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