320 miles
Total around the world bicycle miles 24,692 (39,738 km)
August 17, 2016
We left Hagar under dark stormy skies and were soon in the rain once again. Our goal for the day was a warmshowers host in North Bay and it was a struggle with the hard rain and increasing traffic. There are lots of fish and chip stands through this area of Ontario so we stopped at one for a delicious lunch of pickerel fish also known as the southern pike. It seems that some people also call it a walleye. It is very delicious as we enjoyed our lunch in the pouring rain under a table umbrella.
We arrived in North Bay and were immediately welcomed by Shannon who spent many years backpacking and working around the world. Our bikes went into her garage, we had warm shower since we were very chilled, put our wet clothes in the washer and sat down with delicious snacks along with hot tea. She also let us use her car and we drove to the local LCBO for a beer run. When we returned she had a huge spaghetti dinner ready for us. We relaxed in the evening then retired early. The next morning Shannon had a delicious breakfast for us then we were back on the road.
The weather started clear but within a few hours we donned our rain gear as we continued cycling in the hills towards Ottawa. After another long wet day, we were hoping to camp but came upon a fishing and hunting lodge on Antler Lake with cabins. So we settled into one for the night. Shannon had packed us with the leftover spaghetti so we heated that up for dinner. Thanks for everything Shannon!
August 20, 2016
The next morning was clear and sunny and we had a nice ride to another warmshowers host in Deep River. Michael and Danielle have lived in this really cool cordwood masonry house where the walls are made out of lengths wood held together with a type of concrete. The walls are very unique and thick which provides for excellent insulation during the winter and keeping the interior cool during the summer. They had a delicious meal ready for us along with quite an assortment of beer which we sampled. After dinner Michael briefed Jocelyn on the side roads to Ottawa paralleling the Trans-Canadian Highway 17 that is so busy. They have cycle toured throughout Canada, The northern U.S. along with Ireland and England. Michael also explained the many bike paths to and around Ottawa.
After a nice sleep in their basement we were sent off after a delicious, naan, spinach and egg dish. We quickly were off the 17 and rode to Ottawa on old farming roads where we surprisingly found the Whitewater Brewing Company out in the middle of nowhere. Michael and Danielle had told us about the brewery and restaurant so we enjoyed a delicious pizza along with two pints of their fine beer. This fueled us another 45 km until a KOA Campground that Jocelyn had set on her map. It was another long day on our bikes and since sunset was soon we ordered wings and salad from a local pizza place. This was delivered at our campsite at dark and after eating it was tent time with our Kindles.
This next day it was off and on rain as we cycled to another host in Ottawa. Back in Banff near Calgary we had met a working couple who took a one-year sabbatical and took their two kids (9 and 12) out of school to cycle tour many parts of the world (https://bikingwithkidsadventure.wordpress.com/). What a great education! After another long day Kathleen greeted us into their Ottawa home. Husband Derick, Anna and Jasper were spending a week away at a cottage. Kathleen welcomed us and we were so excited to see her smiling face again. It turns out it was her birthday and many friends came over to help celebrate. After a great meal we all walked to a local park to watch a concert from the very popular Canadian group “The Tragically Hip”. This concert was being held in a stadium south of here and the park was getting a live feed from that on a huge screen. There were hundreds of people spending a Saturday night in the park. It was a very fun evening.
August 21, 2016
Sunday morning Kathleen guided us about an hour across the Ottawa River to Gatineau, Quebec where we met our cycling friends Nick and Virginia. We first met them in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in 2014 at a warmshowers host where many people camped in the host’s courtyard before tackling the Pamir Mountains on the way to Kyrgyzstan. We rode part of the way with them then split ways while they rode the Pamir Mountain Highway and we took the Wakhan Valley route. We then met up with them after the two routes met and again in Kyrgyzstan where we were waiting for our China visas and they were waiting for the China border to open as it was closed due to a one-week Chinese holiday. In Vietnam they were in the south and us in the northern mountains. We will stay with Nick and Virginia for a few days before continuing east.
We have met so many people all around the world and it is really special to reconnect with them in their homes.
