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.
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
3 comments:
What a fabulous travelling day 😁❤️
Quite the day. I’m glad you are seeing all the positives and really enjoying it all. Take care my friend.
Now that was a day of days for you. So wonderful to follow along and do something to be a very tiny bit of it. I think you could end up just riding the world kiddo. Hugs from way out west eh.
Post a Comment