68km/42m, 4hrs24mins, 15.4kph/9.6mph, 398m/1294ft of climbing.
The weather gets better and better. 22C and glorious sunshine. I know it can't last, of course, and in fact rain is forecast for Sunday, but it's nice to have started in such benign conditions. Makes me optimistic.
Today felt more like the Canada I had imagined, riding through birch and pine forests virtually throughout. It felt hillier, too - though this was clearly my imagination as the garmin says I climbed less than on either of the previous days. Some beautiful scenery, not least in the
Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park an entrance to which is just across the road from my B&B. I had intended to ride right across the park but was forced to skirt most of it because there is no road that goes from one side to the other. I could have risked riding a hiking trail, but it would have made it a very slow and tough day even if I'd managed to avoid getting stuck.
Two striking examples of Canadian hospitality today. This morning I stopped at a "trading post" in the hope of buying a coffee. They didn't sell food and drink - hunting gear and fishing licences was their game - but the nice ladies who ran it simply made me a coffee anyway. No charge. Then this evening my hosts at the Creekside Inn B&B, Brian and Maureen, advised me that there was nowhere decent to eat in Apsley and invited me to dinner with their family. No charge.
Tomorrow a relatively short ride to Bancroft and my first night camping.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Chas,
Well done you! This sounds brilliant. The great outdoors. I suspect it's like so many things - you know what it's going to be like in general terms from photographs, maps and accounts, but the reality of being there provides an utterly different dimension and blows you away. Really good that you are encountering this level of friendliness and generosity. I didn't think you wouldn't, but heart-warming nonetheless.
Keep on smiling.
R&C
Post a Comment