Tour de complete

As expected motivation to blog fizzled and I missed some good photo opportunities. From sandbanks we continued to Kingston via the Glendora ferry to the loyalist parkway. That was a nice route with paved shoulders. We picked up a 3rd rider for an hour or two on the way to sandbanks and he joined us for the next day and night. Steve from Toronto, he had a bit of a mishap in Kingston cutting off a parked car and clipping his pannier on the bumper sending him over the handlebars onto the street. Luckily no serious damage and after a trip to the bike shop caught up with us at the Rideau campground just north of Kingston. We parted ways the next morning as he headed towards smith falls and us towards a cottage on bobs lake where we BBQd a feast, dried out our gear and took a refreshing swim in the lake. It was a great last night where we reflected on all the great memories of the tour.

The next morning with the excitement of seeing our families motivating us we made amazing time travelling the last 80 Km to arrive home early afternoon.

Off to sandbanks

We took 2 days to travel 200km to Sandbanks. We stopped at east colborg park the first night and had a beautiful site on a fast running brook. What we didn't realize is that the train tracks were a wedge away and the trains run all night and love their whistle through there.

We were pretty tired when we hit sandbanks. I got my swim in Lake Ontario checked off while mike decided to heed the advice of the signs that suggested the water was too polluted to swim in.

Get out of town

We left Daves just before noon and took the lakefront bike path right through the city past key beach in Scarborough then jumped on Kingston road to make better time. Our goal was to get to darlington but we fell short and stopped at a campground in the rouge valley. We had our first flat and mike was a little short of energy after closing the bar the night before. That said we still logged 70km through a busy route.

The big smoke

Back to the lakefront heading to Toronto. The bike path from Hamilton to Burlington is excellent. We stopped to listen to a band sound test the Burlington music feastival then pressed on to a good friend from Mississauga that treated us to great hospitality. There is no 9pm bedtimes available at big daves. I made it past midnight but missed out on closing the local bar with Mike and Dave. The BBQ champ really put on a feast.

Port colbourne, wetland canal, Lundy lane

the ride along the shores of erie was great. The rain let up, we rode to the canal then took a bike path along the canal to Lundy lane where we found a campground across the street from the sundowner. We were asleep in our tents by 9pm and back on the road at 8am for breakfast at the flying saucer then to the falls for pics an along the bike path through niagara on the lake and on to Jordan just west of st Catherine's to camp.

to long point then long grass

Next morning we continued but with one demoralizing change. The wind we so enjoyed the previous day had turned on us. We rode a long day to get to long point provincial park and arrived after the gates closed. We rode on in and setup camp on the dunes beside the lake. Amazing beach, all sand and we could walk 50 yards into the water and it was still only 3ft deep. Not a soul on the beach. Great spot.

From there we headed on a sightseeing tour of port Stanley, port Bruce, port Rowan, Turkey point, port Dover, stopping in each for fuel. One thing about ports, there is a long downhill in and a sonofagun uphill out.

We then headed thru nanticoke and stopped at the greatest place on earth. Sean would not be impressed. Pic below. We continued another 30 km to a campsite near Evans point.

That gets us to this morning where we are riding the rain to Niagara Falls.

Heading along the shores of erie

We left Wheatley park at 9am and had the wind behind us and we used it. It felt effortless to ride 30 km per hour. We rode to john e Pearce park expecting to camp but it is a day use park with all access to the lake fenced off. It was a very remote location and a local was jumping the fence as we arrived. She assured us that we could follow and camp on the cliff and we did. Amazing view. The tough part was hacking the gear and bikes over the fence.

View in morning

South as we can go

From Grand bend we made our way through farm country to bothwell and then headed towards Chatham alongside the Thames river looking for a campground. It never showed up. We ended up 10 km south of Chatham at Wilson conservation area. That was a 130 km day into light winds, we slept in and had our latest start yet of 10:30am.

What was suppose to be a light 50 km day to Wheatley turned into a really tough ride through windmill alley straight into 30km winds while on loose gravel roads. That was a test. We arrived around 4pm, did laundry, shopped for dinner and headed for camp where the first order of business was a refreshing dip in Lake Erie.

We decided to camp 2 nights at Wheatley and ride to pt. Pelee for a light day. Maybe 40 km after a detour to leamington.

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOHKM_MLGnCFFwwHvRxjv2Hj61l25TmMwMoSop_

Grand Bend

We got an early start from Kincardine and headed on a leisurely trip down the coast of Huron. We stopped in Goderich for fish and chips, a tour of the beach, and a stop at a coffee shop. We had another 50km to go but we were flying so we stopped again in bayfield to support our Ontario craft brewers. Then we headed to grand bend to enjoy a great refreshing swim in our first of three Great Lakes.

Catch up

We have had a great tour so far. Sitting in a Tim Hortons in Grand Bend. Tents are pitched in an RV park across the street.

After spending the night in Dwight we took a short 30km ride to Mikes moms house in Huntsville and got spoiled. We left the next morning for a long wet ride through brace ridge, gravenhurst, a short harrowing few miles on hw11 on a rainy Sunday afternoon, then hooked up to moonstone road and took it across the 400 to a nice campground on Orr lake.

From there we rode west to wasaga beach. Too cold to swim but we rode the beach trail and proceeded to collingwood where we were going to rent mountain bikes to try the downhill trails. Unfortunately the hill was closed due to all the rain. We ended up hosted by a good friend of Laura's who happened to see us on the road at a red light. That was a fabulous evening. Laundry done and slept and ate well

From there we took the Georgian trail towards Owen sound but dove south to visit Frankie who rolled out all the camp must do's. The wood stove was pumping heat, he had lamb skewers and a chunk of pork on the smoker. We walked the 90 acre property, saw a wild turkey, did some cross bow target shooting. It was a great visit. I'm glad I finally got up to see it.

From there we had our first dry day on the road. We headed north west towards port Elgin, then south to kincardin. It was a long ride but the weather was great. We met a group of three Americans who were circling Lake Huron for their tour. We met up with them on the road a few times the next day (today)

Rain, cold, head winds, and hills

From pakenham we headed to Eganville and stayed at a great campsite on Dore lake. On the way we encountered two thunderstorms and took shelter on private property. One was a barn, the other a back porch of a home. It was a long day, about 10 hours on the saddle.

The next morning we were packed up had another long wet cold day, and made it to the east edge of madawaska where Mike sweet talked the owner of a trailer park to allow us to stay, they were a seasonal only campground.

From there we had the toughest day with long steep hills prior to entering Algonquin park. We camped about 30 km into the park. We packed up wet and headed to a friends cottage in Dwight.

Wifi was not available along the way and even cell coverage was sketchy.