Justine and I rode together for the first part of the day. We stopped for breakfast in this little town in a restaurant that was a converted bank. It still had the vault in place. We seperated when I headed South through Manitoulin Island and she continued East through Sudbury.
Now I didn’t know it at the time but there was a reason why my itinerary said to stay at Espanola last night instead of Massey. The ferry to Tobermory runs twice a day, 11:10am and 3:40pm. That is it. Twice. Once we had sperated I was heading due South, into a massive 30km/h headwind.
I was forced to stop at Little current when they raised the drawbridge to let a buch of boats past. I was pissed because I almost made it through but the light went red at the last minute. Then it began to rain. For the last three hours of my ride I was cycling in the pouring rain. I wasn’t cold so I didn’t bother with the rain gear. Instead I just kept pushing, hoping against hope that I could make the ferry at 3:40. I had 60km to go in 3 hours. Which is something I could normally do, but fate and the wind were against me. There is something really demoralizing about having to pedal to go downhill!
I pulled into South Baymouth at 4:05, missing the ferry by 25 minutes. I looked around and decided to get a motel room. I was now cold, wet and pissed off. Knowing that the next ferry wouldn’t be until 11:10 the next day I was losing a half day of riding the next day as well.
I ate at the only restarant in town, and because it was father’s day it was a set menu. I didn’t really care though, I was still feeling bitter. Perhaps it was because I was riding alone again and misery loves company.
Stats:
Distance: 144km
Ave: 20.4km
Time: 6:53
Max: 40.8km