Day 6: Tramore to Pembroke

60km/37m, 3hrs34mins, 16.7kph/10.3mph, 256m/780ft of climbing.

After (b)logging off last night I had a magical wildlife moment. I was sitting on the riverbank in the campsite, having a glass of wine and just enjoying the silence, when a beaver swam past me, pushing a birch branch before it, not ten feet from the bank. As it drew abreast of my position it looked right at me and dived out of my sight. But the fact that I just stayed where I was presumably persuaded it that I was no threat, because it made two further return trips in full view and in no apparent hurry. Terrific.

Slept for about nine hours - presumably the impact of yesterday's being the longest ride so far. But I was on my way by shortly after 0900, and had only a relatively flat 60km to go to the town of Pembroke, on the Ottawa River and, therefore, at the border between Ontario and Quebec. As predicted, my luck with the weather finally ran out and it rained pretty steadily throughout. And there's more of the same during the next few days. Quel dommage. (as you will see, I am preparing for Francophone Quebec)