Six of us started a few days earlier in Victoria at Mile 0, while others in the group did the island part earlier in the week. The six, Mary and her husband David from South Carolina, Harold Bridge from Port Coquitlam, Sandra Larson from Duncan, George Fralich from Brooklyn, Nova Scotia and me, Nancy O'Higgins from Port Clements in the Queen Charlotte Islands with Eric who will rejoin us in Fredericton, N.B.
We met the others in the group at Fort Langley at the Hub and Spoke. They are chief honcho Ken Smith, Burnaby, Harry Balke from Pender Island, Frank Thompson, Richmond, Dave Mann, Burnaby, Brendan Kennelly, Surrey, Irene Hanson, Tofield, Alberta, as well as Marina Bakker-Ayers, Qualicum and Al McLean, North Vancouver . We were saddened to have Art Jackson from Courtney withdraw after the first day to Hope when health concerns forced him to leave.
After this in this journal, I will call everybody by their first names, having arbitrarily decided Dave is Dave, David is David, Harold is Harold and Harry is Harry.
The trip to Hope was livened up by can-can dancers at the Albion ferry shouting their encouragement while many other CCCTSers rode with us to Mission.
The Coquihalla on the official third day was the brute it was always worried about, but the group met at the summit to clap and shout for the last ones to whinge their way the top. Every single person made it without resorting to the support vehicle driven by Wayne Hand from Maple Ridge.
We are a lucky tour with not just one but three support vehicles. Sandra’s husband Duane only intended to stay with us for a few days but had enough fun to stay until Jasper. Chris Chan who is riding a recumbent bike on the tour isn’t considered official because he is sleeping in a luxurious motor home with his wife Anita every night and not in a tent like the sufferers.
Some of the highlights of the first few day; Dave who wore his shorts backwards for a whole day without noticing, as well as the same Dave who got in a panic after the truck was packed trying to find his bike lock key only to discover in a high-theft area that he hadn't locked it after all.
Faye Wilson in Merritt drove back along the route to see that everyone was all right and said she would bring dessert to the campsite. We persuaded her to let us order pizza and beer and eat it in her backyard followed by a sensational rhubarb crisp with ice cream. I even begged a long, hot bath from her before our dinner.
Lunch the next day was an accidental treat. Most of us met at a spot on Stump Lake and ate our packed lunches with our bare feet in the water. None of us can get over the quantity of what we are eating. One of the campsites was 100 meters from a Dairy Queen so dessert was an ice cream cake with "Happy Trails Shore to Shore" on it.
Now in Jasper, the bear warnings have us all clustered with our tents close together even though we are paying for widespread sites. The truck was loaded with bags full of shampoo, toothpaste, vitamins, overnight and locked overnight - $2000 fine for leaving those things in tents.
Thursday, June 10th. It is the day we spend climbing to the Columbia Ice Fields. We were told to take highway 93A as it was less traveled and more scenic. What we weren't told was the two very steep climbs we had to make at the beginning. We were not amused and considered retaliatory actions to our leader. Apparently it was not his idea but came from a local. Not good P.R. Anyway, we survived and arrived at Athabaska Falls for our coffee break. The Falls are great: Well worth the visit. It is at this point we rejoined highway 93 which basically paralleled the valley floor while going uphill toward the ice fields. The climbs were all long and gradual for around 90 km. We knew what to expect for the final 10 km; one very brutal hill. And was it ever. For most it was slow and steady, rest, slow and steady, etc. But what goes up does come down and equally as steep. All this time the scenery was of the ice fields. Very impressive. On the way down I stopped twice: Once for mountain goats, the other for Big Horn Sheep. The road then went along the valley floor but ever upward until the main ice field came into view then one last climb and we were at the Chalet. Into the room, had a bath, lay down and fell asleep and darn near missed dinner.
P.S. Two of the rams decided to butt heads on the highway. After they had enough of each other, one of them butted a Corvette.
Friday, June 11. What goes up must comedown and in wet, cold weather! Today was a short ride of 97 km. The first hill down was long and steep which was fine until half way down was a truck sign warning of a steep grade. If what I was on wasn’t steep, what was it! Brakes applied. From here on it was a series on downs with some ups. At Sask. Crossing we turned on to a great road that for the first 20m. was a gradual downhill. Then it became an even roller coaster ride and rain started. Camp again was right after an uphill climb. But the great part was the bubble building they had into which they allowed us to pitch our tents. That kept our tents dry and us much happier. Mind you, the hot tub help also.
Saturday June 12th. This is the run to Rocky Mountain House, a 130 km. ride mostly downhill. And we had a tailwind most of the way. The weather was overcast and we had the odd shower. As a result the bikes were a mess and had to be cleaned up once we reached camp. Now camp was right on the N. Sask. River and calling it rustic is being polite. But it had a great laundry, which was well used. There was also a rodeo in town an many of the participants stayed up roaming around discussing an assortment of topics until the wee hours of the morning. Short sleep for many of us.
Sunday, June 13th. Well, another 100+ km. ride today. Cold, cloudy, and a headwind. It gradually warmed up and the wind shifted enough to become a tail wind as we turned east. As we ate lunch we saw dark clouds to the west and coming our way. We were at least 40 km. from camp and the race was on. Where we were to turn south, we found a gravel road, which was suicide for me to take. Many took that route while I and others continued down the paved road to Bowden. I just beat the storm and took refuge at the local information center. The storm passed in 45 minutes. Then it was down highway 2A to Olds, our stop for the night. While here, Al talk with a local who said the storm came with a tornado warning. Into a hotel for the night. No tempting fate by camping. It was a good choice as it had a whirlpool, pool, and most importantly, free internet.
Monday, June 14th. The day started partly cloudy, but cool. We were off to Drumheller for a break. The wind was at our backs and we sailed along really well right up to the coffee break. Then the winds change and sort of became crosswinds. Now as you know the prairies are flat and the roads go on forever in a straight line. The latter is absolutely true but the former isn't. It's a series of valleys that run north to south. Down a hill, across the valley, and up a hill. Some of these hills are very long and occasionally steep. After a few of these and the realization that you are going in a straight line for 70 km. before you turn, it gets tedious. Anyway storm clouds appeared again on the western horizon after I had made the turn for Drumheller. In fact this stretch of the road made up for the lack of curves in the previous on. However, back to the storm clouds. It looked as though they would pass to the north of me so I wasn't too worried. Then I got slammed in the back by a burst of wind. Here came the storm and made yesterday's storm look tame. I'm 18 km from Drumheller with a howling tailwind and a storm bearing down on me. I didn't think I could ride that fast but with the tail wind I had to average over 35 km. per hour because it took me 30 minutes to get to Drumheller and just beat the storm. At the campsite we all stood inside the support truck as thunder, lightning, and a torrential downpour hit us for about an hour.
