2002 BIKE BRIGHTON TO OTTAWA

On September 13 Barry Nelson and Dan McQueen, having finished their Appalachian Trail backpack, drove from Rangeley, Maine to Brighton, Ontario in Canada to meet with 52 other cyclists and staff on Wandering Wheel's Fall Breakaway ride to Ottawa.

We cycled along the St. Lawrence River 25 to 55 miles per day for six days with virtually no hills or rain (except one night) and temperatures in the delightful 60-80 degrees range before turning north to bike into Ottawa. The area was very historical especially concerning US and colonial Canadian relations with many markers, forts and other buildings of significance. The area was agricultural with apples the main crop especially during the first few days.

The route was very scenic and interesting with little traffic. We visited street markets, a cider mill, cheese factory, winery, brew pub, a working heritage restored village, forts, Canada's military academy and a one man play in a local playhouse. A big thanks to Ontarians Ross and Joyce Redford for all the hard work routing and planning the varied activities enriching the trip for all.

I camped 3 nights as we stayed at one campground and six churches. The churches were old and usually lovingly restored at great cost and effort. Some were beautiful with high towers, wood beams, murals or other significant art work and stained glass windows. We had a few mini-services to hear of and take in the significance of the churches.

We were served six breakfasts and five dinners including salad, main course, dessert and drink from a varied menu of nutritious meals with seconds always available. My compliments to the chef Marilyn Lehman who prepared everything to perfection and always on time. This adds a lot to a trip.

September 13, 2002 Friday Drive to Brighton, Ontario, Canada

We slept in until 6:30 because there is no hurry today. We packed the van and drove to The People's Choice restaurant in Rangeley, Maine for blueberry pancakes, sausage, orange juice and two glasses of milk at $10.50.

We left the restaurant at 7:28 headed west on ME-16 to NH-26 to US-3 to VT-105 to Derby, Vermont. We stopped for gas costing $1.43 per gallon before crossing into Canada. It was raining lightly. We got on I-91 briefly crossing into Canada on A-55 to A-10 to A-20 in Montreal. We stopped at a McDonalds in St. Zotique, Quebec. I withdrew C$100 ($64.83) from the ATM in McDonalds and loaned C$20 ($12.82) to Barry whose card wouldn't work. I had two chicken burritos, French fries and a root beer for C$6.39 ($4.14).

We continued on to Brighton, Ontario arriving at 3:30 475 miles from Rangeley. We checked into the Presquile Beach Motel room 23 for C$81.76 ($53.01). We met Dave Burt from North Bay, Ontario staying in the motel and his daughter who dropped him off.

We went to town center with Dave to scout out tomorrow's meeting place, a restaurant for supper and an ATM for Barry. We met Ginny Springman from Williamsport, PA on the street and then Bucky and Barbara Buchleitner pulled up with Marcie Smith.

We tended to business and then Barry, Dave and I went to the Wine Cafe Louisa for a 16 oz. Steam Whistle, sweet potato soup, salad, lamb chops, baked potato, broccoli, cauliflower, raspberry crepe and ice tea for C$43.68 ($28.32). Everything was very good.

September 14, 2002 Saturday Bike Brighton to Wellington, Ontario

We were up about 6:30 to an overcast sky and 60^o. We met up with Dave Burt and headed to the Family Restaurant for a western omelet, sausage, toast, orange juice and milk for C$10.50 ($6.81).

We went to the Royal Canadian Legion parking lot at 8:00 the designated meeting place and time. People started arriving as we met Canadians Chuck Pautler and Dave Lewis, then Marcia Bottomley from Michigan followed by Bucky and Barb Buchleitner with Marcie Smith. Then Ross came and told us the Wheels caravan had been delayed due to the truck not stopping at a weigh station and they would arrive about 11:00. Ross invited us to his friend's farm house where our vehicles would be parked for the week.

We locked everyone's gear in Barry's van then Barry and I cycled back to the Presquile Motel to make reservations for next Saturday night when we would return from Ottawa. Stopped at a fruit stand across the highway and bought an apple, pear and nectarine for C$1 ($.65). The fruit was fresh and delicious. We biked to Ross' friend's house on the edge of Brighton near our motel where many people had gathered.

We biked back to the Legion parking lot and the Wheels caravan was there. It was a big joyous reunion as I knew ½ to ¾ of the people from previous bike trips with Wheels. It continued for some time as people drifted back from breakfast a the restaurant. The was a flurry of activity as bikes were unloaded and reunited with their front wheel, route maps and cue sheets for the day were handed out and other pertinent information for the day conveyed.

