Sometimes you dream up a reason for a trip, make the first reservations, and then the trip evolves from there. We stared our dreaming back in August 2000.

We flew into Ottawa for a week, and visited the Ottawa-Nepean Municipal campsite. We reserved an RV space for a month: from June 5 to July 5, 2001. We also reserved the park’s picnic ground and pavilion for June 23rd. The party for our 45th wedding anniversary was set in motion!

Bev’s mother, who lives in Ottawa, would be 94 years young. She thrives on having goals to keep her going, so we thought it would be the best time to have a celebration, a family reunion of sorts along with friends. We decided to celebrate now, instead of waiting for our 50th anniversary.

That was only the beginning. Who to ask, how and when to ask, what to eat, who to help, how to get there, where to stop, how long to take, plus a myriad of details, would follow as the year progressed. It would take the entire year to plan. But that’s what Bev likes to do, and the wheels were set in motion.

We started by fashioning an invitation and sending it out with our Christmas card to all who lived in Ottawa, or anyone who might consider travelling to Ottawa. We hoped with advance warning they would reserve the date, and that we also saved stamps (because we were sending Christmas cards anyway) was a bonus. Of course, we sent e-mails as well, but not all our family or friends have access to e-mail.

We would take the trailer, of course, but heading west we would take 10 days, while the return could be a month.

Going across Canada could not be done without touching base with some of our friends and relatives. On this trip we would not venture far off the route: north of Lake Superior on our way out and south on the return. We wanted to touch base in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Ignace, and east of Sault Saint Marie on Saint Joseph’s Island.

We phoned all the states and provinces involved and received their tourist packages. We reserved RV sites all the way home as well, because it would be in the busy months of July and early August.

The skeleton of the trip was now sketched.

We finally left on the 26th of May. Starting from Hope made it possible to travel past Revelstoke to Canyon Hot Springs on our first day. We left early, and had our breakfast after we had done at least 100 kilometres. Lloyd tries to keep to a steady 80 to 85 km/h, so we can be pretty certain how long each leg of the trip will take. The first day was approximately 440 km according to our Map and Go planner. This was 90 km more than the 350 we usually do, and there would be three days this long in order to keep to the schedule.

Out timetable was loose enough because it was May and early June, but the times for visiting people and reservations for the place of meeting had to be more specific. We found it convenient to plan shorter travelling days when we were going to be having company.

Working with the Map and Go and the maps of the provinces and states, Bev noted possible stops, We did not want to go through Calgary, so we skirted it and went on back roads to get to Highway 16. (We do a lot of back road driving with Lloyd’s Suzuki, so we are happier off the beaten track.) With the trailer, we prefer a paved road, but sometimes we even choose a black line on the map in order to make a shortcut or avoid a big city.

We headed for Hanna Alberta for our second night. We stayed at the Best Western campground in Hanna, and got one of two vacant spots. The campground was right beside the hotel, and you could swim or eat there if it was desired. Not bad!

We had one stop before Winnipeg, and chose Neepawa. This was one of the long days, and Lloyd needed several stops. He just didn’t think we could make Neepawa. After a rest, we set out again and never saw a place to stay until we made Neepawa. We stayed in the town’s campground called Lion’s Riverbend Campground. Our site was right beside the White Mud River. Neepawa is called the World’s Lily Capital. It was a wonderful stop.

Next night we stayed at The Traveller’s RV & Campground on the main highway ring road around Winnipeg. The campsite is almost to the other side, where the road to Ontario, Highway 17, takes off. Our friend was able to drive out to meet us for dinner.

Getting back on the road in the morning was painless. We made Ignace around 2 p.m. Our nephew and his wife joined us in the trailer for dinner, and the next morning they had us to their place for a good, old-fashioned country breakfast.

At Ignace we had news via e-mail from Lloyd’s brother Cliff. (For travelling we use our hotmail address.) Lloyd was invited to tour the Sudbury Neutrino Physics Experimental Laboratory. Clifford is a retired physicist in Ottawa, but he had been involved in the planning of this extensive experiment in the Creighton Mine in Lively.

