Kenora to Thunder Bay

Kenora to Thunder Bay

Kenora to Caliper Lake 129 km

Rest days are always super busy...did manage to get a trailer load of kayaks down to campsite for an evening paddle to a restaurant. 9 of us in total and the way back was moon lit complete with bats and a storm cloud following us. what a great view of Kenora from the water, Cool city! Still lots of shield country to Pedal through, I don't think we would get sick of it. always seems interesting with Blueberries, VERY interesting plants (see picture), lakes, rock outcrops, interesting towns and restaurants, and the road is full of curves and hills. Had my 4th flat. Traffic has been light which is a good thing as most times there are no shoulders. Part of the daily fun on this trip is the stops we make at cafes or pubs. Usually a few riders 'pile up' there and you can guarantee an hour of laughs. Caliper lake Had a great beach so we opted for a swim instead of a shower. The Mosquitoes at our tents were the worst yet, especially for the folks that were not used to them. Only refuge was the beach and the tents. The upside was mushrooms were all over the place so me and Jude went-a-pickin'. Judy is the ultimate finder of things, and came back with a bag full. The best prizes were the Chanterelles and the King Boletes! Several times on this tour so far I have collected a few plants, and on this day mushrooms and laid them out for nature lesson / show and tell, which seemed to go over well. We saved the mystery plant for last!! It was still very humid and hot at bed time but that make for some 'nice viewing' as when I crawled in Judy was laying on top of her sleeping bag in her under ware. In the morning I diced, washed and fried the mushrooms for breakfast with some onions...I think I ate most of them!

Caliper Lake to Taylor's Cove 138 km

Judy seems to spot a lot of critters...others on the tour wonder how we always manage to see so much. On the way out of our campsite a fox crossed the road in front of us, then further down the road we Judy again spots some sandhills cranes way off in a field. Too far for a good camera shot. 58 kms later the 'standard' 2nd breakfast in Emo, and then off to Fort Francis for a skip across the boarder to visit a coffee shop in International Falls, Minnesota for an iced coffee. Amazing long bridge across Rainy Lake on a long cause way. Made multiple long stops, and somehow we still arrived at camp fairly early. 5 star rating by our standards: 1) right on a swim-able beach,
2) restroom close by, 3)lots of space to spread our usually clumped together tents, 4) No mosquitoes, and 5) one of the better suppers of chili and salad! The whole site is booked for Tour du Canada, we have it to ourselves. Mark is playing a guitar on the dock with a few of the younger crowd there too.
Judy - "sitting on a towel, trying to even out our cycling tan, just livin' and lovin' it!"

Taylor's Cove to Quetico 161 km

Hilly day with few amenities along the way. Good day to do some PAIN TRAINS.
That is where you take turns pulling to allow the person behind you to get a bit of a free ride by drafting. Although if the person in the front is pulling too hard (judy) the poor SOB in the back (kelly) does not get very much of a break...
Canada shares Quetico park with the states, and t is one of the largest international parks in the world. Mega canoe opportunities. Some of the communities are very 'canoe' oriented to say the least. Our camp again was Mushroom heaven and Mosquito hell. Me and Jude were 1st to camp, made it by 2pm ahead of the truck. Our turn for supper duty...We wowed em with a little something our master chef whipped up (Bill) with a Banana Foster Flambe'...a little number done with bananas fried in a butter and brown sugar sauce lit up with some rum and served with ice-cream! Saw a large Snake (have to look it up yet) slither off the trail, just then I saw what it was after...a small mouse gave me a quick thank you and then scurried off the other direction. Combination of a long day coming up and the bugs driving us to our tents, it was early to bed.

Quetico to Thunder Bay 171 km

Nans birthday, she turned retirement age! So we started her day off right with Toast and eggs over-easy instead of porridge and french toast. Another hilly day, Stops for water etc were again few and far between. My style is getting cramped without my usual 2nd breakfast!! 1st main stop at Shabaqua Corner yielded some tasty home made burgers pre-made, had to warm in micro. And lots of fluids Gatorade, vitamin water, and one of our faves: starbucks double shot mocha cappachino energy drink. there are some more off their rocker than us! We meet an Asian fella who could barely speak English, he was walking from vancouver to New York. He said he wanted No more bears or Snow. 2 of the hardships he had encountered. Apparently a bear tipped over his cart and he had to flee for help! (carries pepper spray on hip now). He started his trek in April. Kakabeka Falls, a worthwhile side trip that several other opted out of for a shorter route. We also caught Pierre, Serge, and Jaques, the 'French Connection Pain Train' with their secret weapon...a mid day strech and nap! Last, a much needed easy 27 km 'spin' down a small windy secondary into TB to Lakehead University Dormers where we stayed...yay fixed roof for a change, no tent to set up!
Sharing the campus with Baseball players from 12 other countries for the Junior Worlds!
Judy is happy. 2 nights in a bed, 1.5 hours at hair salon, even had time to paint her toenails! 1st real view of Lake Superior, 4 km walk to downtown for supplies, trendy cafe' lunch, and a look a Sleeping Giant (Island). Amazing campus food. Cheap, all you can eat. Most of the group will probably opt out of the breakfast out of the truck and go for the Cafeteria tomorrow.