Barry and I were the last to bike from the parking lot at 11:30. We turned right and followed county road CR-64 for 4.8 miles where we crossed a swing bridge across a canal to Quinte Isle and Prince Edward County. We continued another 4.3 miles to the intersection of CR-64 and CR-33 or The Loyalist Highway at a place called Carrying Place. We stopped at the Ice Cream Stop a diner type place where there were many bikers from our group. I ordered pork souvlaki, a Dr. Pepper and strawberry ice cream cone for C$8.20 ($5.32). I talked to many in our group and met Ev and Mike Green.

We were again the last to leave biking 4 miles where we turned right off the route into the village of Consecon. We stopped to talk to Jim and Jack Jelsema and Bill Fischer who were sitting on a long step drinking water and soda discussing the world situation. We quickly straightened out the world before passing through town. We were back on CR-33 for 8.7 miles when we stopped at a small lakeside park with a Johnny-on-the-Spot and a walkway to the water. Many from our group had stopped. I talked with several in our group including Frank Coburn. We biked another 2.8 miles into the town of Wellington stopping at the United Church on Lake Ontario beside the community park at 3:30.

We biked 29.8 miles in 4 hours on virtually flat terrain and no wind to speak of.

I set up my Coleman 7' x 7' tent at the waters edge next to Jack Bateman's tent. I sleep diagonally in my tent to keep from touching the opposing walls. After much searching in my voluminous and stuffed hockey bag I finally found everything I needed and headed for the Wheels shower. The Wheels shower is a hot water on demand propane heater that attaches to a garden hose and feeds a stand pipe with two shower heads pointing in opposite directions. The showers are surrounded by plastic pipe frame with tarps hanging on them sheltering roughly from shoulder to knee. This provides some privacy from interested passersby and shelter from the wind. Since the showers are public and coed I shower in my bike shorts (washing them) and water sport sandals.

At 6:30 we were served salad, garlic bread, spaghetti, a brownie with ice cream and lemonade. The meal prepared by Marilyn Lehman is cooked in a trailer on propane stoves. The sides fold down into counters for serving. I am amazed that she can cook everything so well for 54 people with limited facilities and always ready at the designated time.

September 15, 2002 Sunday Bike Wellington to Picton, Ontario

We had 3 or 4 good thunderstorms during the night with wind coming off the lake. I left my front and back vents wide open because there are tent overhangs for the vents. I didn't realize it but some rain blew in the door vent next to the lake dampening the tip of my sleeping bag and air mattress. I slept well getting up at 6:30 in no hurry for 8:00 breakfast. It is overcast with a light wind and 60^o. I packed up and stowed my hockey bag in the luggage compartment under the bus. Took down a wet tent and loaded it on the truck. I had orange juice, banana, oatmeal, bagel with cream cheese and milk for breakfast.

After receiving our daily route instructions Barry and I biked east on CR-33 at 9:30 for 5.8 miles to Bloomfield. We stopped at a bike shop and talked to the young owner couple about bikes and Terlingua, Texas. Turning right on CR-12 we followed the shoreline of a peninsula to Westlake where we stopped in a gas station for an ice cream cone with nuts for C$2.16 ($1.40) including GST and PST taxes combined usually totals 15%.

We continued down to Sandbanks Provincial Park where we checked out a couple of beaches one quite long with high sand dunes and several dead-end roads. We loop around the tip of the peninsula and back to a right on Cowan Road. This road parallels CR-128 along a beach. We encounter many runners and bikers participating in a charity athletic event. We stop at a restaurant on the beach but are told it is closed.

After a brief off road stint we are on CR-18 and team up with Roger Davis. Roger and I worked at a federal agency for many years at the same time so we have a lot to talk about. We stop for lunch in Cherry Valley in a small store run by a nice friendly couple. I have a 12" ham sub, chips and a cream soda for C$6.32 ($4.10). I'm still trying to catch up on my food deficit during the backpack last week so I have no trouble finishing the sub. There are many bikers from our group eating there.

We follow CR-10 out of Cherry Valley before turning left on CR-17. We continue straight on CR-16 about a kilometer then right on CR-13 a few hundred yards to the Black River Cheese Factory. We run into Chuck Pautler, Dave Lewis and Max Limbocker. I taste tested Dave's garlic flavored cheese curd and went it to buy a bag along with an excellent vanilla ice cream cone. Before we left the Jelsemas stopped. Max, Chuck, Dave, Roger, Barry and I head north on CR-13 stopping for a scenic overlook our destination a winery.

