This blogging stuff is way harder in an iPhone than it is on a Surface.
Day 2 is one that I hope not to repeat on this trip. The weather forecast is for rain overnight tonight, continuing into Saturday 7/21. I modified the original plan to accommodate the rain prediction. At the time it seemed like a good idea. Rather than 40 miles to Agatha Bay on Friday and then 50 miles to Wawa in the rain in Saturday I’ll just do the whole thing in one day.
So... I start out on a beautiful morning that quickly steams into the 80’s. Up north is not supposed to be this hot or this humid. The gentle hills also turn into killer mountains that strain every inch of gluts and quads. In all a 4,000 ft elevation gain. Several of these “hills” were at grades that forced me into hiking mode. My Apple Watch says that I covered 35, a 000 steps totaling 17 miles - uphill. The day’smileage total was 92.
Most of the Ontario Provincial Park is undeveloped. No food, no gas, no hotels, and no stores. A protein bar and a Gu energy pouch including caffeine is my breakfast. The only hope for water is at one of the two campgrounds along this stretch of scenic highway. A stop at the first campground gains a refill of chilled water in the visitors center, plus about a quart consumed on the premises. When I reach the second campground at mile 70 I’m out of water and reallyparched. A tag on the faucet says that you drink this at your own risk so I dutifully treat it with purification tablets. The downside of that is a 30 minute wait for purification to make it safe. So, 20 miles to go and a half hour more of being thirsty on this incredibly sweaty day.
Arriving in Wawa after 14 hours on the bike, my travel agent (Nina) suggests that she book a hotel room. A few minutes later I’m told that there are none available in Wawa. Friday night is popular in this town so she finds one about 10 miles north. I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but I don’t have any more to give and so I ask her to do another search. As luck would have it, There is one last available room two miles back and I breath a sigh of relief for the downhill ride.
You know you’re in Canada when:
Day 2 is one that I hope not to repeat on this trip. The weather forecast is for rain overnight tonight, continuing into Saturday 7/21. I modified the original plan to accommodate the rain prediction. At the time it seemed like a good idea. Rather than 40 miles to Agatha Bay on Friday and then 50 miles to Wawa in the rain in Saturday I’ll just do the whole thing in one day.
So... I start out on a beautiful morning that quickly steams into the 80’s. Up north is not supposed to be this hot or this humid. The gentle hills also turn into killer mountains that strain every inch of gluts and quads. In all a 4,000 ft elevation gain. Several of these “hills” were at grades that forced me into hiking mode. My Apple Watch says that I covered 35, a 000 steps totaling 17 miles - uphill. The day’smileage total was 92.
Most of the Ontario Provincial Park is undeveloped. No food, no gas, no hotels, and no stores. A protein bar and a Gu energy pouch including caffeine is my breakfast. The only hope for water is at one of the two campgrounds along this stretch of scenic highway. A stop at the first campground gains a refill of chilled water in the visitors center, plus about a quart consumed on the premises. When I reach the second campground at mile 70 I’m out of water and reallyparched. A tag on the faucet says that you drink this at your own risk so I dutifully treat it with purification tablets. The downside of that is a 30 minute wait for purification to make it safe. So, 20 miles to go and a half hour more of being thirsty on this incredibly sweaty day.
Arriving in Wawa after 14 hours on the bike, my travel agent (Nina) suggests that she book a hotel room. A few minutes later I’m told that there are none available in Wawa. Friday night is popular in this town so she finds one about 10 miles north. I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but I don’t have any more to give and so I ask her to do another search. As luck would have it, There is one last available room two miles back and I breath a sigh of relief for the downhill ride.
You know you’re in Canada when:
Post Script:
My golf buddy (and physician) Tom tipped me off.that leg cramps can be treated with quinine which is found in tonic water. I’ve never had a leg cramp in my life, but I’m a firm believer in preventative medicine so a days ending gin & tonic seems appropriate.
You have a new Groupie! You’re an awesome writer and it’s easy to imagine your experiences. We root for you to complete your journey safely and with triumph. Stop drinking G&Ts and send that next update darn it!!
ReplyDeleteSally, G&T's are an essential part of this experience!! Would you rather I have leg cramps? Malaria?
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