Fellow Traveller

Sept 10 2007
Today 83.8 Total 5685.9
Rather a quiet day today I slept in had a long lunch and then actually got to a campground before sunset. Kind of nice for a change. I met a neat lady today.

Her name is Ruth. She is from Hinton, a retired school teacher travelling across Canada, by herself. Shocking I know. She is travelling with a truck and camper and is on her way back to Alberta after spending three months on the road. It was actually really nice to talk to her a lot of the same comment I've received she has too. We both agreed travelling alone has its advantages and it disadvantages. She invited me for dinner. We had a great stew (I never thought I would be so excited to see a turnip), bread while comparing stories. It was also really nice to see some of her pictures of the Maritimes as it rekindled my enthusiasm for my trip.

North Bay

Sept 9 2007
Phebea has been groaning and creaking like an old lady so I have been trying to find a bike shop to see if I can get her fixed up. It was Sunday when I got to North Bay so almost everything downtown was closed. I found a fabulous brunch and proceeded to eat my body weight in protein. Eggs, ham, bacon, roast beef, BBQ chicken, satay chicken, sausages. Meat glorious meat. The meat I usually have is so over processed it's nasty. I also found a little bike shop that was open. I forgot the name of the shop but they worked on bike for two hours adjusted half a dozen things and replaced the rear derailer. Then after all that they didn't charge me for any of the labour. Phebea has been running like a top ever since.
Since I found out Phil is meeting me in Quebec I've been able to ease up on my pace a fair bit.
So I`ve been taking a lot more breaks and enjoying shorter riding days. Boy my body is loving that. No achy knees, no sore bottom.
I was pulled over at a little rest stop I heard some traffic go by and what sounded like one of the vehicles pulling an empty boat trailer. About forty seconds later I heard the empty boat trailer noise again but this time there was no traffic going by. I knew immediately what the noise was. I walked over to one of the garbage can lifted the lid and peeked in.

Inside was a young raccoon. He was stuck.

I went and got a dead tree branch so he could climb out.

The whole time he was growling and huffing at me. As soon as he was free of the can he went straight over to another can and climbed in.

Lesson learned; I guess not. So I headed back to the picnic table where I was having my dinner. I watched the raccoon while he did his rounds the whole time he was throwing me dirty looks. As he was coming out of the last garbage can he suddenly realized my whole table was full of food. In the six steps it took him to get from the garbage can to my table he went from growling scruffy juvenile delinquent to fluffy churring prom queen. No, I didn't share much to his disgust.

Character

Sept 8 2007
today 124.6 Total 5515.4
I was stopped in Sudbury for breakfast when a fellow cyclist stopped in the restaurant to talk to me. He was very excited and talking a mile a minute so I never did get his name. The first thing he asked was where was I going. I told him and he asked if he could join me. At first I thought he meant across town so I said sure but when he said his wife would kill him I realized he meant for the rest of my trip! It turns out travelling across Canada by bike has always been one of his dreams but his wife told if he did to not bother coming home if he did. He asked how my husband was taking me being gone. I told him he supports me and he is meeting me in Quebec City for a few days. I felt very sad for him and at the same time grateful for the support I'm receiving from home. It says a lot about the character of a person crush a dream or support it.

Sorry Sudbury

Sept 7 2007
Today119.0 Total 5290.8
Today was one of those great days to grab your favorite book, curl up by the fire, and stare dreamily out the misted window at the rivulets of water meandering their way down the pane of glass. Or to throw some spandex on, go riding for eight hours, while peering at the road through slightly misted sunglasses while rivulets of water obscure your vision. The worst thing about today was the strong southerly cross winds trying to throw me into traffic accompanied by semi wash trying to throw me in the ditch. It was about one in the afternoon I had pulled over to the side of the road and was munching on a soggy four day old cookie. I took a swallow of stale lukewarm water which caused all the ice cold rain on my head to pour down the back of my neck, through my shoulder blades and beyond. That`s when it hit me I was having a blast. Bring it on. Gritty teeth aren't fun but I couldn't stop grinning. So sorry Sudbury about fifteen minutes after I got a hotel room for the evening the heavens really opened up streets were flooded and there were power outages. Dad even heard about it in BC. My bath felt great though.

Thanks

Sept 6 2007
Today 118.2 Total 5271.8
Today was the most average day I have experienced, no wind, gentle rolling hills, modrate traffic, high overcast. It was so unremarkable it was remarkable.

I would just like to thank all the people that have been sending warm wishes and keeping up on my blog. It is very humbling and motivating to know so many people are sharing this journey with me.
Thank You.

The Lake Superior Roadhouse

"Waitress can I get a strong headwind while I look at the menu. Thanks. I'll have the construction site. Oh? That's tomorrow's special? It looked great though, grooved pavement, single lane traffic, impatient drivers, drizzled in fresh tar with a generous portion of gravel. OK so today's special is Semi's? How are they served? A few over sized load but lots of narrow shoulders, that sounds good. Now lets see...hmmm..say have you got any of those sedans? You know the ones that go like a bat out of hell and then get within about a foot of your left arm and scare the crap out of you? You do, great I'll take a few of those on the side, and um, sorry you said how do I take my hills? What's the house special? Long, steep and served all day, sounds great bring er on. Dessert, hmm I hadn't even thought about it. What do you have? No, no...no flat tires for me I've had quite a few lately a girls got to pace herself. Though it would probably be good with the construction site tomorrow. Let's see. How about a nice thunder storm just as I'm setting up camp for the night. Is that everything? Yeah, If you could just top up my headwind I think I'm done."

Hills (Are You Really Surprised?)

Sept 4 2007
Today 126.9 total 5031.1
Hills, hills and more hills but man was I having fun. I would fight my way to the top and come barrelling down the other side. Yee Haw. My favorite ones were around Montreal River. Got to love a speed wobble (hate a semi wash during a speed wobble, a wee bit scary). I found some somewhat proper food at Montreal River so I immediately had a can of mini ravioli and a can of sardines. I was also able to pick up some oatmeal for breakfast.

This cheeky little guy pestered me throughout my breakfast. In this picture he had just finsished tapping on my leg for attention. Cookies!!! Old Woman Bay where I spent the night.

At the same campsite, he was eating the pine branches.