Thursday, August 4, 2005
Day 38 – Distance: 96.55 km
Thunder Bay to Nipigon
We awakened to rain, with the result that we didn’t really get moving too quickly. We decided a quick breakfast en route (we planned to drive to the Terry Fox monument and leave from there) would be in order, but then ended up at a Husky station, where smoking is still allowed! I was parking the car, or I would have vetoed the location, but the others were too polite to walk out. Oh well, at least now I appreciate even more the no-smoking policy in Orillia!
We drove to the monument, and were moved to tears again at the courage and effort put out by Terry Fox. I wasn’t feeling particularly energetic, but figured if he could run a marathon a day, I could at least get on my bike and get going. Almost immediately after leaving (at 10:30 a.m.) we ran into construction. The gravel was terrible to ride on, but the workers allowed us to ride ahead of the traffic, or on the opposite lane, so that part of the ride was actually not too bad. The wind, unfortunately, was strong and capricious – or maybe it was just that the road twisted and turned quite a bit. In any event, it almost blew me off the road a couple of times. Not fun! The road had very bad shoulders, and lots of road cracks and snakes, but hopefully it will improve as we head further east. We met a couple of bikers who are traveling “loaded” from Calgary to Toronto. They had horror stories of broken spokes, tires, and of having to rent a car to get a bike repaired. The more I hear stories like that, the gladder I am that I have Adele and the support van. I know I have dreamed of doing the trip “loaded” also, but I think I’m coming to my senses finally.
We stopped at a campsite 5 km west of Nipigon, Stillwater RV Park. Our two young friends, who are biking across the country “loaded”, also stopped here. I don’t think I have mentioned them yet; Kyle and Graham are both about 23, and have just finished school. They’re taking a slightly different route after the Sault, but I think we may see quite a lot of them before then. We have stayed (unplanned) at the same campsite 3 nights now, with the exception of Thunder Bay, where they stayed with friends.
It’s only 8:30, but I’m feeling quite tired tonight. I haven’t been particularly hungry, but am enjoying some of Adele’s yogourt, and then will head to bed. I was planning to do some more route planning, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Thunder Bay to Nipigon
We awakened to rain, with the result that we didn’t really get moving too quickly. We decided a quick breakfast en route (we planned to drive to the Terry Fox monument and leave from there) would be in order, but then ended up at a Husky station, where smoking is still allowed! I was parking the car, or I would have vetoed the location, but the others were too polite to walk out. Oh well, at least now I appreciate even more the no-smoking policy in Orillia!
We drove to the monument, and were moved to tears again at the courage and effort put out by Terry Fox. I wasn’t feeling particularly energetic, but figured if he could run a marathon a day, I could at least get on my bike and get going. Almost immediately after leaving (at 10:30 a.m.) we ran into construction. The gravel was terrible to ride on, but the workers allowed us to ride ahead of the traffic, or on the opposite lane, so that part of the ride was actually not too bad. The wind, unfortunately, was strong and capricious – or maybe it was just that the road twisted and turned quite a bit. In any event, it almost blew me off the road a couple of times. Not fun! The road had very bad shoulders, and lots of road cracks and snakes, but hopefully it will improve as we head further east. We met a couple of bikers who are traveling “loaded” from Calgary to Toronto. They had horror stories of broken spokes, tires, and of having to rent a car to get a bike repaired. The more I hear stories like that, the gladder I am that I have Adele and the support van. I know I have dreamed of doing the trip “loaded” also, but I think I’m coming to my senses finally.
We stopped at a campsite 5 km west of Nipigon, Stillwater RV Park. Our two young friends, who are biking across the country “loaded”, also stopped here. I don’t think I have mentioned them yet; Kyle and Graham are both about 23, and have just finished school. They’re taking a slightly different route after the Sault, but I think we may see quite a lot of them before then. We have stayed (unplanned) at the same campsite 3 nights now, with the exception of Thunder Bay, where they stayed with friends.
It’s only 8:30, but I’m feeling quite tired tonight. I haven’t been particularly hungry, but am enjoying some of Adele’s yogourt, and then will head to bed. I was planning to do some more route planning, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
posted by BikingBabe at 11:12 AM
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