6 September - Best day east of the Rockies

Tobermory to Meaford 154km (5227km total).

The day started well as I had a wind assisted ride south down the Bruce Peninsula. After the crappy weather and wind of the last week things were looking up, the wind was blowing the cloud ahead of me and I enjoyed blue skies and sun. The first 45km of the day literally flew by, there is no better feeling than riding with the wind at your back but I have had precious few days of this luxury during my trip.

I stopped at a visitor info centre at Ferndale and a very helpful lady suggested some places to visit and less busy roads. I headed off to Lions Head and found a beautiful little town with a beach, lighthouse and vibrant Farmers market so I stopped and had a pulled lamb sandwich and listened to some brilliant local musicians. 

Lions Head Beach and Marina.

Lions Head Lighthouse.

Then I took County Rd 9 south, dipping down a dirt road to see Hope Bay and stopping at Colpoys Bay. At Colpoys Bay the lady had told me there was a 'massive' hill and so she had given me detailed directions to avoid it. Unfortunately the detour ended up on a gravel road and some guys on ATV's even stopped to ask if I was lost!! I couldn't help but feel the massive hill might not have been so bad!! I could definitely see myself coming back to the Bruce Peninsula with a car and maybe a kayak!! The water of Georgian Bay is so blue and the Bruce Trail runs along the rugged coastline. 

Hope Bay.

I stopped in Wiarton to look for their most famous resident, Willie an albino groundhog who is "Canada's foremost weather prognosticator". Unfortunately he was sleeping soundly in his burrow. He seems to have a pretty cushy job, only working once a year on February 2nd (Groundhog Day).

Statue of Wiarton Willie.

I again took back roads down to Owen Sound where I stopped for something to eat. It was getting late in the day but Blair had invited me to stay at his parents place in Meaford and I knew they were not going to be home until 7pm. There were a few climbs on the road out of Owen Sound and then a beautiful view of Georgian Bay and glorious 10km descent into town where I arrived just as they were getting back into town. His parents have a beautiful place in Meaford with lots of original wooden floors and bay windows. It felt very British and reminded me of a grand old Edwardian house. Blair had got there a day before me, his Mum hadn't even known he was coming and neither knew he was cycling from BC!! We had a rather late night chatting over cheese and crackers with tea.