JAMs Jams. Pure. Real. Fresh.

I learned this trip why it’s called Down East Maine. Evidently the winds here are from the southwest. So when the boats used to sail here from Boston in the late 1700s, they would go down wind and eastward. Now it’s used to refer to the entire area where we are from Ellsworth ME to the border. They also have 12’ tides here. At home in Florida we had a couple feet max. When the tide is out here, entire beaches form and islands are walkable. We went to one of those beaches this morning. Our dogs were so happy. The world’s best natural dog park! They had to get baths when we returned. 90% of the lobsters eaten in the US come from the coast of Maine and we are in the heart of lobster country. We went to a lobster company on Saturday morning and got 4 literally out of the water. Eri fabricated them and we had them for dinner. Delicious. And $50 for almost 8 lbs of lobster. He packed them in seaweed in a Dr Pepper carton😂 The weather here is glorious. It’s breezy, bright sunshine and blue s...

Whoever said there is no such thing as a straight line in nature had never been to a karst landscape like Manitoulin Island. The island was formed by glaciers cutting through limestone and Dolomite rock and has such an interesting geology. Not that I’m a geologist by any means but I have become fascinated by rocks on this trip. In Michigan we searched for and found Petroskey stones and other fossils. We have a whole bag of rocks in the trunk to take home since there aren’t any shells on the Great Lakes. Now in Manitoulin we see these big lines cut in the rock and wonder what the hell. Kendall consults his other wife, Reddit, and learns they’re called Grikes (or grykes) and are totally natural as well as a very special geological “thing”. It literally looks like someone cut lines into the rock. The big square boulders are Clints. Again, looks like someone cut them into squares and dumped them. And then you see these vast areas of rock that look like parking lots almost. These are called...

We made it round the top of Lake Superior! Stayed in some “interesting” motels and are now back in Michigan for the weekend before returning to Canada tomorrow. Sault Ste Marie is an interesting little town whose livelihood seems to be 1000% based on the existence of the locks here that lower boats from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. We are going on a tour this afternoon so will learn more. From our little Airbnb you can actually see the river. Too bad there isn’t a front porch from which to observe. In Ontario we discovered delicious apple fritters - at a gas station. One of my favorite things because it reminds me of my mom who also loved them. We also saw some beautiful waterfalls and amazing scenery, although the haze from the wildfires in Manitoba put a damper on the views. We went to the beach at a state park and were the only ones on the entire beach, which to dogs just loved! After SSM, we are off to Manitoulin Island to swim and play in Lake Huron. Wednesday we head east toward...