Six o’clock came early. I was in a sound sleep, then I was awake. Just like that, the day begins. I roll up the mattress and pack everything. Next is taking down and packing the tent. Nancy and Moe are still asleep. My panniers are piled by the car, ready for what’s ahead.
I open the car door. Moe hears what’s happening and makes his woofing. I hear him inside the door. I open it, and out he comes. He is also ready for whatever is ahead, no idea, but he is ready. I feed him breakfast.
Nancy gets up and takes him on a walk-about. After we finish eating, we load the camper with my bike and gear. Nancy will drive me the twenty kilometers to Terrace Bay. This will take the sting out of those extra early miles.
We are soon at a gas station in Terrace Bay. There is not much here: a gas station and a few motels along the road. The next street, behind the gas station, is a small business district with a brewery and a few stores. I unload my bike from the camper and put the panniers on the bike.
Off I ride. Before I’m out of town, Nancy goes by with a horn toot. I begin my fifty-eight-kilometer ride to my campground. I was warned by many people that the hills will be long and brutal. Turns out, this is no exaggeration. Hill and after long hill, I get to a construction section of the Trans-Canada. Atop the last hill, as I wait, the flagger offers me a bottle of ice water. We visit as I wait for the oncoming traffic to go by. I am given the go-ahead. I top the hill and drop to Lake Superior and enter Neys Provincial Park.
It is about three kilometers to the campground. I check in and ride to my site. The first thing I do is eat and set up the tent. Walking to the shower building is next. I string a line and attempt to dry my clothes.
Then I walk to the shore. This is a nice, quiet campground with big sites and. Lots of trees.
The day is ending as I sit in my comfy camp chair. I am glad I brought my down jacket to ease the chilly air from the lake.
I am walking along the lake, hoping for some good sunset photos. I get to the end of the loop and begin talking with the family camping at the last site. They are from Thunder Bay. I tell them that I stayed there five nights ago. At a Warmshowers host whose name is Dan. The women say Morrison? They, Tyler and Dawn, are friends of his. Soon, another couple, Winston and Sarah, come to visit; they are also friends of Dan. I stay well after sunset visiting. Tonight, I was given a gift.
