The First Trans-Canada Auto Trip

Halifax: August 27, 1912 <<<    >>> Victoria: October 17, 1912

Daily News: September 18, 1997

Hundreds of Lakes

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Today's Statistics:

Today's Statistics: Travelling from Ignace, Ontario, to Kenora, Ontario
Distance: 260 km Driving Hours: 5 h Fuel: 56.5 l Weather: Cloudy Temperature: Min. 1 Max. 16

The 1997 cross-Canada tour's final day in Ontario took the Reo into the heart of the lake country. The day's drive from Ignace to Kenora wound through dozens of lovely little lakes and concluded at the beautiful Lake of the Woods.

Before leaving Ignace, the Findlays took photos of the Reo beside a restored Beech float plane which is on display in the town. The Beech airplane was known as a reliable general purpose airplane. Beech planes played a vital role in opening up Canada's north. Without them, many areas in Northen Ontario and the rest of Canada may not have been explored.

Today's lunch stop was in Dryden, where local paper and television reporters were quickly on the scene to report on the Reo's progress. After lunch, the Reo continued on through the lakes to Kenora. Along the way many beaver dams and lodges were evidence of the abundant wildlife in this area.

Kenora is situated on the north shore of the Lake of the Woods. The lake is a large, sprawling body of water with over 14000 islands amd many bays and coves. The lake covers an area about 90 km square but it has over 100 000 km of coastline - more than Lake Superior!

Kenora was originally called "Rat Portage" because of the muskrats living in the lake. In 1905, the name was changed to Kenora to make it more appealing to tourists and businesses. In 1907, long before the National Hockey League was formed,the Kenora Thistles hockey team won the Stanley Cup. Today the city is a year round destination for tourists seeking to enjoy the lake's beautiful environment.

Bush Plane




The Beech airplane was instrumental in opening up Northern Ontario










Kenora





The Reo spent its final night in Ontario at Kenora







Kenora Harbour




The Kenora Harbour - a busy centre for boats and planes







Picture of the Day ... Many thanks to Bob McKeever and Dryden Internet Services for helping to get the website updated.


On this day in 1912 ...

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