XCAN Day 51 North Bay to Deux Rivières

Distance:                 105.22

Time:                       4:52

Elevation:               865 M

Washrooms:            1

Flats:                       1   Total for trip  

We got up a little earlier to get on the road to try to beat the heat. Dave and Nancy left and I helped Greg get out of the RV park.  A little tight fit.  Dave found a route on Google that went out the back roads for 40 K rather than on the hwy.   It was great!  I had my google maps talking to me in my back pocket as there were lots of twists and turns. I had it written down too...but it was much easier with her talking to me!  I passed Dave and Nancy who were using the written instructions and they got lost a bit.  Great ride through back roads and small towns.

 A lot of ups and downs.  I think Trunk road is called that because it goes up and down and up and down like an elephant trunk.  That is my theory and I am sticking to it.

A short stop at 40 K where Trunk road meets Hwy 17.  Filled up with water and electrolites, a short snack and hit the hwy.   Well...as soon as we were on the highway the headwinds hit us.  I guess on the back roads we were in amongst the trees where we were a little sheltered.  It was a long slog for the last 60 K, but beautiful and diverse.  It was quite warm yesterday as well but not as bad as the day before.  At Matawa we were able to see the Ottawa River for the first time.

It is huge and wide.  

About 25 km from camp you could start smelling smoke.  The hwy was closed the day before and opened up this morning because of heavy smoke covering the highway.  With the winds they were working hard on the fires which were 18 km down the road in Bissett Creek.

Still in Ontario!!

Also the last 20 km or so a rumble strip was added to the side of the road.  This rumble strip gave us 6 inches or less to ride on...thus we were on the white line for the rest of the day which is stressful.  Traffic was a little lighter for big trucks being Saturday.  But lots of cars and trailers. 

With two days of working against the headwinds, legs were tired when we arrived at camp.  I took my shoes off and hopped in the Ontario River for a cool down.  Felt amazing.  Then a quick shower and laundry.  

It was warm all afternoon and later in the day the winds died down and it was lovely.  

Dinner, a walk and then bedtime.  Getting up again early tomorrow to get on the road.  

Thanks for reading and all the comments.

Heidi