Two Sore Backs

Huh?!

Interestingly everything Thunder Bay connects back to curling.

First, curling friends Laurel and Jill offered their newly purchased home on Lottit Lake for our accommodations.

Pat is taking in a glorious sunset from their dock. This property is a piece of heaven. Unfortunately Laurel and Jill were away in Europe during our overnight stay but we met up with Laurel’s parents, Sharron and John, in Thunder Bay before heading up to the lake.

And I cannot leave out Maisie and Malcolm (? may have their new golden’s name wrong) – Jill and Laurel’s two golden retrievers. We had a great time throwing the ball out into the far reaches of Sharron and John’s beautiful garden. Gosh, golden’s have so much energy!

Second connection…. A few years ago I read the book Chop Suey Nation. There was a chapter about Chinese restaurants in Thunder Bay that were part of curling clubs. Being a curler I was intrigued. (And I love Chinese food.) So if I was ever in Thunder Bay I had to check it out. Last winter, over beers after Thursday’s TESAC game, I discovered that Laurel was from Thunder Bay and she provided more context to the Chinese food/curling club history.

Before heading to Lottit Lake we went in search of Chinese food. Plan A-we went to the Fort William Curling Club as Google showed the restaurant as open. Well it wasn’t. Darn. Plan B-we found Ling Lee’s. Chop Suey Nation profiles Ling Lee’s – the restaurant was in the Port Arthur Curling Club until recently. Ling Lee started the restaurant and his daughter Norina Karschti took it over when Ling Lee passed away. During Covid, Ling Lee’s moved out of the Port Arthur curling club site and Norina integrated the take out Chinese food (same staff) with a fruit/chocolate/dessert business she ran with her daughter. This I knew from Laurel.

We were arriving near closing time so I explained to Norina that we were travelling through and could I just order a few dishes – whatever was easy to prepare. (Chop suey of course!) While waiting for our food we chatted about the history of her restaurant, her family, and the events since the book came out. So much fun for me!