CANADA BOUND 2019

Jan/Feb 2019
Vol. 3, Issue 1

In This Issue
What is Peameal Bacon
Pioneers of the Canadian Vacation
North of the Border
Animal Encounters
Border Crossing Checklist
How to drive in a Canada
Road Signs
What Kind of Animals Will You See

Reservation Dates
Milne’s July 19-July 27
Wightman’s July 27-August 3

Fun Fact
Algonquin Park is the oldest provincial park in the nation
of Canada!

Bear Mountain Cliff, view from Bear Lake

CANADA BOUND 2019
In the summer of
2019, families and
friends will join
together on a great
Canadian
adventure! The
publication of the
Canada Bound
Newsletter ceased
following our 2002
expedition…Lucky for you, it has been resurrected to
encourage excitement as we prepare for the next great
expedition to Barry’s Bay and Algonquin Park…EH !!
(Pronounced ‘ay’)
What is ‘Peameal Bacon’? By Haylee Caldwell
Peameal bacon, or Canadian bacon as it is known in the
good old USA, not only has delicious qualities but also
an intriguing past. Peameal bacon is very similar to ham
by many standards, it is wet-cured and comes from the
rear end of the hog, just like ham. One thing making
peameal bacon stand out from ham and traditional
Canadian bacon is the fact it is rolled in cornmeal. The
‘meal’ part of the name is derived from corn meal in
which the meat is rolled in. Peameal bacon gets the
‘pea’ part of the name from its historical past because
peameal bacon was traditionally rolled in crushed yellow
peas.
Peameal bacon is very different from traditional bacon
found in the United States. It is very lean and a rather
healthy alternative to the greasy version of bacon many
Americans are accustomed to. The peameal bacon
comes from the same area as pork loins they simply
remove the bones to make the meat easier to consume.
The derogatory name for peameal bacon is ‘Canadian
Bacon’. If you try to order Canadian bacon at a
Canadian establishment it is likely the waiter/waitress
may look at you puzzled or offended. The term
‘Canadian bacon’ comes from a time in United States
history when the Americans were short on ham and the
Canadians kindly sent peameal bacon. The term has
especially been made popular by the movie starring
John Candy titled “Canadian Bacon.” According to IMDB
the movie portrays both Americans and Canadians in a
bad manor as neither are portrayed as very smart.
Since peameal bacon is loved by Canadians, there are
many recipes available to utilize the lean and delicious
meat. Traditionally, peameal bacon accompanies
waffles or pancakes as a breakfast food. One amazing
recipe for peameal bacon is to glaze it with maple syrup-
it doesn’t get any more Canadian than that eh? Another
way to utilize peameal bacon is to put it in vegetable
soup, this is called “Canadian Minestrone.” A final
recipe to be mentioned is a peameal bacon cheddar
burger, the word phrase alone has me drooling.
Overall, peameal bacon is extremely impactful, from its
history of being rolled in yellow peas to helping
Americans survive a tough time. This is a food so
popular it has slang terms and a movie named after the
derogatory Americanized version of the food. Peameal
bacon is also very versatile and can be used in many
foods from breakfast foods, to soups, to hamburgers.
This food is delightful and full of history, certainly it is a
must on the list of foods to try while abroad in Canada.
Pioneers of the Canadian Adventure
By Josiah Caldwell
Mark Burke planned his first Canadian expedition as a
one year old...er, wait. Mark first went to Canada when
he was only one, it was a family vacation and he didn't
have much say in the matter. Vickie Burke's (aka Mrs.
Mark Burke) account is a bit different, "Mark's family had
been going for years so after we were married I went on
vacation with him and his family. When our kids were
little we went to Canada for many years."
Mark enjoys fishing in the many waterways found in the
area as well as playing lots of games with the family.
Vickie likes to take walks, take the kids to the playground
in town, go to the dairy for ice cream and as with Mark
she likes to play games and spend time with family. One
of the best parts according to Vickie is "I also like NO
TV!! Well, there used to be no TV."
While prying for information about the fishing, Mark and
Vickie both concurred that the best spot to fish is Bear
Lake. Bear Lake is West of Barry's Bay and it is located
about 1/2 mile from the nearest road. Fishing Bear Lake
takes some effort, but the serenity of the lake is well
