Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay
What we are coming to discover as we cross Canada is that most of the towns we are seeing are depressed economically (I don’t know about their mental health, but I would guess that’s depressed too). There are vacant lots and boarded up windows and lots of people who seem to be wandering the streets (the only true homeless that we saw were in Winnipeg). Thunder Bay is on Lake Superior so it seems like it has lots of potential but the train runs right in front of the lake marring the view and factories also line the lake front which makes you wonder about going in the water (in fact, signs say it is illegal to swim).
The b and b is very nice, however. It’s in a very old mansion on a little hill with a large garden surrounding it so you don’t really see the town (which is good). Although, there are major signs of wear and tear on the exterior like rotting steps, etc. But inside it’s beautifully restored with lovely hard wood floors, leaded glass and antique furniture. Our room was beautiful with simple, scenery photographs on the wall (and this rather strange picture of a skull and dagger and other weird stuff in a pile—not sure how that fit in) and we enjoyed a lovely bowl of chocolates in the room (Asha loved this). The b and b served me a shiraz from pele island? It's good (but I may not be a good job because I'm so wiped I might think anything’s good).

We left this morning at 9;15 and got here at 9:30 (but we gained an hour so we are now on eastern time). It took soooo darn long. First off, the highest speed limit on the transcanada highway so far in Ontario is 90km (54mph) and there were cops everywhere. Now, I don't know if the cops were because of Canada day or if its because of Ontario having lots of police (they also have these signs all over saying how much you'll pay if you speed. And if you speed over 40km the fine is $10,000). I can’t decide if the highway is used so infrequently that speed is not important or if Canadians just plan on things taking longer.