June 30 - Day 55 - Southampton 113 km

I just passed another milestone - 5010 km!!!!  Whoop Whoop.  

The boys I met on the road.  Note their system for carrying gear….a milk crate secured to a rack.  Whatever works!!!  So fun to meet these young men heading out on an adventure.  

Beach in Tobermory 

Ferry

Another fantastic day…..how is it that the days keep getting better and better?  But they do!!!

I hit up early, found a breakfast place and had avocado toast for breakfast!  So yummy.  I headed south, with a south wind…but it wasn’t too bad because it was fairly flat.  The shoulder was wide initially so I didn’t need to worry about anything…..I could just let my mind wander, and took the time to look around.  No views of the lake, but there is lots of farm land here, so more open space.  I was starting to feel closed in with all the trees.  

I had cycled for about 25km when I ran into two young guys, 17&18 years old, from Toronto, on a short cycling tour, taking the ferry to Manitoulin Island.  They had taken a milk crate, strapped it to their bikes, and filled it with all their gear.  Easy!  They seemed excited to see me….they had lots of questions and we took a selfie together.  😀

I stopped for some ice cream along the way….with a short rain shower while I was stopped.  Perfect timing….everything stayed dry as I had parked my bike under an awning.  😀😀

It felt like a long day….even though it was only 113km.  There was some heat….and humidity, but it didn’t last long as the clouds came out with some cooler air….nice.  

Where I’m staying, she kept telling me that I could take any road I wanted, but that I had to go through Sauble Beach.  I thought it was because that’s the road….but no….its because it’s a busy beach town!  I cycled to the beach….looked at the shops, and stopped for a slushy.  

Eventually I found my way to the cottage….a lovely quiet place….with a huge waterfront and sandy beach.  Even though there are many cottages here, very few people are on the beach….we had it all to ourselves.   

A great dinner, then wine on the beach is the end to another great day!  Thanks for the texts and comments!

  

June 29 - Day 54 - Tobermory- 55km

Well, I was up half the night stressing and fretting about getting my bike on the ferry.  I had two options….ride 50km to the ferry and see if they will let me get on, or I could head back to Espanola and continue on to Sudbury.  Back and forth all night, all because I couldn’t book my bike on the ferry until the last crossing at 2130.  

This morning I woke up at 0530….started getting ready when Marcel texted….an idea is to ask if anyone would put my bike in a truck to bring it across.  Excellent idea….now I had a plan.  I packed up, breakfast was 3 oatmeal cookies and some orange juice….ok….here we go.  

Thankfully it wasn’t too hilly, but the wind picked up at 0730….and with my legs being tired from my long cycle yesterday, it wasn’t easy.  I kept looking at the time, my speed….ok ….push a little harder….keep going.  

If I was only going to be on the last ferry, I would need a place to stay as it will be dark by that time.  I had texted my friend where I’m going to stay tomorrow night….and my sister….together they went to work,  a few phone calls later, I had a hotel room in Tobermory….for free.  What????  I didn’t understand…. I was still riding hard to get to the ferry.  The entire area is booked solid for the Canada Day long weekend…..think Banff in the summer….everything is booked solid.  How did she manage to get a room….and free?  Magic when to talk to the right person.  

Ok…. I still needed to get to the 1100 ferry….but wait, I could take the 1530 ferry and still have some time to visit Tobermory.  Whew…. I can relax a bit….but I was so close to the ferry…..ok….keep going!!!!

At the ferry, I chat with the ticket person, no big deal, I’ll just add the bike…..$8!!!!  Well, who knew it would be so easy.  And there at the ticket booth was Torben who I haven’t seen since Medicine Hat.  So we had some catching up to do.  Then we met Ian from Edmonton, riding the back roads, gravel roads.  He also sewed up his own bags….much better than mine!!!!  We had 90 min to visit and chat!  Ian has also brought a guitar and flute on his bike, amazing.  

Ian and Torben.  The blue bag on Ian’s bike is his guitar!  

