Father's Day, June 20

Hello from Wawa. Wonderful weather today, 5 degrees at 0530 start and peaked at 23 ing at 50 kph the bright sunshine, with a steady 15 kph wind. Good day to cycle, our plan was to start at 0400 but not enough light until about 0530. This is a surprise as I thought at this time of year we should have about 18 hours of good light a day. All this means riding throught the heat and later in the day. Today 9.8 hours in the sdle, covering 231 km, average speed 25.2 kph, maximum speed 56 km, and climbed 2100 meters. More climbing than most days in the Rookies. Highway 17 around Lake Superior is truly a delight, most has adequate shoulders, if not ideal as in the west. The road twists and turns and offers spectacular vistas every few km. The ups are demanding and keep the engine warm, the descents are fun, more gradual than in the Rockies, with good run outs and the curves are easily manageable. Descending at 50 kph tucked into an aerodynamic position and watching for pavement changes is great but when the big boys blow past the air pressure is enough to cause a wobble that could easily spell disaster. These roads usually have guard posts along the edge with 3 strands of steel cable designed to stop cars. Make an error and hit that with a bike and the bike stops and you are lanuched to land some 30-100 meters in the gully below. Easy to concentrate in these circumstances.
Felow travellers today included 3 cyclists, all heavily laden , 1 going west and 2 east. Also 1 teenager on a skateboard who was going at least 20 km plus. Unfortunately no opportunity to get their stories.
Several turkey hawks and little other wildlife. Hesitate to say this but the insects have not been a factor to date.
All communities along 17 are small allowing everyone to know everyone. People take a great interest in visitors, they stop and offer help, and are always encouraging, "the hill around the bend is real dandy, yup I reckon you'll need a pull up that one" No one seems to know how far it is to the next community, perhaps reflecting on how contented they are at home. Hunting and fishing lodges abound. Lakes are sparsley populated, if at all and are pristine in appearance at least.
Cellular availability has been very spotty for 4 days, meaning that families are as well informed as last week. Fathers Day is passing without either family being able to connect. All the more reason to celebrate later. Thank you guys for letting us take this time.
Canada is amazing, during our journey we have experienced snow, rain and temperature from 0-27 degrees, we have travelled roads where neighbors are 50 km away, we4 have seen spectacular oceans, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, prairies, etc. We have talked to hundreds of people and have yet to be disappointed. We are now over half way and are able to recommend this holiday to you all. Do it on your bike or your skateboard or car but go bvia the secondary roads and tiny hamlets, people here have more time to share and stories to tell. Each day is a series of new adventures, small and large joys and the opportunity to put a smile on a face or two. Imagine the stories that are being told about these crazy men dressed like Tour de France racers and biking out here where only the deer flies care how fast they are going. "and you know one is so old he'll attract the vultures"
Tomorrow is another high volume day heading intl Sault St Marie, looking forward to mile high hill.
Daily quiz: how do you calculate the gearing ratio on a bicycle? If the Lord's willing and the creek don"t rise see you all again. RRM