Road trip in Northern Ontario
04-Jan-2009
I decided to take a short road trip in Northern
Ontario. Cabin fever hit early and I didn’t feel
like sitting inside the house anymore after the
Christmas break. The trip took me along Highway 17
through Wawa and I stayed the night in White River. I
have been in Wawa several times but never made it
beyond that town.
The lowest temperature on this trip was -14F / -25C which was just a bit north of White River. A car engine really doesn’t like to be started in these temperatures but the Saab started without a problem after a little bit of hesitation.
Highway 11 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway and I always wanted to see this northern road in Ontario. Many towns in this area like Hearst and Kapuskasing are mainly francophone which I didn’t expect in Northern Ontario.
Cochrane is an interesting town because it has train service to Toronto and Moosonee on James Bay. Riding the Polar Bear Express is still on my list of things to do. Cochrane is also the birthplace of Tim Horton, a hockey player who founded the well-known doughnut and coffee shop chain.
The trip was a total of about 1,100 miles / 1.770 km. Not bad for a 3-day trip, eh? This was only a smaller part of Ontario and the size of this province and country still amazes me every time. There were many other interesting towns on the way like Timmins and Chapleau but I won’t bore you with the details and let the pictures do the talking. If you are interested to read more about Highway 11, check out this website: http://www.highway11.ca
The photo album can be found here: Link
North of White River
Trans-Canada Highway
Snow magnet
The lowest temperature on this trip was -14F / -25C which was just a bit north of White River. A car engine really doesn’t like to be started in these temperatures but the Saab started without a problem after a little bit of hesitation.
Highway 11 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway and I always wanted to see this northern road in Ontario. Many towns in this area like Hearst and Kapuskasing are mainly francophone which I didn’t expect in Northern Ontario.
Cochrane is an interesting town because it has train service to Toronto and Moosonee on James Bay. Riding the Polar Bear Express is still on my list of things to do. Cochrane is also the birthplace of Tim Horton, a hockey player who founded the well-known doughnut and coffee shop chain.
The trip was a total of about 1,100 miles / 1.770 km. Not bad for a 3-day trip, eh? This was only a smaller part of Ontario and the size of this province and country still amazes me every time. There were many other interesting towns on the way like Timmins and Chapleau but I won’t bore you with the details and let the pictures do the talking. If you are interested to read more about Highway 11, check out this website: http://www.highway11.ca
The photo album can be found here: Link
North of White River
Trans-Canada Highway
Snow magnet
|
New house
28-Dec-2008
The current real estate market and the US economy is
bad for some but good for others. I have seen both
sides. I came across this foreclosed home and it was
just perfect for the location, house and price.
It’s on 3 acres of land of hilly terrain and has a view of Deer Lake. The house is about 2,000 square feet (220 square meters) and has 3 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms. It looks like it has been sitting empty for about a year but it is in overall good shape. It was built in 2001 so everything is pretty new. The outside foundation (walkout basement and garage) looks a bit unfinished but nothing that can’t be improved.
The best part is that it is only 3 miles from my work and just outside the small town of Boyne City. Quiet in the country but still close to everything. Boyne Mountain with the best skiing in the Midwest is only a few miles away. Petoskey and Charlevoix are both about a 20 mile drive.
It looks like moving is some time in February. More details to follow..
It’s on 3 acres of land of hilly terrain and has a view of Deer Lake. The house is about 2,000 square feet (220 square meters) and has 3 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms. It looks like it has been sitting empty for about a year but it is in overall good shape. It was built in 2001 so everything is pretty new. The outside foundation (walkout basement and garage) looks a bit unfinished but nothing that can’t be improved.
The best part is that it is only 3 miles from my work and just outside the small town of Boyne City. Quiet in the country but still close to everything. Boyne Mountain with the best skiing in the Midwest is only a few miles away. Petoskey and Charlevoix are both about a 20 mile drive.
It looks like moving is some time in February. More details to follow..
Fall in Northern Michigan
13-Oct-2008
I was snapping some pictures during lunch and after
work on my way home. Fall colors are quite spectacular
in northern Michigan this year but it seems each fall
is better than the previous one. This weekend and today
was the nicest weather with temps in the mid 70s F.
(about 24C). It cools down quickly at night, the lakes
are already too cold to swim in and you know the
November storms will blow in from Lake Michigan sooner
than you think.
But for now, just enjoy the freshest apples picked from trees earlier in the morning, visit some harvest/fall events, go for a walk in the woods, take a deep breath and smell the leaves and trees. And enjoy the colors, of course.
The pictures can be found here: Link
But for now, just enjoy the freshest apples picked from trees earlier in the morning, visit some harvest/fall events, go for a walk in the woods, take a deep breath and smell the leaves and trees. And enjoy the colors, of course.
The pictures can be found here: Link
Picking up the new 9-5
27-Sep-2008
Those were the longest two weeks waiting to fly to
California and take delivery of my new 9-5. Flights
were on time, airports were not that crowded and
everything went very smooth. I was met at the SNA
airport by my sales guy who picked me up in a Fusion
Blue 9-3. How’s that for Customer Service?
Only a few pictures so far but many more will follow.
Only a few pictures so far but many more will follow.
'06 9-5 Aero SC on the way
14-Sep-2008
My dealer in California (where I bought both my 9-3s)
had a 2006 9-5 SportCombi with vented seats, Sport
package (lowered suspension, Aero seats, alu dash) and
Visibility package (xenon, park assist, auto-dimming
mirrors). It is basically an Aero with everything
except navigation.
It is a Saab certified vehicle (6 years/100K mile full warranty), has special financing rates (1.9/2.9/3.9) and includes the California Delivery Program. Why buy a car close to home when you can buy one 2,500 miles away and drive it home? Road trip! I drove the exact same car with same specs at a Carmax store in the Chicago area and I knew this was my kind of car. The color is smoke beige with a parchment interior. I am flying out there on Saturday Sep-27 and can hardly wait. I’ll miss my 2005 9-5 Aero but this 2006 is a new experience and a new chapter in my Saab story.
So where to go between Southern California and Michigan? I was thinking of heading through the CA and NV desert, head up to Salt Lake City and on to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Continue through the Dakota's and Minnesota, into the U.P. of Michigan and cross the Mackinaw bridge.
It is a Saab certified vehicle (6 years/100K mile full warranty), has special financing rates (1.9/2.9/3.9) and includes the California Delivery Program. Why buy a car close to home when you can buy one 2,500 miles away and drive it home? Road trip! I drove the exact same car with same specs at a Carmax store in the Chicago area and I knew this was my kind of car. The color is smoke beige with a parchment interior. I am flying out there on Saturday Sep-27 and can hardly wait. I’ll miss my 2005 9-5 Aero but this 2006 is a new experience and a new chapter in my Saab story.
So where to go between Southern California and Michigan? I was thinking of heading through the CA and NV desert, head up to Salt Lake City and on to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Continue through the Dakota's and Minnesota, into the U.P. of Michigan and cross the Mackinaw bridge.