Three Days Down -- 25% Accomplished!

We've reached Ontario! This morning we crossed the border from Marine City, MI to Sombra, Ontario. What a reception on the Canadian side!! There were piles of people greeting us as we cycled through customs. All kinds of food: fruit, Tim bits, banana bread, red & white decorated cupcakes, and a variety of drinks were waiting for us! Wow! It was special for me to be welcomed by Marg & Norm (Marg & I used to teach together) who had come down from their cottage.

Cycling into the head wind this afternoon became more of a challenge, but despite it, we were able to arrive in Chatham the earliest of all three days so far: 3 p.m. This evening we were graciously welcomed by a former AFNORTH colleague, Jay, who made supper for us, allowed us to swim in his pool and whose kids have given up their rooms so that we can sleep in a bed for a night! What luxury and what fabulous hospitality! The coolest part is that his house is only a 5-minute walk from our tent city at the nearby arena.

Yesterday was one of the toughest days on this segment of the tour, largely because of the long distance. We rode 157 km. and then Pete and I continued riding so that Pete (and I by association) could actually make it to a real century (100 mi.). We celebrated our accomplishment with a stop a Dairy Queen before arriving into camp at a local high school to set up tent. Yesterday was also challenging due to a strong easterly head wind that we cycled against for most of the day. Thankfully, I could draft a bit behind Peter. That also helped my knee survive the distance. The blessing in the weather was that the temperatures dropped to 21 C, so it was much easier to deal with the head wind when the temperature was lower.

Our first day was fantastic: glorious, sunny, 26 C with a great tail wind -- the perfect riding weather! The ride was a leisurely pace for 102 km.; we were one of the last riders to enter camp; we were also on sweep duty which meant we had to serve/clean up breakfast, load the gear truck and then leave after all the other cyclists had left. We needed to gather up any cyclists that were slower so that everyone made it into camp by 7 p.m. We arrived in camp on Monday at about 5:30 p.m. after leaving in the morning at about 8:45 a.m.

All in all, it's been a great 3 days! Can't believe I'm doing this! The folks on tour are very helpful and welcoming! Great fun! Thankfully, there have been no major injuries...

Will try to update posts as much as possible. It's not always possible to squeeze in writing time when we get in so late; first things first: set up tent, shower, eat supper, peloton (big group) meeting and then small groups. Very little time for anything else. If Pete & I can refine our packing up skills, maybe we'll be able to get in earlier!!

Signing off until next time...