Bruce Peninsula

Bruce Peninsula and Bruce Peninsula National Park are a result of the large Niagara Escarpment. A large geological formation that is responible for Manitoulin Island, Bruce Peninsula and more famously Niagara Falls. It is a caprock of hard rock sheltering softer layers of rock commonly creating large cliffs, caves and other phenomenon. In Bruce Peninsula National Park we hiked out to the edge of lake Huron where the escarpment is most noticable. We first hit shore to some beautiful views before heading to the jewel of BPNP, the grotto. Once we found it took us some time before we figured a way to get down into it. It`s pretty spectacular a dark cave leads to a pool of water that glows blue from sunlight that enters through an under water cave. I considered swimming through the underwater cave out into the open waters of Lake Huron but upon entering the freezing, freezing cold water I quickly thought better of it and got out as fast as possible. After the grotto we headed for the high overhanging cliffs about two km away. We walked across the top stopping to check out as many view points and photo opps as possible. At one point I noticed what looked to be a bit of a trail along the bottom of the cliff and with a little convincing had joanna bush wacking her way down to it. It was equally as neat as being above. By the time we were able to find our way back to the main trail dusk was apon us so we headed back for the campsite. We got back about 15min prior to darkness, just enough time to cook the last of our food into delicous dinner number two, side kicks, as we had already had kraft dinner before the hike.

In the morning we slept in a little after a bit of a late night then packed up as quickly as we could and set out in search of some food as we were completely out. Luckily for us we found a hot dog stand on the side of the road only a few km away. Hot dogs never tasted soo good. That day we followed the western shore line of Bruce Peninsula which unlike the rocky cliffside of the east is mainly huge soft sandy beaches for as far as the eye can see. Around four O`clock we rolled into Sauble Beach where we figured we should probably get

some info on campgrounds in the area, we stopped at an internet cafe only to find it was closed. As we were standing there trying to come up with plan B, a woman and her 2 daughters walked by and offered us their wireless network back at home. As the weather got worse and worse, Jeff and Kelly and the kids offered us dinner, and a bed to stay in for the night. Lucky for us, because the rain that night was heavy, and lasted well into the next day. When we finally spotted a break in the rain we packed up and headed out to get groceries and head on. Unfortunatly the break meant only lighter rain, and the winds were still strong and ugly. As we headed to the store we got a message from a friend back home, offering us a place to stay with her mom for the night. Glad to not have to fight the winds and rain we stayed with Bonnie at the Knights Inn, close to the beach. It was fun to visit, and definitely nice not to have to pack up a wet tent for a night.

When the rain calmed down the next day, we started to head out again planning on working our way toward Niagara Falls. This didn`t last long before Luke had some more bike issues, and we decided to head directly to Oakville, where Pavel had offered us a place to stay and we could clean up and fix up our bikes. We stopped at a campground in Durham (about 85km) for the night.

Sault Ste Marie to Manitoulin Island

Leaving the Sault we headed east, and stopped for a picnic lunch in Echo Bay. This is where the

designer of the loonie is from, and so the

town had him build a huge monument. It is next to a series of trails leading through a marshy area where many bird species can be viewed.

After about 70km we arrived in Bruce Mines, where we found a community campground. It was a very cute little town, and home of the worlds largest spider (in the womens washroom) and the worlds largest moth (in the mens washroom). We were lucky enough to hit Ontario during a dry year when bugs were at a minimum, but the rain has been coming, which means the bugs are too.

Along the way we stopped in Thessalon, to admire the shore. 85km the next day took us to Blind River, where we had arranged to stay with Warren and Sandy, through warmshowers.com. This is a website where long distance cyclists can connect, and stay with each other along the way. It was our first time using the site, and we were also the first people Warren and Sandy had stayed with them through the site. They ended up having their kids back at home, and it was pouring rain so we stayed with a friend of theirs in the same town. We were treated with a delicious dinner, and breakfast before we headed out again once

the rain stopped.

Continuing east about 80km, we got to Massey where Warren had recommended a restaurant called the Dragonfly. We had a great pasta dinner, and stayed in a small motel, as the only campground around was almost the same price.

The next morning we took a turnoff in Massey that led to a back road (also a tip from Warren) which made for much nicer cycling than the highway. The road took us to Espanola, where we joined onto the highway heading south to Manitoulin Island. 90km that day took us to Sheguiandah where we stayed at the Green Acres campground. Manitoulin Island is a cute little area, with lots of local arts and crafts, and super friendly people. It makes our trip so much fun when we get to chat with people along the way, and locals are a great source of information on what we have to check out.

In the morning we biked about 50km to South Baymouth on the tip of the Island to catch the Chi Cheemaun over to Bruce Peninsula. On the way we met up with our first cyclist heading our same direction, Pavel, and we made really good time, getting to the ferry terminal at 10am, an hour early. Big mistake on my part, because now that Luke knows we can travel that quickly, he thinks it should be a regular occurrence. We will see about that. The ferry took just under two hours, and we continued cycling on about 30km to Cypress Lake Campground where we set up camp, and then took off for a hike.

