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.

Nipigon to Terrace Bay, Ontario

After yesterday afternoon's squall, today was gorgeous, albeit blustery and a bit chilly.  Luckily the bluster proved a tailwind, so I made good time over the 105 kilometres to Terrace Bay.  

In fact, between the speed I was able to maintain, the incredible scenery, . . .

. . . the road conditions (mostly excellent, with little traffic and paved shoulders), . . .

. . . and the weather, it was one of the most enjoyable metric centuries I have ever ridden.

Now the highway is known as the "Group of Seven Route."  I always associated the Group of Seven with the Algonquin Park/Muskoka Region, but I have learned they liked painting northern Ontario, too.

Terrace Bay is a cute place, but unfortunately almost all of the dining options were closed for Labour Day, so it was Chinese food from Wah's Restaurant for both lunch and dinner.  Sadly they were only doing takeout, thanks to COVID-19.  At least there was warm food!

Like Nipigon, Terrace Bay also has lookouts to climb.  In this case, both the lighthouse and a trail up a cliff provide vantage points to see the town and lake.