Atikokan to Shabaqua
On the road by 7:00 as planned. Once again we had our raingear ready due to the overcast conditions but we rode the first 50 km rain free. (More later). Atikokan is now an 'outfitters town' being the jumping off place for wilderness canoe trips in Quetico Provincial Park. I guess that is why Atikokan calls itself the 'Canoe Capital of Canada'. After Quetico Park the weather deteriorated to say the least! Heavy rains accompanied us for the next 2 hours. With absolutely no towns, or for that matter any habitation, it was just 'us and the road'.
As we passed the 100 km mark for the day we began to realize that this is a depressed area. Abandoned businesses and falling down houses became the norm. Business signs still exist to tell you what services are available but when you would get to them they were boarded up and usually for sale. It probably has a lot to do with the lack of traffic that goes through this section of Hwy 11.
Now for the rest of our ride... We were forced to push our limits today. We had more climbing today than any other day since leaving Kenora but all rideable. The lack of services forced us into a very long ride, over 140 km. That by the way is a new best for us!
We are tenting tonight in the yard of a place that rents cabins in Shabaqua. When we went to the office a note told us to call a # and the owner told us to go ahead and set up that they would not be back until tomorrow at noon. Trusting individuals! Since setting up we have experienced a heavy rainfall and a thunderstorm. Imagine that, another day of rain!!!
Daily Distance = 143.83 km. Time on the bikes = 8 hours 27 minutes. Average Speed = 16.98 km. Maximum Speed = 49.61 km. Wildlife Sightings = Loon, Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Fox, Red Squirrel, Black Bear.
Kevin = 3 Sue = 0.
P.S. Today we entered the Eastern Time Zone and also passed the point where all streams flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. Bet that does not mean it is all down hill from here!!!
