July 2-6, 2013

So where have we been since Canada Day in Ottawa you ask? Well let me bring you up to speed!

Michael's  1987 BMW M6 next to our new BMW K1600GTL. Quite the dynamic duo!

As you can imagine, one of the chores that must be taken care of on a ride like ours eventually must be undertaken, unless you use a old friend Grant's advice and simply turn your underwear inside out.

Tuesday July 2nd while loading the bike a couple drove into the parking lot and were watching the bike intently. Chris McFalane and his wife Peggy got out of their  vehicle to chat and have a better close-up look at the, K1600GTL. Chris told us that he rides a BMW1150RT and was thinking of heading to Nova Scotia if he could get Peggy to to go along. He took a photo of Gayle and I with the bike near the Barley Mow restaurant in Almonte. Told them to look us up should they ever get down our way, whether on the bike or not.

Had a great riding day as we took mostly secondary highways to find our friend Michael Dunn and the owner of the condo we stayed at in Almonte. Sue Evans has a wonderful cottage in Hailiburton County that sits just across a small river from a cottage owned by the renowned artist Robert Bateman. It turns out that Sue designed the cottage herself  and had it built as a replacement for one that had been in her family for many decades. Gayle and I both felt very welcomed and at "home" with our hosts for several days, in this idylic location. Sue and Mike toured us around the area and we went into Minden and were treated by Michael to a good meal at a local cafe. We then followed that up with over-sized Kawartha Dairy ice cream cones. It was hot that afternoon, so no photos of dripping ice cream, because I made the most mess. :)

Sue and Gayle at the rapids below her cottage.

And something to remind us of our past.......

                                                                  

      

A late afternoon 5km run was followed by a most welcome swim in the river in front of  the cottage. I took a stroll down to a small bridge to find the lane into the Bateman cottage opposite Sue's place. I took some photos that included one from across the river of  Sue, Gayle and Michael sitting on Sue's patio enjoying conversation on a lazy summer evening.

The next day Sue sent us off with a large crepe, coffee and toast. The ride took us to Sudbury for the night. Some rain passing through the area but nothing to take us off the road. The next days ride took us through Sault Saint Marie and on to Wawa for a stay at the Mystic Motel. We met a biker at a roadside turn out who had left Barrie and was hoping to make it to Thunder Bay to end his day! ( He is on his way to Abbotsford, BC to meet his wife, who flew out) He is riding a newer Honda ST1300. We took photos of each other on our own camera's and were on our way after wishing him "safe journey"

Wawa tourist bureau ............can't miss it from the Trans Canada!

                                                            

 

Tourists after all :)

                                                     

A break from the road at Aquasabon Falls and gorge near Terrace Bay. Water tumbles through here into Lake Superior

A light drizzle to start off the next day and a short rain during the ride to Thunder Bay which lived up to its name as we rode into town! Motorcycle traffic picked up today. We rode from  Marathon to Terrace Bay with 4 Harley's carrying Minnesota plates.( about 75km) Hotwire booked us unto the Airlane and we discovered why it is called that, as we are sitting under the "international airport" flight path. Bike is covered for the night and we ate here in the motel rather than walk around in the rain, that is predicted to last all night! Perhaps there won't be many flights here in TB tonight. Tired riders need a good sleep!