In 1980, a 21-year-old named Terry Fox set out to do something unimaginable. After losing his leg to cancer, he began running a marathon a day across Canada to raise money and awareness for cancer research. He called it the Marathon of Hope. With every step of his run, Terry captured the hearts of Canadians—not with flash, but with quiet determination and purpose. After 143 days and over 5,300 kilometres, his cancer returned, and he was forced to stop just outside Thunder Bay.
That’s exactly where I found myself today.
After saying goodbye to Michael and Kristie Kuper at the Thunder Bay KOA—two of the most dedicated campground owners I’ve met when it comes to supporting Care Camps—I made an important stop at the Terry Fox Memorial.
The site is perched high above Highway 11/17, overlooking Lake Superior. I met up with my sister Diane and brother-in-law Nick, who were in town visiting their son, a pilot based in Thunder Bay. It was perfect timing and a special place to meet.
Standing there, it hit me. After three full days on the road, towing an RV across Ontario, I was starting to feel a bit worn out. But this was the point where Terry Fox—running a marathon a day on one leg—had to stop. It really put things in perspective. I had no right to feel tired.
While we were there, we spoke with two Parks Canada employees who were hard at work painting and polishing his memorial plaque. One of them, who also serves on the board for Destination Northern Ontario, chatted with me about my journey, and we talked about how incredible the northern part of this province really is. The pride they took in keeping that memorial beautiful for everyone to see was very clear—and appreciated. It is estimated that since then, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $800 Million.
From there, I paid a visit to Don Keller at Recreation World. It’s been years since I’d seen Don, and it was great to catch up and reconnect. The drive from Thunder Bay to Dryden was a huge contrast to Day 2. Gone were the tight curves and dramatic elevation changes along Lake Superior. This stretch was flat and uneventful, with long, quiet sections and hardly anything but tall trees in between. One interesting moment was passing the sign for the Arctic Watershed—a natural dividing line where water north of it flows to Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean, and south of it flows to the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence. I’d forgotten about it since my early days traveling north.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a day on the Trans-Canada Highway without some construction. Thankfully, delays were minimal. I did feel for one of the flaggers, standing out there in the heat, bugs swarming, wearing a full netted hat that must have been really hot underneath. He reminded me of Marty McFly in “Back to the Future” when he was wearing the hazmat suit and crashed into the barn going back to 1955!
That said, I have to give credit to our Government and Transportation Minister Sarkaria,—Ontario’s highways have been in great shape so far. For the most part, the pavement has been smooth, the signage clear, and the shoulders wide enough when towing. There are also pass lanes throughout, so you don’t feel pressured when you have a bit of a lineup behind you.
Good road infrastructure is critical for the RV industry, ensuring we can all travel comfortably and able to enjoy the RV lifestyle safely and confidently. We’re fortunate to have that kind of foundation in this province, and I can live with the odd delay.
I had planned to stay in Dryden, but after trying three different campgrounds with no one around, I kept rolling and ended up at a place I hadn’t heard of—Crystal Lake Campground in Vermilion Bay. What a find.
Robin (co-owner) checked me in, then hopped onto a 4×4 to guide me to my site—Site #1, no less. There are only about 30 sites in total, so I could find it on my own, but he insisted. The place was immaculate and well-manicured. Clean laundry room, showers, a basketball court, and a beautiful lake with canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards available for rent at just $10 an hour. If you’re looking for peace, quiet, and a no-fuss campground, this is definitely it. www.crystallakecampground.ca
As I settled in, I realized I have now been driving for three straight days… and I’m still in Ontario. This province is massive. But every stretch brings something new, and each stop has its own story.
Tomorrow, I head to Kenora and Winnipeg to be at Transcona Trailer Sales’ Open House on June 20th. They have graciously announced that they will be donating to Care Camps for every trailer sold. Let’s hope they sell a bunch!
I am looking forward to getting to Winnipeg and seeing some more good friends along the way.
Till tomorrow.
—Shane
President, CRVA
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