June 18 - Day 43 - Terrace Bay- 111 km, 1200m

Total mileage is 4,058 km!!!!   Tomorrow is my half way point.  

 

Camping last night

Still foggy

Lake Superior 

Lake Superior part way up one of the hills

Rest stop

The beach had some sand, some small rocky area, and this area with huge rock 

Waterfalls near Terrace Bay

🤣🤣🤣

I had an amazing day…despite a challenging start.  But first an update on last night.  It rained while I was having dinner, so at the campground, I set up under the shelter.  Not long after the sky opened up…and it poured for about 30 min.  A woman and her two kids came to the shelter just before the deluge, and cooked a birthday dinner for her son….then we all had some cake after singing 😀

The campground was very basic, no shower, no running water, just an outhouse without any paper😳. I decided to change, so managed in the outhouse, without any hooks, and nothing touched the floor…. I was quite proud of my feat!!!  I washed mostly clothed at the marina, between two boat launch areas.  Clean!!!  Whew.  

This morning I woke up at 0530 to fog….pea soup type fog.  I got dressed, packed up and headed to Tim Hortons for breakfast.  I wasn’t sure what I was going to do….and just as I was getting ready to order a man struck up a conversation.  What was I doing, where did I start etc.  really interested, he even bought my first breakfast!  Very nice.  As I was eating another cyclist walked in, he’s going east to west.  We discussed the road, the hills, the lack of services…I wasn’t sure what to do….and I was a bit tearful.  Because it’s so isolated out here I was thinking of renting a UHaul and just driving to Sault Ste Marie and being done with the isolation, but the cyclist said the road is good, the hills aren’t bad and he was sure I could do it.  Ok…..so I had a second breakfast, with extra to go, and off I went.  

I started at 0830, and already the fog was starting to lift, and by 1030 blue skies!!!!  Yippee!!!!  The lake was still foggy, but now I could see the vehicles and they could see me.  I didn’t feel in a rush today, so took as many stops as I wanted.  Stopped a few times for pictures, lunch was a banana and the three remaining oatmeal raisin cookies I bought in Fort Frances so long ago!  I stopped at a picnic area for more pictures….a short detour to some water falls.  Just a fantastic day, and I’m feeling really good, lots of energy.  

I did a hard reset of my phone and that has fixed the live tracking.  Sorry, didn’t mean to worry anyone as I looked like I was stuck in the middle of nowhere for hours….but after a chat with my tech support (Ted), I think we fixed it!  

I’m in a hotel tonight, as there aren’t any campgrounds near the town.  Laundry is done, dinner was amazing and all my stuff is dried out.  Another early start tomorrow to Marathon!  Thanks for all the texts and encouragement ❤️❤️❤️

June 17 - Day 42 - Nipigon

View of Lake Superior from the view point.  

 Today I’m remembering two great men who influenced me.  First is my Dad….he would have been 99 today.  A great Dad who really loved us ❤️

Second is Terry Fox.  I went to visit his memorial statue this morning.  It was 45 years ago that he was doing his marathon of Hope. I was 15 years old, running 10 km races, and really wanting to run a marathon.  Back then there weren’t any training plans, and I wasn’t sure how to increase my mileage.  Then came along Terry Fox with his iconic hop/skip/run with an artificial leg, and he was running a marathon a day…..every day!  I was inspired by what he was doing, and was devastated- like the rest of Canadians-when he had to stop.  He was a true hero.  

I continued on to Nipigon, making it here in good time.  Someone said that they saw me on the highway, and also saw another cyclist about 2 km behind me….too bad we didn’t meet up.  Although I wasn’t far from Lake Superior all day, the only view I had was from the Terry Fox memorial….there’s an excellent view point there.  

Good luck oilers tonight…..I’m going to get to bed early for an early start tomorrow.  Apparently there’s a forecast of thunderstorms tonight…..I’m setting up my tent under a shelter in the hopes on not having to pack up wet tomorrow 😀

June 16 - Day 41 - Thunder Bay

 I woke up at 0530, with the plan of going to Nipigon, but when I saw that it was 140 km, I rolled over and went back to sleep, deciding to go only to Thunder Bay today, and make the trip to Nipigon tomorrow a bit shorter.  

I went and visited with my new friends….and we chatted till 1030, then we visited the falls again. Never have enough of watching waterfalls.  Eventually I packed up and headed 1 km to a coffee shop where I sat and had breakfast while I charged up my devices.  

