Manitoulin Ride-Day2- Sept 22 15

 

LAST EVENING, Ken failed to find 2 caches….so before leaving Sheguianda, we retraced our steps and both Geo Caches found.   We then headed for Little Current for breakfast…. the plan was to to the west end of the Island Geo Caching along the way with the plan to have the famous Fish and Chip lunch at THE MELBURN INN. Stops at the Cup and Saucer Trail…….   

 We failed to find the cache but did get to wear some of that breakfast off……next stop Kagawong famous for it’s chocolate factory and popular Bridal Falls…….at the base of the falls the fish were spawning……here we again failed to find a magnetic cache supposing attached to the metal staircase. It was from here that we headed to Meldrum Bay with a stop on the bridge between Bayfield Sound and Wolsey Lake looking for and failing again to find a cache.  While Ken searched, I snapped a picture of fisherman as the passed just to give you an idea of the size of this lake. It is my understanding that Manitoulin is the largest Island in the World within a fresh body of water; as well as, the most fresh water lakes within an Island.

Though, we failed to get  lunch, as the Inn was closed, 2 caches were recovered….. Here, we learned that at one time a Zoo was in Meldrum Bay with the remains of cages reclaimed by vegetation scattered in the bush….an attempt to get to the another cache at the lighthouse situated at the end of the Island failed when we could not get past the LeFarge Cement Quarry. Turning back we headed for Providence Bay about 100k to the SE.  A stop at Lilly Lake yield success with another cache much to the delight of Ken, who had been frustrated at his failure on the bridge and falls…….this Sport  is self competitive…..

Taking some back roads I led Ken around Silver Lake….  

A stop in Spring Bay yield a couple pints which we would later consume at the cabin……not the jail as I thought. Arriving at the Jail, I was surprised to be met by the current tenant who said a mix up had occurred and he was there for 2 more days but the caretaker had arranged for us to stay at a cottage on the Bay….disappointed we were taken to our current digs…..a 40’s style cottage with modern but dated conveniences.      You can barely turn around in the bedroom, so I let Ken have it while I have chosen the sofa. On the way back from dinner we happened upon hundreds of Sandhill Cranes resting in a field.   spooked some took to air

Manitoulin Ride-Sept 21 15

 

Ken and I left Gravenhurst at 8:15am heading for Tobermory Ferry…..1.30 departure for South Baymouth. We didn’t expect the construction from Wasaga Beach to Meaford and made it to the dock with 15 minutes to spare…….by exceeding the speed limit by at least 30k.

Arriving at the dock I abandoned Ken and went to the aid of 2 Oriental girls who needed help in Tying down their bikes for the crossing….sorry no pics as I was just so enchanted with their beauty that I plumb forgot. Not kidding these 2 lasses looked like something you would see in a JAMES BOND MOVIE.

I have rejoined Ken as the girls didn’t realize the crossing would take so long and that this ship was returning and not back until tomorrow……..so they returned to the ship as soon as they embarked…..HOT HOT……maybe I scared them off…lol

  Ken looking for his 1st Geo Cache find on the Isl….

Geo found we continue on to Providence Bay to check out where we will spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Taking the back roads, I lead through the interior and along side picturesque lakes until we reach Sheguianda. Tonight we are resting at the Paradise Motel. Green Acres Restaurant waiting for a Roast Beef dinner with Cream pie for desert…… Ken, what are you looking for…..it’s getting late……

Day 4 & 5 N Ontario & Quebec-Sept 10/11-15

 

Clearing skies and cooler temps this morning. A short stop for breakfast in Elk Lake and we head for Kirkland Lake. The road to Matachewan is not as I remember. The twists and turns have for the most part been tamed by blasting rocks out of the way….the gravel has been replaced by asphalt but my memory is from 40 years past.   A right instead of a left brings us into the village ( my bad ) …twisty makes a U turn and we are on to Kirkland Lake.   This section is a bikers delight with hills and turns that you lean into…so blasting along at 50 to 90 k we cross hwy 11 into Kirkland with 2 stops…. twisty is looking for a Geo Cache at the University. Failing to find it, we decide on a coffee break at Tim’s.

Leaving Kirkland we are on the lookout around Larder Lake for the entry to Quebec…..must have missed it…O…. we now have a cruiser turning  around chasing us, his lights flashing.    Twisty but Officer we didn’t see the Customs Office…….O……..we are in Quebec……….YOU CAN NOT CROSS A DOUBLE SOLID LINE…….this is not ONTARIO…..O……WHAT $300.00 and 4 POINTS….butbutbut……Twisty gets off with a warning and WELCOME TO la Belle Provincia.

Allowed to motor on we head for Manawaki along mostly straight and hilly roads with fresh pavement. Stopped for road paving ahead. At the turn to Manawaki ,we enjoy some more favourable riding. Frank finds us a many star motel for $114.00 double, a full breakfast and free beer with dinner. The bikes are chained to an alarm with the cord running through the front wheels. The night clerk supplied same as bikes have disappeared here…Frank says we may only have front wheels come morning…ah…all is good   Twisty must have gotten the executive suite Looks like Rick and Frank are headed for the bar…………. More Geo Caching….Twisty and I are out in the dark 1st to a soccer field where he finds a soggy cache, then on to another which leads us into thick bush….stumbling about he is unable to find this one, it’s pitch black except for a tiny beam of luminous from a pen light but we manage to make it out. We retire for the night at this point as twisty has run out of money playing the slots and he is worried that Carol will be upset….that he has fallen off the gambling wagon.

