Bob’s Travels Through Northern Ontario

This summer, Bob set out to discover Northern Ontario — a region of waterfalls, logging history, railway towns, and endless stretches of forest and lake. Camera slung over his shoulder, he wandered through communities and parks, gathering stories as he went.

His trip began in Iroquois Falls, where he stopped for a hearty lunch at the Imperial Restaurant before exploring the mill town’s history. From there, he continued on to Kap-Kig-Iwan Falls Provincial Park, where the sound of rushing water echoed through the valley, reminding him of the raw power and beauty of the North.

Camping was a highlight of the journey. At Kettle Lakes Provincial Park, Bob set up camp on Bullfrog Lake, enjoying the quiet evenings and staying out to watch the blue hour paint the horizon in deep, shifting tones. Later, at Halfway Lake Provincial Park, he pitched his Wander 2 tent at a lakeside site. With the fire crackling, he swapped hot drinks for a couple of ciders, letting the peaceful northern night unfold under the stars.

Industry and history also left their mark on the trip. In Chapleau, Bob toured the GreenFirst Forest Products sawmill and biomass cogeneration plant, seeing firsthand how the forest still fuels local life. Just down the road, he visited the CPKC rail yard and museum, where locomotives and displays told the story of Chapleau’s deep railway roots.

History came alive again at Wakami Lake Provincial Park, where trails led past restored logging equipment, cabins, and interpretive panels that told the story of logging in the 1920s–40s, when horses slowly gave way to machines.

Everywhere Bob went, Northern Ontario revealed a different face — quiet lakes, roaring waterfalls, the hum of sawmills, and the clang of railways. It’s a land of stories, past and present, and one that stays with anyone who takes the time to explore it.