Trip 1: Entry 10 - Cottage Country sunshine

Hey folks,

sorry if I sounded like a big suck the last couple of entries and thanks to those who are trying to cheer me up. Things are genrally a lot better.

From Atikokan I got to Thunder Bay, 200kms, in decent time. Yes, there were headwinds again, though not as strong, and the roads were decent and the sun was pleasant. You could really feel the cooling effects of the "big lake they call Gichigumee" (sp?) as you appoached. Had a quick conversation with a local biker, both of us in the aerobars into the wind on a wide stretch of shoulder, just before town. Nice moment.

Timing was tight there, just enough to let me wolf down a Subway sub (craving fulfilled), grab a Globe and Mail and get my bike torn down for the Greyhound folks. The bus was packed and I ended up in one of the less leg-roomy seats, but at least next to a nice person, Mellisa. The ride was long and I didn't get much sleep except from roughly 2-5 am, but did manage to sleep through someone passing out (mediacal, not booze) and being taken off the bus for an ambulance. It was quite the gong show and only needed some chickens to be a latin american experience. By the end, there were 3 people without seats. The bus driver was actualy pretty funny in dealing with the problems and making various announcements: "The next movie will be "Sweet Dreams II", so close your eyes and enjoy."

The bus didn't get in to Sudbury until 10am. It was noon by the time I had repacked, gotten some food and left town. Highway 69 had a mix of conditions from good shoulder to no-shoulder-reach-out-and-touch-transports. I also got what amounts to the only real rain of the trip, but it was not too cool and kind of felt good. With no fenders, you stay wet from the spray well after the rain stops. I went120kms south and stayed at a marina where the owner let me use his own shower and even cooked me some potato on the barbie. Nice guy. Bad black flies and mosquitos.

Today is likely the best of the trip: sunny skies, good roads, neutral winds and amazing cottage-country scenery. (For some of you westerners, cottages are a way of life out here and are NOT culturally the same as 'cabins' out there. The area I'm wandering through is one of the most exclusive areas, with cottage-mansions owned by the elite and stars.) I've been taking my time, stopping for an hour and a half at a Timmy's, with a Globe, after 1.5 hours. I'm now in Port Carling and will continue east through Bracebridge and towards Carnarvon. Tomorrow by noon I'll be at my buddy's, (Ed), place in Bancroft and will spend a full day at least.

As for my butt?? Well, again there remain issues, but I may be getting better at managing them. I found out that the meds I'm taking for my poison ivy (still a problem) could be affecting the healing of my sores. Also, as a diabtic, they may be slower to heal as well. Also, the meds are affecting my blood glucose (raising it), so all this is less than ideal. I certainly feel like the big trip can only go smoother. Eveyone is surprised to hear how much easterly winds I've had, so hopefully by late June this will have reversed somewhat and there will be fewer bugs!

Sorry not to have more photos. I'll be able to upload some more when I get to Trenton or Kingston in a few days. Better get back after it. Take it
easy.