Fort Frances

Robin and I had be discussing the fact that we were both on solo bicycle trips across Canada, and that while being together for about a week had been quite fun, there were parts of being on a solo adventure that we were missing out on. We were also at slightly different stages in our tours, as I had been cycling alone for 25 days before we met up, while she had only been for 13, from Montreal, the first 3 of which were with a friend.

The morning we were leaving the hostel in Thunder Bay I was very sleepy and unresponsive. Robin told me, "It's getting late -- it's time to get up!" I took offense to this, feeling like I didn't want to be told what to do while on a solo bike trip, told her I wasn't going with her. This wasn't the way we had intended to part ways.

I left Thunder Bay around 11:30am and went to a Safeway market which had a bulk candy section. I relaly like finding bulk candy sections at markets. There was construction on the road leading West from the city and it wasn't that fun to ride on. In a one-lane construction zone, a man in a blue pickup Truck going the other direction shouted at me, "Hey! Get off the road!" I didn't do it. If I was in Boston and didn't have 30kg of gear on my bicycle, I probably would have chased after him and asked him to explain his viewpoint.

I stopped at a chip truck on the corner of Hwy 11 and Hwy 17 and had the worst sausage that I've had during my trip thusfar. It was pretty tough and overcooked.

I crossed paths with Robin somewhere near this intersection and we decided we'd camp togther for the night. We ended up at a boat launch behind an RV park near Kashabowie Lake, in Shebandowan, ON.

The next morning Robin packed up and left about 2 hours before me. We were heading for Atikokan, about 100km away. In the early afternoon there was a thunderstorm, from which I hid inside an outhouse at apicnic area. Robin and I met up at a market shortly after, and then again in Atikokan. We camped at the municipal campground, which was $15, which we split between us. There were also a lot of mosquitoes, although the shower in the men's washroom was nice and warm.

Robin left before me again en route to Fort Frances, which was about 140km away. I probably wouldn't have tried to pedal 140km in a day if Robin wasn't. The route from Atikokan to Fort Frances was just asa flat as the previous day, especially compared to the days we had done on the north shore of Lake Superior.

I arrived at Fort Frances in time to visit the LCBO, as it was a Friday, and then went to a too-expensive restuarant and had a burger and fries and a beer. Having a reasonable design and typeface doesn't make your food any better.

I met up with Robin in Point Park in Fort Frances. We sipped on some Canadaian Whiskey which I had bought to celebrate Canada Day, and then fell asleep.