Eventually I made it to Thunder Bay and Lorraine directed me to the bike shop…almost entirely on bike paths.  They checked my chain, and adjusted my derailleur.  I had a smoothie for lunch then headed off to see the Terry Fox memorial statue.  It was 10 km, but when I was 1.5 km away, my chain broke.  A guy came up - I was still in a residential area, offered for me to use his garage.  I eventually repaired it, but I wasn’t sure I had done it properly, so his wife gave me a ride back to the shop.  So kind…and she wouldn’t take any money!  The best people!!!  The hostel was only 4 blocks from the shop, so instead of going to see the memorial, I had her drop me off at the hostel.  It was already 1800.  I will try to get to the memorial tomorrow even though it’s a bit of a detour. 

At the hostel I met up with Lucas, I last saw him in Creston, and Tim who is cycling west from Halifax to Vancouver.  Nice to meet fellow bike packers.  

Thanks for all the texts….I'm felling much better, ready to take those hills tomorrow and for the next 7 days. 

June 15 - Day 40 - Kakabeka falls 81 km

 Today turned out to be a really good day, but it didn’t start off that way.  

I woke up early, packed up the tent even though it was wet from dew.  I knew it was going to be a long day day.  It was 40 km to the gas station with food, so I had to ration my water, I only had one bottle as there wasn’t any eater available where I was sleeping.  

Eventually I made it to the gas station, and with the time change, only had to wait 45 min for the chill grill to open up.  I bought two bottles of juice and drank those as I waited for food.  

I kept going, with the plan of going all the way to thunder bay, but I was really tired.  I took a rest stop about 20 km from the falls, and that’s when I decided I would stop at the falls.  

I just made it to the campsite when I received a text from my SIL.  She had just texted her friends, and coincidentally they were just passing through Thunder Bay and would honk their horn when they saw me.  I texted that I was in the campground and gave my info which was passed on to her friends, I figured that they were already passed, but 30 min later, they showed up!!!!  How fun….nice people to visit with.  They invited me for dinner and we had a lovely evening together.  Perfect….just what I needed!  

Campsite

June 14 - Day 39 - 98 km - Birch Point trailer park

The lake at the campsite 

Going west

Going east

 If it looks like I’m in the middle of nowhere ….well that’s because I am!!!!  Nothing around for miles….Lorraine and I made quite a few phone calls yesterday looking for a campsite, motel or restaurant or even gas station, and the only camping is 77 km ahead at Kakabeka falls….177 km is way too much in this area.  I found this place, and begged.  The owner finally relented….and I see why….these are seasonal spots, but they just happened to have one that’s empty right now so they are allowing me to stay here for the night.  No charge.  There’s an outhouse on the property, and a beautiful lake with picnic tables.  They refilled my water bottle, and invited me to sit and tell them my story.  Very nice of them.  They also advised me on where to stay in Thunder Bay…..more importantly where not to stay.  There is a hostel, but then my bike wouldn’t be secure.  The KOA charges $60, and it’s out of town, so I would need to bike 10km back for breakfast, or do without again.  So hotel it is!!!  

This morning was a late start….it rained during the night and was fairly cool…..so waited for the sun to at least start drying off the tent fly before I packed it up.  I went to the Esso and bought food for breakfast for today and tomorrow….snacks and something for dinner tonight.  

The cycling was a bit easier than yesterday….the hills are not as steep, so easier to keep a good pace.  A surprise….there was a restaurant at 35km!!!!  Yeah.  I went in and had French toast, egg and bacon for lunch.  Best lunch ever as I wasn’t expecting it.  Tomorrow there’s a restaurant about 45 km away….3 hrs by bike, and another at 75 km at Kakabeka Falls. The plan is a hotel in Thunder Bay tomorrow night.  

Thanks for all the texts and comments.  

June 13 - Day 38 - Atikokan - 140 km

 So glad this day is done.  I have been thinking about this day since the beginning…..a long day without any services.  

I woke up at 0500….so that I could get everything packed up and leave and make some miles before the wind got too strong.   I left around 0700 and noticed that the wind wasn’t too bad.  Great!!!

I had cycled 25 km, when I saw a sign for the same lake the cabin is on.  It’s a massive lake!!!!  And so beautiful and rugged.  Spectacular…..especially at sunset!!!

I had rolling hills all day….only a few km of flat so it was a lot of work, and lots of shifting gears.  For about half the distance, the shoulder was very narrow, so I really had to pay attention….and at times had to get off the paved shoulder and onto the loose gravel.  

I didn’t take a single photo today….seemed like all the best views were as I was going uphill, and I can’t take photos then…..nor can I stop because getting going uphill is really difficult.  

