Day 2, May 25, 239 km
We left the motel around 7:30 am in cool but clear weather without a headwind to start. We stopped at Falcon Lake to look around and picked up a coffee and cinnamon rolls at the bakery. The beach was really nice; probably the fact that we had it all to ourselves helped somewhat. Took a picture of the lake, and then again at the Manitoba-Ontario border. By the time we reached Falcon Lake, my hip was hurting enough for me to some ASA. As we cycled toward Kenora my hip got worse, essentially reducing me to a one legged rider. Although it slowed us down, we still go into Kenora quite early- before 2. We had lunch on the waterfront then checked into the Kenora Inn Motel ($75 + hst for a really nice clean room) at the east end of town. Then we walked to the grocery stores to pickup fruit, a Caesar salad, milk and a rotisseried whole chicken. We enjoyed our supper. We had a second soaking in the tub. I took a 400 mg dose of ibuprofen around 5 pm and again at around 10 pm.
Day 3, May 26, 399 km
On getting up, I took another dose of ibuprofen, and repeated it a lunch time. The day started out sunny and cool, about 2C. We left the motel at 8:40 am. At the beginning my hip felt good, and only started to hurt a somewhat about an hour later. Eventually it settled down and barely bothered me, although I tried to behave myself and not push it too hard. The ride was beautiful, with lots of scenic lakes and waterfowl. The temperature rose to become comfortable but not hot. When we were riding it was warm; when we stopped we would cool off if we stood in the shade. Today we saw more deer, plus lots of ducks and geese; most lakes seemed to have a pair of loons. Some the geese had goslings. We arrive in Dryden shortly after 4 pm, and found the local IGA where we bought fruit, salad, potato salad, bread, torillas, milk and kolbasa. Then we thought that we would bike to the last motel at the east end of Dryden. On getting out of Dryden, we decided to push on to the next motel which was 13 km to the east. Unfortunately there was no vacancy there or at the motel next door; apparently, the mining crews have them all taken. We pushed on a few more km and investigated the Polar Star Lodge. We lucked out getting a huge unit with a kitchen for $57. We had a range, fridge, microwave, toaster and a table for 4. We used the bedroom with a double bed; the other two had twin beds. We think they need to advertise on the internet, as well as change their sign at the road. After a nice soak in the tub we enjoyed a leisurely supper. I’ll take more ibuprofen just before bedtime. There is not internet access here and just one channel on TV.
Day 4, May 27, 548 km
We left Polar Star Lodge around 7:20 am and started peddling eastward and into the wind; it never let up all day. Susie’s Achilles tendons bothered her yesterday so today she is pushing the pedal with a more central part of her food to reduce the tension on the Achilles. It took us until after noon to get to Ignace, where we planned to call ahead to the English River Inn to ensure that we would have a place to stay tonight. After asking for help with the phone number at the grocery store, we came up empty. Even telephone information didn’t work. So we pushed, and arrived at around 5:30. This place is a gem. For $70, including tax, we got a large, clean room, with wireless internet, satellite TV and a continental breakfast as well as access to the breakfast room to fix our dinner tonight. The closest store or restaurant would be in Ignace or Uppsala. I should write this up for Trip Advisor. Tomorrow our target is Shabaqua Corners.
Today we saw other fellow self propelled travellers. On group of four were westbound, and raising money for MS. Another guys was making the trip from Ottawa to Vancouver for the second time in two years; last year he did it on a BMX bike in 5 months. The most interest guy was from Holland; he is walking from Halifax to Vancouver in 4 summers.
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