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!

Huntsville to Whitney, Ontario

I began my day with a walk in the rain to the laundromat several blocks away to get my laundry done. Not only did I want clean laundry, but I was also hoping the rain would let up some if I delayed starting. That only sort of worked, and it remained a damp day for my whole ride. 

Despite the rain, I was excited for this stretch of riding, all on Highway 60, because it included 60 kilometres through Algonquin Park, which I reached at noon.

Just a few minutes into the park I encountered my first wildlife--a snapping turtle!

Just over an hour later, about halfway through the park, I joined a crowd on the side of the highway watching a moose.

The rain was intermittent and it was not cold, so while it certainly could have been nicer, I was not going to complain, and the scenery was spectacular even with the cloud cover.

I stopped for the day just past the park's east gate in a place called Whitney, for a 105 kilometres of riding. I checked in at the Rolling Rapids Motel, where my host was kind enough to take my wet riding clothes and wash them for me. 

Apparently all dining options in Whitney are closing on Mondays at the moment, so I had to raid the small grocery store for food. I suppose you could say my eyes were bigger than my stomach, as this is what I cam back with!

Needless to say, I filled up, and had plenty left over to make some nice sandwiches for tomorrow's ride.