Thunder Bay to Dorion
After taking advantage of our hotel's Continental Breakfast, we were on the road by 8:00. 10 km to get back to the Trans Canada and a short ride to the Terry Fox Memorial. Everyone should try to see and experience the tribute to Terry Fox outside of Thunder Bay. A statue has been erected on top of a hill overlooking Lake Superior. The view from the hill is spectacular. The statue itself, 'a likeness' of Terry Fox, is itself impressive. But when you consider what he did, half running, half hopping 26 miles a day for 141 straight days getting half way across Canada to raise money and awareness for the need to help find a cure for cancer, it is quite moving. His legacy, of course, lives on. There is an 'air' about the place that is impossible to describe. For Sue and I it had special meaning as both of our 'fathers' were taken by cancer.
While at the memorial we met 5 Americans on motorcycles who are doing the circle tour around the Great Lakes. They were fascinated by what we were up to. They go on a motorcycle ride every year. A dentist, a lawyer, a psychologist, a carpenter, and a minister all from Minnesota. We also came upon 2 separate touring cyclists today who were heading 'west', one lady and one man. We knew that we should start seeing the ones going 'the wrong way across Canada' somewhere in Northern Ontario!
The ride had its good moments today but was overshadowed once again by an 8.5 km stretch of the Trans Canada that was even in worse condition than the section West of Thunder Bay. This highway needed to be rebuilt 20 years ago. We had nowhere to ride except on the highway because the shoulder had loose gravel. The traffic was also heavy and for the most part were good about trying to accommodate us. However, we were forced to take evasive action when 3 cattle trucks who were not meeting anything, chose I guess to try to scare us. Way too close for comfort and I was really hoping that they would have been stopped at the truckstop up the highway so I could have had a 'chat' with the 'MORONS'!!! It was totally uncalled for what they did. They probably thought it was funny but it 'un-nerved' us to say the least.
We are camping in The Wolf River Campground somewhere around Dorion. I am not sure that Dorion actually exists other than as a sign.
Daily Distance = 81.25 km. Time on the bikes = 5 hours 4 minutes. Average Speed = 15.96 km. Maximum Speed = 46.24 km. Wildlife Sightings = Deer, Blue Winged Teal, Sapsucker.
Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.