The two people behind me took refuge in a small roadside church about 20 km. from town. Harold, who was on the cook team for tonight rode in through the storm because he didn't want to let the side down. The truck went to pick up Nancy about 10 km out of town. What a day. The next day was cloud, rain, and wind a various times. Some went to the museums, other tidied up, and some completed unfinished business
Wednesday, June 16th. This is the short day; only 80 km. So I took it easy as far as cycling was concerned. The route out of Drumheller was a long gradual climb that wasn't difficult. Once out of the badlands, we were headed north for about 20 km with a mild crosswind that wasn't a bother. We turned right onto highway 9 and here we had a strong tailwind and the kilometers just flew by. We passed 2 cyclist on tour carrying all their gear. They really had to work hard just to move forward. Just after getting onto highway 9 there was a herd of buffalo and I got a picture of them. At Hanna we could not get into the first campsite as it was full (they didn't take reservations), so it was up the road against the wind for 3 km. to get to Fox Lake Campsite. Now the wind made it a challenge to put up the tents. It took two people to put one up. This was run by a non-profit society and when they found out what we were doing, they didn't charge us and delivered wood for the stove in the cookhouse. We were on a knoll and the view was spectacular but to fully comprehend it you would need to do a 360-degree panoramic picture. A conventional camera doesn't do the trick.
Thurs., June 17th - to Oyen
It was cold last night. Harold got up at midnight to nature's call. He said the stars were magnificent. According to the radio it had dropped to around zero. As we were camped on a knoll, it was a beautiful view all round. Everything was so green. This view change at about 15 km. out of town changed into brown, desolate, unproductive land. Boring for the next 80 or so km. Then the land change back to being green and productive. And hills to climb, but not steep. It made for a pleasant days ride. The campsite was new with some saplings and that's all. It was right on the highway and the trucks whizzed by all night though that didn't seem to bother us. The town was 4 km. off the highway and had free internet. I cycled in and got everything up to date.
Friday, June 18th - to Kindersly.
The day broke with sun and some clouds and with the wind being cold. The wind was not a problem today as it came from all directions. It was a longer haul today in terms of km., but it was a case to peddling steadily and patiently. The scenery by now was old hat. At around 15km from town there was a hill with a point of interest. I stopped, looking for an explanation of the importance of the rock in the middle of a crater but it just didn't look like a meteor. As I left I lifted my sunglasses and look at a board at the entrance to the site. There were the details of the point of interest. This was a buffalo rubbing rock. The depression was the results of buffalo walking around the rock rubbing up against it. Neat!
I had passed a group who had stopped for lunch and as I had eaten earlier, I kept on riding. I came up over the rise to see the town off in the distance. At the same time, Ken and Dave M. caught up to me. We were all hot and thirsty and made a beeline to the A&W for a root beer float. Man, that tasted good. Our campsite was and open field with a cook shack next to a ball field. That night many of us watched the game from the campsite. The town itself is a mixture of new town planning and old prairie towns.
Sat. June 19th – Rosetown
Awoke feeling wide-awake and fresh; such a change! We broke camp and I went into town to mail the second week's notes. I assumed I was last out onto the highway. But did we have a tailwind: Something like 20 -30 km/hr. I was flying down the highway and I knew everyone else was doing the same. After about 20 km. I noticed a rider coming up on me which turned out to be Dave M. He said he'd been chasing me for 17 km. He had forgotten his glove back at camp and had had to double back to get them. As we approached the coffee truck location we were on a down slope. Dave said if we pushed it a little we'd hit 50 km/hr. No problem. But also no coffee truck! Soon Ken and Al showed up and said Wayne, our driver, had to take Harold to the hospital to fix his bandage on his leg wound. Now we worried about how Harold was doing. It was decided the others would charge on and Nancy and I would wait for Wayne to show up which he did in about 5 minutes. Harold had refuse to catch up in the truck and was cycling behind us. With the tail wind he'd have no difficulty making camp. But Wayne couldn't believe how far we had traveled in such a short period of time. He had to travel at 120 km/hr catching up to us. We had a quick snack then Wayne took off after the others. Nancy & I decided to not push it as we would make camp by about 12:30 at our rate of speed. In fact it was 12:15. Harold arrived about an hour later, fit as a fiddle. The rest of the day was spent relaxing, going into the small town, and doing laundry; an absolutely relaxing day.
Sunday, June 20th - to Saskatoon
It was not a good-looking morning. It had rained during the night and the wind had swung to the north. This was a 115 km day and we had a crosswind of between 20 to 30 km/hr. It turned into the day from hell. The winds were unrelenting and required effort even going down hill. During the afternoon the intensity increased and we were now facing a varying degree of crosswinds and headwinds. It was a brutal day of cycling. To a person we all agreed that this day was tougher that the Choquihala. Thank goodness tomorrow was a rest day.
Monday, June 21st - to Saskatoon
This is really a picturesque town. Very pleasant with lots of trees. I walked along the river trail to the library then wandered back to the campsite. In the evening local cycling club hosted a BBQ for us. The food was great and the beer and wine flowed (within proper limits).
Tuesday, June 22nd - to Lanigan
The usual morning: Sunshine and a cold wind from the north. We left as a group and followed a safe cycle route to Highway 16. Once there we broke into our usual cycle patterns. However Harold decided to pedal today. So I teamed up with Nancy to keep her company. The winds were not a real factor until the early afternoon when it became a tailwind. We had decided we had all day so we went into cruise mode and enjoy the ride. We stopped at points of interest, and even went into the town of Viacount to Dot's café. It was the neatest little café and Dot was charming. We had her homemade Saskatoon Berry pie alamode with tea and coffee. At this point we picked up a tail wind and headed at a good clip and arrived at camp 30 minutes before our ETA. It was a great day. Bu t we have to bundle up tonight as it’s supposed to go to freezing.
Wed., June 23rd - to Foam Lake
Another long day (113 km) and yes, the temperature got to freezing. Wayne skimmed some ice off the outside of his tent. We were all bundled up for breakfast. The wind was cold and even the sun couldn't make you feel warm. I started out wearing my fleece jacket under my riding shell. I wore it the whole day. The wind was that cold. Anyway after cruising yesterday I felt like a push today. The wind was semi crosswind/tailwind in the morning, but gradually became more of a tailwind. I managed to stay with a couple of our middle riders during these times but any hill with a crosswind, they had power that I didn't. But late in the afternoon the road direction changed and we had a tailwind. And I felt strong. I actually passed four of our middle riders and got into camp before most of the riders. That hasn't happened in a long time. I do believe I'm getting stronger.
