August 5
The day started out cool, just 13 degrees , what happened to all the hot humid weather we were told was around for the last month ???, it did end up warming up to 29 but the wind made it feel chilly.
Today was a perfect cycling day for the most part , the first few km were on the main Hwy but then we wet off on a nice quiet country road which weaved it way through some nice productive farm land , the quality of the road was not the greatest , but I’d trade bumps for truck traffic any day. We actually rode slowly just enjoying the peace and quiet, and we were able to have conversations without the roar of trucks interrupting them.
The quiet road came to an end as we turned onto number 6 to head onto Manitoulan Island , but before that the important morning stop , this time at the Tim Horton’s , I think today all 40 of us were in the store at the same time , at least it seemed that way.
From there we were off on the roller coster of hills that went on for the next 70 km , good road with good shoulders and a tail wind made it just perfect to play on the road, up and down we went just flying care free like kids on a bike , the scenery just beautiful a mix of rock trees and lakes kept the eye busy , I would stop to take a picture and then have to pedal like the devil to catch up, something that repeated it self quite often.
We stopped about half way through on a nice small lake and downed our peanut butter sandwiches , as I was about to leave my tupperware container went flying into the water and of course started to drift to the opposite side, lot of joking went on and then luckily Kelly hiked over and retrieved it for me.
Next stop the swing bridge in Little Current , it was open when we got there so it gave us a chance to take lots of pictures and once on the other side we all stopped for Ice cream, two scoops !!! real good stuff !!!
After Little Current the wind gods abandoned us and we had to pedal into a good head wind , gradually the hills despaired as the road got rougher , but we still managed to get into camp early ( around 4 ). Once again we spotted Sandhill Cranes today , first on the quiet sideroad we were on in the morning and then just before getting into camp, both times in a field and not to concerned with us, it’s amazing how many of them we have seen in the last few days.
Years ago when I was just 20 I cycled this island but in reverse and by my self , my recollection of that ride was of very narrow roads with no shoulders and of being somewhat lonely , but the scenery is just as magnificent now as it was then and I can not say I am lonely this time, there is just no time for that !!!
Tomorrow I am back in Southern Ontario and soon I’ll be home for a visit , can hardly wait !!!!
Total ridden today: 132.3 - Average speed : 23.3 - Ridding time: 5.40
Lunch
The swing bridge open
The bridge almost closed
Sandhill Cranes again !!!
The lake from camp
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