Day 54 - 31 July, 2011 - Orangeville, Ontario to Port Perry, Ontario

This morning we woke up to overcast skies, 22 degrees but humid.  I left Orangeville  (where I was born) at 8:15 a.m. and headed eastbound on Highway 9.  I ran into Bev and Martin, who were having a break.  They are looking foward to staying in Aurora with family.  When I came to the Holland Marsh area it felt so familiar.  I did alot of TTCI work in these parts through the 7 years we were in Orillia.  At 10:03 a.m. I crossed over the mighty Hwy 400.  It was raining lightly now.  Traffic was really picking up as I headed to Newmarket.  At the Upper Canada Mall, I turned South on to Yonge Street (Cty Rd 1).  Used to love to shop there and Sears was having warehouse sale!!! As I cruised through Aurora, admiring all the beautiful flowers, it is raining steadily and I am getting a little soggy.  Eventually arrived at Bloomington Road where I turned left (also known as County Road 40).  It stopped raining and the sun broke through.  In a town called Goodwood, I turned on to Hwy 21 still heading East.  Such beautiful rolling countryside...horse farms, corn fields, hay fields and fresh produce roadside stands.  After the turn off for Uxbridge, the road was a poor condition.  Arrived in Port Perry at 1:15 p.m.  Brian golfed at Sunnybrae Golf Course, while Sassy and I had a nap!  Total km 110.



Day 53 - July 30th, 2011 - Shelburne, Ontario to Orangeville, Ontario

This is one weekend, I would have rather been on less busy roads, but a beautiful, clear day!  I left Shelburne and cycled southbound on Highway 10.  At least the bulk of the traffic appeared to be heading north.  Only 25 km today to reach Orangeville.  The Tourist Information Bureau told me the closest campground was in Alliston.  We met Blythe at Kelsey's at noon.  She came bearing gifts.  Special cookies for her Dad, 2 months worth of mail and a super cool pink T-Shirt with all the provinces and my blogspot address on the back!  (See attached photo).  Sassy went crazy when she saw Blythe.  Just CRAZY!!! We so enjoyed her visit.  After seeing Blythe off, Brian and I treated ourselves to a massage at Rejuvenate Massage Therapy.  The owner Annette was so kind to slip to her clinic to treat us, while her husband and children vacationed nearby.  While Brian was having his treatment, Annette's cat got her paw stuck in a vent.  Annette and I finally got her free.  A little later Sassy popped in for a cuddle and the cat went crazy.  Annette picked up her cat, but Sassy wanted nothing more to do with it! (The cat is a new Mum, so I think she was a little protective.)  Gosh we laughed.  Annette invited us to "camp" in her driveway.  We were sooooo grateful!  We met our friends Bev and Martin for dinner at Finn McCool's.  Bev and Martin are also cycling across Canada.  We have stayed in touch since Saskatchewan and hope to meet up again on the East Coast.  Bev and Martin are staying with family in Aurora for a few days, while Brian and I push on.  Total km 25.  Grand Total To Date 4349 km.

Terrain and Traffic on Hwy 10

Day 52, July 29th, 2011—Owen Sound to Shelburne, Ontario

Last night we spent the night in a park owned by the City of Owen Sound called Harrison Park, and it is quite the family set up.  However we spent a relaxing night in the trailer with the air conditioning going.  It began to rain about 4:30am and rained until about 9:30am.  So with the rain came a late start to our day.  At 10:15am, 21Celcius and clearing skies Anne set off down 10Hwy.

The terrain was much hillier than expected with ALOT of long rolling hills but Anne conquered them one at a time.  After 47Km we stopped for lunch at a little cafe in Markdale, Ontario



Camoflauge Sheep

 After our lunch break, Anne continued south on 10Hwy arriving in Shelburne at 3:45pm and completing 90km.  The afternoon traffic has been heavy, so we decided to park for the night in Shelburne, leaving a short run into Orangeville tomorrow. It is nice to be in Southern Ontario, after 16 days crossing Northern Ontario.  Now we are seeing crops growing in fields instead of bush after bush.