worth it...the fish help too!
With the many days and weeks the Burkes have spent in
or near Barry's Bay, the memories are precious. One of
Mark's favorite memories is when they found Bear Lake
for the first time and losing his first big bass.
Vickie especially enjoys the cool weather and just being
with family. She shared one of her fondest memories
"We were canoeing with our kids, Mark's parents and
our dog Shivers (a Chihuahua), heading to the Ranger
station. The water was low and the reeds were thick and
high. Shivers was with Mark, Amy, Lola and me.
Christopher was with his grandparents. When
Christopher got out of her [Shivers] sight and in the
reeds, she would get upset, pace in the canoe and bark.
At one point she just jumped into the water and swam to
Christopher. After that she was fine and had a great
time changing canoes, playing on shore, etc."
Now don't be frightened by Vickie’s reference to 'cool
weather', temperatures during the day will likely hit the
80's and if you are in a canoe and the sun is out, you will
be HOT, you will burn without sunscreen. Temperatures
at night drop to the low 50's...hope we can get some
campfires in there somewhere.
The Burke's offered some advice to first time vacationers
is to avoid black fly season (which ends in early July)
and secondly take your family, leave the electronics
behind. We shall see how that translated to the current
generation of youngsters.
North of the Border By Steve Caldwell
You may be wondering, "What will it take for me to cross
the border?" Or "will they let me return to the good old
USA when our trip is over?" Well, as of June 1, 2009,
everyone coming to Canada by land or sea has been
required to have a passport or passport card.
In our many trips of the past, not sure
how many that is, U.S and Canadian
citizens had been permitted to freely
pass back and forth between countries
by simply showing the agents a
driver’s license and/or birth certificate. The events of
September 11, 2001 eventually resulted in the passage
of strict border control and passport requirements from
both sides.
I believe all of us participating in the 2019 adventure
have passports; however, be sure to check your
expiration dates (especially for the youngsters). If you
were 16 or older at the time your passport was issued,
then is would have been valid for 10 years. For those or
your who were under 16 at the time of issuance, your
passport would be valid for 5 years. The passport issue
date can be found on the data page of your Passport
Book or on the front of your Passport Card. For those of
you who can't remember how old you are or if you even
have a passport, well, what can I say?
Canada enforces a three-month passport validity rule
while most all other countries enforce a six-month
validity passport requirement. The three-month passport
rule is used to prevent travelers and tourists from
overstaying their passport validity. So make sure your
passport isn’t set to expire within three months of your
return from Canada, you do the math.
If you don't have a passport or passport card, apply for
your passport or passport equivalent at least six weeks
before your planned visit to ensure it is delivered on
time. Although there are expedited services available for
passports (and a hefty fee), you shouldn't rely on this
governmental service to be too fast.
Animal Encounters By Wonderwoman
Every trip we have made to the Barry’s Bay/Algonquin
park area brought expectations of having one or more
moose and/or bear sightings. Various types of wildlife
abound in the area, many species are unfamiliar or at
least rare in West Virginia. Some of the different
animals you may see are moose, deer, bear, beaver,
mink, porcupines, fisher and beavers. Although we can’t
promise you will see any animals, many times we have
been fortunate enough to encounter something other
than a whitetail deer or bear. Everyday trips bring
expectations…a moose in the reeds, a bear across a
bay, a beaver slapping its tail on the water, a Blue Heron
standing at the water’s edge like a statue. Sometimes
following a day trip, as we start the trek back to the
house/cottage/camp without having had any such
sightings, we see SOMETHING!
One of the top animals on the ‘Hope to
See’ list is the moose. Once while
vacationing with friends, I kept reiterating
that we may get to see a moose. Our
friends were quite doubtful and really
didn't believe us. Shortly after we had set
up camp one of our friends came face to
face with a cow moose as it walked near our campsite.
