Today was an absolutely crazy day. It started out normally enough however. I ate and packed and conversed with a neighbouring camper before hitting the road by 7. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning, and I cruised up and down the hills of the secondary road, bound for the Trans Canada Highway once more. I could not be happier, and I grinned as I passed by beautiful lakes in the cool morning air.
Once I was back on the Trans Canada, it was only a few kilometres before I crossed into Ontario at long last! The road wound through lake country, up and down countless hills, and around equally numerous bends, trees and lakes on all sides. Absolutely beautiful scenery. Waiting for this is what kept me going on the prairies. After about 60 KM, I reached the picturesque lakeside town of Kenora. This was originally supposed to be my stop for the day, but it was only 11, and I was so happy with today's riding that I wanted to continue. I popped into a local grocer for some food, and was surprised to find packaged versions of Thunder Bay's famous Persain cinnamon buns. I have been anxiously awaiting these for some time now. Now, these ones werent fresh, and the store keep said the real deal has way more frosting, but they were pretty fantastic. I look forward to the real thing; I LOVE frosting. I continued on my way out of Kenora, satisfied and ready for more cycling.
I continued on my merry stroll through lake country, barreling up and down hills with great enthusiasm. It seems that fighting the winds in the prairies has prepared me well for endless hills, but I need to make sure I dont overdo it; its a long way to Toronto. Around 2 PM I checked the blog of those chairity riders I met a while back, and saw they were in Vermillion Bay, roughly 60 KM away. It was a little farther than I felt like going, but I really wanted to meet up with them, so I pushed myself to continue on to Vermillion Bay in the afternoon heat. I felt a little heat fatigued, but I was holding up great. Ive been drinking a lot more water, and I will have to be vigilant about keeping it replenished, and taking breaks in the shade like I have today.
I finally reached Vermillion Bay around supper time, ready for a chance to relax and chat, but I couldnt find or get a hold of them, which disappointed me. Most of the accomodations in the area were lodges which were way off the main highway, so it took me until well past town to find a camp near the road. When I pulled in the owner wanted 30$ for a terrible site with no services, so I turned him down and was forced to continue down the highway.
My phone said there was another camp 10 KM away, so I resigned myself to another weary 10 KM, only it never appeared. I got farther and farther down the road with no campgrounds to be found, so finally I just decided to go right to Dryden, another 30 KM away. I was exhausted, but I made it all the way there over many more hills, and after a snack run, I pulled into a far superior camp for the night ready to make a feast and then collapse.
I rode a staggering 210 KM today, up and down countless hills! I am quite impressed with myself. *pat* *pat*.
On a cheesy note, I wanted to share some thoughts I had about something a man I had talked to back in Caddy Lake said. He said he was envious of me because having grown up on a farm in Mabitoba, he couldnt afford to dream about big things like this when he was young. I am of a split mind on this one. On one hand I cant help but feel sad for him. Dreams are a critical part of who I am, and they are a major driving force for me. I cant imagine a life where I couldnt dream of grand adventures outside my everyday life, and within it too. On the other hand, I completely reject his assertation of not being afforded the luxury of dreams. I am a firm believer that we are all masters of our own destinies, and that we have the power to choose how we live our life. Sure it might have been harder for him granted his situation, but the power to achieve change was always there. And even if he falls short, he always has the freedom to dream wild and impossible things. Cheesy, I know, but you were warned.
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