A Day Trip to Kenora, Ontario

Mr. Bilby has been out and about and his most recent blog post seems to have disappeared into the ether that is the internet so we shall try and recreate the missing post.  We had a lovely road trip to Kenora, Ontario and we have lots of photos to share.  Our first stop was at the border where we were welcomed with a lovely sign to Ontario:

Sadly the travel information area that used to be the main reason for stopping here has closed and it looks like it has been closed for sometime.   Instead travellers are directed to the harbour front in Kenora for travel information.  Thankfully the facilities were still in operation and being looked after, so that those in the traveling party who had their legs crossed could get some relief.

Travel information was limited to a very large map of Ontario but it made for some interesting reading.  It was hard to drag me away from it:

The scenery in Northern Ontario is quite magnificent and we were graced with many trees and lakes as we drove.

We had a lovely day in Kenora we parked downtown and browsed the many shops offering all kinds of travel momentos, cottage knick knacks, books and clothing.  We had lunch at a picnic table in the harbour area.  Our last stop was for groceries to take back to the cottage and on the way out of town we made a point of visiting Husky the Muskie (https://www.ontariotravel.net/en/listing/Husky-the-Muskie/201305):

A Little Background Information

Mr. Bilby came direct from Australia thanks to a lovely lady called Peggy.  She arranged for his transportation and his safe arrival in Canada.  Peggy is part of a fabulous organization called the Save the Bilby Fund.  The Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a marsupial native to Australia.  Our Mr. Bilby takes his first and middle names from the names of the co-founders of the Save the Bilby Fund.  They have a great website which can be found here: savethebilbyfund.com.  The Greater Bilby once were abundant in arid and semi arid areas of Australia.  Now they are listed as vulnerable nationally in Australia and endangered in Queensland in particular.  Their numbers declined rapidly with the introduction of non-native species such as rabbits which destroyed their habitat and cats and foxes who hunted them.  Conservationists say that they have lost 80% of their former range.

Bilbies are omnivores and eat small lizards, mice, spiders, insects, roots and seeds.  They live in burrows and their long front claws are excellent for digging. During the daytime they block the entrances to their burrows to keep them cool.  Closing the burrows also prevents unwanted visitors disrturbing thier sleep.  Their large ears help to keep them cool as their surface area allows a large network of blood vessels to sit at the surface and cool down.  Male bilbies are larger (2.5kg) than female bilbies (1.5kg).  Bilbies are one of the fastest breeding animals on the planet with pregnancy lasting 12-14 days.  Young bilbies live in the pouch for about 3 months are independent once their leave the pouch.  They are able to breed in 6 months.

In Australia National Bilby Day is observed on Sunday September 11 2016.

Information in this particular blog is from the Save the Bilby Fund.  For more information on Bilbies, their plight and how you can help please check out their website at savethebilbyfund.com.

Introducing Mr. Frank Peter Bilby, Esq.

Mr. Frank Peter Bilby arrived from Australia in the Summer of 2016.  He's really a stuffed toy - but don't tell him that.  He thinks he's a travelling bilby.  He plans to visit as many places as he can and spread awareness of the plight of the bilby population back home in Australia.  His additional purpose is to allow others to travel vicariously through him so they too can experience the world as he does.

Here is Mr. Bilby as he arrived from his long trip via Australia Post and Canada Post.

Here he is checking out the view at his host's summer cabin at the lake in the Whiteshell.