Woke up....not sure what time it is....my mobile seemed to register a time 3 hours behind when it found reception at Thunder bay the other day and I have crossed into a new time zone as I move westward so have no idea what time I'm at. Thought the clock was 2 hours behind but need to check and ask someone..
Stopped at Ignace....glad that I didn't have to ride the extra 60 k's to here instead of stopping at English River. Am struck by the fortune of finding Ron and Fran's place.....there were only 2 houses in English River...
Gentle tailwind gets me to Ignace at 1020 so I probably left camp at 8am this morning. Find a diner in town and order some breakfast. A curious thing is that with toast Peanut Butter and Strawberry jam are the only two options offered everytime!
As I wait for my order to arrive I fiddle with the back of my neck and feel the damage from last nights sleep.....midges have bitten just below my neck line...it feels like a basket of eggs as my finger runs across it...
In the diner various men congregate at different tables...some talk across these tables...it suggests people know people despite sitting in a variety of spots....baseball hats, shirts, jeans and trainers, some stay longer some go after they have eaten but it is unhurried easy paced conversation. Coffee refills are offered by the waitresses and some accept. It seems not that people dont have work to do but they are working to their own deadlines....It feels relaxed, laidback, natural and hints at being a regular occurence...a well oiled subtle eating tradition where local socializing has its place.
A radio is background music and Sheryl crow's beautiful mistake is not out of place in this moment....more the tune than the lyrics...her easy drawl voice fitting with atmosphere of the room
Later further along the road, 30km away I meet another cross canada-er, we exchange photos and notes on places to stay, road conditions and each persons story....he is doing it for the Scout movement in Canada and is scheduled to meet with different groups to talk with them about what he is doing. I feel a little more blase about our meeting and I have the dinner party affliction of forgetting his name almost immediately!
The wind seems to swirl and at times I ride like a professional with the wind at my back, others I struggle and have to gear down and patiently plod the kilometres to Dryden. I get really hungry near the end and eat two fruit bars and drink a dr pepper and feel sick for about half an hour but arrive in Dryden just after 4pm back in civilisation after the wilderness of the last 2 days along the edge of the Arctic watershed.
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