July 29, 2005
ROUTE: Port Huron, MI to London, Ontario Canada
ROUTE: Port Huron, MI to London, Ontario Canada
DISTANCE: 134 Kilometers
WINDS: Light out of the southwest
WEATHER: Sunny 11C in am; 21C in pm
TERRAIN: Mostly flat but with a few rollers east
TOTAL CLIMBING: 1,420 feet
RIDE OVERVIEW: What a morning! Everyone was up early in anticipation of crossing Blue Waters Bridge en masse. Each year they close the eastbound lanes of the bridge to allow us to cross with no traffic. We really appreciate this considerate gesture as the bridge carries much traffic, a lot of it large trucks. We ate breakfast at the hotel at 6:00, and then loaded luggage at 6:45 to be ready to move out as a group by 7:15. The cyclists were sandwiched between Silver in the front and White in the rear (left) with Box behind White and the bridge authority behind Box . . . all vehicles flashing their lights. It was like being in a parade. Mike took photos from the back of Silver, and Josh was with me in White, also taking photos. Josh had the rising sun to contend with, however, which cost him a few good shots. After loading luggage, Mike gave his usual pep talk, which also included warnings about the necessity of walking bikes across the giant kingpins on the bridge; verbally informing other riders in the peloton when stopping, turning, slowing, etc.; and against joking with the customs people. He had set up the crossing the night before and had given the authorities all of our names, birthdates, and places of birth. This greatly facilitated our entry and riders expressed appreciation for the smoothness of the crossing and the preparation that went into it.
After Customs, as riders were rolling down the exit ramp from the bridge, Dianne rode alongside White and told us that she had a flat. What a time to get a flat! We directed her over a grassy embankment to a parking area and then drove around and found the entrance to it, which meant going briefly off route. (Fortunately none of the riders followed us . . . something that happens frequently when we turn off route for something. It's like being the Pied Piper--if one rider follows the van, they all follow the van--not to imply that they're children or rats you understand. . . .) Anyhow, Josh changed Dianne's tube and mended her tire, which had a hole in it from a piece of glass she'd run over.
Then we got back on route and stopped at the first turn to sort ourselves out. Karen and Mike were waiting there. They were both riding Float today, so they got their bikes and food, and gear out of Silver and White and took to the road. Josh took over Silver to provide mechanical support, and I stayed in White to provide rider support on the road and to set up the SS. There was only one SS on this short day that had plenty of places to stop for food.
I set up the SS at mile 34 just outside the town of Walford. I hadn't quite got the SS set up when the first riders rolled in. So too did a local--in a cloud of dust--saying, "Are you going to be here for a little? Don't go away, eh. This looks newsworthy and I want to get our newspaper reporter here for a photo." Sure 'nuff, a few minutes later the reporter, Sadie Snodgrass (her alias), arrived with camera in hand. I and the riders filled her in and Byron even posed her with his bike. She joked about throwing a leg over it, but she was half Byron's height and that may have been a feat. Hi Sadie--hope your story and pix came out well. Look for the America by Bicycle group at this time next year also.
After the SS, riders crossed a steeply rounded bridge into town and then got back on Confederation Road and Rt. 39E. Some stopped in Strathroy, 11 miles later on, for lunch, but most continued on to Delaware at mile 55+ for ice cream and food at a little cafe there. Others simply continued on to London and ate when they got here. There were lots of turns in the route today to keep riders off commercial roads. The longest continuous stretch they had all day was 16.5 miles on Forest Road.
We are spending the night in London . . . Ontario, not England. But this city of almost 350,000 is not ashamed to take advantage of its obvious link to its namesake. London, England, has not only lent its actual name, but the river that flows through Ontario's London is also called the Thames and certain attractions and locations throughout the town have the same names as their English counterparts. It is even possible to tour on an authentic British double-decker bus. Also interesting and the first thing most visitors find striking about London, Ontario, is the number of trees. For over a century, the community has undertaken the policy of planting at least 1,000 trees a year. This has earned the city the nickname of "Forest City."
All riders were in to "Forest City" by 3. When they arrived they found Dutch waffle cookies from Albert's family, part of whom live in Canada and were waiting to greet him. These cookies were very delicious. At Route Rap, Albert introduced his family. Riders immediately put in an order for more cookies when his family meets Albert again at the end of the ride in NH. Speaking of Rap, during it, a woodchuck (marmot?) came out from under a restaurant dumpster near us, and the restaurant staff--who were lounging around behind the building having a smoke--fed it bits of bread and scraps. Of course this occurrence interrupted Rap for a bit.
During the ride today Byron, Larry, and Bob finally found a roadside stand selling corn. They had gone a little way off route for lunch. Since we had been talking of wanting fresh corn for a couple of days, they seized the moment and stuffed big ears of corn in all their jersey pockets -- nine ears in all. Before dinner we prepared to cook the corn in the breakfast microwave. Only trouble being, this was the first motel we've been in, I think, that had no breakfast microwave. The management did give us napkins, a couple of plastic knives, a basket of butter pats, and salt and pepper shakers. So . . . we took the corn to Karen's and my room where Tim, Larry, Byron, Carol, Val, Marie, Jill, Mary, Dianne, and I cooked and ate it. (Karen wasn’t too happy on finding staff mingling with clients in our room. Lesson learned. SSW 2016) Then we went to supper at the Southside (the very restaurant behind which the marmot frolicked) and enjoyed a very good meal.
Now it's getting late, and, as my grandmother was wont to say, "tomorrow is another day." I will be riding Float to Brantford, ONT where we will spend our second and last night in Canada. Join us again tomorrow to see how our Canadian adventure progresses. Susan
HEARD ON THE ROAD:
- "We need to invite the Michigan DOT over here to see what real roads look like!"
- "Wow, that was a fun road!"
- Marie: "Load my luggage last because if anyone is going to get their bags inspected it will be me, a Canadian re-entering Canada."
PHOTOS OF THE DAY:
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| "Da gals" basking in the bright morning sun before crossing the Blue Waters Bridge into Canada |
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| Karen was in the market for a new mattress, but passed up this store. Would you buy a mattress from a company called The Brick? |
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| Mike--may he R.I.P.--was just standing by a tree when a local tried to shoot the owl off the top of the tree. Ooops! Wind error |
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| We run into many odd things on these rides. Most roads have turn lanes, merge lanes, or passing lanes, but in Canada they also have "bowling lanes!" |
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| Linda, Carol, and Greg twisting to Chubby Checker's "Come Let's Twist," broadcast from the car wash at the SS, a Shell Gas Station but also a swinging place where, Sadie told us, bikers of the motorized sort gather on Friday nights. |
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| I've heard of pole barns, but pole tractors? Guess this one is reserved for high water work. |
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