Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Habbib seeks a stream...

Day 28, Ignace-Shabaqua (70km West of Thunder Bay)
Dist, 182.2km, Avg 20.4km/hr, Saddle Time, 8:55

06 14 2011
Got rolling at 6:30am knowing what I was in for.  I was planning on forging through the void of emptiness that is this region of space to Thunder Bay. In other words, no services. I carried a ton of extra fuel. Shirley was complaining the whole way. Actually, she only complained when I hit pot holes. She's a tuff girl !
It was a long grind against unrelenting headwinds, deer flies and big rigs. I had to take several breaks to refuel. This was a tough go mentally. To get through difficult days, I think of Ironman Canada. This helps me put things into perspective. I know that I can endure more difficult situations. I felt fine physically, but was losing a Mental battle.
Anyway, after refueling and leaving this evil stretch behind, I found more friendly roads.
I passed another cyclist who was heading west. An East Indian dude with a set up that looked like a garage sale of miss matched rag tag gear. Ha Ha. He was only doing 70-80 km/day, but he was camping commando style with the bears near streams. That's why he was walking while pushing his bike, he was scouting the next camp. Cool ! Says that he has camera equipment, and works as a photographer for CBC. He is going to Banff. Funny, nice guy. His brown skin is not tasty to Deer Flies apparently.
I hope his trip went well.
Anyway, I came across a dumpy motel that I didnt know would be there. So I thought that since, I lost an hour crossing the time zone boarder and would be entering Thunder Bay around 8:30 pm. I bailed.
The Deer Flies can regroup and attack tomorrow...

Head'n up and out...
HWC approved route 

A nice lake I'll call "Lake"
Nice Breakfast Stop
Turn that wind sock around 180 degrees...Please
Big hardware

I could do nothing, but watch in horror...
More fuel please. These headwinds rob energy, not generate energy. 
A hwy in transition, works for me !

I lose an hour, damn! This hurts big time.
Crude sketch from my log. A tough day on the road. I took a break right after this...

A break from Deer Flies, Hills, Headwinds and Rigs.
Bad location, was a grunt to push bike back up to pavement.
The Stupid shit you do when fatigued.
Habbib (not his real name) Funny guy (funny to me) in search of running water. Good luck with that in the prairies. God, arn't you hot in that gear, Habbib ?! RIDE ON SIR !! You brightened my day !
From my sketchbook... Habbib is a stream Demon.  Good Luck sir ! You are an inspiration to me. 
I can't do the Commando Camp thing.



Ground floor motel, perfect
Journal time. Perfect

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