Anyways…..I’m safe in my tent at the campground.  Tomorrow will be another early day.  So Good night!!!!😴 

Tonight’s campsite 

June 12 - Day 37 - Rest

My view tonight…..tops them all!!!!  💕

Spaghetti lunch and dinner….thanks Deb for the homemade sauce…..so yummy.  

Journaling on the deck

 Rest day in Fort Frances.  Nobody moves….no one gets hurt 😆😆😆.  

Laundry and packing done - had a little nap - enjoyed some deck time and did my best to eat and drink lots today.  I will be early to bed for an early start tomorrow.   It’s a long day, and they are calling for a headwind all day.  Nothing for services along the way, so I’ll need to get the distance done.  Atikokan is the planned destination.  

June 11 - Day 36 - Fort Frances 116.7 km

 Hello…..what an interesting day terrain wise.  I started off early this morning, on the Canadian Shield, and ended up on farm land!  About 25 km south of Nestor falls, I saw fewer rocks, everything opened up, and turned into pasture land.  Acreages with mowed grass, just like I had been seeing in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  Also fewer lakes in that area.  As I approached Fort Frances, it started getting rocky again.  

I stopped at Tim’s for several drinks, and a donut as I didn’t have much for dinner last night, nor breakfast this morning.  No services on the road until I reached Emo, 60 km from the campground which is where I had lunch.  Then I picked up a few meals to go, and some cheese and fruit from the grocery store, as I’m staying in a beautiful cabin about 20 km from town.  

The views of the Rainy Lake from the cabin are spectacular….and my hosts left me some homemade spaghetti sauce.  Too tired tonight, but will make it tomorrow, as I’ve planned a rest day here.  The next three days are calling for a head wind, and I have to cycle 140 km as there aren’t any services before then.  I will think it over tomorrow…..I could always wild camp if required….but I would prefer to make it all the way.  

Thanks for all the texts and comments!  I love hearing people’s stories of where they grew up as I’m passing those areas.  And I just formed out that Terry Fox’s younger brother is cycling across Canada, with a group of 8 that have been affected by cancer.  They will be cycling 230 km per day, and are inviting people to join them for part of a leg.  It would be so amazing to run into them.  I believe they have just left Vancouver and will be finished on July 10.  Unlikely that I will intercept them as I’m doing a bit of a wander through Ontario and Quebec….but never know.  I would consider changing my route in order to meet them….but then they would probably just whiz by me!!!!  😂😂😂😂.  It will be interesting to follow them.  

View from the Cabin

Acreage

Farm land.  

June 10 - Day 35 - Nestor Falls 58.7 km

                    My sitting and thinking spot!!!!  

 What a fantastic day!!!!  The sun is shining and I had a short riding day with incredible views!!!!  

 Was so cold last night that I slept in my thermals- I forgot to air out my down jacket and down sleeping bag at the hotel…so everything was a bit damp.  I opened up every other bag and emptied and washed the bags, but my bar bag looked clean, but it was raining when I packed up….and it was a bit damp.  This morning I slept until the sun was out and warming me up!!!!  What a great way to get up!

A cyclist passed me this morning, he was just out for a little ride, but on his return he cycled with me for a bit….he wanted to hear my story.  Nice visit for 5 ish min, then he went on his way.  

This entire area is all lakes and trees….and not much traffic.  I imagine on the weekend in the summer it must be crazy…but I’m still early for this area I think.  

The campground tonight is almost as fantastic as yesterday’s…. I have a small beach area, and really three sites all to myself.  Powered sites across the way, so everything is charged up.  I stopped at the grocery store on the way in to buy some food for tonight and breakfast as there isn’t much until I get to Fort Frances tomorrow. The days have been clear….no smoke, and I only had a headwind for part of the day.  😀😀😀.  

When I opened up my clothing bag at the campsite…it smelled minty fresh…..my toothpaste tube split open!  Thankfully it was mostly contained in my bathroom bag.  I placed the toothpaste in the lunch bag that Derek placed my peanut butter sandwich in when I left Redverse.  The sandwich was yummy….and I saved the bag thinking it might just come in handy….well it did!!!  Thanks Derek!!!!  ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Lunch spot with takeout from yesterday.  I had a late lunch so wasn’t hungry for this at dinner time.  

Nestor Falls

My campsite for tonight 😀😀😀

Dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning.  I’ve been carrying that large squeeze tube of peanut butter since I started in Port Hardy.  It’s time that I eat it, since I have another one waiting for me in Fort Frances!!!!