We made it - home, safe and sound

Proof that we're home

Proof that we're home

Day 19 June 11, 2367.8 km Kingston

We knew that we were in for either a very long day or addition of another night at a motel close to Kingston.  We chose the former because we were as well rested as we could be on the road and home beckoned.  We left Eganville at 5:15 am in cool but clear weather with a forecast for thundershowers in the afternoon.

The road was initially flat and straight, then it gave way to a series of hills as we turned toward Denbigh.  Nevertheless, we did not find the hills to be particularly difficult; we just geared down and went up slowly.  We were quite comfortable to go up slowly with little pressure on our legs or knees, and would just find something to talk about.  The road was so much more pleasant than the section of the Trans-Canada Highway that we just left; it was less busy, much smoother and had a paved shoulder on most sections.  When we got to Denbigh, we confirmed that there were no motels operating, in fact there were no motels for about 100 km further; it would have been a problem had we gone to Denbigh assuming that we could find a place to stay.  Because this is no longer on the Trans-Canada Highway, the type of traveller must be different resulting in the need for fewer motels; this is useful information to know for future travels.  Whatever wind we had was as the forecast said, mild and from the east; thus, we made decent time and arrived in Kaladar around 1 pm and stopped at the restaurant for lunch.  As their breakfast menu was still active, I had a stick to the ribs breakfast of two eggs, hash browns, toast, bacon, sausage, ham and coffee.  Susie had the same minus the sausage and bacon; nevertheless her order happened to come with a slice of ham over a half inch thick, which resulted in difficult peddling for the next few hours.  It’s just as well that I ate a lot there because I looked at myself in the mirror at home later, and thought I looked skinny; I had lost 10 pounds and was the lightest I’ve been as an adult.  Proceeding south of Kaladar on Hwy 41was pleasant with good roads and little traffic, and the sky became overcast- less heat.  We took the short cut through Tamworth, where we stopped to deal with Susie’s bike seat.  About two hours from Kingston, just north of the 401 the skies opened up with lightning, thunder and rain; it rained until we got within 6 blocks of home.  Fortunately, it was a warm rain and not particularly uncomfortable.  We are home at last safe and sound, after a 208 km run home to Kingston.

This has been a wonderful trip.  The scenery was spectacular, and the people throughout Northern Ontario were very friendly.  We covered 2368 km in 17 days of cycling- 19 days including the days of enforced rest in Thunder Bay.  Our average ride was just under 140 km per day.  The distances were less at the beginning where we were breaking in our legs, and longer at the end with several daily rides dictated by the distances between motels.  There is satisfaction in having bicycled from Nanaimo to Halifax, and we look forward to completing the ride by bicycling from Halifax to St. John’s (Cape Spear) in 2012.

Bike Trip 2011 Day 17 June 9, Stonecliffe 2046 km

We got another early start today because we are starting to look forward to our home.  By 6:45 am we were on the road wearing a reasonable amount of clothing as it was on the cool side with a modest north wind blowing.  The ride out of Sturgeon Falls was straight and flat for 16 km; it seemed to go on forever.  As we approached North Bay there were a few hills and lots of shops selling cheap smokes.  We hit North Bay around 8 am- rush hour.  We found the Tim Horton’s just off Hwy 11/17 toward the east end of town, and had a coffee and muffin.  Then it was time to take 17 eastbound.  There were sections of the road that were in terrible shape; the pavement was heavily cracked and broken making it really rough.  In some areas, especially around Mattawa, there was construction with grooved roads; since it was so rough we had to ride a lot slower.  Just east of North Bay we encountered some hills.  After reaching Deux Rivieres, we decided to push on to Stonecliffe.  The road out of Deux Rivieres climbed for 12-13 km; then it dropped down into Stonecliffe making for fun, fast runs of up to 56 kph.  We took a cottage at Pine Ridge Resort- $65 including tax for lots of space and a full kitchen.

On our way through Mattawa, we stopped at the grocery store for a few supplies.  While walking past a rack of baked goods, I felt some heat coming from something.  On closer inspection it was from the Chelsea buns; so we bought them.  Initially we planned to find a park to eat them but tasted them while packing the panniers; that was it, we ate 3/4 of them right there.  They were excellent, and reminded us of the cinnamon rolls from Card’s Bakery in Kingston.

Bike Trip 2011 Day 18 June10, Eganville 2183 km

Turning off the Trans-Canada

Geese on a small lake

Today was another early start, getting on the road at 10 to eight after adjusting Susie’s bike seat.  The morning started off cool enough for jackets and warmed up as the sun got stronger.  We were in Deep River before 8 am, and stopped there for coffee and a breakfast wrap.  Initially the road rolled up and down but quite gently.  Later it got flatter and straighter.  At Pembroke we turned off the Trans-Canada and onto B Line Road.  What a treat!  The traffic dropped off and the running surface was smoother.  I think that I will send a comment to the Minister of Highways about the deplorable condition of our national highway.  From B Line to Hwy 41 and then Eganville, where we stopped at the Foodliner on the way into town.  While resting at the picnic tables beside the store, we talked to some employees and then to Mike the owner.  After discussing our travel plans, Mike suggested calling ahead to the Swiss Inn in Denbigh to reserve a room, which we had discussed earlier.  Mike called the number on his cell phone and got nothing.  He then went into the store and called information, who had no listing for them.  After discussing the options, we decided to stay in Eganville and make a longer day tomorrow.  We’ll have had lots of time to rest because we checked into the Pine Tree Motel in the early afternoon.