Marathon

After about 3,000,000 hills and just before dark we rolled into town, we called uncle Barry and auntie Connie. Got directions through town to their house and they even had pizza waiting for us, made the long day totally worth the effort. The next day we toured town checking out all the sights, Pebbles Beach, the marina and of course Robyn`s Doughnuts. Joanna`s passport arrived after we left Prince George so we had it mailed to Marathon as it turned out it had not yet arrived and being friday it meant that we were going to be visiting until at least monday afternoon. That night we chilled around the fire in the rain eating bbq`d steaks. An after dinner coffee and some other taste drinks made for a good evening and good night. The next day we went out to white lake and had a mini impromptu fishing trip where Joanna caught her first pickerel and pike fish. Sunday Joanna and I went back and did a more extensive tour of Pebbles Beach where Joanna found the `the face rock`. We walked for miles along the rugged beach line on a cool but sunny day. We planned to leave town on tuesday morning after picking up Joanna`s passport but weather delayed our departure, luckily for us Mandy and Dusty offered to give us a ride to the Sault wednesday evening. We arrived late grabbed a hotel room, crashed and awoke to the sun shining and the open road a waiting.

Thanks to Uncle Barry and Auntie Connie for the great hospitality, to Mandy and Dusty for the ride, and to Russel for the boat ride. Great to see everyone after 20+ years.

Thunder Bay to Marathon

Joanna`s cousin Scott met us at 9:30am in Thunder Bay and we proceeded to follow him to his house. After the usual get to someone`s house rituals (laundry and showers) we went out exploring TBay. Got to see Sleepy G (aka the sleeping giant), Terry Fox monument and the Hoito (the Finlandia Club and restaurant), before passing out for a much needed couple of hours of sleep. We picked Scott`s girlfriend Kylie up from work and went out for a delicious TBay dinner at the Prospector where we scored two bags of fresh baked Prospector buns, mmm tasty. We finished the night off with a couple of beverages and a few games.

So after sleeping in and procrastinating for half the morning the Lord of all Catan and his mistress set off headed east.

It was a beautiful ride out, we followed the water rather than the highway, had blue skies and sunshine the whole way. After 75km Scott and Kylie met back up with us and had brought us another delicious dinner, cheese and chili smookies. So we hit up a nearby campsite and built a nice hot fire to cook and enjoy the night. Later that night fireflies put on a show for us and after that we packed it in for the night.

The next day called for rain but we woke up to overcast but dry skies so we packed up and hit the road. Within an hour the weatherman`s predictions came to full fruition and the skies opened up all over us, we were soaked. We stopped for hot soup and to dry out a little along the highway before the rain stopped and we continued on to Nipigon.

Leaving Nipigon we were told we`d see beautiful scenery and lots of hills. With great weather we saw both.

After 60km of going up and back down Joanna`s knee began to hurt a little so 10km later we pulled into the first town, Rossport, and found a beautiful spot to set up camp on the beach with the picturesque Lake Superior only feet away.

Leaving the cute port town of Rossport we climbed up and back down, and up and back down, and up to Schreiber and then back down and up, well you get the point.

Just before Terrace Bay we stopped at Aguasabon canyon for lunch then continued to

roll back down to the waterfront of Terrace Bay on Lake Superior. We had made good time in these first 35km and not wanting to get caught in the rain that was forecasted for the following day and the knowledge of a warm dry bed at my uncle Barry`s in Marathon we decided to try to make the push for another 80km. Through this stretch we learned to really appreciate small gas station convenience stores b/c we seemed to always be running on empty as far a fluids go, and we learned to really hate the following road sign. To motorists it`s a good sign, it implies a passing lane is approaching in two kilometers and it will allow you to pass that transport truck that you have been following or whatever else might be slowing you down, or vice versa all in a safe manner. But as a cyclist it implies only one thing......

a gut wrenching, back breaking, leg burning, relentless, never ending hill that will start in exactly two kilometers, best of luck. Tired and beaten but not defeated we climbed our last hill into the town of

Marathon at around 8pm our toughest day to date. We showered did laundry, ate, tried to visit a little then crashed for bed.

Kenora to Thunder Bay

We planned an early escape out of Kenora b/c the weather network was calling for bad weather to roll in later in the afternoon. I set an alarm for 7am to Joanna's disapproval but to her enjoyment we awoke at 7am to the sound of rain. Surprise, surprise the weather man was a little off again, we rolled back over and fell back asleep. He was right in one respect as the afternoon approached the drizzle from the morning to turned to sheets of rain with massive thunder and lightning. So this day was soon written off as a rest day chilling and hoping for better tomorrow. We spent most of our time under a large sheltered area but at night as we hit the tent it was like someone was hanging around our tent with a strobe light. The clouds looked more like a violent ocean than a sky and the lightning was in any other circumstance spectacular.
Day2, same as day one with the prospect of three more days of rain ahead.
So that evening we walked about 1km to greyhound bought some tickets then prepared to peace outta the rain and kenora. One small detail was that the bus didn't leave until 1:15am so we had 9 hours to waste. We were able to leave our bikes and check on in the greyhound office so we did a walking tour of kenora stopping at various restaurants and Wallmart before finally relaxing at a 24-hour tim hortons right next the depot for the final three hours. With a full bus we got almost no sleep but 7 hours later we arrived dry in Thunder Bay.

Sry no photos not much to look at rain and the greyhound