Day Forty Five - Rest Day Tottenham

After waking up late because of my steak induced coma, I prepared for going to my brothers place for lunch. Breakfast was scheduled for 10 so I had to eat a couple of eggs and toast to hold me over.

While waiting for breakfast I played with my five year old nephew, Pauly. He has lots of energy and always seems to have smile on his face. He slept over the night before so we could spend more time together. 

At 10 we arrived and ate a second breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns, and toast. My brother Paul cooked the bacon in the oven and his wife Erin expertly cooked the eggs. We made plans after breakfast to go back to the resort and go swimming. 

Both nephews went for a swim in the covered pool at the resort. My brother was in too and he was launching Pauly out of the pool and he would splash down 10 feet away with a smile on his face. 

After swimming I had a nap before we had a late lunch/ early dinner. Dinner was at my parents house.  I watched Erin feed Liam canned peaches that had been ground up. Liam really enjoyed them. He must certainly be the cutest baby in the whole world. 

After dinner my brother drove me back to the campground in Tottenham. My mother and her friends had previously baked hundreds of cookies and squares for the group that I brought back to camp. 

The drive was about 2 hours and the traffic wasn't too bad. When we got to camp I introduced Paul to the few people that were at camp as some were still away until the next morning. The cookies were very well received and quite a few were eaten immediately.  Overall a very good rest day. 

Mom and Dad outside their place in Peterborough, ON

Pauly my smart and energetic nephew and me.  Not enough time spent together.

My newest nephew, Liam.  Extremely cute!

Day Forty Four - Tottenham

This morning I got up a little early so I could get to Tottenham as my father was picking me up to go to Peterborough. My regular riding partner joined me and Arlen did too as he had people to see too.

In the first half a km there was a steep hill. Soon after that it was another set of steep hills. It was a taste of what we would be getting today. The hills today surprised most people and really put people's fitness to the test. 

The first stop was 30 km in when we, well Arlen, spotted an ice cream cone sign that indicated a restaurant was close. When we stopped Arlen was disappointed that they only had Freezies. We had so cold drinks and kept going. 

Did I mention that terrain was hilly?  Today we had a gain of 1100 meters. The terrain was hilly with some very steep descents that were fun because I probably was doing over 80 kmph. Contrasting the downhills were the steep uphills in which I rode some of them in a zig zag pattern to reduce the slope. 

Once in Creemore we visited the brewery and was surprised to receive three free samples in which I enjoyed the original lager the most a lot 9 came in second. We headed to the bakery after our samples to get some lunch before moving on. 

Kerry joined us and the four of us ride together for the rest of the day. It was more of the same types of terrain and I stopped a couple of times to take pictures of some beautiful farmland views.  

We got into camp a little later than hoped because of the headwind that we had in the afternoon. The campground was nice but I only got to enjoy it for a couple of minutes before my father picked me up. Other people that lived nearby were also preparing to leave. 

Once at my parents place my brother, sister in law, and two adorably cute nephews had steak dinner together. Good times. 

Ski runs at Blue Mountain, ON

Hay field with a view just outside of Creemore, ON.  An unexpected extremely hill day.

Arlen, the legend, focused on the road ahead while on his bike

Day Forty Three - Owen Sound

This morning my father and I went for a nice breakfast in downtown Tobermoy. Last night he was able to rent a cabin in the campground that we were staying at. After breakfast we headed back to the campground for 7:45 to get ready to ride the 135 kms.

It was a very rare occurrence today that mostly all riders started at the same time. It is nice to share the experience of the day together. Before we had our first stop Viki rubbed tires and went down on the pavement. I didn't see it happen but the group I was riding with stopped to assist.  She was lucky to scrape her hip and bruise her hand a little. 

We stopped at Rachel's Bakery and 50's diner in Lion's Head. The tables and pictures on the walls were from the 50's. They had many kinds of squares and pies. We bought a whole raspberry pie as it was cheaper than buying 6 individual pieces. 

Later on while we were in Wiarton we stopped by the Wiarton Willy statue which is in a very nice park on the shores of Georgian Bay. Other visitors to the statue saw our jerseys and asked us about the tour. They were nice enough to take a picture of the three of us. 

Past Wiarton we saw the Niagara escarpment for the first time.  The road was very smooth and the traffic was light. Houses on the left side were on the water and some were very nice. At Big Bay we stopped for an ice cream that was the best we've had on this tour. 

Just past the ice cream shop Sam and I formed pace line with Duncan and Laura.  We made really good time the rest of the way into Owen Sound. We were second ones to make it to camp. Arlen beat us all there. 

Dinner was chicken curry that was very good. Tomorrow my father is picking me up after our ride and I will spend the rest day in Peterborough. 

Kerry outside of Rachel's Bakery in Lion's Head, ON

John at his favorite ice cream place on the trip so far, Big Bay general store, Big Bay, ON

Duncan having tea at a roadside tribute to women

Day Forty Two - Tobermory

Today was a short 60 km day plus a 1.75 hour ferry ride.  Sam and I started out together but he left me on the first big hill.  I rode most of the rest away solo. 

About 30 km in I ate a PBJ and as I finish James and Arlen passed me. I was at the crest of a hill and I caught up to them and then passed them shortly after. 

Soon after I spotted 4 Sandhill cranes in a field on the side of the road. I pulled over and spotted 17 more. Later I heard that 21 cranes in the same field is not a regular occurrence. As I was watching I witnessed some kind of courting activity as one of the cranes was spreading there wings and flapping them. 