Anne and Sassy relaxing in Markdale

Horses playing peek-a-boo

Day 51 - July 28, 2011 Johnsons Harbour, Ontario to Owen Sound, Ontario

Flipping over the map felt like graduating to another province! Last night we watched A Channel News (London) with Dan McLellan....felt like we were home!  The trip down Highway 6 was made under overcast skies.  It was hot and humid, so I was grateful for a little headwind to keep the bugs down.  Beautiful meandering road with a nice shoulder.  The only time I used granny gears was up the hill out of Wiarton.  Two great things about Hepworth.  Lunch at Tim Hortons and running into Jug and Betty on their way home to Johnson's Harbour!  Our trip to the Bruce was complete!  Turning in Hepworth to follow Highway 6 the road dived into disrepair.  There was virtually no shoulder and what was there, was crap~! And the traffic was solid.  Bikers Beware.  I reached Owen Sound at 1:50 p.m.  We are camped at Harrison Park.  Total km 91.

Betty, Jugger, Anne and Brian in
Hepworth

Anne with Poster of Encouragement
from Jug and Betty

Day 50 - July 27, 2011 - South Baymouth (Manitoulin) to Johnsons Harbour, Ontario

Not much cycling today, only 22 km, but we saw so much!  I had a short ride from the camp to the ferry dock, where we hung out in the sunshine talking to other cross Canada cyclists waiting for the Chi-Cheemaun.  One of the cyclists, was a proud 73 year old woman from England!  Go Girl!  We arrived in Tobermory at 3:30 p.m. and disembarked.  We unloaded the bike and I started peddling southbound on Highway #6, heading to our friends Jug and Betty's in Johnson's Harbour.  In no time, I was there.  Jug and Betty are visiting family in Toronto.  Thanks so much you two for all your love and support over the past 50 days.  We are so grateful for the hospitality....and the sticky buns!  Kiki and Sassy were nose to nose at the garden door.  Sassy wasn't feeling the love!

Day 49 – 26 July, 2011 Little Current, Ontario to South Baymouth (Manitoulin Island), Ontario

Only 3 hours of cycling and I was in at the other end of Manitoulin Island.  Three hours used to be a decent training run and now it is practically a day off! I stayed on Highway 6 and peddled past beautiful waterways under clear blue skies.  There was a high wind warning for small water craft.  There were some steep hills to negotiate.  The pavement was a little broken up and we went through 3 different construction zones.  We saw lots of sandhill cranes and a couple of snakes. Brian was able to get some fishing in this afternoon.  We are booked on the Chi-Cheemaun tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.  Tobermory here we come! Total 62 km today.

Anne Cycling through Construction

Day 48 - July 25th, 2011 Serpent River, Ontario to Little Current, Ontario

I was up early this morning and on the road by 7:15 a.m. knowing I had some miles to do.  It was 18 degrees and overcast.  It was a beautiful morning, very peaceful!  I put a deer up when I was changing gears and the deer ran with me along a hydro cut until she found an opening in the forest...and she was gone.  There were a few little villages I went through, but otherwise it was just the road and rock cuts and bush.  Just before I reached Massey I passed "Seldon Seen Road".  (But I saw it!)  Another dot on the map was Webbwood, that boasts the first female mayor in Canada (Barbara Hanley).  I met up with Brian at the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 6 for a coffee at TIM HORTONS!! After our coffee break, I turned south on Highway 6 and went through Espanola.  Then the fun began.  Hills, hills and more hills....all the way to Birch Island.  The roadway flattened out after Birch Island, but the wind was gusting big time and full on.  Still this was one of my best days.  I still had gas in the tank at the end.  We crossed over the North Channel onto Manitoulin Island!  A little explanation about the accompanying photo.  Brian and I have TV 1 out of 3 nights, so the other nights we play either cards or Scrabble.  My choice is always Scrabble and Brian's choice is anything but Scrabble (even though he usually wins!)  Total km today 118.

