it, Alf's love and care of animals ensured the survival of a special flock of geese. The giant Canada geese that return each year to the Alf Hole Goose Sanctuary are descendants of the original goslings and a living tribute to Alf Hole.

Why is the Alf Hole Flock Important?

For over 40 years, giant Canada geese were thought to be an extinct subspecies. However, they were rediscovered in Minnesota by Harold Hanson in 1962. The large number of giant Canada geese nesting at the sanctuary suggests that Alf's original goslings were also giant Canada geese, for they often return to nest where they were hatched. Thus Alf Hole's efforts were important in preserving and increasing a portion of the subspecies.

A gaggle of geese!


The grey patches, incidentally, are bedrock peeking through the thin cover of soil and vegetation. This region is part of the huge Canadian Shield (aka Precambrian Shield) covering half of Canada, where glaciers in the last ice age scraped the earth down to bare rock. As a result, exposed bedrock is a common sight in much of central and eastern Canada, and it's never far below the surface even in vegetated areas.




Just look at them. Aren't they beautiful?




Even Alf's fireplace had a goose. This is gorgeous stone masonry. The photo really doesn't do it justice.


We saw a couple of these bears run across the Trans Canada Highway on our way here; one in eastern British Columbia and another in central Alberta. They were on the small side so we think they were cubs. Not that it would have been wise to try to find out. Where there is a cub, there is invariably a fiercely protective mama bear nearby. Nobody feels that lucky.

I don't remember what this specific bear's story is, but I'm thankful to report that they don't kill animals in order to stuff them and put them on display here.

West Hawk Lake, Manitoba

This lake was created by a meteorite impact about 100 million years ago. It's about 11483 feet wide and 364 feet deep.

Falcon Lake, Manitoba - Whiteshell Provincial Park

We set up camp at Lake Shore Campground on Falcon Lake. It's really lush and green and just lovely. Incidentally, because of the tens of thousands of lakes and ponds in this area of the country, it's also really mosquito-ridden this time of year. I made the mistake of putting the bug repellent on *after* exiting the truck, and must've lost about a quart of blood as a result. Or at least it felt like it after all the bites started itching. But this trip was so worth it.