Well….what an awesome day I had. I had no expectations for the day….and it turned out to be wonderful.
I have been feeling tired the past few days….likely the heat and the time change as I’m having trouble getting to sleep then trouble getting up. Yesterday I stopped when I could to cool down, and decided that I would do the same thing today. Last night when I looked at my tires, I noticed a thumbtack imbedded in my front tire….oh no! I pulled it out….and no noise. Hummm. It was only in part way…and my tires are Kevlar reinforced. Fingers crossed….well today went well….knock on wood! Hopefully it will just be ok.
I really didn’t have anything for breakfast…a couple of cookies. I didn’t want to take the time to make oatmeal as I felt I was already late leaving trying to beat the heat. No services for 35km…..ok, I can do this. I drank one of my bottles of water and off I went. The cycling was fantastic….it felt either flat or downhill most of the day. There was as much uphill as downhill, but it just felt easy….thus I made good time. A small gas station was my first stop….nothing much to eat there, so a muffin and juice that I ate outside.
Another 10 km and there was a sandwich place. I sat inside and had a clubhouse and more fluids and cooled off. It was here that I really tried hard to follow conversations that I overheard….but it was almost impossible. I could only pick out a few words here and there. This is now Acadian French - from what I can tell a mixture of French, English, English words made to sound French, and some words I’ve never heard before in an accent that isn’t familiar to me…and they speak quickly so I really can’t follow. They also are flying the Acadian Flag, red white and blue striped like the French flag, but they have a gold star on the blue stripe.
So, I stopped three more times to cool off….even soaking my shirt in the lake once and in the gas station bathroom once, plus pouring water on myself a few times. And even with all of that, and drinking lots I still was getting a headache. Part way through the day I received a photo from Jon of the most amazing looking seafood chowder….well I have to go there….less than 3 km from my campsite!!! Then Lorraine texted to say that Shediac is the lobster capital of the world!!! Well… .this made my day.
As I entered the town, there was a huge statue of a lobster….photo time!!! A thunderstorm was approaching quickly….so I cycled as quickly as I could to the campground. I got the tent up just as the rain started. Ok….quickly organize, shower, laundry then get to dinner before they close. Only 3 km away…but laundry wasn’t done until 8:15, and they close at 9. I called all three taxi companies, but no one was answering….ok, cycling I guess. The rain stopped, but there were huge puddles on the road. I got to the restaurant in time for the best seafood chowder ever….probably 1million calories, but it didn’t matter! So delish I almost licked the bowl 😂😂😂
I made it back in the dark…. No worries as I have both front and rear lights, I was wearing a reflective jacket, and there were street lights. I also had a headlight if required. I did need to put in the new batteries….at least now I’m not carrying 4 batteries just in case…they are in the headlight!
Tomorrow is PEI!!! I’m excited….not sure how long I will stay on the island, so stay tuned!!!
2 comments:
What a delight to hear how good the day went. Amazed at how you are able to keep going in the heat and sounds like you are using some great strategies. Still say naked cycling would be fun. LOL. Wow. PEI today. Dont forget to get an Ann of Green Gables pic with a red wig on your bike……or you…..EVERYONE will know where you took it.
Your seafood chowder looks so good Lucille! Happy to hear you enjoyed it. I'm sure I have a picture of George and I with the big lobster as well. You will love PEI; can't wait to see your pictures from PEI. Claudia xox
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