Weather Vane-Foxtail Grass

Day 47 – 24 July, 2011 – Thessalon to Serpent River, Ontario

I had a 2-3 km run up the Brownlee Sideroad, before I got back to where I left off yesterday.  On the Brownlee Sideroad, I passed a 12 sided barn built in the 1800’s that the Amish use to sell their goods.  It was overcast today and it wasn’t humid, making it nice for cycling.  The road to Serpent River was for the most part flat.  I just had a darn headwind, otherwise it was perfect.  I had pretty views of the North Channel of Lake Huron.  I met Brian for coffee at the Tim Horton’s in Blind River after cycling 45 kilometers.  It was hard to get going again!  The traffic had picked up and so had the wind.  I reached Serpent River at 1:15 p.m.  We drove to McDonalds in Elliott Lake and updated the blog for yesterday and checked our email.  We have had 100 hits on our blog since we checked it 3 days ago.  Your support is encouraging and much appreciated! We returned to where I left off on Hwy 17 and are camped in a truck scale lot for the night.  Total 76 km today.

If You need this sign--Darwin Award

Blind River

  

Day 46, Saturday 23Jul2011, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to Thessalon, Ontario

After a day of rest, we left our campground situated at the north west end of Sault Ste. Marie with the intentions of ending up in Thessalon.  At 8:15AM it was already 25C with clear skies.  Anne made her way through the “Soo”,  hitting 17E towards Thessalon.  At first the highway was divided with 2 lanes going East and 2 lanes going West.  Traffic was fairly heavy today.  About 20Km east of the “Soo” we met up with Dr. Riley Senft.  Riley is from Vancouver, and is running across Canada.  His cause is to raise Prostate Cancer awareness and educate men and their families on the “Steps to Action”.  Riley is accompanied by a friend named Mike who drives the support vehicle that is decked out with advertisements for the cause.  They have a blog   www.stepintoaction.ca  Now back to our travels.  We have gone from total solitude north of the Soo, to farming communities on the east, and along the North Shore of Lake Huron.  The Amish are quite prevalent in the area.    Shortly after meeting Riley, and proceeding east, the road narrowed to a 2 lane highway.  We saw Osprey, Eagles and even some Sand Hill Cranes.We saw signs for a campground 9 km east of Thessalon, called Brownlee Lake Park, Resort and Campground and decided since the temperature had risen to 31C we would again take a campground and have hydro and A/C.  This was a nice little campground situated on Lake Brownlee two km north of 17 Hwy on Brownlee Rd.  The pleasant surprise was that the owners also run a restaurant on site, that is only open Friday and Saturday nights.  It is truly fine dining in the middle of nowhere.  There were appetizers, 4 different meals to choose from and two different desserts all based on European cuisine  and reasonably priced.  This is truly a hidden gem.  Their website is www.brownleelake.com

Total km travelled today was 109.

Mike, Dr. Riley Senft and Anne

Day 45 - Sault Ste. Marie - REST DAY--22Jul2011

We decided to take today and travel to someplace that I have always wanted to visit.  Mackinac Island.  We took a ferry ride from St. Ignace, Michigan to Mackinac Island.  No vehicle's are allowed on the island, so you travel, by foot, bicycle or horse.  WE DID NOT RIDE A BIKE TODAY!!! We found the Grand Hotel, where alot of the movie, "Somewhere In Time' was filmed.  The movie featured Christoper Reeve and Jane Seymour.  The temperature reached 32 degrees today, so I was glad I wasn't riding today.  I feel rested and ready to go tomorrow.  In closing I would like to thank our friends, Tom and Barb who identified the little song bird who has been keeping me company on my ride.  It is a white throated sparrow, common to this region of the Canadian Shield.