Thurs., June 24th - to Yorkton
I woke up today to warmer temperatures but not enough for me to take off my fleece. The wind was at least as strong as the one we faced going into Saskatoon, but AT OUR BACKS! Today we fly down the highway.
Last night the camp attendant (who was so helpful and accommodating) popped by to say the highway east of town was about a km. of loose gravel. This boy has a problem judging distances. Try 16 km. It wasn't all that loose and we could find clear paths through it. It certainly didn't slow us down. I covered the 35 km to the coffee truck in 65 minutes. For me, that's flying. As we were traveling less that 100 km, we were all in camp before noon. That includes a 15-minute excursion into an orthodox church and graveyard out in the middle of nowhere. It had Ma & Pa outhouses. They were active as the T.P. was kept dry by storing it in an old coffee tin.
Yorkton has Tim Horton's. Ken, Harold, Dave M. & I cycled into town after we had set up to enjoy our favourite foods. A little more shopping for bike material and it was back to camp to relax, clean the bikes, eat, and get ready for tomorrow's ride. The day finished with a beautiful rainbow. Now this was a really good day.
Friday, June 25th - to Manitoba and Ricker's Campground
I woke up feeling great! Warm, comfy, and fully rested; with no idea why the room was orange. It took five seconds before I remembered where I was. At breakfast we learned that yesterday the weather set new cold lows and cold highs for the area from Winnipeg to Regina. Yet today I didn't have my fleece on as it felt warm for the first time in ages.
The scenery was changing with more and more groves of trees appearing until at the border of Sask. And Manitoba, we suddenly dropped down into a valley with a large lake called "The Lake of the Prairies". The campsite was on the lake and we set up on the second bench up from the lake. The view was beautiful, the sun was out, and it was hot at last! Even the mosquitoes can't dampen our enjoyment of the setting.
However we are in tick country. Ken got a couple on his leg at coffee by just walking in the grass. We all observed carefully what these things look like and a good thing. In camp Al found one on his leg and so did I. You have to tuck your pant leg into you socks to keep the little beggars off your legs. We now check ourselves carefully especially our bedding and the clothes we put on.
Sat. June 27th - to Dauphin
Finally, a day warm enough to ride in shorts. We paused at the "Welcome to Manitoba" sign to take a group pictures then chugged up the first real hill we'd seen in two days. It was rolling landscape and the road had curves which broke the tedium of those long, long, long straight prairie roads. But after about 30 km, the land flattened out as before with those long, long, long straight stretches of road plus a headwind. After lunch Al, Dave M and I headed back onto the road. We drafted for 10 km. before I couldn't keep up but that was the fastest 10 km I had done in those conditions. The rest of the day's ride was uneventful. The campsite was O.K. except for the mosquitoes. Out came the head net, long pants with the tie bottoms, and the Deet.
Al, Brendan, and I made a beeline to the library for an hour. It was so nice to get everything up to date. We rode around the town and discovered it had a number of big stores; Sears, Can. Tire, Wal Mart, etc.
Dinner had a new item on it; buffalo burgers. Now I had great expectations as to the taste of these. I thought they would be quite favourable, but was disappointed in their blandness. Pity,
Sun. June 27th - to Manitoba Narrows
Well, this was an eventful day! On the way out of town I nearly headed up the wrong way but thankfully was immediately corrected. A bunch of us were riding together through a crosswind. Dave H. dropped back to ride with his wife, and
Al and I then drafted each other to the coffee truck. At that point we turned east and the wind was now at our backs. I left before Al and Dave M. and got into a great rhythm. About 15 km further, Al and Dave M blew by me. There was no way I could stay with them without ruining my rhythm. But they like to stop at wayside cafes so I passed them later on. Our route now changed to highway 68, a secondary road that continued east.
And the terrain changed. Lots of scrub, water filled depressions, and tons of cattle. With about 17 km to go Al and Dave M. caught up with me. This time I went with them and essentially we were together into camp which was right on the lake.
We soon determined we weren't sleeping outside; the campsite was a marsh. We slept in three cabins instead. To avoid the mosquitoes, Brendan, Harry, Al, Dave M. and I lounged out on the dock in the first really sunny, warm day in two weeks. It was there that Brendan and Harry told us Chris had missed the turn and headed south instead of east. He had been ahead of Harry and Brendan at the coffee break but Harry had passed him. When Brendan caught up to Harry there was no Chris. That meant Chris had missed the turn-off. Chris arrived well after the last riders came in. He had gone to the next town before he figured he was going the wrong way. That error added almost an extra 70 km. to his ride. He of course was roasted, but now the rest of us can't make an error without having the same thing happen to us.
Tue/Wed., June 29-30th - to Selkirk
We awoke to bright sun, warmth, & mosquitoes. For riding it was a shirt and shorts day as the temperature was to hit 31 degrees. The wind was with us the whole way and the terrain was basically flat. We came onto the flood plain early in the morning. It’s incredibly green for this time of the year. When we reached Selkirk each of us looks for our favourite fast food joint. (A&W root beer float for me) The campsite was in a huge park. It was crowd, but we had part of a field for tents close to the washroom/showers.
The next morning we went to various parts of Winnipeg to shop, especially at Mountain Equipment Co-op. It was a good day - sunny, 24 degrees, with a light breeze.
Thurs., July 1st - to Rennie
Well, the day started well weather-wise, then Murphy's Law kicked in! Event One: The map gave us a wrong direction. That was quickly recognized and corrected. Event Two: A rider decided to check the erroneous direction but didn't tell anyone. No one knew where he was. Event Three: Because of the first error, the group0 was delayed getting to the coffee break. The driver got there quickly, waited 50 min, thought we must be ahead of him somehow and took off after us. When we did reach the coffee site, no truck. We tried to phone him but had no luck. Now we didn't know where he was. Event Four: The map said the Campsite was at the community centre turn off - period!!! No campsite. So I continued down the dirt road for 2 km and no campsite. Back to the highway to check with the locals as to where the campsite was. I met tow other riders coming in and they also came back. I was given directions. I should have continues another km. I turned back to where the other two riders were only to see no riders! So I went to camp without having a clue as to where they were. They were not at camp. They had gone further down the road and got the same information I had.
So communication was a topic of discussion at our meeting that night. What a day!
