Marathon to Wawa, Ontario

Despite all my worries from last night, I managed today's 186 kilometres, and stayed well-hydrated, although did end up drinking a some of that no-good water from the Marathon motel.

Although there is nothing to speak of between Marathon and White River (except gorgeous landscape!), White River had a nice rest stop, including an A&W where I could get lunch.  Besides a place to get lunch, White River is also the "birthplace" of Winnie the Pooh.

White River was almost halfway to Wawa, so I still had a lot of kilometres to ride after lunch.  There is a lot of construction happening south of White River, and they are making what will be a very nice road.  

They even have signs up identifying it as a bike route!  Perhaps I should have waited a year or two to be able to enjoy this for longer.  Now I understood how the White River (and Wawa) motels were all full--the construction crews needed the rooms!

As nice as much of the road was, I was suffering pretty badly.  The weather was good, and the climbs not unreasonable on this stretch, but I still was not feeling 100% myself.  I was hoping to "ration" some of my food for tomorrow, but at some point could not anymore, and ate one, then two, then the last of my remaining carrot muffins (which meant I ate all six today!).

Between not feeling great and 186 kilometres of riding, I was not thinking very well as I got to Wawa.  I had booked a motel about 8 kilometers (and a lot downhill) south of the town, in a place called Michipicoten, so as to set myself up for less riding tomorrow (and, again, because I had expected to be coming from White River, not Marathon).  The problem is that there are limited services in the vicinity of Michipicoten.  I was somewhat aware of this, which is why I was carrying muffins and orange juice and some other snacks, but having eaten most of that this afternoon, I was down to three granola bars and two tiny packs of fruit snacks.  I could have gone into Wawa as I cycled past, but it was 18:00, and I was too set on finishing the day and not thinking enough about the consequences of running out of food.  I was also starting to (probably irrationally) worry that my reservation at the Mystic Isle Motel might not be there when I arrived--which would have been a real blow given how full all accommodations in the area were.  I suppose I think more rationally when I am clean, well-rested, well-fed, etc. . . .

There are two restaurants across the highway from my motel, so was able to enjoy a good dinner, but neither are open for breakfast.  I asked one of the restaurants if they would make me sandwiches to take for lunch tomorrow--because I am now realizing that there may not be any food options for all 150+ kilometres tomorrow.  They said they were too busy, but the other restaurant suggested a rice dish to take out, which I agreed would be good, so that is now in my mini fridge.  As I think about it now, though, I should have gotten two of those dishes.  

Terrace Bay to Marathon, Ontario

After two mornings of day-old muffins for breakfast, this morning I was able to enjoy a nice hot breakfast in the restaurant of the Drifters Motel before setting out just after 8:30.

It was a cold morning--there was a frost warning overnight--but nice otherwise, and I was able to enjoy some more gorgeous scenery along the 80 kilometres to Marathon.  

There were also a lot of climbs, including a few of 6% or 7% grade, which meant it was a fairly slow day. I arrived around 13:00.

I was originally going to go to White River today, but the two motels there are full, believe it or not, so I had to make it a short day. That means a long day tomorrow, of almost 190 kilometres, to get me to Wawa.  

Marathon is actually about 5 kilometres south of the highway, but my motel is on the highway itself so that I can save myself the 5 kilometres of riding tomorrow morning.  I still had to go into town this afternoon, though, to do laundry, eat, and get some shopping done.  Despite today's short ride, I am not feeling especially well, maybe because of how cold it was in the morning.  I am also anxious for tomorrow's ride, both because of the distance, and other reasons, including that I only realized after coming back to the motel from Marathon that the tap water is virtually undrinkable due to taste.  By then the nextdoor gas station convenience store had closed and will not open before I leave in the morning, and there are no working vending machines in the hotel.  I called the front desk and the man was able to retrieve three 591 ml Dasani bottles for me, which he gave me on the house, which was nice; but it is not a lot of water to travel with, and I do not expect options until White River, 90 kilometres out of Marathon.  Anyway, not much to do but try to get a good rest tonight.