The moose got spooked and retreated into deep water
was soon far away. This was one of our closest
encounters ever. When standing face to face with a
moose, you realize just how huge they are. Some
interesting moose facts are…The moose is the largest
member of the deer family. It can weigh up to 1300
pounds and is taller than a horse. The male moose
grow antlers that can span up to 5 feet wide. Moose can
be found in all Canadian provinces except for Prince
Edward Island. They are excellent swimmers and can
dive up to 16 feet for food. A male moose is a bull, a
female is a cow. Moose can run up to 36 miles per hour.
If we don’t see a moose in the wild, we can always go to
the Algonquin Park Visitors center and see some
there….although, the ones there aren’t very active.
Border Crossing Checklist By Steve Caldwell
1) Identification…
BEFORE reaching the border, the driver should have
valid passports for all vehicle occupants within reach as
well as their driver’s licenses. It may be a good idea to
ask the border official if he/she needs to see them too.
Again, have this stuff readily available BEFORE
reaching the border services booth. In 2017, we put all
four passports and driver’s licenses in a ziplock bag in
the center console. In addition, take off your
sunglasses, turn off radios and cell phones. Don't start
doing these tasks once you've arrived at the booth, do it
before you get there.
2) Automobile/Trailers:
Border officials are always on the lookout for stolen
vehicles or people trying to avoid duties on vehicles
purchased out of the country, so having your car
registration on hand is a good idea. Additionally, when
crossing the U.S. border into Canada as a nonresident
tourist, all United States-based
auto insurance carriers will still
cover your vehicle while you
are in the country, according to
the U.S. Bureau of Consular
Affairs. "The personal auto
policy that you and I and everyone else in the United
States has defines the coverage area as the U.S., its
territories and possessions, and Canada," says Kevin
Foley, a New Jersey insurance agent with PFT&K
Insurance Brokers.
However, you should contact your insurance provider
before your trip to obtain a "Motor Vehicle Liability
Card/Canada Inter-province" insurance card, which is
available at no additional charge from your insurance
carrier. If you do not have the Canada-specific insurance
card, you may be liable for a fine if a Canadian police
officer requests your proof of insurance. We usually just
call our insurance agent and ask for this and they mail it
out, very simple to do.
Additionally, if the vehicle you are driving or trailer you
are towing isn't yours, then you should have
documentation granting you permission to drive/possess
the vehicle. A sample Permission letter can be found as
the last page of this newsletter. Make sure the signature
on the letter matches the name on the ownership
certificate of the car. While it is not mandatory to get the
letter notarized, but it will provide another level of
comfort to the customs officer. It is recommended by the
border services, so you should have it done if it is not too
much trouble. Also, bring two copies in case they want to
keep one.
If you are driving a company vehicle it would be best to
have some documentation available showing that you
are authorized to drive the vehicle or are the owner of
the company.
3) Got Knives:
It is a good idea to tell the border official that you have
knives on board. We usually just state that we have fillet
and pocket/multi tool type knives on board. As long as
the blade doesn't have a 'thumb stud' and it looks
relatively innocent then we should be good. We have
never had to show them the knives; however, I plan to
have them all readily available in the event that they ask
to see them. With the increase of government frictions
since our last visit I want to make sure that I have all the
bases covered. The main thing is 'intent', so just leave
the knives with the fishing gear and not in your pockets
while in public places.
4) Check Your Trunk:
Unnecessary items in your trunk may be a source of
questioning by border officials and may add time to your
border crossing. It's a good idea to remove anything
other than safety equipment and your luggage. For
example, a hard hat left in your trunk may cause border
guards to wonder if you are coming to Canada to work.
5) Border Crossing Etiquette: absence of a pedestrian crossing light, pedestrians
