Saturday, July 8, 2023
Stats: 11 hours driving – 615 miles – Markleysburg, PA to North Bay, Ontario, Canada
We were up at 5am and left Markleysburg, PA just before 6am. The sunrise popping over the mountains behind us was gorgeous!
Our day was filled with rich discussions from ideas about future PA home projects to Gregg helping me sort through some thoughts and understandings about God. I love those conversations!
At breakfast time, we found a Tim Horton’s for breakfast and coffee. It is a Canadian coffee chain which we enjoy so it was fitting to begin our Canadian vacation there.
We crossed the border at Buffalo around noon. The lines were long and ours was slow. Come to find out, the border patrol officer for our line was also the welcome center and tourist information. Haha! He asked us where we were going and proceeded to give us tips on where to visit. Like walking on ice fields in Jasper (I think – I wrote it down.) That was worth waiting for. He was quite nice.
A bit before 5pm we arrived in North Bay, Ontario, at Rob and Marie’s house. I have known Marie for a few years through a writing accountability group that meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We talked and talked and ate a delicious steak dinner with all the trimmings, then talked some more over dessert.
They live next to lake access so Marie took me out to see their back yard, gardens, and the beach. We saw 3 momma ducks with their large broods bobbing in the gentle waves.
By dinnertime it began to rain. We sat out on the back porch under a large umbrella and enjoyed the refreshing breeze. They are under a fire-ban so we certainly don’t begrudge them rain, although we missed seeing their typically breathtaking sunsets over the lake.
We will see Marie and Rob again tomorrow morning at church. Marie is a retired Anglican priest and will be leading worship at a small church in Sturgeon Falls, a half an hour west of our hotel. We are SO looking forward to worshiping with them.
Below is a picture of Mother Marie showing Gregg an icon she purchased in Bethlehem. The symbolism and story “written” into it speaks volumes about the Trinity and their invitation for us to “pull up a seat at the table.”
My heart is bursting with joy, having spent time with Marie and Rob. I am thankful for this very special visit!
