I've been thinking I should be seeing more eastbound cyclists. Today I got my wish. Out of the no-services town of Fingal, I saw a touring cyclist coming toward me. I crossed the road to say hi. It was a woman named Ann. She said she was with a group of 15. They were an Adventure Cycling group doing the self-contained Northern Tier/North Lakes/Lake Erie Connector Route from Anacortes to Bar Harbor.
While we were talking, the next guy in the group rolled up. That was Mark. We chatted a bit more, then went on our respective ways. Number 3 waved and said hi, but didn't stop. Rick, number 4, stopped, and we chatted, exchanged blog/journal addresses, and took photos of each other. I didn't think to take a picture of Ann and Mark.
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| Rick |
I rolled on, and before too long numbers 5 and 6 rolled up. We chatted for a bit. I got these guy's picture, but didn't get their names. Number 7 was a gal on a recumbent. She waved but didn't stop. Number 8 also waved, but didn't stop. Nine and Ten were going down a hill (as I was going up). We didn't stop, but they did shout encouraging words to me.
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| Numbers 5 & 6 |
Number 11 was in the parking lot of the cafe in Wallaceville. He was talking to a guy who asked me how many were in my group. I said it was just me. I didn't get 11's name or photo.
I had a snack at the cafe, then rolled out. It was getting close to 1:00, and there were still 4 more to go. The group was overnighting in Port Burwell, where I had come from, so I knew how many miles they had to go. Plus, they had stayed in Ridgetown, which is about 10 miles or so further than I was going tonight. Pretty soon I saw 12, 13, and 14 coming down the road. They all crossed over to me. It was Hugo (Ann's husband), Alison (the tour leader), and a young German guy (I can't remember his name). I asked where 15 was? They said he'd be coming along. Pretty soon Bernie rolled up. They figured they would arrive at Burwell around 5:00. Hugo told me there was a guy named Don going the same direction as me. He was going around Lake Erie. They said I'd catch him.
I caught up to Don with about 6 miles to go for me. He was talking to a guy with a Minnesota shirt on. The guy owned a food truck that was there, but it wasn't open. However, he went in and brought me a bottle of water. Don was just on his second day of his tour. He had started in Long Point, and stayed in Port Stanley. Turns out, there is a trailer park that will allow cyclists to stay for $5. I might have gone there last night if I'd known about it.
Don and I rode together until I turned off in Clearville to go to the park. At the park, I went to the office. The guy said I didn't need to pay, I could just go to the tent sites. That is the only night I have camped for free in Canada!
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| Last night on Lake Erie--that would be Cleveland across the lake if you could see that far. |
Tomorrow night will be my last night in Canada, then its back to the good ol' US of A! I think I've calculated my Canadian currency just right. Tomorrow, I also leave Lake Erie. Although I am camped near the lake tonight, I've not hardly seen it all day long. I just saw lots of fields, wind turbines, and TOURING CYCLISTS!!!
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