Ian with his flute 

Once off the ferry, after saying goodbye to the boys, I went to find my room.  The manager greeted me, and told me it was a staff room that was empty, and when it was explained to her that I was cycling and really needed a place to stay, she offered that room….free.  So kind!  We had a nice visit….and stored my bike with hers…and then I washed up and headed into town for some food.  

I received a call from my friend Mike, telling me that he and Barb had called the brewery - since I had been complaining that there isn’t any good beer in Ontario- so called the brewery, gave his credit card info to the manager, and that they were buying my beer and meal!!!  So nice….THANK YOU 

Best fish tacos ever

Beer worth freezing for -ummm riding for 😂😂😂

Tomorrow I’ll ride about 100km south, near Sauble Beach, hopefully before the south wind gets too strong.  

June 28 - Day 53 - Little Current n Manitoulin Island -161 km, 950 m

What a day.  I started this morning at 0730, and made some great time headed east…..traveling the 100 km at 21.1km/hr!!!  Not too many hills, and with the tailwind it was great!  At Espanola I turned south….and headed towards Manitoulin island.  This is when I thought my tail wind would turn into a cross wind, but it was actually a headwind.  It was really hard work to get the last 60 km done. But I’m here in a campsite.  Just one little problem, seems I can’t book a ferry with my bicycle until tomorrow evening, and there aren’t any camping sites available.  I tried to call this evening…but they were all closed.  So I’ll get up really early….make some tracks towards the ferry….make some calls and see what happens.  

June 27 - Day 52 - Weather day

The group just before they headed off

Getting back on the road

Darrel…Terry’s younger brother 

 This is the best day ever!!!!  With the torrential rain this morning, I decided to stay an extra night….and just as I paid for the room, the rain stopped.  Now I was second guessing my decision.  Then the fog came out…and I thought….OK….right decision, but I still wasn’t happy about it.  

Today is the day that the Terry Fox foundation - Ride for Hope was going to be on my path, and I was hoping to be out on the road and have them pass me.  Well that didn’t happen as I’m taking a day off.  ☹️.  What did happen was a million times better!!! 😀😀😀😀

I’ve been tracking them since they started and today I’ve been tracking since I got up, and when they were about 20 min from Blind River, I headed outside.  It just so happens that my motel is across the highway from the OPP.  While I was standing in the side of the road, one of their support crew came over to invite me into the parking lot where they were set up, and where the riders were going to stop for food.  Well I was over the moon!!!  

They have had a police escort throughout Ontario….so no worrying about narrow shoulders or gravel for this team!!!!  I checked my phone for their location, I saw the police escort, then the riders came in.  I tried to give them their space as the plan is 280km today and they are only about half way due to the thunderstorms and strong headwind.  Several were very gracious and came to chat with me.  Darrel, Terry’s younger brother ensured they posed for a group photo with me before they left.  And he spent the time asking me about my trip and how it was going.  ❤️❤️❤️ So kind!!!  

In some ways I think things happen for a reason…. I picked a motel far from downtown because it was the least expensive….2 km walk to a restaurant, but right across the street from where the group stopped.  Plus I took a weather day, and I was able to chat with several of the riders and take their photos….much better than meeting them on the road where none of that would have been possible.  

So the best weather day ever.  

June 26 - Day 51 - Blind River 55 km

Lilly pads growing wild - covered a huge water area near the highway

Nice view

Family out for a swim

A much shorter day today than I was hoping, but the combination of the strong gusty headwind and the lack of shoulder to ride on made me decide to stop here for the night and possibly two nights.  The headwinds are going to be much stronger tomorrow until noon, and the forecast is thunderstorms with an advisory.  I’ll check things out in the morning.  

Not really any views today, just lots of trees blowing around in the wind 😂😂.  

I’ve been receiving many texts and comments on the live tracking….thought I would share the most inspirational ones.  

Make the plan, plan to make it

Today is another opportunity to train the mind and train the body

When I was whining about the weather I received this comment 🎵Momma said there’d be days like this, there’d be days like this my momma said 🎶

Pedal harder 😀

Inside the fortune cookie - accept your lot in life, you can’t always be first - this can’t possibly be my fortune!!!!

