Southern Ontario

Again, our apologies in not posting more often.  The campground we've been at x 6 nights charges for wifi and since our Iphones are self capable we've not bothered to request their service.
We left Illinois and drove through Chicago on our way to Durand, Michigan.  An impressive skyline for sure but I sure wouldn't want to have to drive those roads on a daily basis.  I'd have time to knit a sweater in the time it would take me to drive from one side to the other - and I don't knit so that's not saying a lot!  We spent one night in Durand, Michigan, backed onto a swimming/fishing lake.  The girls fed fish out of their hands.  Another highlight was the peanut butter and chocolate Bugels.  Yup, those Americans are sure capable of creating yummy snacks.
We arrived in Milton, Ontario last Monday and have been busy since.  (Oh, Lake Huron is BEAUTIFUL from the bridge over it which takes you to customs on either side of the border.  If I didn't know otherwise I'd think I'd crossed the Ocean to someplace tropical.) 
We spent a day at Niagara Falls (both the falls and the town), as well as a drivethru Niagara-on-the-Lake.  It's amazing how many wineries are in this area - I think I spotted 13 of them on the map. 
Another afternoon/evening we had supper with Scott's Uncle Blair and Auntie Anna and their kids, Daniel and Samantha, in Mississauga.  We had a good visit and it was neat to introduce the girls to their 2nd cousins. Emily and Sam are only 3 weeks apart in age but when they last played together Emily was only 17 months old.  Katie was 'on the inside' when we were last together.
Another day we dropped Roxy off with Aunt Mary (Toronto) where she puppy-sat for the day allowing us the opportunity to be away from the trailer longer.  We went to Casa Loma (a massive castle in Toronto - ahem... 39 bathrooms?!?  If you're not familiar with it please google it), and the CN Tower.  Okay, many people are impressed with the view from the Tower but I gotta say that while the view was available, I had no idea what I was viewing other than "City" or "Lake Ontario".  There weren't any signs letting me know what so many spectacular buildings were.  Oh well, no need to return.  We returned to Marys for a visit, supper and fresh baked cookies (and a care package!).
We had a very special visit with Grammee on Friday.  She is such a beautiful lady and one we all love catching up with. 
Yesterday we went to Waterloo to Scott's Uncle Ron and Auntie Dianne's.  We chilled there for about an hour before heading to St. Jacobs for their market.  YUM!  If I lived close to this place I'd be there every week for sure (they're market runs Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday and is HUGE).  Feel free to google that place too.  Oh, it's a mennonite community - as in horse drawn carriages complete with lanterns, as in homes without electricity (no computers, telephones or tvs), as in living off of the land and making what you need (from furniture to clothes to food etc).  From the market Dianne and I 'hit the town' of St Jacobs and visited some unique shops while Scott, Ron and the girls headed back to Waterloo.  We returned to Ron and Dianne's home for a BBQ complete with fresh veggies bought that day at the market.  It was all so yummy!  Shortly before we needed to leave, Dana and her boyfriend, and Kyle and his girlfriend, stopped by.  I'm so glad we had the chance to see/meet them all. 
Today we were back in Mississauga for some shopping.  We found a few good deals but honestly, with the extra tax (13% harmonized) you have to weigh the purchase carefully.
Scott and the girls have been in the market for the new Nexus tablet.  They too are hard to find but no doubt the search will continue.  Perhaps by the time we return home they'll be some in stock there and we can avoid all the other Provincial taxes.
I'll apologize again for not writing more often but now I'm more frustrated that I can't figure out how to add photos.  I think I've taken close to 700 so far and that doesn't include those with our Iphones. 
We leave here on Wednesday as we head for Dwight Ontario, near Huntsville and therefore in the Muskoka area of Ontario.  Those 5 days are all about relaxing while we'll throw in a bit sight seeing. 
Thanks for your continued prayers.  We trust you're all doing well.

Illinois

I'm so sorry that I've not been able to post sooner.  We've not had wifi since Minnesota (been in Wisconsin Dells x 2 nights until yesterday and now are in Illinois). 

