Fort Frances to Mine Centre
Left Fort Frances this morning by 8:00 with rain gear on. The day started warm and overcast but the predicted rainfall overnight never materialized. Thank goodness for small miracles. The road took us over a series of bridges and causeways out of town. The first 45 km was a good ride. Up and down and around we went with just us and the 'pulp trucks'. We counted 25 for the morning transporting logs to the Abitibi Bowater plant in Fort Frances. A nasty surprise awaited us after 45 km. Construction!!! The next 21.5 km was on loose, rough, washboardy gravel. Now for those who do not understand how bad this is for 'touring cyclists' let me explain. Our bicycles carrying 60 to 70 pounds of gear are not built to withstand the bumps so every bump shakes you to the core. Our small tires do not work well in loose gravel. To make matters worse we are also 'clipped' to our pedals, another thing not good in loose gravel. So to put it mildly we struggled for the 21.5 km. But we made it without mishap!
We are staying in the Mine Centre Resort. Now before anyone jumps to any conclusions let me explain that this is 'not' a 'luxury' place. We are in a small cabin hidden in the trees hanging over the water. It is warm and more importantly it is dry. Good thing because about a 1/2 km from Mine Centre we got wet again and presently we are having a thunder storm.
Mine Centre...not much here. The guy that owns this cabin and so called resort also owns the local gas station, the general store, liquor outlet, sells hunting and fishing licenses, rents out a building to house the construction company headquarters (company doing the roadwork) and another building to the engineering company who oversees the construction company. Why Mine Centre exists is a mystery to us. But, but, but... We are dry and enjoying our little cabin.
Daily Distance = 67.22 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 41 minutes. Average Speed = 14.28 km. Maximum Speed = 43.29 km. Wildlife Sightings = Great Blue Heron, White Pelican, Loon, Goldfinch, White Throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Rabbit, Black Bear cub.
Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.
