Hey Now.
A very unfortunate lack of updates since leaving Ottawa. So much to catch up on, but I'm writing this very late so I'll include the highlights since then.
I write this on our second of three days off in Adrian's home near Southbay Mouth on Manitoulin Island. It is stunning here. The water on Lake Huron is as clear as the night sky, and everything feels tranquil and serene. The house Adrian's dad built by hand is unbelievably unique, running solely on alternative energy generated from solar panels and wind power, with the help of an inverter and other gadgets better described by somebody without a Communications background. Jim tried explaining the amperage and voltage schematics to me, and I get the jist, but at the time of his explanation I was still too overwhelmed by the beauty of the house and the surrounding garden, waterfront, ponds, animals, you name it.
Backtracking though, from Ottawa we set off for Pembroke, but failed to reach it and stopped in Renfrew due to a day of tire popping and crap weather. The following day we were hit by similar conditions and ended in Petawawa with the Lafrance family. Their son is a friend of Rainer and the other guys and Mrs. Lafrance was unbelievable in accomodating us with beds, food prep, tea, television, warmth, laundry, and most importantly great conversation.
From there we travelled in much improved weather through the military lands of Petawawa and finished a good day in Deux Rivieres, camping behind a very gracious general store. If the details on riding seem short or completely absent, it's not because the riding wasn't great, it just escapes me now at 1:00am. The bike shop in Petawawa was incredible as well, bought a new tire to replace one I'd chewed up, as well as some red rear brake pads ensuring I don't smash into the back of somebody in the draft line. Still need more tubes though, running on a spare with a hole in it at the moment, not so smart. Our lunch stop earlier that day brought us to a beautiful spot in Deep River right on the water, where we met a cheery guy named Paul-David, who is riding solo from St. Sauveur near Montreal all the way to Vancouver. He rode with us after lunch for a while until the hills slowed him down and led him to end his day with a camp in the deep woods. Adrian spotted a black bear moments earlier, hopefully our Francophone friend and the curious bear didn't cross each other after we rode on.
From Deux Rivieres we travelled a long day through very hot weather and unpredictable roads. Lots of construction sites and some hills, though nothing we couldn't handle. We made our way through North Bay and then onto Sturgeon Falls to stay with our friend Christine and her family. Quite a long day of cycling, though on the last leg we were cruising along the flattest highway we've encountered yet, easily breaking 30km/hr consistently for the last leg.
At Christine's we stored our bikes, threw our panniers in her Suburban and got a scenic drive to Field, where her family cottage sits by a beautiful lake. We had planned a rest day in Sturgeon, but got treated to an extra as when we were about to leave a neighbor drove by relaying warnings of falling trees and golf ball hail in Sudbury. Not biking conditions that's for sure.
It's getting late, so I'll finish telling the story up until now when we get some computer time tomorrow. Hope everybody is doing well!
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