Fri., July 2nd - To Kenora
Cloudy and tons of mosquitoes! We ate quickly, packed faster, and hit the road. The road to West Hock is not smooth and is up & down. Add a slight head wind and it's a bit of a trying ride. But Uncle Jack had the fire hall ready for us so the water was fresh and the facilities were available. Next the Manitoba/Ontario border for photo ops, then off to Kenora. At lunch, at the side of the road, we realized there were no mosquitoes for the first time in a week. At the campsite we pitched our tent in the covered BBQ pit area. Good thing because the rains came. We were here early enough four people to explore Kenora which is a very nice and somewhat unique town since much of the revenue comes from vacationing water traffic.
Sat., July 3rd - Nestor Falls
Well this is quite the day. Fog and rain in the morning, distant thunder, and hot and humid (and I mean really humid) all afternoon and evening. You would have thought there was a moving powerboat show going on by the number of them on the road. The road was basically good but the shoulders varied from great to non-existent. In the latter case having a truck coming by you meant hugging the edge of the road. Not nice! The terrain is typical Canadian Shield; Up, down, flat, p, down, etc. The hills are not long (with on brutal exception when it's hot and humid) and the ride was pleasant. You see lots of lakes and resorts which is always interesting. All in all, a nice day for us.
Sun., July 4th - Fort Francis.
Rain, thunder, and lightening last night. Even with all that we slept without being bundled up. Most of the people slept through all of it. However, Brendan and I were awake and doing the same thing; counting off the seconds until we heard the thunder. Today was back to cool and cloudy with wind (and at our back for the first 60 km). We were out of the Canadian Shield just before we turned eastward and into farm country. Fort Francis is a fairly big town and your nose tells you its main industry is the pulp mill. We are staying in the city's campsite within one of its parks. We have everything but a Laundromat. All in all, another pleasant day except for Dave M who had two flats. That's at least four for him so far.
Mon., July 5th - Atikokan
This is the 147 km day and what do we get; cool, cloudy and a moderate wind in our face! We are soon back on the Canadian Shield which means we're up and down hills. The best way to get through this is to draft which most of us did. The sun finally came out at noon and we were down to shorts and shirts. This is certainly cottage country as we saw many lakes with numerous cottages in picturesque settings. At around 2:00, Harold's tendonitis in his knee was severe enough that the truck came back to pick him up. The Burnell campsite at Atikokan is a municipal run one. The mayor found out who wee were and let us stay at no cost. The showers are great - read hot- and firewood is plentiful. Unfortunately the grounds are fairly uneven which meant no cook tent and pizza was dinner.
Tue., July 6th - to Kashabowie
We were out and on the road early today at 7:30. It was cool and cloudy. It became clear that building a road of any type is/was a massive undertaking. This land is very marshy and the fill required to get a good roadbed is/was enormous. I now appreciate why it was so difficult to build the CPR. The road to the camp site/resort was a 1.3 km dirt road. We wondered what we would find an the end of the road. It was great. We were in tow large pan abode cabins with full kitchen facilities. We have a view of the lake from the porch and its peaceful and quiet: just what we needed.
Wed/Thurs., July 7th & 8th -Thunder Bay
We had a leisurely breakfast as we didn't have the cook tent to take down so we were off at 7:30. We were going down hill more or less so our speed was very good. In terms of wild life it was a bear that came out of the woods towards the highway as tow of our riders were coming by. It was one of those moments of "Oh, look' followed by "Oh-oh". But nothing happened. When we rejoined the Trans Canada highway the truck traffic increased greatly. This is disconcerting if the shoulder is non-existent. The turnoff onto highway 102 to Thunder Bay is basically down hill with on major exception; Strawberry Hill which seems to go on forever.
Most of us stayed in town shopping, looking around, and at the cycle shop before going to the KOA campsite where the shower and the Laundromat are great. And at 9:00 PM we got Irene back from her daughter's wedding. Oh, life will now be a bit more interesting.
Fri., July 9th - to Nipigon
An addendum to yesterday. There is a waterfall on the main road in Thunder Bay. I rode above the road to the top of the falls and lo and behold, a lake (Boulevard Lake) which is large. It's a park and has swimming facilities. It makes Trout Lake look like a puddle.
Today, with the change to EDT, 6:30 came way too early. But we were still on the road by 8:00. We took a lower road that joined Trans Canada highway 16 km. out. It was much quieter and more scenic than the highway. I remember this stretch of road as up hill. Heck, it's almost like Northern Manitoba. It's almost flat. Added to that was Irene talking to a trucker at coffee break asking him to put out a CB call to the truckers in the area that we were on the road so they would be looking for us. They did and our journey was really enjoyable, especially when we got glimpses of Lake Superior. The final touch came as we rolled into the campsite. They had their sign saying, "Welcome Cross Canada Cyclists". That made the day.
Sat. July 10 - To Schreiber
Finally, three days in a row with sunshine. It's possible to start the day with shorts and a shirt. This is a short day, only 92 km. We were told that there were long, long hill climbs, but they weren't steep. And were they right! There were five of them, all followed by equally long down hills. Boy, could you ever fly down them. As glorious as the day was, there were mishaps. I had one of the bolts that fasten my carrier to the frame come out. It happened at just the time Wayne was coming by in the truck. I flagged him down and we took the carrier off and put it in the truck along with the saddlebag. Irene had a flat from broken glass.
But there were bright spots too. Some of the group went into Rossport for lunch and found a delightful restaurant named Serendipity's. Al had a moose come out onto the road with another by the side of the road. He got about 70 m. from them before they showed signs of uneasiness. He go the picture which should be fabulous. Our campsite has a pool which many of us use immediately and the temperature hit 20 degrees today. All in all another great day.
Sun. July 11 - To Marathon
Well, all good things come to an end. Cold (as in winter) and foggy. This is a short day. Only 72 km. All the talk of a later start didn't happen. This is an early rising crew with the exception of Harold and me. Harold, Brandon and I all stopped at the falls by Terrace Bay. They were worth the trip in to see them. The terrain was long gradual climbs and again, equally long downhills. As for the scenery, it's like riding through a scrub forest with a path. cut out of it. There were odd lakes along the way that would have been pretty if the sun was out. But the cold was finger numbing with fingerless gloves. People even had to change to heavier jackets. At Ney's, the campground was abominable. The group decision was to cycle on to Marathon s the Lion's club had a campground there. Our experiences with other Lion campgrounds have been good.
However, Harold's leg needed to stop and Nancy had had enough of the cold and they both rode in the truck. We now have either a 50 km. day to White Lake or a 100 km to White River. The decision will be made at the tourist info. in the morning.
As for sightings, Nancy had a close encounter with a bear along the roadside munching on grass. She prayed he would be contented with being a herbivore.