Next night was spent at Neys Provincial Park beside Lake Superior. We even had an electrical site, which allowed us to use the electric fry pan for cooking.

We arrived in Sault Saint Marie early, and shopped at an A&P. Then we were ready for St. Joseph’s Island. Our friend there has developed All Tribes Camp, which is owned by Fort Wayne University in Indiana.

Working our way east towards Lively, we first sleuthed out where the Creighten mine was located. Lloyd was able to talk to a mine caretaker, and he found out where he would have to go in the morning. We stopped for gas and Bev went in to find out if there was an RV park close by. The attendant was new on the job and he could not help. So Bev talked to two men who were chatting as they gassed up, and they told her about Centennial Park. It was about five km away from where Lloyd was to go the next day.

Because this was Sunday, they let us come in, but the gate would be closed. We were given a gate key and shown where to hide the key when we were leaving. There was an older man, also living in the park, but they were really only open weekends. June 3rd was still early. The Region of Greater Sudbury and the town of Walden, using the special moneys reserved for projects for Canada’s 100th Birthday in 1967, developed the camp. It was beside the Vermillion River, and was an excellent choice for us.

Bev let Lloyd out the gate early the next morning for his excursion. At the mine, he met his guide, and then dressed in a miner’s outfit to descend 6800 feet below the surface. They walked along a working mineshaft to the area of the experiment. They had to undress, shower and dress in surgical jumpsuits in order to be allowed in. It is a very sophisticated experiment using heavy water, electricity, natural water, lights and computers. Lloyd was excited and impressed with the whole set-up, keeping the area clean of contaminants being paramount. They monitor about 20 Neutrinos a day. The experiment has been written up in many scientific magazines, and is world-renowned.

We had tentatively hoped to make Pembroke, but Lloyd did not return until 2:30 p.m. We managed to make it to a lovely campground on the Ottawa River just south of Mattawa instead. We were tired, even though we had not driven far, and Pine Valley Resort was a super stop. In Ignace our nephew had given us some frozen pickerel, so we had a delicious fish dinner.

We made Ottawa just at lunch on June 5, as planned. We stayed at the Ottawa-Nepean Municipal Campsite on Corkstown Road near Kanata. It is laid out in a series of wheels, and everyone has a large private campsite with washrooms centrally placed so they are easily accessible. (We were very comfortable and happy there for the month.)

The weather in Ottawa was gorgeous. We visited friends and family at their cottages, in their homes and entertained at the trailer. We played bridge, did some touring, attended concerts, saw the RCMP Musical Ride Concert in their home barracks at Rockliffe, and had lots of time with Bev’s mother Olive and our daughter Charlene and her husband Gordon. We got to know our great grand daughter Ashley, and well as two grandchildren, Lise and Nicole.

Then it was time for the party. Bev’s sister Gail and her husband John invited Charlene and Bev to make sandwiches for the anniversary party in their home. Lloyd’s brother Clifford and his wife Marta helped pick up trays. Bev’s brother Bill was the Master of Ceremonies for the party, and he and his wife Dian provided chairs and extra coolers. Lloyd’s sister Betty came from Saint John. Others in the family and some friends were asked to speak, or serve food and otherwise help.

Gail and John provided shrimp rings for the supper. Charlene and Gordon provided two beautiful cakes. Marta donated the meat, and Mother Morris donated a floral table centre. We also received many good wishes.

It rained the day of the party, but everyone fitted under the pavilion’s roof, and the show went on. It was wonderful to have people come, some from far away, to be with us. It was a very special day for us.

One of the best things we did was have four instant cameras given to four different people to take pictures for us. We now have a wonderful picture book because of their help.

Our original wedding party was composed of 10 persons, and seven were at the anniversary party for a photo opportunity. Two couldn’t be there, but we saw them later. Sadly, our best man, who went to school with Lloyd in Saint John, died two years ago.

We can’t say enough about the personnel working at the Ottawa-Nepean Municipal Campsite. They bent over backward to co-operate to make our day special for us.

Next issue: The dream continues as Lloyd and Bev travel home via the US.