Inside the fortune cookie today - your present plans are going to succeed.  😀

On a rainy day when I had still had to cycle 100 km - go put on your rain gear and get going….you’re not going to melt!

Riding into a headwind is character building!  

I’m sure there are others that I’ve forgotten….and I appreciate every single text.  

I was just told the Neil Young - Long May You Run song talks about Blind River in the Lyrics!  And stormy weather….almost like he’s here!!!!

June 25 - Day 50 - Thessalon - 93 km

Loonie in Echo Bay

Reunion in the bike shop

L to R Patrick, Jarka, Mike, me

I was on a paved part of the great Canadian trail for about 30 km.  Nice and quiet, wide shoulders and the speed limit 70km/hr!!!  

The church in Bruce Mines.  Beautiful, in good condition, and still in use, but they are having a meeting tonight to decide what the outcome of the building will be.  Few people in the congregation, and churches in all the neighbouring communities, although none as beautiful as this one.  Not sure if they will keep it open for use as a church.  Might open it up to tourists for tours, but really they need several people with time, energy and ideas of what to do.  Challenging in such a small community ….so it may become derelict.  Such a shame for a beautiful building.  Anyone want to move to Bruce Mines and take on this project????

Beach at the campground in Thessalon

Beach

Ted playing with AI.  😀😀😀

I had such a fun and lazy day today….ok, not totally lazy because I still cycled 93 km, but hardly any hills, and the headwind wasn’t too bad, and I got to sleep in this morning!!!!  All combined made it a great day.  

First of all, I’m out of the isolated section of Ontario, and I’m going into a much more populated area.  So from now on my distances that I’m cycling won’t be dictated as much by where the towns are located.  Plus I might be able to buy a juice or something part way through the day!!!! 

This morning the plan was to make it to the bike shop when they opened, to have some minor work done on the bike, new chain etc.  I picked the campground last night as it’s only 5 km away from the bike shop, which is out of town, but a popular and highly recommended place.  

I arrived at 0950, and met some of the workers outside, we chatted a bit, then they helped me get my bike up the 6 stairs to the work area….ramp was in the back…but hey, I wanted a bit more exercise 😀

They took it right in, and while I was waiting, Mike rolled in, we met at the Tims in Wawa a few days ago.  He also needed work done on his bike.  Then Patrick and Jarka arrived, I spent a few nights with them.  It felt like a family reunion.  Hugs all around, and catching each other up on the past few days.  

Once my bike was ready, I headed off….the hope was Thessalon, but 88km with a 1230 start…. I wasn’t sure, but there were other campsite along the way.  I stopped at the loonie to take a photo, and met Ryan there, he’s cycling east to west.  After chatting and gathering info on the road conditions etc, Lucas showed up.  I first met him in Creston, then saw him again at the hostel in Thunder Bay.  We got caught up on the past week before heading off.  

I didn’t have too many views today, and the roads were quite busy with narrow or nonexistent shoulders, so I was paying attention to my mirror constantly. I stopped for lunch/dinner in Bruce Mines, and decided to continue to Thessalon.  I was not prepared for what I saw when I arrived at the campground.  Even though the campground is called Lakeview I was not prepared for the view.  All I saw today was pavement and trees, and small slivers of water through the trees, until I crested the hill about 50 meters from the campground….and this fantastic view comes into sight.  Calm water that’s like glass, sandy beach, wide open space, some trees on the side.  Just spectacular!!!!  

Not sure about tomorrow. I’ve been lucky that I’ve missed the heat wave, but I have had rain.  Forecast is for some significant rain over the next several days, with daytime highs of 18C.  At least I can dress for the cooler weather…..even though I don’t really have rain gear!  The clothes I wear dry out quickly.  I’m just headed into a very touristy area…..expensive!!!  One day at a time.  Hopefully I can continue to camp.  

