Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Thunder Bay Hurray !!

Day 29, Shabaqua-Thunder Bay KOA Campground
Dist, 80km, Data lost, Short day though

06 15 2011

All I wanted to accomplish today, was lose some weight, riding distance was not a priority.
After arriving in Thunder Bay, I went for coffee at a donut shop across the street from the Greyhound terminal. Once I was sufficiently filled with food and caffeine, I ventured across the very busy street to the Depot. I was a bit nervous as I have no box from which to contain and ship stuff. Also no packing tape. It would be a challenge for me to obtain these crucial items so long as I am attached to Shirley.
I was very pleased that the female attendant gave me a cardboard box and packing tape. (reluctantly)
I stripped away 17lbs of stuff and removed the front panniers for better control against the cross winds. ( I kept one of them, but will use it as a rear rack trunk.
I stepped on the scale too. Looks like a net loss of 32lbs. Should help a bit as route will get hilly and more hectic through Ontario.
Some of the items that I jettisoned : U-Bolt Lock, Solar Charger/Radio, Running Shoes, Metal Cutlery, Winter Cycling Apparel, Large Fuel Bottle, 1 Cooking Pan, 1 Cooking Pot. and a few small things that I don't remember having.
I have been looking forward to shedding this gear and I'am feeling pretty damn good about it. Bringing Shirley's weight down from 100 lbs to 83 lbs will help immensely. The lighter forks will be safer on those relentless windy days as well.
After getting a site (reduced rate for cyclists !) Not much, but acknowledgement is key. $20.00 instead of $32.00. At the KOA Campground. I met some nice young Lads and a Lass at the communal kitchen gazebo. They invited me over to watch the Stanley Cup Finals. Vancouver Canucks were playing. The laptop guy had zero luck finding it on line, but was cool to talk to these young people as I cooked my Kraft Dinner with beer....How Canadiana.

morning road
Straight ahead
Nice quiet road

Scenery

Foxy lady !
Fun
Like the sign says...

Cool info Centre

Greyhound visit. Bin waiting for this day to shed some lbs.
The big tear down
Everybody into the box !
Voila !
Greyound Gimli and the weigh-in. A bit of Billy Idol perhaps ?
My Greyhound Slip.
Terry Fox monument. Taken from a complete stranger


A very commercial campground, but offers a reduced cyclist's rate of $20.00. Still too much, but better than most prices out there

Two younger specimens on the left were headed to the Okanagan from Quebec (the hat thingy gives it away) The other guy has a name. I forgot, so I'll call him Jimbo. He was trying to get the Canucks game, but failed, he was travelling with another dude, but can't be photographed. (invisible)
KOA Home. The Kitchen Gazebo in the background
Heading west (wind assisted) for supplies. Amazing feeling to ride wind assisted on this secondary hwy
Jesus in Thunder Bay ?
Hmmmm...
I was thinking of doing this too. Although, I would hang the cross upside down. Hail Satan !
This will do. I wish BC had this creature.
HWC was sad to leave, the next morning...

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