Northern Ontario - Day 2

Morning came early. Unfortunately, so did the full, unforgiving light of day — which revealed that the hotel room was somehow even worse than I remembered. which was impressive, really.

And then… I spotted clothes on the floor beside the bed.

Not mine.

I did not ask questions. I did not seek answers. I simply chose peace.

The bathroom situation? Absolutely not. There are limits, and that shower was one of them. I opted out. Instead, I heated up a can of soup in the microwave (a bold culinary start to the day), packed up my things, and got out of there as quickly as humanly possible.

Overnight, about a foot of snow had quietly buried the town — and my car — like some kind of frozen ambush. But the morning sun was out, bright and optimistic, like it hadn’t just witnessed the crime scene I woke up in. It felt like a reset. A new day, new decisions kind of vibe. Adventure was calling, and I was more than ready to answer. 

This town is nicknamed "The Soo," and despite the snow, I took a walk down by the water to take in some of the sights and meet some locals.  Happy to have caught the coastguard coming through, and added another page in my sketchbook.


Engaging in conversation isn't the easiest in very winter conditions with the wind and snow at your back.  But I managed a conversation or two :). Small town charm for the win!

After wards, I continued my drive to Wawa, where I stopped, of course, for the obligatory photos with the giant goose. It felt like a small victory. Proof that I was, in fact, out here doing this. I even sat in my car for a bit and sketched — which felt grounding, like reconnecting with myself in the middle of all this motion.


Something about small towns, make me feel at home, Wawa whispered welcome...

Somewhere along the drive, my vintage six-CD changer — loaded with well-loved relics from my youth,  started working its magic. Suddenly, I was back in my university years. It’s wild how music can do that — just pull you through time without warning. One song in, and I wasn't on a snowy highway anymore, I was somewhere else entirely, surrounded by old memories and past versions of myself.

So I drove, singing my heart out to an audience of trees, snowbanks, and the occasional passing truck.

By nightime, I made it to the Comfort Inn in Dryden, Ontario — and let me tell you, after the previous night, the bar was on the floor. And yet, this place soared above it. It was exactly what the name promised: comfort. Glorious, beautiful, clean comfort.

Had a nice chat with some fellow travellers in the lobby.  It's amazing that wherever I go, Canadians are quite highly regarded.  My national pride rose as my lips could not quell a smile that erupted from my lips.

I wasted no time turning my hotel room into a mini art studio — sketches out, paints ready. It felt good to create again, even just a little.

And then… the sheets. Crisp. Clean. White. I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally affected by bedding.

After a heavenly hot shower (truly life-changing), I climbed in and let the day finally catch up with me.

With the feeling I had survived Day two: slightly cleaner, and significantly more appreciative of decent accommodations, those clean, crisp sheets lulled me into slumber...


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