It’s pouring rain outside. Pelting! The wind is doing its best to shake this little RV. We four are snug inside, the three cyclists showered and clean, each absorbed in their little machines. Rebecca is hard at work making us a dinner of ground beef, veggies and tomato sauce over pasta and soon we will be sitting around the little table eating dinner, and looking out over the windy grey lake. 
Charlie and I are really enjoying being spoiled by Willy and Rebecca and it will be harder when they leave us Tuesday morning. We will have 2 weeks or more of this northern Ontario. I’ve been looking for an escape hatch but there isn’t one. Right now we are trying to figure out the easiest, safest and fastest way to go. We have heard it said that Quebec is the reward for getting through northern Ontario and as we have cycled Quebec the past 2 summers, we know that is true. Another cyclist is quoted as having said, “Don’t cry and just keep going.” Words to live by, for now anyway.
Cycling this early morning was excellent! It felt like we were flying because we didn’t have to take our panniers. Charlie and I left just after 7:30, leaving Willy behind with Rebecca in the RV. They had made us a fantastic breakfast of scrambled eggs with peppers and granola. Willy had to take the RV in to get fresh water and dump the reservoir, so after that was done Rebecca drove him to about 20 km from where they thought we’d be. He jumped on his road bike and worked mighty hard to catch up with us. Around 10:30 Rebecca drove up in her RV and parked on the side of the road. As we rode past she opened the door and presented us with a tray containing banana chocolate muffins and home made peanut butter cookies. I know I shouldn’t ….but I did!!!! 😛
Fort Frances looks like a very nice summer town. I’m sure it’s quite miserable in the winter but right now it’s bustling with people who are all excited to get summer going. Lots of vehicles towing boats. Lots of advertisements for fishing equipment, liscences, bait, etc.. Its a happening little place! We had lunch in a parking lot, once again prepared with TLC by Rebecca. We are sure eating a lot better with them around! It comes down to access to food on the road as well as to how much you want to carry. Cans of food are heavy. Lots of stuff is bulky to carry. Oh well, we will get by.
After lunch we did another 20 km east and Rebecca found us a place to camp at this great boat launch. We are self contained with no need for any of the facilities that a camp site provides. This is much cheaper. After dinner, and it was delicious, we drove back to Fort Frances in order to get internet access. We (I did at first, but it was mainly Charlie and Willy) who figured out the best route for us to take, considering distance, shoulder width, elevations, quality of pavement and volume of traffic. The end decision is that we will be taking the highway from Thunder Bay to Nipigon, Longlac, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Iroquois Falls, Kirkland Lake to North Bay. 
There are some long, long stretches between towns but the road is flatter. There are lots of trucks but we have found that truckers give us wide berth. The road to Sault Ste Marie has more hills and lots of summer traffic; vacationers keen on getting to their cottages ASAP. Many towing boats. Ah,….it’s a gamble, no matter how you look at it. What I really am sorry about though is that we won’t get the chance to see Carolynn Ouellette and her husband Ed, who live just a bit north of Sault Ste Marie. Carolynn and I went through dental hygiene together and haven’t seen each other since we graduated 24 years ago. Nonetheless, for safety, etc, we will take the northern route.
Soon we will go back to our camp spot for the night. It all starts again tomorrow morning. One little bit further, one little bit closer to goal. It definitely is fun and a challenge but it’s a real long haul too. I could sleep for a week and I’m not even halfway done!
Wendingourway:Across Canada by Bike 2017 