Day 18, Rest

hello from Thunder Bay. We are shocked by the tragic news from Perth. It makes all of this seem even more trival than it did prior to these devasting events. Our support to everyone affected.
Today started 1 hour too early as I hoped we could be biking by 0430 and it was too dark until 0530. A quick way to decrease your stock. Rain and light winds and 14 degrees. Rain cleared almost immediately, the winds freshened and by mid morning, wait for it, they were over our shoulder!We left hwy #17 to 102 into Thunder Bay. This was the fastest spin of the trip. Wind almost fully in our back, and with2 excptions it was largely evel or downhil. One thriling long, curved downhill run with somewhat uneven pavement meant we were on the binders to keep the speed below 60 kph. We arrived and checked into the landmark Hotel by noon, after a 125 km rest day. Later we wil explore the city.
Yesterday was a different story with our nemsis blowing directly in our faces all day. A 195 km run took almost 8 hours in the saddle and many rest stops to complete. The imfo we worked with suggested that Hwy 17 would be poor for biking. That was not our experience. The pavement was good to excellent, the travel lanes were wide, and much had good, paved shoulders. The drivers were very helpful. The truckers in particular were helpful. The driver of a Same Day rig who slowed to give me space rather than dust bye me too close for comfort, Thanks.
Our pland for Hwy 11 were changed when we learned of 25 km of major construction that cars were having problems with. After leaving Dryden early as usual, we passed through Wabigoon, great name , then breakfast in Ignace at Subway, great fresh bread but the local gardiner was not pleased with us. We have developed the habit of parking our bikes in the window outside the restaurant because we don't lock them. At the Subway there was a garden bed with a few plants and these wre chocked by the weeds. Evidently we were wrong, and parking here drew his ire.
Back on the road it was now getting hot and a 1500 calories later we were in English River for lunch at a hunting lodge like restaurant.Great meal but even better stories, including a moose raised by a local and as a full grown adult was harnessed and used to pull loge from the woods. Also great fishing trophies on the walls.
Upsala was our goal for the day. A long hot grind. Our tip, the Schell station there serves fresh, home cooked meals and wonderful desserts. It is also the bus terminal, and we meet many locals folk, including 5 "plain " folk.A great place to spend a few hours. Ther are about 300 people in the winter and 2000 in summer, the 8 resorts provide all the employment.
The next 5 days are all very high volume days, perhaps to high, and may be modified. Today we are on schedule, but a plan developed at the kitchen table in Feb. is about to crash into a wall of reality, tiring muscles , sore backs and shoulders and saddle sores.
Why Jump Start? Valerie and Tom wanted to use the trip to some extra purpose. My idea was to go for ride and see how it turns out and have some fun on the way. Really nothing of interest to nyone, and certainly not to be shared beyond our families. Based on this approach we thought a program that was aimed at helping others have fun was appropriate. Having fun is something I talk to people about and the converstion can be very revealing. The importance of having fun has been impressed upon me by a wonderful couple, Bill and Marion. Marion was an invalid at home and stil she insisted that Bill take some time for himself to have fun. So he took up horse back riding at 80 plusand is going strong at 99.75 years. A lesson not to be forgotten. Jump Start is designed to provide for children so they can participate in sport, one route to fun, and consistent with our personal approach.
We are having fun, most of the time, doing something as simple as pedaling down the road and chatting with people, enjoying the scenery, and the challenge of alwys more asphalt ahead. Most of you will have more elaborate plans. Go for it!Just Giv'er! RRM