Big Nickel and Beds of Nails

No, my bed and breakfast did not decide to add medieval torture devices to its antique collection… I just visited Sudbury!

The rains came to Sioux Look Out… we are talking deluge!  I spent the day running in and out of stores, visiting the local museum – it is a two room portable STUFFED to the rafters with relics from people’s basements, old bush camps, and even retired military outposts… fascinating!! – and wound things up with a snack at the Fifth Avenue Bar and Grill (sounds pretty swank, but remember this is NOT New York!).  So, in spite of the rain, I had a great final day in the Northern Tip of Ontario.  I am also pretty sure it was a day of historical significance my friends… the train was on time!

I hopped on-board the Canadian and started my 17 hr journey south… close to half of the Vancouver to Toronto trip is winding through Ontario.  Gives you an even greater appreciation for the sheer size of our nation, and its provincial/territorial parts!  Crystal, my car attendant, was very friendly and I enjoyed talking to her throughout the trip.  The Canadian acted as our guide through the beautiful landscape that is the Land of Lakes and Rocks and (as usual) had some interesting folk gracing its cars on the voyage.  I dined with one couple from the States, originally from the UK, who were very active in operating a heritage train museum!  Stuart was in his element and really enjoyed the 1950s cars.  He had many a tale of the ‘golden age’ of rail travel… great to have the chance to hear them and talk about our own experiences ‘riding the rails’.

That evening, I was thinking that the rails were not so ‘golden’ as I did not sleep well at all.  For some reason, the ‘gentle rocking’ felt more like ‘violent thrashing’.  I got up for breakfast a little angry at the Canadian… but we quickly made up as we passed by a lake with the sun’s reflection dancing across the water… surrounded by trees and its basin carved out from the Canadian Shield.  Some argue the best scenery is found in the Rockies… I’d say the whole ride is pretty darn beautiful!

Sudbury is a city of about 300,000.  Who knew?!?  I had it pegged for about 100,000.  Now they say that includes all of the outlying areas that were engulfed by the city limits during a period of amalgamation… I have been in those outlying areas and let me tell you, there was not 200,000 people living there .  Sudbury has emerged as a hub and continues to play its role as gateway to the North.  Once viewed as an eye sore – smoke stacks and mines are what most people associate with the area – it has ‘greened’ up in recent years and is really quite a nice place!

Sudbury and I used to be pretty well acquainted.  My family has camped in the area dozens of times and we used to head to Sudbury to run errands that the general stores/tackle shops couldn’t satisfy and to escape the elements if they proved to be too much.  I mean, how many games of crazy eights and yahtzee could one family play as rain pelted their tent trailer and high winds blew over their dining tent… 127, and then it was time to pile into the car.

Sudbury was a reminder that ‘civilization’ was not all that far way!  One of the highlights for us, besides having lunch at Hungry Bear along the French River (okay maybe just a highlight for me…;)) was Science North!  Science North, as the name implies, is a large Science Centre with hands-on exhibits galore – including a bed of nails, among other really neat things – and fantastic presentations of what makes our wacky world go round.  I only have one beef with Science North.  When I was 6, the exhibit which is supposed to be able to predict how tall you are going to be said that I would be 6′2″.  Well faithful readers, I am 5′9″!!! Just a little off…. Nevertheless, I am pleased to report that Science North is as COOL as ever and still has the exhibit which fills small children’s head with delusions of being uber tall.  I was tempted to take them aside and say… “Over 20 years ago, this exhibit said I was going to be tall too… and look at me!”.  I refrained…;).

I also took in the Big Nickel (Canada’s 5 cent piece… the original metal, Nickel (obviously), played a huge role in Sudbury’s development) or Dynamic Earth as it is now known.  You get to travel down into the depths of one of Canada’s largest mine shafts and learn about the composition of the earth, the mining industry, and what life was like down here for the workers.  Quite interesting!

My accommodations were at the Parker House Inn and Roastery. This cute little place just outside of downtown proved to be awesome!  My room was bright and fun… a nice place to put my weary feet up.  There is a roastery/coffee shop attached to the Inn which serves the usual suspects and light meals.  Breakfast, though continental, was hearty and definitely was a good source of fuel for the day.  If you are ever in town and wanting to avoid the commonplace hotel… I highly recommend!

The last few hours of my time in Sudbury were spent wandering downtown and running a few errands – Sudbury has a mega mall 150+ stores… so my few little pit stops were made easy.  I trekked out to the train station to board the Canadian for the last time.  I will be meeting my parents in Toronto and will spend a few days at the homestead with them before heading to the East.  Looking forward to it – The Birthday of the Grandma’s – one turned 85 and the other (the one who lived in Winnipeg) turns 93 – an art show, and a night out with my sister/brother in-law are all on the agenda.  Stay tuned!!