| The drive from Cochrane to Wawa is 280 miles | | | | rooms. My wife and I started packing and |
| or 450 KM taking a little under 6 hours the way | | | | rearranging the back of the SUV hoping to put |
| we drive. Only one bear was sited and it was | | | | her bicycle in the back. When we were ready we |
| near Chapleau. We had lunch at the hotel there. | | | | drove to her room and knocked. With the front |
| Today is the observance of the Canada Day | | | | wheel already removed, the bicycle went in the |
| Holiday, which was yesterday, being a Sunday. | | | | back with no problem. I put the front wheel next |
| Can you believe that very few places were | | | | to the side and lodged it between some of our |
| open? Can you imagine a Sears's store being | | | | bags so it wouldn't damage the main bike. Soon |
| closed on July 4th in the United States? It was in | | | | we were ready to go |
| Canada! There were very few cars parked in the | | | | On one stretch in the mountains west of Ontario |
| shopping center or any place else for that matter. | | | | she had seen Grizzlies'. Another time there was a |
| Several restaurants were open, for which we are | | | | black bear at the top of the hill. Fortunately it was |
| grateful. | | | | gone when she reached the top. A long stretch |
| Changing from few hills when we left Cochrane to | | | | she climbed was 65 Kilometers with no let up. |
| very hilly when we approached Wawa the | | | | Eating 3500 calories daily kept up her energy. |
| country side became more beautiful. We checked | | | | We did make a couple of stops on the way. I |
| into our hotel, were given a map of the area, | | | | was planning on driving east so she would not |
| then visited a beach on Lake Superior and two | | | | have to ride in town. Remembering mostly city |
| water falls while passing very pretty scenery. One | | | | when we crossed into the "Soo" the previous |
| of the falls was after a dam. It seemed | | | | Tuesday, I told her I was just a daddy wanting to |
| enormous. | | | | make sure she was safe. We stopped for lunch |
| The hotel is clean; AAA/CAA approved, but lacks | | | | and determined to pay for the three of us. When |
| good TV channel selection and has no internet. I'm | | | | she had left for the washroom (I like the name, |
| having withdrawal. My wife is reading an old | | | | compared to what we use in the states; |
| Readers Digest magazine. The time is only 8:30. It | | | | restroom or bathroom), she had arranged to pay |
| appears we will be in bed early tonight. | | | | for the meal. We tried to grab the ticket when it |
| The next morning we slept until 7 and shortly | | | | came but it was only the receipt as our meal had |
| went to breakfast. I always am talking and | | | | been paid for. |
| mentioned a Wawa News letter that was on each | | | | It was just a few blocks before I saw signs for |
| table. In fact, there were several issues. With | | | | the USA and TransCanada Highway 17 turning off. |
| several people eating breakfast I mentioned that | | | | I turned heading East so as to get her far enough |
| there were jokes in it. One young lady laughed | | | | out to prevent her (and me) worrying about city |
| and asked if I had read one of the jokes. It | | | | hazards. After turning we were out of the city in |
| wasn't in the one on our table. We started talking | | | | two or three blocks. Having seen a hotel she |
| and she was bicycling across Canada having | | | | wanted to go back and stay there as it offered |
| started in Vancouver 3 and one half weeks ago. | | | | more restaurants and a Wal-Mart. We turned |
| Don't remember exactly who said what first but | | | | around and went back. She was able to get a |
| it was raining that morning and she was going to | | | | room after making sure she could take her |
| Sault (Soo) Ste. Marie, Ontario, also. | | | | bicycle with her. The clerk had told her they could |
| Her parents had expressed their concerns to her | | | | store it, but no it is her "baby" and had to be in |
| about this stretch of highway as it is mountainous, | | | | her room. They let her keep it with her. It is her |
| and they said dangerous. They had suggested she | | | | lifeline during this trip. It will take her another |
| ride the bus. The highway passes through Lake | | | | month to reach St. Johns on the eastern |
| Superior Provincial Park. As you travel over the | | | | seashore! |
| mountains and see Lake Superior opening up at | | | | Visiting with her made the drive enjoyable. It did |
| times when you drive around a curve, the beauty | | | | not take long to reach the International Bridge and |
| of God's creation is brought home to you. She | | | | the U.S. Customs where the main questions were |
| mentioned her concern for the wet roads with | | | | the same as when we entered Canada. What |
| cars and trucks spraying her with water as they | | | | country are you a citizen of? Did you bring any |
| passed. I told her she was welcome to ride with | | | | food, alcoholic beverages or tobacco with you? It |
| us. We could put her bicycle on the top of our | | | | did not take long and we were again on US soil. |
| crossover SUV. She thought for only a moment | | | | You have my permission to reprint and distribute |
| and accepted. We agreed upon a time to meet | | | | this article as long as it is distributed in its entirety, |
| outside then finished eating and returned to our | | | | including all links and copyright information. |