I knew today was going to be a bit of a stretch on tired legs but I was excited to get to Sault Ste Marie and Cat had set me up to stay with her friend Michaela. The route was less hilly but as we turned onto the road from the campground the wind hit us like a wall! The extra resistance is not what what my legs needed and I had to channel my inner Jens Voigt and tell them to shut up!!
I enjoyed the scenery today, lots of small beaches and coves in Pancake Bay and Batchawana Bay and although the sky looked ominous the rain held off. Early on I just realised it was going to be a long day, all I could do was just keep spinning into the wind. I struggled to get my average above 19km/hr and even on the downhills I had to pedal hard just to keep moving forward!!
Unknown beach beside the road.
Pancake Bay.
Ginny, Joel, Lisa and Olivia (from last night) stopped to say hi and get a quick photo. I also met 2 American girls doing a tour of Lake Superior who were not enjoying the Canadian roads! A couple from Batchawana Bay who had been mountain biking invited me to stay at their place, I was quite tempted as I was only half way but I thanked them and kept going. I hadn't seen Blair in a long while and just hoped he had pushed on, we had already decided to part company at the Soo, he is not far from his parents now and had much fresher legs especially as he had hitched from Saskatchewan to Ontario, skipping Manitoba completely. I wanted to stop, take pictures and enjoy the last section of the Lake Superior shoreline, it really feels like you are on the coast and with the wind there were waves lapping at the sandy beaches.
Joel, Olivia, me and Lisa.
I knew there was one big hill before the Soo and as I started climbing so did the rain, I thought it might not be too bad and didn't want to suit up in my waterproofs before climbing. Mile hill as it is locally known was not so bad but the rain started hammering down. On the way down I saw a truck weigh station that was closed and I pulled in to shelter from the thunder and lightning. Michaela had sent me a text so I gave her a quick call to let her know where I was. I then enjoyed the last of my blueberry loaf before heading out for the final 18km. The rain had eased and there was quite a bit of downhill, I took a bike path called The Hub at the edge of town and met Michaela at Velorution the bike shop. It is a significant place for cross country cyclists who often congregate there as they provide free camping, but on a wet holiday Monday at the beginning of September it was empty!
The Velorution big bike.
Michaela escorted me to her place and after meeting her animals I had a shower and put my clothes in the wash. We had a really nice dinner and spent the evening chatting. She has to work tomorrow but was very happy for me to hang out at her place with Charlie the dog for company.
I remember stopping at Velorution too. That's when some wise person convinced me to put a rear view mirror on my bike :-)
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