Gogama, Ontario: June 19, 2016

After a beautiful drive of 585 kms, we reach Gogama which is between Sudbury and Timmins.

Welcome to the north:

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During a few stops to stretch our legs, we saw some lovely plants by the side of the road.

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)

Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)

Here is our home for the evening; the Stardust Motel.

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The main street of Gogama:

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The General Store has been closed for 3 years.

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Hudson’s Bay Company:

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The school: École Notre Dame du Rosaire.gogama-10

The playground of the school is full of this plant:

Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare)

Viper’s Bugloss (Echium vulgare)

Some other Gogama sights:

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We ate supper with 45 others. A special Chinese buffet for Father’s Day. Kids everywhere. More French than English spoken. Excellent wings!

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My alarm is set for 3 AM. At 3:30, we leave for the 90 km drive to the start of the Ramsey breeding bird survey. Over half of the drive is on a rugged logging road where, 10 years ago, I lost part of my car’s exhaust system. The survey begins at 5:02 and we end at about 9:30.

I give a little description of the first stop in this survey in:

Canada Canada Canada: the White-throated Sparrow

After that, it is brunch at The Watershed Restaurant on Highway 144 followed by the long drive north, first to Timmins and then to Smooth Rock Falls.

Miles Hearn

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Gogama, Ontario: June 19, 2016

  1. Leigh

    Via Rail’s “National” stops in some of the towns you are writing about. Several years ago I travelled from Toronto to BC with a Canrail pass and tried (in vain) to figure out what I might see if I laid over somewhere like Gogama or Longlac. Thanks to your pictures, I’m finally finding out! True Canadiana. (Is there also “Ontariona”?)

    Reply

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