On our way out to explore the area, we stopped at the park’s Interpretive Centre. Like everything else here it was a treat. With friendly staff and informative displays we spent the next hour learning about the Sibley Peninsula and how in the late 1800s it was the site of the world’s largest silver mine. On tiny Silver Islet just a stone’s throw from the shore, an island 80 feet in diameter produced over $3,000,000 in silver! We learned about the incredible diversity of flora, fauna and wildlife in Sleeping Giant – something we were already beginning to figure out on our own. We also learned that it wasn’t just that we were clueless when it came to finding groceries. The only place to get even basics like milk and bread is in Thunder Bay proper, over an hour away! Guess you don’t just run out around here. Eating clearly requires careful planning. Geez, I’m spoiled! They also kindly pointed out that the Day Use picnic area has the only cell coverage in the area. By now you have discovered that by going to the beach and tethering David’s cell phone to my computer we were able to post the last couple of days of blogs! Following a short visit to Silver Islet we headed out on our first hike of the day. The park offers such variety we decided on two trails for our morning adventure and two others for our afternoon.
Our morning hikes were splendid. The first on the Ravine Trail required a bit of a scramble up the side of a ravine but offered the reward of a spectacular view out over surrounding lakes to Superior. Feeling a little like being on the top of the world (little did we know – but more about that later!) we watched flocks of dragonflies, if flock is the appropriate collective noun for dragonflies. I never before realized the need for such a word! I had no idea they could drift in groups of hundreds!! So pretty and graceful, we thought about pictures but realized they would appear as nothing more that black dots on a beautiful landscape. Reminding us that while we live in a world of images there are times when only words will do; they too though pale compared to the experience.
Our path down into the ravine.
Our second hike along the Habitats Trail certainly sounded promising. Unfortunately, as it happens, it was an ideal habitat for horseflies. Mosquitoes and blackflies may be a nuisance but horseflies take honkin’ big bites and are quite vocal about it! After running along for about half a kilometer in a desperate attempt to escape, we ran the return half a kilometer and decided that it was time for lunch and a cold beer! I’m sure the trail was lovely – we’ll never know!
Our afternoon led us into a bridge over the rushing Sibley Creek.
A pretty little hike but the best part was meeting a young couple from Manitoba who assured us that the TCH through to Winnipeg was fine! As far as they knew things were clear through Saskatchewan as well, as long as we didn’t venture south. They confirmed that the situation in the southern part of the provinces was dire but reassured us that our itinerary should see us safely through. We had hoped to venture into southern Saskatchewan to follow some leads that Colin and Michelle Edmonds had shared – but we’ll see. Safety first!
Our final hike of the day was more than a bit of a surprise. Our plan was to head to the Thunder Bay Bog Trail as it claimed an environment that supported not only Labrador tea but also pitcher plants, the provincial flower of Newfoundland. Heading down the road toward the trailhead we recognized that we were on a pretty steep climb. We were somewhat confused by sections of the road that seemed to be paved, wondering why they would bother to pave random sections of a park road. Little did we realize until we reached the top of the “paved” mountain!!! The road to the trailhead was literally up the side of a hill. The “paved” sections were rockface that had been filled in with patches of dirt to make a road. It wasn’t that they had randomly paved, they had put dirt in random places!!!
Our truck on the top of the mountain! When we arrived and got out to explore the summit we discovered Thunder Bay Lookout – a short platform extending out from the side of the cliff, hovering over Superior! Unfrackin’ believable!! David estimates we hovered 400 ft. above the lake. With a clear view of Thunder Bay the vista was spectacular. We sat alone (not another soul up there) on what felt like the top of the world, certainly the top of our immediate world, and recognized the great gift we’d been offered to explore this incredibly wonderful country. God is good!
The diversity of this park is incredible. Just today our truck registered external temperatures of 29 degrees at the trailhead in the valley and 10 degrees at Silver Islet. We’ve seen bears, fox, countless birds and deer and explored rocky landscapes more like I’ve seen in Newfoundland than the lush countryside we hiked through just this morning. We’ve driven up the side of a mountain with our truck and sat on a beach to connect to the internet! If we went home tomorrow, we agree that we would have had a wonderful vacation. And we haven’t yet reached the prairies or mountains or the sea … life is good! 
Wood lilly from the Bog Trail. 
We drove through this area on our way to Calgary a few years ago, but are now feeling we should have camped and savoured the beauty along the way.
ReplyDeleteYour descriptions are wonderful!