Mon. July 12th - to White River
The decision was made to go to White River. It makes sense as it shortens the next day to Wawa. But we awake to fog again although it's much warmer. By mid morning the fog has all but disappeared and the day turns to beautiful sunshine and very hot. But that's ok as it makes the scenery, especially the lakes, very picturesque.
As I rode by White Lake I went in to check out what we were going to miss. The beach was just beautiful and the water was warm. But Brendan had also gone in and checked the tent area which was infested with mosquitoes.
As you leave White Lake, you cross over a bridge. You could get down to the lake at that point as some did to enjoy their lunch. Up the road a little ways was another small lake which was quite warm. Here, Al went for a swim. It's getting to the point where we almost bet on where he'll swim each day.
By noon it's really hot. Most of us are thankful that we are staying in a motel with air conditioning. Trying to sleep in a tent in that heat would be too uncomfortable for most of us. But we have some hearty trekkers with us as some did pitch their tents.
Tues., July 13th - to Wawa
I woke to the sound of thunder. But it did not appear to be close to us. However I did not wake to the sound of the downpour that preceded the thunder. Those who had chosen to tent had to pack a wet tent. That's not fun. But at wake up time, it was sunny and warm; It was shorts & shirts time.
The terrain remained the same. I had lunch with Dave & Mary H, Irene, and Ken sitting on rocks beside a small, beautiful lake with two soaring hawks. All day we have seen wave after wave of motorcyclists. It wasn't until we reached Wawa that we found out it was a group doing a circle tour of Lake Superior. They came in all shapes and sizes, as did their motorcycles.
The sighting of the day was by Ken & I. We disturbed a vulture feeding on a dead moose. We didn't see the moose, only the vulture coming up out of the ditch. It was others who saw the carcass and they said you could smell it before you saw it.
Weather wise at Wawa, it was strange. We came in with cloud and threatening rain, went to clear and blazing hot, to fog by evening. Every one we talk with say it's been a strange summer.
Wed., July 14 - to Montreal River
In the early, morning hours we had quite the windstorm. I was ready for thunder & lightning but there was none. Instead, the morning was warn & sunny. Before long everybody was in shorts & shirts. The trailing breeze made for enjoyable cycling that had many long steady climbs and equivalent downhills. The scenery was lovely. The landscape had a West Coast look sans mountains and when we saw Lake Superior it was flat out gorgeous. We took a number of photos of the lake. Harold and I (and many others we later learn) ate lunch at a beautiful picnic site on the beach in a small bay.
The beauty of cycling is there's no difficulty back tracking if you go past something you wanted to turn into. You just turn around and go back. As I was on cook duty we had to pick up the pace a bit to get to camp on time. We were doing quite well until we came to the last long hill. Harold hit the wall, got off his bike to rest, and sent me on. As it turned out this hill cut the legs off on other riders also. But the reward for getting up it was a long 7% downhill grade right to the camp which was right on the shore of Lake Superior. It's rustic but does the job it you can ignore the small black fly that form like clouds around you. The netting is a must if you're going to enjoy sitting and look out at the lake.
As for interesting events, the main one was Sandy coming upon a wolf dining on road kill. She stopped and after looking at one another for a while, the wolf went back into the woods. Sandy quickly got out of there. The other interest thing was the number of us who were hit by totally unexpected crosswind gusts. With mine, I had to lean the bike toward the centerline to maintain a straight line so as to stay on the paved shoulder. And finally, Al swam in Lake Superior as we expected.
Thurs. July 15th - to Sault Ste. Marie
Up at six, mix the pancakes, and cook them in bright sunshine. It was a day when I was feeling physically great. I decided to push it for as long as I could for the 118 km. I managed to last the whole way and finished in less than five hours. For me, that is an accomplishment.
I don't remember much of the scenery but one did stand out. Hammond Bay was lovely as indicated by the many summer residences. What I do remember very well was the One Mile Hill that was actually 2.2 km. I hit that at noon in full heat. The wind died just as I started up. Heat exhaustion was a distinct possibility. Then thankfully, a moderate tailwind came up and took the heat away. From there it was an easy ride to the Algonquin Hotel Hostel, which was way beyond our expectation. Single beds (3) and a full bathroom. From there to the Internet to send e-mails to my great nephews, get the web page updated and put in the final two links. The page is now fully set up.
Dinner was at a Chinese buffet that was ok but not like home. Then back to the hostel and bed.
Fri. July 16th
Ahh, the luxury of sleeping in. But first things first. It's across the street to the Laundromat to freshen the clothes, to the library to compose some more e-mail, eat, and finally do some sightseeing. In fact we all did some sightseeing. There are over 20 historical sights to visit. Two of the most interesting are the Bush plane Museum and going to the locks to see them in operation. And there are the thrift stores that draw many from this group.
Dinner was in two locations: The Dockside Restaurant, which received, mixed reviews and Mary's our breakfast place of choice. Then off to the Rotary fest to hear the various bands at outdoor venues. This has been a full day.
Sat., July 17th - to Iron Bridge
Up at 6:30, and finish packing, off to Mary's for breakfast, put our luggage in the truck and ride off out of town towards Echo Bay where we turned onto a scenic secondary highway on the advice of local cyclists. The only trouble was it was 10 km longer and had some really steep hills. But it was scenic. We rejoined the highway and the truck was there. We had a quick coffee break then headed towards Carolyn Bay for lunch. Half of us ate there with the pie and soup getting rave reviews. And it's still as beautiful as ever.
From there it was 25 km to the campsite, which was big, green, with a pool and Laundromat. Usually we pitch our tent quickly; in less than a half hour. But today everyone took their time, had a beer or two, swam, did laundry, and finished setting up in two - two and a half hours. Such a change of pace. After dinner people were reading or writing. It was so quiet for this group. We can actually relax.
Sun., July 18th - to Espanola
We were off early on a beautiful morning. Soon we were riding alongside the Marble River. It reminded people of various rivers throughout the world. The river was so peaceful with the occasional wisp of mist rising off the river. Once we left the river, the scenery wasn't all that interesting.
Just before the town of Spanish there was road construction that made riding conditions dicey. It was the most unpleasant aspect of the day. The road from Spanish to Massey was long and straight. Add a slight headwind and some of us go off into space. At Massey we had a choice of a paved scenic back road or stay on the highway with all the traffic. We were assured the back road was shorter, scenic and paved. Good decision, bad decision; it depended which of us you asked. It was really rough pavement, but it was scenic, shorter and much less traffic.
Camp was on a lake, which makes the long hot day worthwhile.