Bike Trip 2011 Day 16, June 8, Sturgeon Falls

Hungry baby crow

The weather forecast was for a hot (30 C) and humid day with thundershowers, so we decided to get up early and try to beat the heat.  We were up around 5 and on the road before 6 am; it was just light enough to be on the road without lights.  We started out in warm and windless weather.  It continued to get warmer for 2-3 hours when we encountered  a  good cloud burst.  Although we put on rain jackets, our lower bodies got wet including our shoes.  Nevertheless, this rain was a blessing because the humidity dropped along with the temperature.  There was either no wind or a slight tailwind, which allowed us to make good time.  We were at Sudbury on the bypass after 11 am.  Susie got a flat there, so I changed the tube and we got on our way.

Just before Sudbury we saw a beaver in his pond right beside the road; unfortunately he dove into the muddy water just as I about to take his picture.  On the Sudbury bypass we heard a ruckus by crows high in a rock cut; an adult crow was feeding its young.  By the time I got my camera out, the adult had left the nest so I didn’t get the shot I wanted.  We continued on until we found a service station on the east side of Sudbury where I topped up Susie’s tire from 50 to 80 psi.  We stopped at the Subway restaurant in Wahnapitae for my morning coffee and a meatball sub.  The rest of the ride was uneventful unless you call highway construction an event.  We decided to keep going until Sturgeon Falls.  We pulled into the Lincoln Motel around 4:30 for showers before getting food at the Metro next door.  Then it was eat, fix the inner tube and watch the hockey game.

Bike Trip 2011 Day 15, June 7 Massey 1683 km

After a good night’s sleep we got on the road at 7:10 am.  The weather was clear and about 13C with no wind; this was excellent biking weather.  Without a coffee maker in the room, we decided to pickup coffee along the way when we needed a break.  The Trans-Canada Hwy follows the Mississagi River for a distance in the area of Iron Bridge.  It is beautiful.  We also crossed the Serpent River just east of Blind River; there is a really nice rest area and chutes above and below the hwy bridge.  We stopped in Blind River to pick up some food, and at a restaurant on the north side of the hwy near Serpent River for coffee.  Their menu looked inviting but we didn’t need to eat so perhaps we’ll save that for a day when we are passing though by car.  We peddled on until about 4:30 pm and decided to stay in Massey.  Susie's right foot is bothering her but her achilles tendons seems to be behaving themselves.  After checking out the Mohawk Motel we opted to stay at the Massey Motel - a perfectly adequate room with fridge, microwave and wired internet.

Bike Trip 2011 Day 14, June 6 Bruce Mines, 1536 km

Left Batchawana around 7:20 am in the sun although it was cool enough to wear a sweater or fleece.  The road was quite flat and easy to cycle for the first few hours.  Eventually we climbed over a bit of a hill and then went down again before making the final climb after Goulais River.  We arrived at the Velorution bicycle shop before noon where I was able to get a new tire.  I put the new tire on the rear, and former rear tire on the front, which gives me the best rubber under the weight of the panniers.  The old tire had a cut that was big enough to poke a small key through.  I first noticed the cut before getting to Wawa, so it had been bothering me for a while.  After the bike shop, we crossed town and picked up some food at Food Basics before going to Subway for lunch.  Then we took the old highway out until it joined the new Hwy 17.  This afternoon the wind has been from the SE, which means that was in our face because we first had to go south and then east.  At Echo Bay we decided to go on to Desbarats or Bruce Mines.  We found that there were no places to stay in Desbarats so rode on to Bruce Mines arriving after 6 pm; we checked into the first motel- Bobbers.  It was a nice clean room with fridge but no microwave or coffee.  Nevertheless, it is good value because the price was just $60 + tax.

Bike Trip 2011 Day 13, June 5 Batchawana Bay, 1398 km

After watching the Canucks beat the Bruins last night, we got an early (6:20) start because this section from Wawa to Montreal River has a reputation for hills that are tough on bicyclists.  The morning was cold, requiring us to dress warmly.  In fact it was cool to cold the whole day with the air coming off Lake Superior.  Oddly enough, although we felt colder on our bikes as we came closer to the Lake, the vegetation changed; the conifers beside the road gave way to hardwoods- mostly maples.  This was a great day be on our bikes; it was sunny and there were no headwinds today.  The winds that we noticed came from our right off Lake Superior; they brought us lots of cold air.  This morning we saw two moose close to the highway; from their sizes, they looked like a cow with her yearling offspring.  They cooperated nicely and gave me an opportunity to take pictures.  To add to the Canadiana, there was a goose in the foreground (forepond ?).  We arrived at Batchawana Bay around 4 pm and checked into the Voyageurs Motel, a small room with fridge, microwave, coffee maker and internet.  The outside of this motel looks better than the inside.  There was a small general store that had everything we needed to polish off the food we had on hand plus they have an LCBO licence which allowed me to pickup a can of Rickard’s Dark (quite similar to the Quiscana Negri that I liked in Peru).  We walked across the road to the beach so that Susie could immerse legs in the lake.

Cow moose and yearling?

While this section has a reputation for tough hills, we did not find them to be a problem.  This is way, way easier than the Rockies and Purcells.