At 53 km we arrived at South Baymouth and we looked for a place to hang out and wait for the ferry. We found a restaurant close by but had to wait until 11 until lunch was served. 

Most people ordered the whitefish that was from Lake Huron. Some people also enjoyed the strawberry and rhubarb pie before eating their fish. The restaurant had an adjoining gift shop where Matt purchased a bear that was carved out of onyx. 

The ferry that we boarded at 1 was quite a bit smaller than the ferry that runs between Victoria and Vancouver. Like BC ferries bicycles and motorcycles load first. There was other bicycles that also loaded with us. 

On the ferry a Manitoulin First Nation man gave a really nice presentation where he talked about drumming, singing, and dancing. He also talked a little about the different types of singing. I was glad that Matt was there to hear the singing. He had never heard it before. I really like the traditional singing where the men sing really high. 

The ferry ride was over quickly and once in Tobermoy we found a place to have a drink and spend some time waiting for dinner. Later on my father met me in town and treated me to a steak dinner. It was very good. Thanks Dad!

View of the water on Manatoulin Island

Chi-Cheemaun ferry arriving in South Baymouth, ON

Bicycles lined up to board to Chi-Cheemaun ferry in South Baymouth, ON

Day Forty One - Sheguindah

This morning I woke at 5:15 and got my tent packed up and ready to go before 6:15 when we started preparations for breakfast.  We made eggs and fried bread because we do not have a toaster.  The mosquitos were very very bad as soon as I left my tent but improved a little bit once there more people up and more bodies to bite.

Even though our crew had to cook and load the truck we were on the road by 8.  There terrain was rolling hills and not to tough.  In Massey Sam and I stopped at a convenience store for a drink and to eat a PBJ.  I found out others went further into Massey to visit a bakery.

The road from Massey to Espanola were country roads and the quality of the road surface varied quite a bit.  We stopped to change a slow leak in Sam's rear tire.  I found a very small piece of wire that was barely noticeable.  It had to be pulled out with my leather man pliers.  While there the group that was at the bakery passed by and asked if we needed assistance then continued on.

In Espanola we went to Timmy's for lunch for a "cheese toastie".  When we were getting off our bikes Arlen pulled up which surprised us because he was so far ahead of us.  It turns out that he made a wrong turn and added a couple of km's to his ride.

While is the Tim's we met Brad that was traveling on his Kona Sutra from Toronto to Sault Ste Marie.  A week earlier he and his friends had traveled the west coast of the US from Washington to California.  He said that he was using Hot Showers.  I was thinking we also take hot showers when we can too.  It turns out it is a website that enables people to stay at peoples houses for cheap.

After lunch we were back on the main road that was very busy and the terrain changed to steeper, longer hills.  About 10 km before the bridge to Manitoulan Island a head wind really started to pick up and it was really difficult to move forward.  On that same part of highway there was a system to detect dear crossing the road that would trigger lights to flash to warn drivers.

Like most of the riders, just on the other side of the bridge to Manitoulan Island we stopped for ice cream.  I hadn't eaten any food since lunch and was feeling a little calorie depleted. There wasn't too many kms to go and once in camp I felt much better.

Tomorrow is a short day at 60 km but we must get the ferry at 1pm.  Once we are in Tobermory it is a short ride to the campsite.

Little Current swing bridge to Manitoulin Island

A creek flowing down a rock face just before the campground.

Marsh adjacent to where the tents were set up

Day Forty - Spragge

This morning I wanted to leave early as it is a long day and I was on cooking duty with my group.  Sam and I managed to be the first to leave camp and quite a few others followed shortly after.  The first part of the ride avoided a major highway and took us through the back roads.  The roads were good but quite hilly.  The traffic was very light.

Once we were finished with the back roads we were on a major road that had a lot of car and truck traffic with limited shoulder.  We made really good time and decided to go into Thessalon to have a break and get something to eat.  Matt, John, and Sam joined me.

After lunch we had a killer tailwind and in some sections we were going 50 kms on the flats.  Overall for the day we averaged 29 kmph.  We made a quick stop in Blind River before getting to the campground some time around 4.

Dinner was pretty easy to prepare and it tasted quite good.  Vegetarian chili and a salad was served.

Today marks one month left until the tour is over.  September 4th will be our last day.

Day Thirty Nine - Rest Day Sault Ste Marie

Todays rest day started with me sleeping in until 8 which was nice.  A couple of guys rode there bikes to the Husky truck stop just a km or so away.  Later on in the day I planned to see the new Mission Impossible movie at the theatre downtown in the mall.

At around 10 John and I walked down to the bus stop 2.5 km away from the campsite.  We thought that we missed it but there was another one soon after that took us directly downtown across from the mall.  We walked over to the mall and had something to eat in the food court.  The subway had WIFI which John was looking for.  After lunch I headed to the movies.

In the movie I fell asleep four times but managed to catch most of it.  From what I could tell it is much like every Mission Impossible movie, forgettable.  I did however get to sit in an air conditioned room, in a nice chair, and with no mosquitos bothering me for 2 hours.  After the movie I picked up some AAA batteries that I had needed for a while for my bike rear lights.

After the movie we met up with Kerry go to dinner.  As I might have mentioned before, no meals are prepared during the rest days.  We all enjoyed our dinner and we were back into camp before 8.  Tomorrow is going to be a long day at 172 kms.

John getting some well deserved sleep after eating a large breakfast on our rest day.

Canadian geese at the campground.  Across the water was the United States