Day 36-Terrace Bay
Nipigon to Terrace Bay, Ontario
Distance: 108km
Temp: cold!

Today’s ride finally delivered on the promise of the hills-we climbed 1030 meters today; the hills ranged in distance from 2 to 5 km, but there was one section after lunch, and on the last 40 km that was on a more or less incline for approximately 12 km-it just kept going and going-legs were heavily objecting by the end of it.

To compensate for the challenging terrain, the scenery was pretty spectacular as the hills seemingly lifted us into the clouds, and had us at such heights that we had incredible views of Lake Superior and the surrounding areas-this is definitely postcard country.

Of late my bike has started to make very curious noises; I took it into to see Bike Guru in Thunder Bay, and had my bottom bracket changed, however the groaning noises have stopped but now it’s squeaking.

As there were often no other noises to hear beside the wind in our ears, and the squeak of my bike, the mind starts to do odd things, like interpret the squeaks for songs; Lewis heard La Bamba, and I heard ‘Pop Goes the Weasel.’

Today was not only a big hill day, but also a big eating day; we stopped at a roadside restaurant and had a homemade piece of rhubarb-strawberry pie-it was heavenly.
40 km later we stopped in Rossport, an ex-fishing village which sits in a little natural harbor on the lake and had lunch at a restaurant looking over the lake; the food was pretty good, but the views were better.
Following lunch was the 12 km climb, giving us the opportunity to work for our lunch.

We got into camp at a decent time, giving us the chance to check out some local waterfalls that are used for a hydro station or something like that.

Apparently we’re back in bear country; a few people saw one yesterday, and some have been sighted in the past few camps we’ve stayed at.
Last night Lewis had a restless sleep, as he was on semi-bear watch.
At one point he shot up out of his sleeping bag, convinced that one was lurking outside our tent, waiting for a juicy arm or leg to come out of the tent.
As it turns out it was our neighbor going to the bathroom.
Personally I think these bears are like spiders, they are more scared of us than we are of them (wee black ones’, I would feel differently about grizzlies.)

We all feel very much at home at this campsite as there is a train than runs right beside it, so far two have come by since we got in, each one outdoing the other for volume and length of the whistle blow.