Cycle Across America (and into Canada) – Day 83

St.Clair to Chatham, Ontario

51miles / 272ft climb

Once again our day did not match our expectations. We had anticipated a quick sixteen miles to Algonac to catch the ferry to Walpole Island in Canada where we would meet with Steve and Lori, have lunch and then cycle the remaining 24 miles. Easy!

Except it wasn’t! The trail between our hotel and the ferry was a lovely route but the bone jarring bumps every three metres or so along the entire route made for an uncomfortable start to our day. My discomfort enhanced by a fall as I started off from a junction. No real injury, just my pride dented.

The ferry to Canada took eight minutes across the beautiful blue St. Clair river. Customs was quick and easy and we were thrilled to meet Lori and Steve on the other side.

After having a lovely ‘all Canadian’ picnic lunch and catch up, we set off for the remaining few miles confident that they would be quick and easy. Lori took all our pannier bags in her car and it was such a joy to travel without them. However, lots of gravelly roads meant we had to reroute a number of times onto busier roads. A strong headwind and not so strong legs and our final mileage stood at an unexpectedly long and challenging 51 miles.

We have a lovely house to share tonight as we enjoy our first evening with Steve and Lori and our last evening with Caroline and Paul.

It feels very strange to think about cycling without Caroline and Paul. Caroline, always at the front, confidently and competently guiding us across over 3,500 miles of routes she had carefully prepared and Paul with his quiet, reassuring, patience often bringing up the rear, not due in any way to his capability but related to his desire to ensure the flock were herded safely to our destination each day. Neither of which were always easy tasks!

They have both provided immeasurable support, encouragement and kindness to me over these last twelve weeks, not to mention an enormous helping of patience, an admirable willingness for card playing, a constant supply of m&ms and lovely companionship. It feels very strange and somewhat sad to be leaving them at this point despite this always being ‘the plan’. We have shared a wonderful and exciting adventure together and will have a lifetime of great memories.

We wish them lots of love, lots of fun and to keep safe on the remainder of their journey which of course we will follow with interest.

Yorktown, Virginia is their ultimate destination and ours is now Boston, Massachusetts. We each have just short of 1,000 miles to cycle to complete our respective journeys.