Ivy Lea to Ottawa Day 50 August 15

A little hideaway on one of the 1000 Islands would be nice on a day like today.

Terri and her daughter Rennie. She surprised us with watermelon and cold water. Thanks Rennee!!!!!

Leaving camp in Ivy Lea it was not hard to tell it would be a hot and muggy day. The dew was very heavy on the fly and I only needed the liner of my sleeping bag to keep me warm through the night. We set out early to do the 154 km so we could get into the University and get organized for our rest day there. Terri was meeting her daughter and going to her home outside of Ottawa to stay overnight and visit with the family. Terri's sister Mary had told us we would have a pretty ride today and she was very right about that.

We travelled along the 1000 Island Parkway for about 15 km and then we turned away from the water to travel through country roads. Terri took an extra side trip and added 10km to her ride. (but don't tell Don) I saw her go but could not get her attention. I sent word with a motorist heading her way that I would be waiting for her. About 30 minutes later she came up over the hill. Once we were together again we covered some pretty country roads and passed over the 401 at one point.

Terri's daughter Rennee met us just outside of Merrickville with cold water and watermelon for the cyclists. Many of the faster riders had missed her and she went ahead to a more distant spot so she could see them. We appreciated the stop and the watermelon really hit the spot. Just after seeing Rennee we got to Merrickville where we had a nice lunch. It is a quaint tourist town and a popular spot for cyclists from Ottawa to do an out and back ride.

Once on the road again we followed the Rideau Canal almost the rest of the way to Ottawa. It was a pretty ride with some fantastic homes along the way. We met Rennee again and had our second helping of watermelon. We put ice in our water to take us the rest of the way.

The heat was oppressive today and while you had a breeze when you were riding, you really felt the heat when you stopped. At any one point it would have been nice to jump into a pool. We came into Carlton University about 4:30 pm to find we had a bit of a walk from the truck but we had the advantage of Renee's van.

Terri will be spending her rest day with her family but she promised to bring me a piece of homemade pie. I am catching up on laundry, the blog and phone calls to family. I will be meeting my daughter Alison in two days in Montreal. She plans to ride with us for part of the day. I have to head to a bike store for a screw for my shifter. It is being held by electrician's tape right now.

We have been blessed with good health on the trip. We have just three weeks left and to date we have travelled 5,307 km. Hard to believe I know. Each day we are in a different city, on a different road. It is kind of funny, sometimes when I wake up in my tent in the morning I have to think where I am and what is actually on the other side of the door of my tent. It can be a bit disorienting. Even though we all have our routines in the mornings and evenings to get things done and on the road or ready for bed, we have to have enough flexibility to handle the new environment. Have you ever gone to the cupboard only to find you put a container of milk here? Well things like that happen on this trip. I have packed my tent in its bag and done it all up only to find out that my cycling gloves were in there. I have not decided yet whether I will be more or less high maintenance when I get back to Kincardine.

See you down the road.