3 days of riding included here
As yesterday ended the day began with more hills but smaller in scale and our drafting was getting better so we made good time. We stopped in Batchawana Bay for breakfast which has a beautiful downhill heading south into the little town looking over its sandy beach. We had a fabulous breakfast in the Voyageur restaurant before moving on. There a lots of little beautiful homes here for sale right on the lake shore for those looking for a nice property.
The road was pretty decent today with a lot more pull out sections where we would switch our drafting order from time to time. We made really good progress and took a break just before the last hill before Sault Ste. Marie known as “the wall” from people we talked to. We were at a general store eating and resting before the hill. A gentleman there who had worked on building the old Vancouver sky train cars told us that the hill was very hard and that some cyclists had to walk their bikes up. In not so many words I told him that was unlikely since I would rather ride back to Vancouver than walk my bike up – me stubborn no?
The hill was definitely steep but it wasn’t that long and I have done much harder. I guess for the area it could be considered big but nothing compared to BC or Tibet. We rode into “the Soo” and actually got cell phone service after 700 kilometers or so. Great job Bell Canada!
We briefly went by a bicycle shop where they offered free showers and campground to cyclists before riding with the girls to near the border. We said our goodbyes as they were entering the U.S. to stay with an Aunt of Kate’s. I already had accomodation and no passport so I bid them farewell. It was really great to ride with them as they are quite capable cyclists and good company on the stops. I do prefer to travel solo but I have to say this was the exception and they helped me get through so tough stretches of road.
My contact in “the Soo” was Al and Danielle who are parents of one of my sister Sherry’s friends. I spoke with Al and he came to pick me up literally. We packed my bicycle into his car and drove to his place but not before driving an extra distance to show me how to get back on the highway tomorrow and avoid traffic.
Al was determined to be a good host and made sure I had plenty of beer while he Barbequed some steaks and potatoes for us. We had an awesome dinner and talked a little bit about “the Soo”. All had actually worked in Wawa for a long time before relocating in Sault Ste. Marie while working for the steel company. He is retired now which is well deserved. We watched a little TV together but it was long before I started getting sleepy and had to call it a night. Back to civilization!