I left Owen Sound feeling refreshed and renewed but at the same time, feeling like I hadn't really explored the city properly. Perhaps a "car visit" is in order later. I had gotten some advice from a cyclist in Gravenhurst so I was going to try the train track paths that had been created from the old rail lines. I rode the #26 to Meaford, passed close by the town where Tom Thompson (Leith) lived. The plaque was 7 km in so visiting was not an option. I made it to Meaford, At Meaford, I used the library quickly, reconfirmed with warm showers people down the line, and hooked on to the trails along the water. They were fantastic. They were not paved but very fine gravel and it was interesting to think that the trains had moved past the backyards so closely. I would have to stop to cross a street but otherwise, I was rolling on ahead and passing other cyclists who were not loaded down with packs. I thought the term "Naked Cyclists" might be appropriate for these people. In a way, I feel sad for them because they are missing out on the joy of carting around 75 lbs of stuff on their bike...
I made it to Collingwood in time to miss a rainfall and checked my email. In a cruel game of takeaway, the host I had decided to move 30 kms north to a cottage campsite. After having done 50 kms already, another 30 kms added on was a bit daunting. I tried to go towards Wasaga but I found I was getting discouraged by the heat and traffic. In times of stress, I find I can almost always find comfort in ice cream. So, I sat down and mapped out some close places for me to stay. There was a place in Midland which was 40 km versus 80 km at the other spot. I made arrangements with Jim in Midland and headed into Wasaga beach.
Wasaga beach is a huge, touristy beach popular with Ontarions. The scenery was breathtaking as I wove my bike amongst the beachgoers. I headed past the main drag and wound down the country roads. I came across a huge paintball convention with hundreds of cars parked and people walking around with highpowered paintball guns. There were also campers, RV's, and tents of people hanging around to shoot each other.
It was as I was taking a water break on the beach road that wound along Georgian Bay that I saw the 1st corvette go by. At 15 corvettes, I realized I was in a parade. I got back on the road and apparently, driving a corvette in a parade of other corvette exempts you from the rules of the road! Most gave space but several cruised right by me and most were all exceeding the 40km posted on the road. I later learned it was the Wasaga Beach Corvette Convention who had organized this thing. In the end, roughly 250 corvettes raced down the back roads in formation.
I found another train track trail and swung into Midland. Jim and Mary Hunt met me at the door. They live in a magnificient old Ontario brick home. Jim had also done a cross-Canada bike trip so we shared stories over a great spaghetti dinner. They let me shower and then Jim took me on a tour of the town. Turns out that Jim is an artist at heart. So good in fact, that the town hired him to construct a steel swan for the 2000 year. Its about 10 metres across and made from stainless steel. Fame is not without its conflict. There is a small rivalry between Wawa (Big Goose) and Midland (Big Swan). Hopefully, no bloodshed will occur. Jim is also responsible for the design of the mural on the grain handling facility. Jim also tells stories about relatives who were at Frog Lake and were protected by Big Bear from the other leaders of the 1887 Rebellion. He showed me a movie he'd made of his own trip and it made me think that I need to produce something myself once this is all over. We watched a terrible movie on netflix about a musician who falls in love with a hearing impaired girl. I'll stop the description there because I can feel my lunch wanting to come up again! The next morning, I had breakfast for a king and I finally asked as they put another slice of toast on my plate, "Will you let me go it I finish this last piece?". At breakfast, Mary reluctantly reveals that she is a co-arthor of a best-selling cookbook about Georgian Bay recipes. Apparently, you can buy a copy for $2 on amazon or the next highest price $120. Get the cheap copy fast! I really wish I could have spent more time with them but I hurried off down the train trails to Orillia.
I made it to Collingwood in time to miss a rainfall and checked my email. In a cruel game of takeaway, the host I had decided to move 30 kms north to a cottage campsite. After having done 50 kms already, another 30 kms added on was a bit daunting. I tried to go towards Wasaga but I found I was getting discouraged by the heat and traffic. In times of stress, I find I can almost always find comfort in ice cream. So, I sat down and mapped out some close places for me to stay. There was a place in Midland which was 40 km versus 80 km at the other spot. I made arrangements with Jim in Midland and headed into Wasaga beach.
Wasaga beach is a huge, touristy beach popular with Ontarions. The scenery was breathtaking as I wove my bike amongst the beachgoers. I headed past the main drag and wound down the country roads. I came across a huge paintball convention with hundreds of cars parked and people walking around with highpowered paintball guns. There were also campers, RV's, and tents of people hanging around to shoot each other.
It was as I was taking a water break on the beach road that wound along Georgian Bay that I saw the 1st corvette go by. At 15 corvettes, I realized I was in a parade. I got back on the road and apparently, driving a corvette in a parade of other corvette exempts you from the rules of the road! Most gave space but several cruised right by me and most were all exceeding the 40km posted on the road. I later learned it was the Wasaga Beach Corvette Convention who had organized this thing. In the end, roughly 250 corvettes raced down the back roads in formation.
I found another train track trail and swung into Midland. Jim and Mary Hunt met me at the door. They live in a magnificient old Ontario brick home. Jim had also done a cross-Canada bike trip so we shared stories over a great spaghetti dinner. They let me shower and then Jim took me on a tour of the town. Turns out that Jim is an artist at heart. So good in fact, that the town hired him to construct a steel swan for the 2000 year. Its about 10 metres across and made from stainless steel. Fame is not without its conflict. There is a small rivalry between Wawa (Big Goose) and Midland (Big Swan). Hopefully, no bloodshed will occur. Jim is also responsible for the design of the mural on the grain handling facility. Jim also tells stories about relatives who were at Frog Lake and were protected by Big Bear from the other leaders of the 1887 Rebellion. He showed me a movie he'd made of his own trip and it made me think that I need to produce something myself once this is all over. We watched a terrible movie on netflix about a musician who falls in love with a hearing impaired girl. I'll stop the description there because I can feel my lunch wanting to come up again! The next morning, I had breakfast for a king and I finally asked as they put another slice of toast on my plate, "Will you let me go it I finish this last piece?". At breakfast, Mary reluctantly reveals that she is a co-arthor of a best-selling cookbook about Georgian Bay recipes. Apparently, you can buy a copy for $2 on amazon or the next highest price $120. Get the cheap copy fast! I really wish I could have spent more time with them but I hurried off down the train trails to Orillia.