Day 38 – Wellington (Prince Edward County), Ontario (Saturday, June 13, 2015)

After breakfast I left Quito Inn and took a route along a well maintained, paved trail following a river which wound it’s way south toward the lake.  It would have put anything in Kitchener around the Grand to shame. Perhaps I was too hasty in judging Oshawa’s treatment of the bicycle.

The trail eventually follows the shore of the lake and leads to Darlington Provincial Park. (This would be a good destination for future rides if they allow overnight camping.) Not far from the park I came to the outskirts of Clarington and the massive Darlington Nuclear Power Station (supplies about 20% of Ontario’s electrical power.).

The eastern border of the Darlington plant the road was fenced preventing entry into the adjacent St Mary’s Cement plant which was equally impressive. (I have to look up why large cement plants are often located next electrical power plants.).   This was one of the few times on my trip that I was forced to retrace my progress for nearly 2km and follow an 6km alternate route.

Throughout the day I was never far from the lake travelling through a number of quaint towns via trails and roads with generally good shoulders and marked bicycle routes.  I had lunch at a small deli that served a good tuna panini in or close to Port Hope. I traveled through Colbourg where they had cordoned off the downtown for a street market.

I arrived in Prince Edward County (PEC) about 5pm and got something to eat at Emm’s restaurant just outside of Consecon along Loyalist’s Parkway.    My plan indicated a trail which wound through PEC but it appeared to be rough, wet from the recent rain, and poorly maintained.

What is unique about PEC is that the main road through the county is the Loyalist Parkway and the traffic, especially before the summer, is very light and is essentially used only for tourists and PEC residents.  The road has perfect shoulders, light traffic and the community is receptive to bicycles.  Perhaps it helps that the ferry to the east is the only route to Kingston and beyond forcing trucks and cars travelling between cities to find more direct highways.

Needless to say it made no sense for me to take difficult trails when the roads were ideal.  So I biked 20km further than I intended and stayed in a B+B in Wellington called Magnolia Meadows. Before closing out the day I had a milk shake and a chicken salad at the adjacent Dari Bar and Grill.

Day 37 – Oshawa, Ontario (Friday, June 12, 2015)

A number of things didn’t work out today.

1. My breakfasts and all my mixed nuts (3 pounds) were eaten by a raccoon. They had carefully un-buckled my  front pannier which is not so easily done.
2. It started to rain when I was packing up after my tent was down.
3. I lost one of my water bottles.
4. I had to take immodium for the very first time on the trip.
5. It rained.
6. The rides through the city were especially unpleasant with heavy traffic.

And… it was one of the most enjoyable days on the trip.

There are waterfront trails running from Oakville all the way to Pickering that are about the best bicycle riding that I have seen anywhere.   Each of the cities (Oakville, Mississauga, Port Credit, Toronto, Pickering)  have done a great job with their trails. In almost every case they are paved with a center line.

I met Lois for lunch at 11:30am at one of the beaches by Leuty Street. After the beaches the route took me through part of the city before the trail picked up again.    Although ride trails is slower and you have to give more attention to the route, the beauty and the frequent curves make the time passes quickly.

After a while on a trail for a while I stopped to take stock of my surroundings and was surprise to find myself at Frenchman’s bay beside Auntie Ida’s cottage. The panorama of the bay was taken from that vantage point.

I was reminded again how close the bay is to Pickering Nuclear Power Station.   Somehow, as big as it is, it remains hidden from view from the bay.

Because it was overcast and raining all day it kept the ambiance of an early dewy morning even into the late afternoon. Even the birds seemed tricked. It made riding tranquil.

The approach to Oshawa was not pleasant. I rode past the Oshawa assembly plant at a shift change.   There were no provisions for bicycles either on the roads or in people’s minds.

I stayed at the Quinto Inn in downtown Oshawa.

Day 36 – Mississauga, Ontario (Thursday, June 11, 2015)

I had a lazy morning. I got up late compared to other biking days. I made breakfast at a leisurely pace and went about replenishing my food supplies, and did a few things with my bike (replaced the pedals which I started to suspect were wearing and topped up the tires).

Ann, Michelle and I biked together for about 8 km to a point a little beyond the Butterfly Conservatory.

The route took me through quiet interesting trails in Guelph. It was nice to be off the road for a change even though it was much slower.

I had a good wind today and arrived at Bronte Provincial Park in good time in spite of the late start. It was good it was only 75 km today. I am not really in the rhythm yet.

Route through Guelph.