June 24 - Day 49 - Sault Ste Marie - 110 km, 854m

The elevation chart for today’s ride

Pancake Bay, apparently because when someone arrived here, all they had was pancake batter….but I think it’s because it’s flat like a pancake.  

Views this morning….still foggy in places, which was nice to keep the temps down 

Another fantastic day….sunny but not too hot, spectacular views…..and a few big hills in case I was missing the mountains….oh and enough mosquitoes!!!  

I left this morning….not super early, around 0815 and it was super foggy for the first hour or so, which is good because I couldn’t tell how long the first hills were!  I got over them, and on the other side….this is where I started seeing such great views of Lake Superior.  I really wanted to see Agawa Bay yesterday and stay there, but it was foggy there yesterday, and the sky was black even though it was only 7pm. 

This morning I stopped at a view point, and a trucker came and brought me two bottles of water and offered me some tea as well!  I took one bottle and drank it right away.  I drank both my bottles yesterday and wished I had more, so today I wasn’t going to refuse any water!

I kept stopping to take photos today….i probably stopped 6 times, then when I got to pancake bay, I went into the campground, and had my lunch on the beach.  A great bay with a sandy beach, as far as the eye could see in both directions.  

A stop at Batchawana Bay for a world famous apple fritter….it was ok….and enough sugar to power me up the remaining hills. 😀😀😀. The last hill today, after I had cycled about 100 km was 140m at 9% grade.  The blessing was that there was a passing lane, but due to construction, the right lane was closed to traffic, so that’s where I cycled….safe from the crazy traffic.  

I’m in a campsite about 10km from Sault Ste Marie because tomorrow I’m heading to a bike shop to check out my chain and make sure everything is good.  This bike shop come recommended from locals, and it’s outside the city, just 4.5 km from this campground.  So once I’m done, I’ll cycle through the city and start heading towards manitoulin island.  Likely it will take me 2-3 days to get there.  

Thanks for all the texts today!  Such an amazing day!  

June 23, Day 48 - Twilight resort - 112 km, 1020m

Bikes all lined up at Tim’s this morning.  

Yellow wild flowers on the side of the road

This tree is surviving on top of the rocks

Foggy most of the day.  But better than the hot temps in the rest of Ontario.  

Hello everyone….today was a tough day, but it’s done so it’s a great day!!!!

Last night there were thunderstorms for most of the night.  We woke up at 0630 this morning, and we thought the storms were done, but nope!  We started packing up and getting ready to go….at 0715 the crash of the thunder….and then it poured for 25 min while we just looked at each other, snug and dry in the cabin.  It paused for 3 min and we all thought it was done….but it continued on - even harder….and again.  Finally it stopped at 0830, so we waited a few minutes more, packed up and headed to Tim’s for breakfast.  

We sat for about 45 min….and when the rain held off we started off.  I was cycling with Patrick and Jarka, Chris remained in Wawa for a rest day.  It was warm and humid….especially when the sun came out.  It was mostly foggy for the first while…so humid everything is wet and sticky.  Not long after the sun came out the thunder started to rumble…and just as it started to rain I was passing by a campground.  A quick U-turn and I headed in and sought shelter during the downpour.  It was as quick as it was violent- and 20 min later I was back on the road.  About 90 min later - the rumbling started again, and once again I was passing by a picnic area, so got under a shelter and waited.  It was raining, but not pouring….and rumbling.  Once that died down…. I headed off.  That when I got a text from Patrick.  They were going to book a cabin about 25 km past the Agawa campground, and would I like to share?  YES!!!!  A dry bed, a washer and dryer, a regular towel and we could cook inside.  Agawa Bay was foggy, and we couldn’t really see anything, but 5 km from this campground, the sun came out and it was beautiful!!!   It doesn’t get any better….except the extra 25 km!!!!  And it was about 200m of elevation gain!  But we got it done, and we won’t need to do it tomorrow, making tomorrow an easier day.  

Sorry about no live tracking today.  It’s challenging with not very good cell service here.  Tomorrow is Sault Ste. Marie…and hopefully a quick stop at a bike shop to check out my chain.