So I told you we were going to check out Mall of America and we did.  We didn't see it all and didn't even do the amusement park area but I think West Edmonton Mall may have been better.  Course, WEM doesn't have Macy's.  Scott and I witnessed their Loss Prevention Officers 'take down' (okay, gently re-direct,) someone who'd already made it out of the store.  Well done!  Our campground there was nice, we enjoyed the pool and I had a great run one morning with Katie biking alongside me.

Wisconsin Dells - heat continues but we're loving it and limiting our exposure.  We did however spend an hour in the blazing sun on the North Wisconsin River (looks like a lake) as we'd rented a couple sea doos.  That was GREAT fun. 

The drive yesterday to Illinois was good - only 3 hours or so.  Most of our driving days have been like that but there are some longer ones coming.  I find myself killing time checking out my surroundings and specifically the crops.  I hadn't seen soy bean plants before so that was a new one for me.  Corn seems to be their main crop.

Today we enjoyed Six Flags.  It's an amusement park / water park with a side of Looney Toons, as in Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, Yosemite Sam and a few of another variety: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Scooby Doo etc., oh, and 14 roller coasters!  We've not firmed down plans for tomorrow yet but maybe we'll head to Chicago.  Because we've not had wifi we've not been able to search out cool places to go/see/do.  Perhaps we'll have a chance to do that in the morning.  It's about 10pm here and the mosquito's are feeding on my tanned flesh so it's time to sign off.  Hope you are all well!

Minnesota

It's so nice to get up this morning and not to have to close up the trailer for yet another day of driving.  We get to spend another night here in Minnesota and today we're checking out the Mall of America.  I didn't know this thing existed but many people I've spoken to have been here and think it's amazing.  It's the largest mall/amusement park in the USA - wonder how it compares to West Edmonton Mall.  Course, this one is 4 floors high but doesn't have a skating rink or mini golf - go Canada!  :)

I was up at 8 this morning and checked the temp before heading out for a run.  27 degrees - at 8AM!  Yowza, heading for 37 today. 

Katie found a tick in her hair yesterday; still very much on the move but clinging to a strand of hair.  I have to admit though it's been so long since I've seen one (ummm, maybe never?) that I thought it was a spider.  I remember thinking they were hard bodied dark grey or brown things that you can't squish.  This guy was brown with some markings up his middle.  I googled it and sure enough - a deer tick is what the officials call it - we just call it ICK. 

In the previous blog I mentioned we'd had a tire blow out.  I'd love to get a picture here for you to see just how bad it was but my iphone is having technical difficulties in sending the picture to my email so I can post it.  I'll try again later.

Enjoy the day!

Travels

What a ride so far!  We left home 2 days ago spending the first night in Medicine Hat.  We stayed at Gas City Campground which was fairly nice and didn't have a SINGLE mosquito - they were all married with families!  Yesterday morning I got up in search of a place to power walk or jog and I wasn't let down.  Scott's guess was that I did about 6-7km... it the HOT out and there was no reprieve from the sun but man it felt good to get out and move like that. 

We headed for Caronport Sask yesterday and about 30km before arriving, a passerby on the highway gestured madly at our trailer.  Scott got us stopped and headed out for a look noticing that we'd had a tire blow-out.  We had no idea when that might of happened but we definitely have some damage.  Not only did we need a new tire but we needed someone to repair the wire that got snapped by the flapping rubber.  We have many reasons to express our gratitude to God for even this incident; it could have been so much worse.

We spent the night at Latrace's farm last night and it was GREAT to connect with them again.  They live 2 miles outside of Caronport- she was my Counselor when I attended Caronport High School in grade 12 (one or two years ago) and we hit it off.  I haven't seen her or her husband in about 25 years, though we've stayed in touch and it was so nice to reconnect with them.  Emily said she wants to spend the whole summer there next year - something about great company, kittens and the Latrace grandsons who live in another house on the same yard. 

We're in Brandon Manitoba for the night and tomorrow we head south for Larimore North Dakota.  Good thing Scott remembered our passports!