I spent time in Kitchener and Toronto between late Friday, June 5th and Thursday morning, June 11th with family. I saw Ann and all the kids, visited Dad, Lois and John in Toronto.

Day 34 – Wiarton, Ontario (Thursday, June 4, 2015)

I started out from Little Current at 6:19am to be sure that I could get through Manitoulin Island and made the ferry at 11:10am from South Baymouth.

I had a beautiful ride.    Perhaps the best ride of the whole trip so far.   Manitoulin is quite flat.  I had always thought the beauty of the terrain was sub-par compared the outcrops of the Canadian Shield but the during the serene morning ride everything looked just about perfect.

When I arrived at South Baymouth I had time for a serious, French toast breakfast at about 9:50am.

I had a bit of lunch on the ferry – fresh fruit and a muffin and I had supper at Irish Pub in Wiarton – yet another local recommendation.

I stayed at the Waterview Inn in Wiarton which was recommended by the proprietor at Irish Pub.  I was unhappy with room #11 which smelled like a rodent.   To be fair the owners had done quite a bit of work upgrading the Inn.  It is likely an unfortunate issue that will be rectified.

Day 33 – Little Current, Ontario (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)

I had breakfast along the way, had a late lunch in Espanola, and settled at Anchor Inn in Little current.    Anchor Inn was recommended as the best restaurant in Little Current by a girl at the ice cream place at the north end of the town.

Anchor Inn had pretty good food and was well maintained by I did not have a good sleep because of soft sound of running water that even my ear plugs couldn’t stop.

Little Current was much nicer than I had remembered it from previous visits.  The town and the marina were all well maintained making it a good place for visitors.

Day 32 – Blind River, Ontario (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)

Had lunch in Thessolan at Subway.

Good ride.  Relatively good wind.

I wanted to stay at a place called McIvers but I didn’t have it plugged in correctly in my GPS.   I ignored my rule about asking people when I entered the town and ending up driving right through.   I ended up staying at another place that did the job but I was disappointed.

Itching to get home.  Little time to write.

View of Lake Huron from a restaurant near Thessalon.

Someone with a love for bicycles.

Lake Huron looking south.

Day 31 – Sault Ste Marie, Ontario (Monday,  June 1, 2015)

Felt good in the morning. Made good pace in spite of the ~10 mile/hour head wind.

Stopped a nice restaurant just east of McMillan for breakfast. Chatted with a guy named Brad from McMillan on his bicycle who had ridden to get some pastry.

Had a conversation with another couple who had connections in Ontario and visit Stratford regularly. I recommended Niagra on the Lake as an alternative.

I had lunch in Newberry only 6 miles after the restaurant I had breakfast at.   Apparently that was the last significant stop before Sault Ste Marie (40 more miles) so I had to take advantage of it.

I reached Interstate 75 about 5:30pm and headed North. Late but ok given the late start and doddling. I stopped at a road side rest area for my usual water and stuff. As I was leaving I was greeted by a state trooper then he told me I was reported by someone. I couldn’t ride on the interstate. So I was escorted  2 1/2 miles to the exit.  I would have liked to point out that the cities are much more dangerous than the interstate but no one would have listened.

I managed to cross over the bridge into Sault Ste Marie, Ontario without mishap and am now staying in yet another hotel for the night.   It was too late to look for camping spots so close the city.

I was happy to be in Ontario.

Day 30 – Seney, Michigan (Sunday, May 31, 2015)

Hard day. Didn’t feel like getting going.

I had breakfast in the Perkins restaurant and set off against a tough North by North Eastern cross wind bringing cold air in from the lake.

At a rest stop not far from Marquette I met a “serious” cyclist on a time trial bike.  He was on his way to Munising and back for a four hour workout.  We both complained about the cross wind but it didn’t do any good.  At the same stop I met another fellow who was planning a trip across North Dakota.

The wind made the trip tough and I made Munising for a late lunch and met a man who owned a bike shop in Esanola (south somewhere).  There were certainly a lot of cyclists in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

After Munising the highway runs further from the lake and the wind subsided.   I originally wanted to make Singleton but I felt fine at Singleton and in good time so I kept going to Seney.

Given the tough morning I was happy to have made Seney by the late afternoon.  As I entered Seney I met some ladies at a general store all bundled up and asked about a restaurant they could recommend.  They mentioned a bar/restaurant down the road and a campsite (they couldn’t recommend the restaurant because they doing go to bars).   I went to the bar/restaurant and stayed at an old motel with a nice room in the rear.

Ralph taking a rest.

View of Lake Superior from the rest stop just east of Marquette.

Sand dunes beside the road to Munising.