May 16th: Two days in a row!
Unfortunately I have arrived in Marathon at the beginning of the May long weekend and I was not able to accommodate setting up an event because I have to push hard in order to make it to Ottawa on time. I have to accept that I can’t get to everyone, but I had made contact with a woman in Marathon who had very kindly offered to help, so it is especially disappointing that I could not make the time.
On the up side thought today was yet another wonderful day for ridding! I know two days of warm weather, I’ve got to be careful or I might get spoiled! On top of the great weather the terrain continues to offer fun and challenging ridding. The hills keep coming, keeping me on my toes and giving my muscles some much needed variety. The big bonuses from the hills are the stunning views I have at the top. An endless supply of picturesque scenery awaits me as I crest each climb. Stopping to take my surroundings has the duel purpose of resting for the next hill and continually rejuvenating my appreciation for this opportunity I have to see our country.
I have an ever-growing list of new hikes I want to do and new places I want to come back and visit. The most recent addition is the hiking trail from Terrace Bay back to Rossport. If the views are this good from the highway I can only imagine what they would be like from the trail. Not to mention the getting to camp on some of the beautiful beaches I have been seeing as I pass by.
Since I was unable to arrange anything in Marathon I decided to keep going a little ways past town and stop for the night a Pukaskwa National Park. We left the highway 10 km past Marathon and drove the 15 km to the park, and we are glad we did. A short distance from our campsite is Horseshoe Bay, with a beautiful sand beach looking out over Lake Superior. The Bay itself is quite nice, with tall cliffs on either side eroded away by the waves to form lovely carvings in the rocks. There are many hiking trails around the park and a number of other bays; it would be a wonderful place to spend a couple of days.
Activity Tip: Pay attention to what you are eating. Seemingly small things can pack a lot of calories. For example, a large muffin, or a deluxe coffee can represent a couple of hundred calories, and a bagel is equivalent to fore or five slices of bread.
Sincerely,
Tyler