The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Thunder Bay Marina Park
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
June 27, 2013
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Marina Park
is a local waterfront park and marina located on the shores of Lake
Superior in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The park is located in the city's
north end near the downtown north core. Aside from pleasure craft docks
and a fueling facility, the park also has walking paths, a boardwalk,
playground equipment, picnic tables, a Mariner's Monument and the historic
CN Rail Station (now home to gift shops and ice-cream parlor, restaurant
and other amenities).
The marina is also known as Prince Arthur's Landing and
at this time was in the first phase of a 130 million dollar upgrade.
This is a private public coalition to make the park tourist friendly
and provide a new tax base for the city. The private company is in the
process of building two seven-story condos, an art gallery and a hotel
with a water park onto the marina. The current area is being filled
in by an average of 3 acres between each pier to create enough room
for the new buildings. One feature that is the mainstay for the public
half of the construction is a splash pad rink which will be accessible
all year long by tourists and the public. The project has continued
throughout the winter season and has completed the fill in and other
basic features.
The park also hosts numerous events during the summer season, including
the Summer in the Park" concert series, the Thunder Bay Blues
Festival, a kite festival, Canada Day celebrations and many other annual
events. Many celebrations are held on the waterfront and it is the mainstay
for the north core. |
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The below sign
shows pictures of International Taiji Park, and Karen Duquette stood
under the arch shown in the picture sign. |
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Below: Water droplets -
notice how the two RV Gypsies were reflected in the water droplets. |
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Below: The stunning, shiny,
gigantic aluminum water droplets on the patio of the Water Garden Pavilion,
titled Travelers Return reflect the powerful waters of Lake
Superior and the travelers who have arrived and departed from here over
time. |
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Below: One of the most popular
features for children at Prince Arthur’s Landing is the state-of-the-art
Splash Pad, which becomes an outdoor skating rink in winter, making
it a year-round attraction. |
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Below: The two RV Gypsies
ate at Bight Restaurant and Bar and had a window seat with a wonderful
view of the kids playing in the splash zone |
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Below: The food was so good,
that Karen Duquette could not decide what to eat first, so she used
two forks simultaneously. |
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Below: A sign of encouragement
and a man-made waterfall |
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Below: As the two RV Gypsies
entered an art museum, they were attracted to the chandelier made of
automobile headlights. Lee Duquette photographed it from a staircase,
while Karen Duquette stood underneath it to take a photo. Two very different
looks. |
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Below: The Anchorage
- a place to meditate and enjoy |
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The below monument and plaque honors the
memory of the ships of Canada's Merchant Navy lost during WWII. |
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Below: The two RV Gypsies
liked this car that was parked in the parking lot at Thunder Bay Marina
Park. |
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Below: A sign that is becoming
very familiar on streets everywhere. |
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 Note:
44 years ago today, Karen Duquette gave birth to her son Brian
Lee Duquette. But this is a sad day for the two RV Gypsies because
Brian barely lived past his 39th birthday. Karen has on her shirt that
she made to honor her son. It has a red heart with Brian's initials
inside the heart. She wears it every year on Brian's birthday, plus
on the day Brian died, and also for the Worldwide Candelighting Ceremony.
The two RV Gypsies have no choice but to continue on with their lives,
but they each have a giant hole in their hearts that will never heal.
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AFTER