We stop at the winery and a nice local told us about the nearby cider mill and brew pub. Max took off for Picton so the five of us continued to the cider mill for a small sample. The mill is making wine from the vineyard next to the mill and will be selling it next year. The staff and clientele were very friendly, nice and helpful. A woman gave me a brief history of the area. It was getting late close to the brew pub's closing time so we hustled down Barngards Crossroad a dirt road to left on CR-7. Chuck, Barry and I raced ahead trying to beat the closing time. We raced past Lake on the Mountain turning left on CR-33 near the Glenora Ferry. Unbeknownst to us the brew pub was 50 yards to our right where we turned. We raced into Picton defeated as we knew we missed the pub and it was closing time. Fortunately we found a nice pub where we sat outside in back and I had a 16 oz draft Guinness for C$6.50 ($4.21).

We arrived at the Picton United Church at 5:22 in 65^o. We biked 55.1 miles ascending 1270' and descending 1270' in 1 climb.

After a quick Wheels shower we enjoyed ham, potatoes, green beans, cheese bread, apple cobbler and lemonade for supper at 6:30. We had to sleep inside so after a evening of socializing it was lights out at 10:00.

September 16, 2002 Monday Bike Picton to Kingston, Ontario

Got up a 6:45, packed up and loaded bag in bus luggage compartment. It is sunny and cool. At 8:00 ate breakfast of eggs, potatoes and orange juice.

We biked from the church at 9:00 headed out of Picton east on CR-33 5.4 miles the car ferry.

Many from our group piled onto the ferry with the cars and trucks crossing from Quinte's Isle to the mainland. Chuck, Dave Burt, Dave Lewis, Barry and I rode together but Chuck and Barry pulled ahead as I talked to the two Dave's. We passed through the villages of Adolphustown at 2.3 miles and Conway another 5.7 miles. I pulled away and rode into Bath at 20.8 miles from our start. I stopped in Foodtown for 3 plums and 2 apples then on for blueberry ice cream cone for C$2.19 ($1.42). Roger and I biked on through the prison town of Milhaven and Amherstview. We teamed up with Chuck and Barry riding through Collins Bay into Kingston. On the outskirts we caught up to Jim Peterson and Elaine Huppe who joined us.

Kingston is a city of 116,000 and was the first capital of Upper Canada which is now Ontario. Chuck led us to the waterfront where we stopped at the Holliday Inn sitting outside by the water. I had a very good Cajun catfish and curry vegetables with a 16 oz. draft for C$18.08 ($11.72). Chuck then led us across a bridge to Canada's military academy which we toured. Chuck is very knowledgeable and patiently explained Canadian government and history to us yanks. Next we headed up the hill to Fort Henry built to guard the port. We paid C$10.75 ($6.97) enter but were treated to some great views and an excellent museum of Canadian military about 150 years ago.

We coasted back downhill through town to St. James Anglican Church arriving at 5:00. We biked 48.6 miles ascending 1040' and descending 1020' with no climbs (hills less than 200' elevation change don't count). Coach (Bob Davenport) told me as I came in that my 80 year old sister died this morning. We had a Wheels shower.

Chuck, Barry, Roger and I walked downtown to the Kingston Brewing Company and sat outside. I had a 16 oz. IPA (India Pale Ale), barbecued ribs, French fries, beans and tortillini soup for C$29.90 ($19.38).

I found a pay phone in the restaurant and called Anne. She confirmed that it was my widowed sister Dorothy who has no children. Dorothy donated her body to science so there was no service requiring my attendance. I was relieved since it would have been very difficult to get to Sharon, Pennsylvania where Dorothy lived.

We walked around the corner for an ice cream cone for C$4.29 ($2.78). Back at the church we socialized until lights out at 10:00.

September 17, 2002 Tuesday Bike Kingston to Ganonoque

Got up at 6:40, packed up and loaded bag in bus luggage compartment. I walked to an ATM on the university campus to withdraw C$100 ($65.01). 8:00 breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal with nuts, cinnamon bun, cantaloupe and milk.

At 10:00 it is sunny and pleasant with a nice breeze as we biked to Market Street on the waterfront to a street market. I buy a banana (help prevent leg cramps) and 3 white fleshed peaches. We wind our way out of town and follow PR-2 19.4 miles to Gananoque.

Gan is a tourist town of about 5,000 that is very neat. We stop at the busy information center. Around 12:00 we cross the street to Anthony's for lunch of grilled ham and cheese, French fries and a vanilla shake at C$12.12 ($7.88). We meet at the docks at 1:15 and have our bikes in a community lock up in two large clumps of bikes.

We board a boat for C$8 ($5.20) and at 1:30 we shove off on a one hour and 15 minute boat tour with narrative of the Thousand Islands. It is scenic, interesting and quite relaxing.