Canada Goose Feeding in Lake Huron

enjoying a quiet moment 

THE GRAND HOTEL-MACKINAC ISLAND

Day 44 - 21 July, 2011 - Montreal River, Ontario to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Another overcast day, and it was humid.  Only 21 degrees too.  Good conditions for spending alot of time on a bicycle.  I just had a tough time, willing my legs to peddle, today.  After only 2 1/2 hours in the saddle, I met Brian in Batchewana at "The Cookhouse" and treated ourselves to a hearty breakfast.  I pressed on and saw two sandbill cranes.  I was only able to get a photo of one of them, before they were back in the bush.  The roadway ran beside Lake Superior and I could hear the waves lapping up on the shore.  By 12:30 p.m. the sun was out and the wind had picked up.  I was happy the wind was primarily behind me.  Hills started picking up in intensity near Goulais River and the grand-daddy of them all was waiting for me, 22 km. out of the Soo.  Locals call it One Mile Hill and it is as tough as anything in B.C.! My hands were numb at the top! The only good thing about One Mile Hill is.....it is behind me now!!! We arrived in Sault Ste. Marie at 2 p.m.  We are staying at the Glenview R.V. Campground.  Total 91 km.

Warning Leaving the Cook House!

Sand Crane in there somewhere!

Day 43 – July 20th, 2011 - Wawa,Ontario to Montreal River, Ontario

It was overcast and 21 degrees when I set off this morning at 8:20 a.m.  Brian was heading into Wawa to get his haircut this morning, so I was on my own for the first 2 hours. Southwestern Ontario is under a heat advisory, with temperatures expecting to soar well over 30 degrees today.  This area is under a thunderstorm watch.  Lots of long climbs today.  Lake Superior Provincial Park took up 83 km of today’s ride.  As with most of northern Ontario, it is just natural wilderness.  About half way through the park, Dad Lake is on the left.  Then across the road is Baby Lake.  And you guessed it, Mom Lake is beside Dad Lake.  Further up the road is Orphan Lake! I met Brian for lunch at the Agawa Scenic Lookout.  After lunch the sun broke out and the temperature rose to over 30 degrees with high humidity.  We wrapped up the day at 4:00 p.m. going just past Montreal River to another scenic lookout to camp for the night.  Montreal River is just a dot on the map! We are looking out over Lake Superior and were anticipating a spectacular sunset.  Instead we watched a thunder storm.  It was a great light show!  Total km 123.

Sunset just before Thunder Storm

Day 42 - 19 July, 2011 - White River, Ontario to Wawa, Ontario

Today I am heading mainly South.  I left White River around 7:50 a.m.  The temperature was already 21 degrees and the sun was rising from my left.  The road was shaded until about 9:30 a.m. and then it was all sunshine.  Today I had less arduous climbs with flat portions in between.  With this changed landscape, came the impatient drivers, passing irregardless of the cyclist!  I headed for the gravel shoulder more than once.  My first rendezvous with Brian produced a welcomed coffee.  What a treat! Brian and I have seen moose along the way but today Brian was able to get some great photo's.  There was a calf but it made a hasty retreat into the forest.  There is virtually nothing but wilderness between White River and Wawa. There is a bird that lives in these parts of Ontario and it has a 3 note soprano song and one calls to another.  They are abundant as I hear them all the time.  I keep looking to see the bird, but no luck so far.  We are staying at the Wawa R.V. Campground.  Brian was getting a case of putting fever, so he headed of to the golf course, after we set up camp, for treatment.  Total 86 km.

Mama hung around, baby ran into bush

"And they say everything is bigger in Texas"

Day 41 - 18 July, 2011 Marathon Ontario to White River, Ontario

It rained through the night last night, so when I left camp the pavement was wet and there was a touch of fog.  As the sun rose there was a "glow" about the forest. There was hardly any traffic and it was all very peaceful.  I had 24 km to peddle to get through Marathon and I was glad I was tackling the hills with fresh legs.  Just outside of Marathon, I came across another cyclist Micheal from Montreal.  We rode together for about 60 km.  The hills weren't as steep, but the day was warming up and very humid.  We were able to take turns drafting and it made the day go a little faster. (When Brian was leaving Marathon, he saw a bear.)  Micheal stopped to swim in White Lake and I kept going.  Approximately 30 km out of White River, crews were re-paving the road.  There was a bit of a headwind that kept the bugs at bay.  Still lots of hill climbing and the temperature was hovering around 30 degrees.  I was going through gallons of water today.  I met up with Brian in White River and the first order of business was heading to the A & W for a diet root beer float and a not-so-diet Teen burger.  We had our photo taken with Winnie the Pooh.  On August 24th, 1914, Lt. Harry Coleburn purchased a bear cub in White River, Ontario and named it after his hometown of Winnipeg.  Winnie ended up in the London Zoo where A. A. Milne visited and put a jacket on the bear. He partnered him up with Christoper Robin and the rest as they say is in the Honeypot! Total 115 km.