Mon., July 19th - to South Baymouth
Man, everyone's up early this morning. This isn't a long ride but a lot of the road from Espanola to Manitoulin Island is rough and much of it is hilly. And we have our slight head wind. Some of the scenery is great; river rapids, vistas of Lake Huron, and occasional deer. Getting onto the island requires going over a single lane bridge that will open for 15 minutes on the hour if there is any boat traffic. We made it with a couple of minutes to spare. This was as good a place to stop for morning coffee as any. Then I went to an Internet site to get my e-mail but it blocked all incoming e-mail. The second choice, the library, was closed on Mondays. That was 40 minutes wasted! Now I had the remaining 65 km to ride all by myself again against a blasted head wind. Add to this the heat and humidity and it's not a pleasant journey. On top of all this I missed the campsite even though I saw ever sign advertising it. The only liquid refreshment we had was diet coke and the town didn't have a liquor store. The only compensation was the walk into town after dinner for ice cream, which has become a daily ritual for some.
Not a great day, but not all that bad.
Tues., July 20th - to Hope Bay
Another thunderstorm in the middle of the night. Most of us slept through it. We had agreed to get up a half hour early, as we needed to catch the 9:10 ferry. So people get up an hour early. They are such A-types!
The trip across was uneventful and non-scenic due to the heat haze.
The road was as I remembered it; straight and not scenic for the first 50 km, after which, it runs through farmland. We turned off at Ferndale, over to Lion's Bay, then onto Hope Bay through rolling countryside. The Bay is flat out gorgeous! After dinner we came down to the beach to enjoy its tranquility and beauty.
Wed., July 21st - to Thornbury
The usual morning routine and off down the road under a hazy sun and the making of a hot humid day. Our first decision came early: Obey the detour sign or go through because of the Locals Only sign. Three chose to go through and lost. Five km of backtracking.
When I came to Wiarton I began to recognize locations from thriving it on a previous trip. From there on I recognized much of the landscape.
At Owen Sound we descended on the library to use their Internet computers. The librarians sure knew who we were by the time we left.
Leaving Owen Sound requires climbing two long hills in the heat of the day. This is when you have to make sure you have lots of water to drink. Heat exhaustion is a real possibility. From there, it is a gradual downhill run into Thornbury. But from Meaford to Thornbury there is a cycle route that is great, hard packed crushed rock. It is peaceful but best of all no cars or trucks. It's the route to take!
Thurs., July 22nd - to Alliston
My turn to cook the French toast for breakfast, which was different from the oatmeal that is our usual fare in the morning. Then we were off to Alliston along the cycle path that ended at Collingwood. From here we were back on the highway for a short distance until we turned south. Where we turned south was up to the individuals as there were many ways to get to Alliston. The one thing that was a constant was the heat. By mid-day it was equivalent to 40 degrees. Dave M., Al and myself were riding together and along with the crosswind our speed generated our own breeze to keep us from over heating. But every so often a blast of heat would come off the pavement.
At the campsite we got a large patch of grass to ourselves that was across from the washroom/pool/hot tub building. That pool and patio area got a real workout that day.
The only drawback was the garbage truck rolling in to empty the dumpster at 4:40 AM. And thankfully the temperature dropped significantly during the night so it was comfortable sleeping.
Fri., July 23rd - to Port Perry
From 40 degrees to 20 in less than 12 hours. Plus it's overcast. Perfect riding weather. And again we have a plethora of routes to choose from. I chose the straightest route and as I didn't stop for snack and such arrived in camp early. But the campsite is 7 km off the main road. It's huge and maintained very well. The washroom was a treat compared to yesterdays. We had three campsites and when everything was set up, it looked like a well-organized tent city. The cloud burned off by 5:00 and a breeze kept things comfortable.
Dinner was catered tonight care of Nancy's two sisters. We had Lasagna, wine, garlic toast, salad, and three different homemade cakes. The husbands and a friend serve us. Oh, such a treat.
We got to sleep a little later tonight. This park is basically for motor homes and trailers. Therefore, it's not all that quiet until late. I had to persuade four young boys (and I mean young) to pack it up and go to bed. It was midnight already.
Sat., July 24th - to Colbourne
This is the day I've looked forward to: Tania and Scott are coming to see me. The day is sunny and cool but with that blasted headwind.
While the scenery was beautiful, the countryside was large rolling hills and some of the climbs were steep. And of course you had the equivalent down hills. It was a long grind to Port Hope (we did stop for our coffee break and sweets break, though), which is a lovely town, where we turned east to Colberg. Colberg is a great looking town. It's a tourist trap but an enjoyable one in terms of architecture, shops to browse, and parks to sit in to hear a free jazz concert.
The ride to Colbourne was uneventful and not all that scenic as the highway was away from Lake Ontario. The campsite could be missed if you blinked at the wrong time as there was only one sign saying it was ahead. But it was a good place with excellent showers, pool, and washroom.
At 4:30 Tania and Scott arrived with Libby. They were introduced to one and all. After that, we set out to find a good place to eat. We talked the whole time and had a great visit. The time flew by as it was dark by the time we got back to camp. It was just a great day for me!
Sun., July 25th - to Adolphustown
Having gotten back late, I hadn't been able to pack. That meant it took me longer to pack and I was late in leaving camp. I soon found out that I wasn't going to be riding hard as my right hamstring that had cramped up last night wasn't going to allow me to put much pressure on the peddle. But with the rest of the tour doing their usual rest breaks (read eating) I caught up to them just before Bloomfield. In the town we had be told by other cyclist that we came across that the bike shop there was excellent, which it was. They were so accommodating and helpful. Many of us left there feeling after they had made adjustments to the bikes that had been frustrating some of us.
It was an interesting area to ride through. We had the beauty of Lake Ontario, wineries to visit, and various types of farms to look at. We entered Picton at noon and it was like rush hour. Bicycles were definitely faster than cars. To get to the campsite, we crossed Picton Bay on a highway's ferry. Adolphustown is basically the campsite. There are many points of interest as Quakers and Empire Loyalist escaping the American Revolution settled the area.
Mon., July 26th - to Kingston
Today's route followed the shoreline most of the way. You know it's Empire Loyalist country all the time. Villages have English names, the Union Jack is everywhere and historical sites abound. If you ever want to know anything about Empire Loyalists, this is the place to come.
But what was really appreciated was the road. Smooth pavement with a four-foot shoulder. Traffic was not a problem. Even though the history may be based on 18th century events, modern history is visibly present in the form of electrical generating plants and a Lefarge cement plant. As you near Kingston, strip malls increase in size and number and the 21st century again takes hold.
This was a short day and camp is set up by noon. Most of the camp went on a bus sightseeing tour for the afternoon. I got some needed business done with Wayne and George (that's entertainment in itself) showered, read the paper, then crashed until dinner. For me it was early to bed.