This morning is overcast and shortly after breakfast we hit the road. This section through to Renfrew is enjoyable. We make 4 stops between here and home….the second at THEW WILNO TAVERN for refreshments….but it’s only 11.30 so we settle for chunky tomato soup, 3rd at Two Rivers Store to pass the soup and the 4th so twisty can get his fix of Chocolate ice-cream in Huntsville but not before a bus load of kids who are just ahead of us…….from here twisty cranks on the throttle with me tending to the rear of the pack….about Bracebridge I have fallen behind not matching their 120 or so……..

All in all I found it a great trip with good company…… boring sections

Day3-Northern Ontario Sept 9 15

 

After a hardy breakfast at Mc’s we headed east in clear conditions…..only down side at 7:30 am and for an hour or so is the Sun. Even with sun glasses it is difficult to see. Hwy 17 through Kapuskasing and a number of smaller towns, we took a cut off at 655 to Timmins. Next 101E to 144S with a gas stopping Timmins and the next at the cut from 144 and the Elk Lake Road. Here, we stopped for a light lunch then on to Elk Lake……we are currently in a 2 star cabin after pricing a 5 Star which was  $99.00 each for 36.00 each…..  Lunch Break  Shinning Tree General Store and LCBO….now closed….I was here with my father’n law 40 years ago and it was hive of activity. rest stop at Gowganda……last here 3 years ago with my son fishing……

This is the new and future look of SERVICE CENTRES……upon entering Elk Lake we where low on fuel. This the only station in 60 k. What do we do…no place for a credit card,,,no attendant….finally I noticed a speaker which was next to all 4 pumps…..pushed button asked and a girl said how may I help you….need fuel I said…reply go a few steps to the door on your left and follow the instructions on a machine mounted on the wall after inserting a credit card to pre pay,,,,,ok…..Frank goes 1st….last question is a 3 page information sheet to qualify you as a GAS Attendant….Rick says skip it and Frank leaves, only to return as he learns he has not qualified as A GAS ATTENDANT. Yup you have to agree that you have read and understand the rules and gas is poured. After everyone has filled I push the button again to talk to the nice voice wandering what part of the Rig she is hiding in….asking just curious, where might you be…reply I am in Saskatchewan….O…then she says have a nice evening….Looking up I see a camera starring at me…SMALL WORLD BECOMING SO TECHY AND COMPLICATED> Diner for dinner

Our cabin for the night…. Actually a nice spot….cabin and camping spot…..

Day2 Northern Ontario Sept 8 15

Awoke this am at 6, loaded our bikes and after a free continental breakfast, we headed out Deer Run in heavy fog which persisted to stay with us for an hour. This turned to an overcast but dry day until Wawa when we encountered a short shower as we left Tim’s.   It stayed overcast for the entire day which was okay by me….comfortable riding temp. At this point the water shed is North and South……..below Chapleau.

Lunch was at Chapleau……not a very pretty town. Headed for Wawa 129k SW from here. Then after coffee break on Hwy 17 W to White River the birthplace of Winnie-the Pooh……who was a baby bear taken & smuggled by a soldier from Winnipeg during the 1st  WW to England. Here, he was forced to turn over his Regiment's mascot to an English Zoo. A visiting children’s illustrator and novelist  happened upon the tiny cub. The boy uttered Pooh to his dad as a name………the boy Christopher Robin and Winnie, the name given the bear by the soldier after his hometown of Winnipeg became a children’s story and put White River in the History Books.    From here we headed up towards Hornepayne, finding no suitable place to stay we ended up continuing to Hearst. Howard Johnson is home for the night…..  

Animals seen by Eagle Eye Twisty 1 Cub Bear, 4 Sand Cranes, 1 Beaver and a road kill Skunk…….

Northern Ontario Day1 Sept 7 15

 

Four Hardy Bikers left McDonald’s in Gravenhurst at 7am heading to Port Loring, 2 hours north our 1st stop for Breakfast. Jake’s Cafe……..but not before, I had the group ( Frank, Rick and Ken ) turn around and backtrack wondering where I may have gone off the road. I had disappeared from the their sight shortly before  Port Loring.    No tragedy, I had stopped to snap this pic.

Continuing on 522 after Breakfast we enjoyed twisty hard top out to 69N at Grundy Prov Park…….where we gassed up and headed North. About 40 miles from Sudbury we found ourselves diving into our rain gear and continued on to Sudbury into dry but overcast conditions. Third stop was at the turn to Espanola where we ran into friends Eric & Denise on their bikes heading home from Manitoulin Isl. ( Small World )   At Spanish, we pulled into this place for lunch feasting on fries hot dogs, ham/chicken burgers…….Ken’s mouth was watering for an ice cream cone afterwards but didn’t have room for it……a small was huge.

We cut of 17 at 108 ( Deer Run ) heading to Dunlop Lodge N of Elliott Lake. I had reserved a cabin for our 1st night.  It  didn’t have beds for all of us without doubling up….but as one might expect no takers….so we optioned another cabin with 3 bedrooms with moi getting the folding cot and taking over the living room.     We enjoyed a great afternoon of Sunny hot weather…..so over a beer or 2 we had plenty of time to relax as we arrived at 2;30pm….dinner was excellent after which we retired for the night…….

next we will try to get beyond White River home town of Winnie-the-Pooh.