Last Big Hill Before Marathon-There Goes Sassy!

Anne Cooling Off

Day 40 - 17th July, 2011 Rossport, Ontario to Marathon, Ontario

Fog rolled in last night and was still heavy when we woke up this morning.  It had lifted enough by 9:42 a.m. and I set off.  It was a chilly 15 degrees.  Lots of hills to negotiate but by the time I got to Schreiber, the fog had lifted and the temperature was up to the mid 20's. Sometimes as I am peddling along, my thoughts wander, lately to the book I am reading (Half Broke Horses). I was also thinking about pancakes....dripping with syrup.  Moving on to Terrace Bay, I noticed the fog rolling in and folding over the trees and on to the road.  With it came a chilling wind.  I arrived at Terrace Bay at 11:40 a.m. and we decided to stop for an early lunch at the Red Dog Inn.  Guess what I had for lunch!  Yep, dripping in syrup!  By 12:35 p.m. I was heading to Marathon.  The fog gradually lifted and the temperatures shot up again.  What a day...jacket on/jacket off!  We are camped at the Neys Lunch and Campground.  Total today 87 km.  Total Trip to Date 3335 km.

Up, Up and Up some more

View from Neys Prov. Park Lookout

Day 39 – 16 July, 2011 Dorion, Ontario to Rossport, Ontario

It was overcast again today and foggy.  I was on the road by 8:25 a.m.  The ride to Nipigon was nice and Brian and I met for coffee at Tim Horton’s 10:15 a.m.  After Nipigon Hwy 11 and 17 diverge.  I stayed on Highway 17 and the hills were brutal! Long climbs up through huge rock cuts.  It reminded me of the Rockies!  It has been a while since I have used my “granny” gears, but today was the day.  Once at the top though, the views of Lake Superior were amazing.  There were some great downhill runs too.  I finally got to Rossport at 3:20 p.m. and we found an amazing picnic/beach area right on Lake Superior to set up for the night.  Sassy loved the beach....thought she was back in Galveston!  Total 108 km today.  

Brian's Artistic Talents

Day 38 – 15 July, 2011 Kakabeka Falls, Ontario to Dorion, Ontario

It rained while we had our breakfast this morning, but cleared shortly afterwards.  I decided I wanted to break the day up, instead of taking the whole day off.  We returned to where we left off yesterday.  I cycled the 35 kilometers on the bypass (Hwy 102) to the Terry Fox Scenic Lookout.  I took a photo from the road of Terry facing the west (his direction of travel).  We loaded up the bike and headed into Thunder Bay.  We found a Chapters and stocked up on books.  I have read four books since beginning this trip.  We also went into a Walmart and loaded up on fresh fruits and vegetables.  We had lunch at Kelsey’s and returned to the Terry Fox Scenic Lookout.  A nice family from B.C. approached us and said they had seen us along the way.  They were interested in our adventure.  I set off under cloudy skies with the temperature in the mid teens.  (Rain is in the forecast for the Thunder Bay area for the next 4 days.)  Construction in the T-Bay area is everywhere and it was a little unnerving on this Friday afternoon.  18 km from the Scenic Lookout Memorial is a small placque marking mile 3339 of Terry Fox’s journey where it came to an end September 1^st, 1980.  Terry, you had so far to go, but you came so close!  Highway 11 and 17 merge for 100 km and it is called The Terry Fox Courage Highway.  It was an honour to be riding on it.  I arrived in Dorion at 5 p.m.  Total  97 km today.

