Snuts

Hey gang, if anyone is interested my touring plans got moved, , , , forward !
I started from Thunder Bay Ontario, to the Atlantic. Canada day on Parliament hill no less 150yrs. Over the North shore of Lake Superior step one.

Photo's and descriptions to follow.



-Snuts-

Happy Feet

Go go go!

Snuts

As many know I have been out riding my newest touring bike this spring.
Tour 2017 was to start May 1st. Well work could only send me west 700km to Winnipeg, with no promise of being back for my launch date. I opted to not accept, which lightened my available work.

I did a few light home renovation, and Honey-Do items for my friend the Tour Bus driver. Being very familiar with the North shore, he offered to drive me to a starting point of Wawa Ontario. This also kept me busy another week for the weather to warm.

The North Shore is noted to be as hard as the Canadian Rockies. Weather it is or not, it is a good hard go ! I am three days into my first goal of Sault St Marie. One more day to go. Grabbed a room today, forecast rain turning to freezing rain overnight. Bet you would do the same, ha-ha.

So, some photo's.
The Canadian Goose in Wawa,
First night Stealth camping(imagine those are sand dunes)
Gathering some fresh water.
Beaches, Ice piled up on shore, views as I crest some of the climbs, etc.

The last photo is how my Touring bike arrived at the Motel, in a Volkswagen Hatchback no less. While standing under cover at a closed Park gate office, a friendly couple walking their dog offered a ride to find a Motel up the road (the rain had started). Real friendly folks in this part of the world.



-Snuts-

rickyk76

Awesome! Keeps the updates coming. And there's no way I'd be camped out when snow on the ground.

Happy Feet

It's Canada eh.

The summers are short and hell on the sled dogs.

Doug64

Are you heading east? You are not too to far from Marathon which has the record for the coldest temperature in North America -58C (-72F). No wonder it looks cold!

Best wishes on your ride.

Edit: Sorry, I missed it when you said to the Atlantic.

indyfabz

Heh. There is an extremely popular chain of c-stores based outside of Philadelphia called Wawa. Cyclists love them:

https://www.wawa.com

bradtx

Snuts, Take care and safe trip.

Brad

Snuts

Originally Dave was planning on a start at Marathon, well that is what he told his wife. I was suspect that he had Wawa in his heart.

As for cold, my memory has a night shift in Norman Wells (Jan 84) -60 trying to keep instrumentation in calibration to help start-up Esso's new facility. Those two weeks we never got above -40C on nights.

Today is a study day. The forecasted ice crystals are here, tomorrow is the beginning of good weather.
(looks like snow, but frozen mist could be rain at any moment)


-Snuts-

indyfabz

Is that a stuffed moose in the background or a real one?

Snuts

Family pet.

(back at ya)

Happy Feet

Well.. not really a pet. More of a watch moose. They train very easily and don't bark like dogs.

J.Higgins 

Snuts, you are the wind beneath my wings. You go, bwah!

jefnvk

Good luck! Keep both wheels pointed down in that ice!

djb

good on ya, but boy, not my idea of fun (touring in cold I mean).
safe riding
hope your clothing choices are working out so far.

ps, I've always only deflated my tires about half way for boxing. When they ask, just answer yes to "did you deflate your tires", even if you didnt.

Snuts

I packed layers for warmth. A second sleeping bag from last year, my old ankle high work wear for mornings. one fall/spring type jacket all to be disposed of once I hit the warmer days in a week, or so. Then buy some saddles as my alternate footwear.
A lot of gear to punch over these hills. But it is going to be a great summer. I really look forward to the MUP's along the St. Lawrence, etc. Hearing more, and more good things about Quebec. I intend on spending four days on PEI's Confederation trail and the island.
The conditions outside are looking very promising for an early start tomorrow.
As for cold, the afternoons have been about 15*C.



-Snuts-

djb

May the various layers work well. We've had days of 4c lately, one weird day of 24 but back to 9, 10, 11 etc
Safe riding

Snuts

Wind, all head winds this week, yuk. But I did get in Metric Century yesterday.

Past the ice. But last eve a local watched my bail over the bars in a summer-salt . I made a very slow hard turn off the pavement onto the sand and grass at the cenitafe. You can all imagine the heavy front end turned but stopped hard. Dumdass, clipped in I held on to the bars and pulled hard as I launched over the butterfly bars, tucked and did a full roll-out. I got up laughing, thinking of my teen years roller skating (a lot!). The local fella stopped check if I was OK, and inform me something (my tablet) flew out of my back pocket. Hell mirror didn't even get out of adjustment. It just layed over on the panniers. In conversation he suggested a great spot to camp for the night.
QUOTE=djb;19505220]May the various layers work well. We've had days of 4c lately, one weird day of 24 but back to 9, 10, 11 etc
Safe riding[/QUOTE]
Nice weather here on the north Shore of Lake Huron. Blind River right now, hope to made another 50km today. Looks like a tail wind may developed this afternoon. Less hills to!
I will add a few photos in a day or two. Forecast is thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon, might be hiding out. To early to ride the ferry across to Tobermory, which I was looking forward to.

Head down-ass-up, loving the ride.



-Snuts-

Snuts

I messed up your quote djb.
On my tablet, which I don't do so good with.

Seen my first butterfly about noon. Are the rivers ever high!

djb

no prob on quote.

odd question, but why would you ride with a tablet in a back pocket?

Snuts

My little 7inch great battery life, runs my Strava and Bluetooth to speakers. View maps, and change music when I stop for a drink. I could use it as my back-up camera I suppose. Works for me, but in reality that is what the forum is for, sharing what works.
Espinola Tim Hortons, light rain. Sure easy to strick up a conversation everywhere I stop.

Not sure what to do yet today, if i could charge, I would do some photos and changing. Sudbury is 75km away . Time to check the weather, etc.

Happy Easter everyone.



-Snuts-

Dan Burkhart 

Actually, I believe that honor belongs to White River which is about 90km east of Marathon.

Dan Burkhart 

Somewhere, I have a photo of one of my bikes propped up by the big goose. I heard they were going to tear that one down and replace it as it was deteriorating badly.

Snuts

Yes, l read that fall of 2015 when I was driving through with the motor home. They are continually fund raising. I did get a photo of me in front of Whinney the Pooh, in White River this trip. This damp has put a damper on my laptop use, no charging at this Tim Horton's. I don't believe it.

-Snuts-

Snuts

I just got at text from a very dear friend, his 97yr old mother passed away today.

I will ride in the drizzle.