Tues., July 27th - to Prescott
At midnight the rains came and stayed! Inside the tent was warm and dry, but taking down the tent and packing it away allowed the entire tent to get wet. That wasn't going into the bag.
To get out of Kingston we rode as a group so none would get lost. This town is a historical museum. You could spend a week here doing nothing but history tours. Once outside of town we broke into our usual groups. Harold and I rode together in the rain until it let up around 9:00 AM. Though we peddle slower, we are never far behind and neither of us likes to stop often unless it's needed or for lunch. Therefore we often catch up to others and pass them as they stop more than we do.
Once again we came upon a cycle path that paralleled the highway. These are so nice to have as I have stated before. We came upon Ken with a flat tire. We helped him repair it and he decided to ride with us to a historical park site to have lunch. The history was of the gunboats the British used to patrol their part of Lake Ontario. It was very interesting. Military life in the colonies was not easy. Think of living on a 40 man oversized rowboat with one or two canons on it.
After lunch, Ken got a second flat tire! After that it was cruise time to Prescott with stops to photograph interest sights and to have pie and coffee for them, a milkshake for me. Once in camp we hung every part of our tents out to dry. We had the use of a building with tables for our kitchen area. There was another bike tour coming in the next day and that evening their mess tent was set up. We moved our tents under it as it was suppose to rain tonight, which it did. This time everything stayed dry. Thank goodness!
Wed., July 28th – to Ottawa
We were up early. Harold and I rode up to Manotick together. It was a very uneventful ride as the day was gray and misty which did not do much for the scenery. At Manotick we met up with some CCCTS members from Ottawa who led us to the University of Ottawa where we are staying for three nights. It is a beautiful campus right in the heart of town. The rooms are your typical two person dorm but to us that is very comfortable. They supplied a locked storage area for our bikes and tents (which needed to dry out). They also have a great, if pricey, laundry room but the clothes sure came out clean.
After all the household chores were done we went out to explore the city in all manner of ways – bus, foot, and bike. In the evening seven of us headed out for dinner and landed up at the Highlander Pub. They have a custom at around 9:00 PM of bringing around a shot of scotch and a wafer with haggis on it so as everyone in the place can toast dear old Scotland. Of course dinner would not be finished without ice cream. By this time we were more than ready for bed so we could explore the city in more depth tomorrow. And tomorrow is weigh-in day. Stay tuned to see how much some of us have lost.
Thurs., July 29th
Well, Nancy and I have lost 30 pounds apiece. Sandy is down 2 pounds, Harry is down 10 pounds, and so it goes on. I don’t even want to think about our total weight loss as a group. And this is with us eating huge meals. Boy, does heavy exercise help.
After the weigh-in I start out looking for a 1-hr. Photo developer and a MacDonald’s for breakfast before heading to the library to update the web page. Unfortunately writing took so long that I didn’t have time to upload the file. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow.
Then, like everyone, it was a day of sightseeing. I did tours of the Supreme Court and Parliament Building, watched boats go through a lock of the Rideau Canal, and walk around the grounds of Parliament. With the Supreme Court tour we got into the actual courtroom where the cases are heard. It was explained to us how cases were chosen and the Court’s decision was final. I also learned that Cpac televises a case on Saturdays. Since cases are chosen on the basis of the decision having an effect on the country as a whole, I want to see how the hearing actually occurs. The Parliament tour gave us an understanding of how the system functions plus an actor portrayed the first woman senator who told us what she had accomplished. We got to go into the Senate but the House of Commons were being renovated. As for the locks, patience is required to go through them, as the process is painfully slow. The Parliamentary Library is also being renovated and the roof leaked. But in that library is a book that cost $1000 when purchased and is now estimated to be worth $40 000 000. It is Audubon’s hand made original copy of “Birds of North America. Not a bad investment.
This evening the local CCCTS picked us up for a BBQ at a member’s house. It was a great evening and the hosts were wonderful.
Then it was back to Parliament Hill for a sunset light show on the center block. It was a visual delight and the message was ‘we are great both as a country and as a people. All in all, this sure was a feel good day.
Fri., July 30
Since the library doesn't open until 12:00 I sat in the common room until 9:00 watching sports page before venturing out to the National Library. This is the place to go if you want to start a genealogy search. The exhibit they had was on the history of cookbooks dating all the way back to the 1700's. By the time I finished there, the public library was open so I went to update this web page. But I found some glitches in the text and spent the better part of an hour correcting them all. By the time I finished the corrections and updating, it was time to get back to the dorms to prepare for tomorrows departure and get ready to go to dinner with a bunch of the group. Unfortunately the food at the Highlander Pub didn't compare with the previous night we were there. The food just wasn't that good and the drink was weak. It was then back to the dorms and bed.
Sat., July 31 - to Lachute
We were all up early, ate breakfast at the campus cafeteria, loaded the truck and set off in the warm rain (if you're going to get web this is the way to do it) with Inge leading the way out of Ottawa. We followed the Ottawa River for a long way on a secondary highway going through villages that are sometimes quaint and old. Again we take the advice of the locals and use the old highway that is picturesque and quiet. Fine and dandy, but it's rough as hell, parallels the new highway which has a smooth shoulder. Eventually most of us rode on it.
Irene, Mary & Dave, George and I rode together in the afternoon. We crossed into Quebec at Hawksbury via a bridge. Se stopped at the `Welcome to Quebec` sign, do the photo op, and all miss the turning point. Unfortunately it appears we are on track, but when I don't see the highway sign after a while, we check our map. Sure enough, we are on a parallel road about 4 km too high. We locate a road going down to the correct road and lo and behold there is the camp. The gods were smiling. Then it just pours, thankfully just as we finish putting up the cook tent which is waterproof. We leave putting up our tents until it looks like the sky brightening. But around midnight it just pour even harder than before for about half and hour. These new tent are also waterproof, but the humidity means you sleep feeling damp.
Sun., Aug. 1st - to Joliette
We are up so early. The sun rises early and sets just as early. We've got to be at the eastern edge of the time zone. Today we can see the sun and it's going to be hot. It is also a day of map errors and a major mishap.
The first map error occurs when four of us turn right to follow the highway we're on waiting to see the sign for the one it turns into. After 4 km we know we're on the wrong road. We double back to where we turned right and just before we get there, the highway sign appears, but not on the way we originally came. So we turned left and got back on track. Our second error said to turn right onto a new highway route, proceed 1 km turn left and be at the campsite. Wrong! Turn left, not right, onto the new highway. We all had to ask for help to get that one straightened out.