Day 37 - 14 July, 2011 Upsala, Ontario to Kakabeka Falls, Ontario

It was a chilly start at 7:50 a.m. but the sun was shining.  The day warmed up as I cruised along Hwy 17 East.  The C.P. rail lines ran beside the road.  Traffic increased as the day went along.  Approximately 20 km outside of Upsala, the time changed to Eastern Standard Time.  We are now in the same time zone as our children (except for Blythe who is vacationing in Calgary).  I saw a dead moose today on the side of the road and car parts and glass littered the road.  I was hoping that the vehicle occupants were alright.  When we got to Raith, there was a sign noting the Atlantic Watershed and on the flip side, the Arctic Watershed.  All streams going south, end up in the Atlantic Ocean and all streams going north go to the Arctic Ocean.  Raith also marked the spot where the flat road, became a giant roller coaster.  The climbing was unbelievable but so was the view and the ride down the other side.  Brian met me for lunch in Shabaqua.  After lunch I cycled to the Hwy 102 split, that bypasses Thunder Bay.  We decided to head to Kakabeka Falls and do the tourist thing for the afternoon.  Tomorrow I will return to the Highway 102 bypass and take up where I left off.  Total km 93.

Day 36 - 13 July, 2011 Ignace, Ontario to Upsala, Ontario

Happy Birthday Jim~Happy Anniversary Doug and Renee~Bon Voyage Blythe!
We started our day with breakfast at a local restaurant.  I was on the road by 8:25 a.m.  It was sunny (15 degrees) with very little wind.  There was a steep climb out of Ignace, but otherwise the roadway was gently rolling surrounded by wilderness.  Brian threw a line in Lodge Lake today.  He looked so happy! I was in a better frame of mind today too.  Yesterday was also a tough day for the other cyclists we are in contact with.  About 30 km out of Upsala, I met Brian for lunch.  With re-newed energy, I tackled the hills going into Upsala.  We found Inwood Park Campground on the other side of the village.  The park has sites all around a little lake and you are on the honor system to put $12.00 in an envelope (and of course we did!) 105 km today.

Brian testing the waters in Lodge Lake

Day 35, Tuesday, July 12, 2011--Dryden to Ignace, Ontario

What a change in weather.  Two days ago we were sweating like crazy.  Today is a sweater day.  High of 15C with strong winds out of North West and overcast.  Without the sun to wake us up we slept in until 7 a.m., so Anne didn't get on the road until 8:15AM.  A good chunk of the highway from Dryden, maybe after 20 km the shoulder narrowed to a couple of feet.  Lots of hills to climb.  Not many lakes in these parts, just forest and rocks.  Traffic was moderate and polite.  At 1230, we stopped for a short lunch, soup and grilled cheese and Anne was back on the road for the final 15km to Ignace.  We arrived in Ignace and found a vacant lot, next to the OPP station where we parked for the night.

Total Kilometers cycled today along 17 Hwy, was 105.

Anne and Sassy look at Float Plane in Ignace, Ontario

Day 34, 11Jul 2011 Kenora Ontario to Dryden, Ontario

Happy Birthday Uncle Herb! We had a little visitor last night and we will attach a picture.  We think he is about 1 month old.  He and a family of deer hung around for a while.  At one point the fawn was playing "chicken" with the traffic nearby! 
When I left the campsite this morning, it was overcast and about 18 degrees.  Perfect cycling weather and the wind was coming from the North West.  It took 14 km to get out of Kenora and back on to Highway 17 east.  The ride today was so beautiful.  I couldn't wait to get to the top of the hill or around the corner to see what was waiting for me.  We were surrounded by lakes, forests, wildflowers and rock cuts.  At one of my stops, Brian had a fishing line in the water at Lake Percy.  Some of the lakes had water lilies blooming.  As we got closer to Vermillion Bay, the wind started gusting.  We stopped in the parking lot of Busters Bar-B-Que.  We debated whether to go in or just make something in the trailer.  Brian talked me into going inside for a meal.  As we walked closer to the door, we saw a bunch of OPP cruisers.  We sat down at a table and we recognized our good friend Cst. Kevin Gorman of the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (Dive Team).  I was Kevin's coach officer in Orillia.  I think it was about 2001-2002.  We caught up with Kevin over lunch and I was back on the road heading towards Dryden.  Enroute to Dryden, I recalled some of the calls Kevin and I went to and the miles flew by.  (Remember Billy and Sam, Kevin?)  We are camped at Birchland Trailer Park tonight.  Total km today 128

Day 33 Falcon Lake, Manitoba to Kenora, ONTARIO!!!

