Day 55: Wabigoon, ON -> Ignace, ON

Date: Sunday, July 9, 2023
Start: Wabigoon, ON (Wabigoon Lake RV Park)
End: Ignace, ON (Davy Lake Campground)
Distance: 85km

I woke at about 5:30am after going to bed at 11pm.  That's not enough sleep, but I was feeling anxious as it was expected to start raining at about 6-7am and I REALLY wanted to get my tent packed up before it got wet.  The revised forecast gave me another hour before the rain, so I lay there for 30 minutes in half sleep.  At 6am I started packing everything up and prepping to tear down the tent ASAP.

I made my oatmeal while tearing down and by 6:45 was packed and breakfast was ready.  Axle was also up and taking everything down.  We both retreated to the heated, indoor common area where we could eat breakfast at a table and be out of the rain.  We sat and Axle told me about his past bike tours in Canada, his family, and his plans to buy a camper and continue to tour Canada.  He retired this year and was finding the constant strain of biking to be taking away from his experience of seeing places.

When breakfast was finished we studied the forecast trying to figure out if it was better to wait or to go.  Axle was braver than me and decided that we were going to get wet no matter what and so it was better to get the kilometers done.  I have to admit that my motivation was flagging as I watched the rain, but encouraged by Axle I loaded up and we both set off in different directions.

Here's a picture of his bike, one of the more customized ones I've seen.  It's a Surly Disc Trucker frame with an internal gearing in the rear.  It also has a dynamo in the front hub.  On top of all of this, he was pulling a trailer.  It was a cool setup!

We snapped a photo together.  Another friend.

He set off before me and I snapped this shot as he passed going West.

I struck off going East and immediately noticed that I was having a difficult time getting to my usual speed.  I'd pumped the tires this morning, so it wasn't that.  It could have been the rain.  It might have been the wind.  But I think I just hadn't slept enough.  I felt like I was pedaling through molasses!  No photos of this part as it was raining and I wanted to save my phone.

The road was rolling up and down ever for gently for most of the trip.  It was only 85km to Ignace, Ontario and I decided not to push past there today.  I'd done 165km the day before and wanted an easier day.  At some point I realized that I had a headwind and that was likely the reason I felt sluggish....also I was tired.

Not much to say about this day of biking.  The landscape is classic Canadian Shield.  Lakes, rock, thick forest, grasses, lichens, mosses, wildflowers of all kinds of colours.  There is actual muskeg here too.  It might sound mundane, but it's once again a landscape that's teaming with life.  If you only saw it on it's own you might not enjoy it, but I can't look at it without thinking of the other landscapes, biomes, and and ecosystems I've traveled through.  I marvel at them all now, knowing that all of them exist in this one country.

The rain only lasted about an hour and then the sun tried to - and at times managed - to come out.  By noon the road was drying.  I pulled into a rest area and had lunch, remembering that I'd again eaten breakfast earlier than usual.  I ate and watched the people in cars come and go as they stopped and checked the area out.

I set off again, half way finished my day.  The road again went up and down.  Traffic was pretty heavy, but I had a nice shoulder the entire time and felt very comfortable.

At some point just outside of Ignace I saw two bikes coming down the road.  We all stopped and traded info and intelligence on the road ahead of each other.  They were from France and had started in Montreal, bound for Vancouver.

And that's how I met Cheryl and John.

Not long after we parted, I rolled into Ignace.

I found a campground where I setup my tent immediately.  There were three waves of storm set to hit me today and number 2 was on it's way.  I setup camp and made dinner, eating it before it rained.  Once the drops started I took a shower and when I got back I jumped into my tent to stay dry.  I rode out the first wave without much issue.

I called my family for a check-in, noticing that it was Sunday.  We talked for a time but the thunder got too loud to keep up the conversation and I said goodbye.  I listened to some music and relaxed...something I rarely get to do!

After the storm passed over I walked into Ignace for an ice cream.  I found a burger stand and had two scoops but was still hungry.  I grabbed some fries to compliment them and ate as I typed this blog post.  Once finished, I walked back to the campground.  Wave three of the storm was about to hit and it wouldn't stop until 6am the next day.  I'd deal with the wet tent tomorrow!

I've been feeling pretty tired recently.  I think it's because I haven't been letting myself sleep enough.  Going to bed too late and waking up too early.  I actually yawned in the middle of the day while riding today!  The days of the trip have also started to blur together.  I'm having trouble remembering what happened on which days.  I'm solidly in the routine of the trip, but Northern Ontario lacks for small towns to visit or ever changing scenery like British Columbia!  I'm sure it'll change once I reach Lake Superior, and it'll certainly change once I start reuniting with people in Southern Ontario.  But for now, the days are feeling long!