Cobden to Ottawa, Ontario

I finished off cycling across Ontario at 10:00 this morning as I crossed the Ottawa River into Québec east of Shawville.

I still had another 100 kilometres to get to Ottawa, however (where I would re-cross the river). I could have stayed in Ontario for the whole day, but I was excited to ride on Quebec's Route Verte #1. I actually got really lucky, because due to COVID-19 the Quebec/Ontario border has been closed for weeks, and only reopened today!

I had to cycle on Highway 303 for 15 kilometres to reach Shawville, but from there it was beautiful, forested trail for 17 kilometres.

Unfortunately, soon after I resumed riding on rural roads, I had a puncture in the rear wheel. I checked the tire pretty well as I changed the tube, but failed to check the rim. Anyway, I cycled on, occasionally along Highway 148 when the Route Verte joined it, but often on rural, sometimes gravel, roads as well. 

In Aylmer I was able to join the multiuse trails along the river, which were wonderful. When I stopped at one point, however, I realized I was losing air again in the rear tire. I assume now that something must have been in the rim and punctured the new tube as well. I pumped it up and hurried on, hoping to avoid having to change the tube again. I still had 12 kilometres or so to go.

Soon I was across the river from Parliament Hill.

I crossed the Alexandra Bridge and at 16:00 reached the Auberge des Arts where I am staying. My wife had amazingly sent over a couple of beers and a piece of cheesecake to help me celebrate!

The tire was flat again when I checked on the bike after a shower, but I opted to simply wheel it back to Escape Cycle instead of deal with it myself. I was done!

With the North Bay to Ottawa gap closed, I have now biked from the Pacific Ocean to Moncton, New Brunswick, and probably just have one summer left to get to the Atlantic Ocean!

Whitney to Cobden, Ontario

While all restaurants in Whitney had been closed yesterday afternoon, this morning the gas station across the road had a restaurant that opened for breakfast. I ate a burrito and packed another before taking off east on Highway 60.

I reached Madawaska about 20 kilometres east around 9:30, and stopped at a beautiful riverside park to finish my breakfast.

There were some serious hills along my route today, especially in the first half.

I was not making particularly good time, but it was a pleasant day and the highway was mostly good and the scenery was lovely; plus, I had the three sandwiches from yesterday which meant I was well fed!

I passed through Wilno, "Canada's first Polish settlement" (but failed to stop for a photo), skirted the north side of Golden Lake, and passed through Eganville (where I stopped to buy a beer). Soon after Eganville I left Highway 60 on Highway 8, which had an even more rural feel than Highway 60.

Then, just before meeting the dreaded Highway 17, I headed south on gravel for a few kilometres.

I then joined Highway 17 when I could no longer avoid it, and arrived just after 15:00 at the Logos Land resort where I am staying tonight. Yes, the front office is supposed to look like Noah's ark.

It was a 130 kilometre ride.

The resort has a few motel rooms behind the Noah's ark, and that's where I stayed. But further down they have camping spots by a lake, and a laundry hut, where I could do my laundry. I sat by the lake and read a book and enjoyed my beer while my laundry washed.

For dinner, I had to bike north on Highway 17 five kilometres to Cobden, where I bought some groceries, some takeout dinner, and an ice cream cone!