10 July, 2011 HAPPY FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, DREW AND KATE!!! We are so proud of you both! And hello Ontario! It seems strange to see so many Ontario licence plates!  I left the beautiful summer resort town of Falcon Lake, Manitoba at 7:44 a.m.  It was already hot and humid.  I love cycling on Sunday mornings.  There was virtually no traffic on the Trans Canada Hwy this morning and you can hear everything moving around in the bush.  I should mention that the topography has changed to rocks and trees and hills and valleys.  Around every corner is another breath-taking view.  As I entered Ontario I passed a lake with loons paddling around and calling to each other.  Brian saw them too.  Truly magical.  I also saw quite a few dead painted turtles on the road this morning.  I saw one that looked like it hadn't been hit yet and it was in a live lane of traffic.  I stopped my bike and got off to move it.  once my sunglasses were off, it became apparent that it was just a rock!!! (I moved it anyway...) We met up at the Pinetree Restaurant and Gift Shop.  I had a piece of the best home-made apple pie and coffee.  We continued into Kenora arriving around lunch time.  What a beautiful city built on Lake of the Woods.  I also noticed alot of day cyclers come in and out of the city.  I also met Vic, who is a great-grandfather to 4 and cycles everyday, whether he is at the "cabin" or his winter home in Florida.  Total km 67 today.

 

Day 32, Richer Manitoba to Falcon Lake Manitoba 9Jul2011

"Should I or Shouldn't I"

We woke up to rain this morning.  So I did some more laundry.  For those of you who haven't been to a laundramat lately, the campground was cheap.  It was only $1.50 for a washload and $1.00 for 30 minutes of drying.  In Drumheller, we paid $4.25 per washload!  The rain stopped and I set off at 11:45 a.m.  It was still overcast, hot and humid.  After 15 km. the narrow shoulder disappeared completely and I was forced to ride in a live lane of traffic and it was busy.  There was a head wind, but it wasn't gusting.  I saw lots of deer and Brian saw a bear.  The countryside was still pretty.  Lush and green and forest as far as the eye could see.  For the last 15 km. my nice wide shoulder was back and the wind had switched around, now coming from the west.  Now the bugs could really keep up with me.  They were a force to be reckoned with.  One mean deer fly, got stuck in my helmet.  I got bitten a few times on my ears yesterday and putting on the sunscreen this morning stung a bit.  Joys of the job!  We rolled into Falcon Lake around 3:15 p.m.  Total km today 86.  TOMORROW ONTARIO!

 

Day 31 - 08 July, 2011 Portage de Prairie, Manitoba to Richer, Manitoba

Last night we stayed in a truck stop beside Highway 1.  Normally we have trains running nearby and we are used to the whistles at all hours of the night.  By selecting the truck stop, we couldn't see the train tracks and thought it would be relatively quiet.  We hadn't counted on the helicopters practising their night landings in the hayfield behind us!  We thought we would die laughing!  Anyway, we eventually got some sleep and went for a truckers breakfast at the Esso.  I was on the road by 7:25 a.m.  It was a comfortable 18 degrees and a nice, sunny day.  I crossed over the Assiniboine River and found a snapping turtle fleeing the flooding, just outside of Portage la Prairie.  I crossed over the Assiniboine River again, closer to Winnipeg.  (More flooding).  The shoulder was in great shape all the way to Winnipeg.  Traffic started picking up as I got closer to the city.  We took the bypass (Hwy 100) around Winnipeg.  The traffic was manageable.  Then I got back on Highway 1 East again, and the traffic was rockin'!  I made it to Ste. Anne's and the nice wide shoulder disappeared down to about 2.5 feet.  The temperature is up to 27 degrees and we are going through water like crazy! I continued on to Richer.  We are staying in the Rock Garden Campground.  No train tracks or helicopters in sight! 148 km today.