When we got to camp around noon, we couldn't get in until 2:00 which turned into 3:00 because of a botched booking on their part. During this waiting period we learned that Irene had gone down. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital where it was over 10 hours before she was seen. There was only one doctor on duty. Unfortunately, she broke her elbow and it will require surgery to have a pin inserted to hold it in place. All in all, a stressful day.
Mon. Aug 2nd - to Champlain
Anita and Chris, our shadow pair in the motor home are taking Irene to Dorval Airport as she wants the surgery to be done at home she is in a cast, but looks remarkably good considering what she has been through. As for us, we had a tailwind the whole way and good roads. The main road was Rue Des Prairie. It zoom became clear why. This is the flattest land we've traveled since Manitoba. It's farm country and everything is grown from corn to tobacco. There is a church in every town and village. The bigger the town the more ornate the church. And do they love spires.
Today the map is accurate and none of us got lost.
Tues., Aug 3rd – to Quebec City.
We are out of camp before 7:30 (except Ken who had another flat). For most of the day the road is flat and much like yesterday so we moved along at a good clip. In the latter stages there are some long hills that require the lower gears but as usual the killer hill is saved for last. Some of us got part way up and said “The hell with it!” and walked to the top. From there it was a short ride to Laval University.
Some interesting things were noticed this morning. The small towns don’t start moving until after nine and even then it was ten before they opened for business. There are a lot of self-supported cyclists today including two pairs of tandem couples. The highways are in good condition until you hit the outskirts of the city then they are in terrible condition. And some concerns about Dave H. He has some type of stomach but he can’t shake and today he went to a clinic here but they couldn’t identify the source of the problem. The doctor gave his some medication to take for two weeks that hopefully will fix him up.
Wed., Aug. 4th
Good news. Dave H. is felling and looking a lot better.
I spent part of the morning updating the web page and sending a generic e-mail out assuring one and all I was all is well, and then four of us hopped a bus to the old town. Boy, was it crowded. Wall-to-wall people. It was the festival of New France featuring life during the 150 years of French colonization in America. There are people in period costumes all over the place. I walked around the Citadel and the Plains of Abraham reading all the historical plaques. I even walked back to Laval along Blvd. Rene Levesque looking at the houses and gardens. It was a pleasant day despite the crowds.
Thurs., Aug 5th – To Port Joli
I woke up in a stupor. I was groggy and had no energy. At breakfast Ken gave instruction as to how to get to the bridge to the south shore. “Turn right on Laurier”. I was last out and all the others were gone. I had the bridge north of the old city in my head and turned left on Laurier. It took me until I was at the Hotel Frontinac to realize that something was wrong. I found out at the information booth, so back up Laurier and finally to the bridge. But no bicycles were allowed on the bridge deck and there were no signs saying how to get down to the bridge’s sidewalks. As I found out later the rest of the group took half an hour to find their way. I on the other hand decided to take the direct approach and ride down to the bridge and get on the sidewalk down there. But there was no way to get to the sidewalk. Thankfully the bridge was under repair and one lane was barricaded off and that’s what I traveled in to the other side.
As I was coming down a hill into Levis I saw a long line of cyclists coming in from a side street that look like part of the group. I slowed down but found out it was another group of riders on a weeks self-supported circle trip from Quebec City to Riveier de Loup and back. The leader and I had a delightful time riding together for about 10 – 15 km. It’s that type of serendipitous meeting that makes this journey enjoyable.
At a rest stop, as I came out, Harold rolled by. I yelled to him and he waited for me. I then discovered their trials and tribulations with the bridge and the concerns some had for my whereabouts. But someone said in effect not to worry about me as I always land on my feet. That made me feel good: A combination of concern for my well-being and confidence that I’d find a way to get to camp. Harold and I rode together and caught up to Ken eating poutine. Gradually others come in, glad to see me. From there on it was a delightful ride through small and colourful villages to the campsite which had all the amenities.
Fri., Aug 6th – to Riviere de Loup
The weather report for today was for occasional showers in the morning, clearing around noon, and generally cool with the wind from the southeast (a cross/head wind).
It was apparent that Dave H. was not feeling all that well. So I decided to ride with Mary and him both for moral support and to set up a constant draft for Dave with Mary and me taking turns at the front. It worked like a charm. At dinner he ate a regular amount for the first time in three days.
Most of the route was close to the shore or through ‘la prairie’ with small towns in the background. But the best scenery happened because of a hill. We saw it coming, didn’t want to climb it and saw a road veer off toward the river. We all voted for the side road. We got to the river quickly. Now think of Marine Drive in West Van. Going out to Horseshoe Bay, scale back the houses, but make the water clearly visible for five km. That’s what we saw plus motels, hotels, and B&B’s. To top it off, it was flat and not busy and the road came out at the bottom of the hill and rejoined the highway. From there it was a short hop to Riveier de Loup (and of course the prerequisite long gradual hill) and on to a great campsite.
Sat., Aug 7th – To St. Jacques, N.B.
As we were cleaning up the kitchen tent, the rain came and stayed for over an hour. Today we rode the Tran Canada Trail, once we found it. It has a good trail surface and no hills, as it was an old railroad bed. But we didn’t pass close to any villages for the first half of the trail so a coffee break. There were plenty of picnic tables and toilettes along the way so some of us ate our snacks at one of them. At around 11:30 as we paralleled the highway, a restaurant had a sign of the trail. Down we went for lunch. By this time the sun was out and warmed things up. Later on the trail went alongside a lake. There were many resort villages along it. There had been ominous clouds coming in over the hills, but we always skirted them. But when we pulled in for ice cream, we got to see what was behind us. A wall of water was coming down the lake, a dark cloud was coming overhead, and the wind had picked up. Scrap the ice cream. We decided to try to outrun the storm. And surprise, surprise, we did.
It was a tiring ride because of the surface we were riding on. If we had been on the road, it would have taken two hours less for many of us. But then we would have missed a lot of beautiful scenery.
Sun., Aug. 8th – To Spring Water Camping
A postscript to last night. This campground has Saturday Night Dancing and most of this group loves to dance. Apparently it would have been a dull party without our group’s involvement.
So this morning things moved a little slower. It was a short day (84 km) to this camp in the middle of nowhere. There was a choice of the scenic (slower and longer) highway 144 or the shorter, faster, and busier highway 2. Most of us took the speed route. It’s been a cloudy day and cool so the scenery didn’t look like much. The countryside is large rolling; gentle hills so there was a lot of long climbs that weren’t very taxing. When we set up camp, we had sunshine, showers and thunder. Fortunately this place has a covered cooking and eating area. As I’m writing this, we are socked in. We are going to get dumped upon. I sure would like to see N.B. in sunshine for a whole day.