Alberta/Saskatchewan Border to Castor, Alberta

Today I did some more work on the across Alberta route I have been putting together piece by piece this year.  Again I had my parents help.  We camped last night at Castor, then this morning Dad dropped Mom and me off at the Saskatchewan border around 10:15.  I had cycled to this same "Welcome to Alberta" sign in 2012.

Mom and I cycled west from there to Provost, where we met Dad again to refill water and food.  From Provost we continued on Secondary Highway 600, through the hamlet of Cadogan and some really incredible scenery unlike anything I have seen in Alberta before.  

There was one valley in particular we passed through where the vegetation was especially interesting and hawks or eagles were flying around screeching.

Once 600 joined Highway 41 it was south for about 11 kilometers to Secondary Highway 599.  

Here Dad met us again, fed us lunch and picked Mom up, leaving me to continue on solo.

It was a hot day (31 degrees) and I was going through a lot of water.  I was not making especially good time (actually Mom had been cycling quite a bit faster than me on her road bike), and by 100 or 110 kilometres in I was really getting tired out and my pace was slowing discouragingly.

I had to stop twice to reapply sunscreen as the sun got lower in the west (and therefore more directly in my face), but otherwise I was just grinding it out in the low 20 kmph.  

Just before 599 joins Highway 36 I passed through this valley, which was another surprisingly scenic spot.  This county is called Paintearth, and I think this valley provides a clue as to why!

A few more kilometres later and I was in Castor.  

I was very, very tired, and must have looked just awful what with all the sweat and sunscreen and sunburn on my face.  I went to the Co-Op truck stop down the road, where showers were advertised.  I asked the guy inside the store how they worked, and he told me they were for card-lock holders, but he would gladly let me in (again, I assume I looked just awful!).  So I had a nice shower, then stopped at Castor's Shangri-La restaurant for dinner of ginger beef and stir-fried vegetables before heading back to Edmonton.

Driving down last night it was dark by the time I got to Castor, so I had missed the wind farm.  I had no idea there were all these turbines around here!

Upsala to Thunder Bay, Ontario

I'm done! I reached Thunder Bay yesterday afternoon, around 15:00 Eastern Time.

I had great weather, and a surprisingly quiet highway.

My first stop was the airport, where I picked up a rental car to use for the next 24 hours.  Interestingly, there was a (once world's largest airplane) Antonov AN-124 at the airport, which I later found out had been transporting parts for Bombardier.  I could see it through the fence, but not well enough to photograph.  I sure heard it this morning, as well, when it woke me up taking off!

From the airport I went to check in at my hotel.  Since my ride was now complete, I decided to splurge on some real luxury! 😉

After showering and changing, I drove northeast of Thunder Bay, where the Terry Fox National Historic Site is, as well as a tourist information booth where I could get a Thunder Bay map.  The site is interesting not only because of the Terry Fox statue, but also because it gives you a great view of Lake Superior.

Once I had my map, I drove back into Thunder Bay.  I bought some new clothes at Winners, went for dinner in downtown Port Arthur, and drove around exploring.  I also went to Canadian Tire to see if they had a pedal wrench I could buy.  They didn't, but the young man working in the bike shop took my pedals off for me, so I would not have to worry about it today.

This morning after breakfast I drove to the Greyhound station to get a bike box.  They didn't have any new, but they did have a used once which the man sold me for half price, so it was a pretty good deal.  I packed my bike in it, but unfortunately it was a bit shorter than boxes I have used in the past, so it required me to lower my seat.  The problem was I actually had not brought a complete Allen key set, and did not have the right sized key.  So, I checked out of my hotel, and drove to the airport.  I wanted to figure a few things out before my flight this afternoon, but also asked WestJet if they had an Allen key set.  Remarkably, all they could come up with was a single Allen key as well, but it too was the wrong size.  Back to Canadian Tire, then, where the only Allen key set was incredibly fancy, and almost $20!  I bought it, lowered my seat, and returned it.

With the bike now fully in the box, I could continue enjoying Thunder Bay.  I drove south to the Fort William First Nation, where Mt McKay towers over the southern half of the city.  At one spot there is a scenic lookout and the First Nation's pow wow grounds (where a birch bark canoe is under construction).

There's also a spot to park and hike up to the very top.  

It ended up being a more serious hike than I expected!  It wasn't necessarily ideal just a few hours before I get on an airplane, but it certainly was enjoyable none the less.

My last tourist stop was Mission Island, and a spot called Mission March Conservation Area.  I came down here to get close to the lake, and it proved to be another very lovely spot.

From there I came back to the airport, returned the car, and am waiting for my flight home.  (I assume the Thunder Bay airport is usually not so interesting, but even though the AN-124 is gone, the Snowbirds are here practicing, and Bob Rae is sitting here quietly reading a book!)

Ignace to Upsala, Ontario

It was a cool, mostly cloudy morning, but I avoided the rain again and had a really fast ride, managing to get to my motel southeast of Upsala before 13:00!

In fact, I rode the fastest metric century I ever have, at exactly 4 hours (just under 3:40 ride time).

I also got to see wild blueberries growing on the side of the road.

The Black Spruce Motel has a little restaurant, so I just stayed here all afternoon and evening getting well rested for my final day!