X-Canada Tour May-July (or August?) 2025

Monday, July 7, 2025

July 7 - Day 62 - Wendover

Rain at lunch

Rain this morning 

Hello everyone…I’m about half way between Ottawa and Montréal 😀

We knew it was going to be raining today, but we still wanted to get up early, just in case the forecasters were wrong….well they weren’t wrong!  We were up at 0700h, had some breakfast and tea…got the bike packed up and opened the garage door….it was warm and muggy, but ok to ride until….wait, there’s a down pour.  We check the weather app….looks like the thunderstorm is going to blow over in 20 min….then it looks good to go….as the rain intensified. It stops raining hard, just drizzling a bit.  Helmets on….wait there’s another storm passing through.  We did this until 1130! 

We seemed to have a larger weather window…and we were off.  Marc leading the group, I was in the middle with Jenny in the back ensuring I didn’t get lost! We road through the experimental farms, then along Rideau canal.  So lush and beautiful.  Just as we were passing a restaurant on the canal it started to pour again….a good time for lunch!!!!  During lunch the rain stopped while we were eating, so off we went to see the parliament buildings.  The rain held off and Jenny and Marc made frequent stops to point the bridge that opens to allow sail boats to pass, their childhood home, the locks, the falls etc!  They are proud of their city, and happy to show it off.  Took some photos with the Parliament behind me.  It would have been spectacular to be here during the July 1st celebrations.  Another time.  

My friends got me on the right trail to head out of town to my campground, and we said good-bye before I headed out.  Initially it was nice….with a bike path….but then the path got smaller and smaller, then it started to rain.  I was still about 50 km from my campsite when I started to look for another campground.  I called one that was only 15 km away….yes they are open, and yes they have room for a tent for tonight.  Yippeee!

I stopped to pick up some dinner, and when I stepped outside it was really raining…..oh no!  I had 3 km to pedal to the campsite….far enough to get soaked ☹️. When I arrived they offered for me to set up my tent on their back patio that was covered, thus sheltering me from the rain.  So nice, and only $25.  She then mentioned that she had a room for rent, just $110. I was tempted, but figured I would be fine in the tent.  She then showed me that the bathroom was inside their house, along with the shower and spare room.  I was tempted, and when she said $50 for the night I agreed!!!  So many nights I’ve paid up to $60 to tent…with dirty bathrooms….so only $50 for a huge room and sparkling clean bathroom….what a great deal!  

Tomorrow I’ll finally be in Québec staying on the west end of Montréal.  Whoop Whoop

We chatted and visited in the garage for about 3 hours waiting for the rain to stop.  

The cycling path so lush 

The Rideau Canal

In front of the parliament 

Spider sculpture in front of the art museum

Water falls 






5 comments:

brighid1 said...

Wonderful photos , love the cycle path, and the views of Ottawa . And is that a Louise Bourgois spider sculpture ?! Fabulous !

Bill said...

Beautiful pictures. Rain, not so much.

Jo said...

Wow - what a great way to see Ottawa. It is a beautiful city. Good score on a warm room and clean bathroom!

Ekim andbrab said...

You had a wonderful day. Well except for the wetness. Such a big country and such a great way to explore it. Beats riding inside an airconditioned,dry car…….well maybe not completely.

Anonymous said...

It is a Louise Bourgeois sculpture - it’s called “Maman”. Kind of ominous, depending on how you feel about spiders, I suppose.