Massey to Lake Superior Provincial Park and On to Marathon

One of the great conveniences of our road trip has been the ability to charge our vehicle at campgrounds. Whether it's two 30-amp plugs, a 30 and a 15, or just a single 30-amp, we’ve always found a way to make it work. It's allowed us to start each travel day fully charged, and for that, we're very grateful.

The drive from Massey to Thessalon was easy and scenic. While the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 17) is mostly two lanes, it frequently expands to three, which helps faster traffic pass—often us! This ribbon of road connects countless small communities and businesses that cater to travellers, campers, and truckers.

Thessalon sits along the northern shores of Lake Huron, a region steeped in history. Long before the town existed, the 1849 discovery of copper at Bruce Mines spurred government negotiations with First Nations. The resulting treaty ceded control of vast lands—from Penetanguishene to Sault Ste. Marie—in exchange for £2,000 and a £600 annual payment in perpetuity. It also promised Indigenous peoples continued hunting and fishing rights, except on lands leased or sold. At the time, it may have seemed like life would go on unchanged—but large-scale logging and development quickly altered that reality. Thessalon became part of that lumber boom.

We stayed at a private campground there—less wooded than provincial parks and blissfully low on mosquitoes. This gave us the chance to enjoy happy hour and dinner outdoors in the sunshine, a welcome change. We also began to notice wildfire smoke high in the atmosphere—an early sign of what may lie ahead.

Stephen, Teresa & Fran

Tug'n on the Trans Canada Hwy

Sunshine - happy hour and dinner outside!!

No trip along this stretch of Hwy 17 is complete without a stop in Echo Bay to see the world’s largest loonie. Designed by local artist Robert Ralph Carmichael, the giant coin monument was erected in 2012 to celebrate the loonie’s 25th anniversary.

The "Big Loonie"

After a restful night, we headed for Lake Superior Provincial Park, with a charging stop in Sault Ste. Marie. We were lucky—only two vehicles at the Superchargers. We managed to charge without disconnecting our trailer, though we did have to unhitch John and Teresa’s. Continuing north along Hwy 17, the route hugged the Lake Superior shoreline, offering breathtaking views.

Charging at Sault Ste. Marie

We made a stop at the Voyageurs’ Lodge and Cookhouse—home to three
Tesla Destination Chargers and some legendary apple fritters. While the cars topped up, we enjoyed a fantastic lunch featuring whitefish and burgers, and left with a bag of fritters for the road.

Lunch at Voyageurs' Lodge

Lake Superior Provincial Park, established in 1944, was created to protect a vast stretch of shoreline and is popular for its hiking, paddling, and rugged beauty. As we ventured further north, wildfire smoke thickened. We, like many, are hoping for rain to assist the brave firefighters working across the region.

The Ojibwe name for Lake Superior is Gichigami, meaning “great water.” It’s a fitting name. The lake contains 10% of the world’s surface fresh water. Incredibly, all of the other Great Lakes—plus two more Lake Eries—could fit inside Lake Superior. And it takes 100 years for the lake’s water to fully circulate.

Our campsite at Lake Superior Provincial Park

The beach at Lake Superior PP

Another beach pic

Just north of the park lies the Agawa Rock Pictographs, one of Canada's most significant Indigenous rock art sites. These images, some between 150 and 400 years old, depict Ojibwa legends and historical events. We were lucky enough to see them by boat during our 2010 trip around Lake Superior.

Agawa Rock Pictographs (you have to enlarge to see the pale red drawings)

After another peaceful night at the park, we continued on to Marathon. The drive was spectacular—despite the worsening smoke. It’s easy to see why the Group of Seven found inspiration here. Between 1922 and 1928, these iconic Canadian painters camped, explored, and captured the stark beauty of this rugged landscape, helping define a unique Canadian artistic identity.

We made a stop in Wawa to snap some photos at one of Canada’s most iconic roadside attractions. Can you guess what it is? Stumped? It’s the legendary Wawa Goose!

Standing 28 feet tall, 22 feet long, and boasting a wingspan of 20 feet, the Wawa Goose is hard to miss—and even harder to forget. It’s one of the most photographed monuments in the country.

The story behind it is just as impressive. Local entrepreneur Al Turcott, a prominent businessman in Wawa since the late 1930s, grew concerned when early plans for the Trans-Canada Highway showed it bypassing the town. Turcott, along with other local business leaders, came up with the bold idea of creating a giant goose statue to draw tourists into Wawa. Their plan worked—and the goose has been proudly greeting travellers ever since.

The Wawa Goose even earned a mention in a Stompin’ Tom Connors song and appears in a children’s book titled Wawa Goose Meeting at Fort Friendship.

Fran and I by the Wawa Goose

So of course, we had to stop and take pictures!The 273 km drive included two charging stops and ended with fog and drizzle. We checked into Penn Lake Municipal Campground—a small, well-kept spot. It’s impressive how many RVs, trailers, and motorhomes are out and about in this part of Ontario.

Fran and Teresa by a totem pole

Driving through some fog on the Trans Canada Highway

We spent the next day in Marathon catching up on laundry, stocking up on groceries, and grabbing a longer shore power extension cord from Canadian Tire. (Sometimes those power posts are way too far from where the trailer ends up!) The rain and fog kept us from exploring more, but we were thankful for our compact, quiet electric heater. So far, it’s been running most days and nights. Surely warmer weather is just around the corner... right?

Our campsite in Marathon

Until next time,
Stephen & Fran