Upon arriving at the Canadian Border have the right-of-way on a green light.
Services booth, roll down your front and ● In Canada, there are 2 types of green lights: the
back windows so that the border officer green light, and the flashing green. A green light
can not only speak to the driver but also means the same thing as in the USA. But when you
address people seated in the back of are facing a flashing green light, it means that you
the vehicle and see what's in the back have the right-of-way to make a left turn. This is
seat. equivalent to a green arrow (not the superhero) in
the USA.
Be Prepared to Answer Questions ● It is now illegal to use a hand-held mobile device at
directly. This is not a time to seem unsure or crack jokes. any time while driving.
The Border Services Officer at the Canada-U.S. border ● Set your cruise control to 10 km/h (6.2 mph) over the
will ask you AND possibly passengers in the car a series posted limit, and you will be relatively safe
of questions, such as:
QUESTION RESPONSE Road Signs… By Staff Writer
Citizen of what country? The United States
Where are you coming from? Morgantown, West
Virginia You will likely run across some unfamiliar road signs in
How long will you be in the Friday to the following Canada, such as caution signs for grooved pavement or
country? Saturday, 9 days for areas where the pavement has
Why are you traveling to Vacation/Fishing/Canoei been temporarily removed and
Canada? ng
replaced with gravel. When merging
What City will you be staying in? Barry’s Bay, Ontario
What is the address where you 94 Pipedream Lane,
into a
will you be staying? Barry’s Bay Construction zone, you will see signs
Do you have anything to No (unless you have directing you to stay in your lane all
declare? something that should the way to the merge point where you
be taxed on
board…worth over $800
will alternate into single file (too bad
CAD) we don't do that in the USA, is really keeps you moving
pretty well)
How to drive in Canada, just info By Staff Writer
Word Find By Wonderwoman
● The use of seat belts is mandatory for all vehicle
passengers in Canada.
● Speed limits vary between 30 km/h (18.6 mph) and O N Q T W P M P F S
100 km/h (62.1 mph). I I E E M A A K L W
● Speed limit signs are posted on all roads indicating
the maximum speed permitted.
W U K K M R R F A I
● The minimum speed on the highway is 60 km/h E Q A C C K S S C M
(37.2 mph) and the maximum is 100 km/h. E N L A A W H R L E
● There is an implied understanding that speeds up to
120 km/h (74.5 mph) are tolerated on most S O Y J N A L E L L
Canadian highways. O G F E O T A L U D
● Turning right on red is generally permitted when O L L F E E N T B D
facing a red light. If right on red is NOT permitted at
an intersection it will be expressly prohibited by a M A V I T R D N P A
sign (include the sign). T D G L R N V A E P
● When you want to turn right on a red light, you must
proceed with extra caution because you have a
responsibility towards pedestrians. ALGONQUIN ANTLERS BULL
● Before turning right on a red light, you must bring CALF CANOE LAKE
your vehicle to a complete stop!!! A complete stop is LIFEJACKET MARSHLAND MOOSE
mandatory. Immobilize your vehicle before the stop PADDLE PARK SWIM
line or before the pedestrian crossing zone. WATER
● Pedestrians always have the right-of-way if their
pedestrian crossing light allows them to cross. In the
Permission Letter to Take Vehicle across the U.S./Canadian Border

To: Officer in Charge of Customs and Border Protection

I, __________________________________________________________ am the owner of the
_____________________________________________________ (model, make) with a vehicle identification number of
________________________________________________________.
I am lending this vehicle to _______________________________________________________, my
_____________________________ (relationship) for the purpose of ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________between the dates of
_________________ and _________________. I hereby give them permission to cross the U.S. / Canadian border in my
vehicle.
If there are any questions about this Permission Letter you may contact me at:
Cell Phone Number: ______________________________________
Home Telephone Number: _________________________________
Work Telephone Number: __________________________________

Signed: ________________________________________ Date: ________________________

Notarization

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