On shore again after our bikes are free we bike 5.1 miles mostly on a bike path to Landon Bay Centre a park with camping. We arrive at 3:10 in 69^o having biked 25.6 miles ascending 680' and descending 680' with no climbs.

We are several hundred yards off the road with acres of grass all to ourselves. I set up my tent and shower in the campground shower. Many people take a hike with a local naturalist.

At 6:00 we bus back to town. Barry, Roger and I separate from the large group and walk to Moronies Italian restaurant. I order chicken fettucini Alfredo, salad and a red beer for C$30.05 ($19.54). At 7:45 we enter the Thousand Island Playhouse for C$20 to see "Wingfield on Ice". It is a one man comical show played by Rod Beattie who assumes the voice and personality of many local country characters during a crises caused by a severe 5 day ice storm.

After an enjoyable evening we bused back to camp. It cooled down considerably under a cloudless sky with a ¾ moon casting shadows around trees and buildings. It was 11:30 when I settled into my sleeping bag.

September 18, 2002 Wednesday Bike Ganonoque to Brockville, Ontario

Got up at 6:46. packed up, took down my tent and loaded them on the truck and bus. It is overcast, foggy and cool. 8:00 breakfast of orange juice, oatmeal, sausage and spinach quiche, banana and milk.

At 9:30 we bike out of the campground on the bike path which we follow most of the way. I need something sweet so we stop at a campground store and I eat a large chocolate chip cookie for C$1 ($.65). It is now sunny and 70^o.

In Brockville we stop at the Keystorm Pub named after a tragic sinking of a boat loaded with coal. Delee our waitress is French. I have a steak and cheese sandwich, salad, clam chowder and a 16 oz. Caledonia 80 for C$18.98 ($12.34). We walk to a bakery for a fruit custard tart C$1.15 ($.75) and an eclair C$1.15 ($.75) both of which were outstanding. Walked to the water by the marina for a soft vanilla ice cream cone for $2.25 ($1.46). We explore some more of the town by foot then return to our bikes and head in to the Wall Street United Church at 3:00 in 80^o with the barometer at 29.6".

We biked 29.5 miles ascending 780' and descending 680' with no climbs.

I have a cold shower in the church. 6:30 supper of pork chop, stuffing, slaw, peach cobbler with whipped cream, and lemonade. I slept on the stage when lights were out at 10:00. There are 3 large churches clustered around the court house with high steep slate roof steeples. All are attractive and well maintained.

September 19, 2002 Thursday Bike Brockville to Morrisburg, Ontario

Got up at 6:50, packed up my sleeping bag and sheet and loaded them in the bus. Checking outside it is sunny and warm another beautiful day in Ontario. At 8:00 I had oatmeal granola, applesauce, peach dessert, orange juice and milk.

We biked from the church at 9:30 east on PR-2. There are many historical markers and we are stopping at them all to read. We stop at an abandoned wind grist mill tower and then the historic Blue Church at
















9.1 miles. I got separated from Barry and am riding with Nate and Mary-Ellen Carmen, Elaine Huppe and Marilyn Lehman. We go off route near Johnstown to visit the Battle of the Windmill site. The battle was between British troops and Canadian rebels in their first abortive attempt to liberalize British policies toward Canada. Most of their issues were adopted by the British over the next 30 years. The windmill was originally built as a grist mill tower but converted to a lighthouse around 1900 and now is a park.

I abandoned the group to an ice cream stop and met up with Roger Davis. We visited the Fairfield House. We joined with Jim Peterson, Karl Harte and Lothar Nitz stopping in Iroquois for lunch but then deciding to continue to Morrisburg. We stopped in Morrisburg and I went to Gregor's Place for a club sandwich with French fries and a lemonade for C$9.32 ($6.06).

The five of us decided to bike another 7-8 miles east to Upper Canada Village a provincial heritage village or living museum. We paid C$15.95 ($10.37) to enter stepping back to about 1860. The town was assembled when the St. Lawrence Seaway was constructed in the 1960s flooding vast areas by moving whole buildings to this spot. The town was a completely working town with water driven lumber, grist and woolen mills, inn, tin smith, cabinet maker, stage coach, mule pulled bateaux, etc. I was fascinated watching the saw mill work and talking to the tin smith and seeing the 250 - 300 items he made. As we left we bought a loaf of bread and some cheese. We divided them between us. Everything had been grown, milled, baked and made here at the village.

We biked back to Morrisburg against a slight head wind arriving at St. James Anglican Church at 4:30 in 77^o. We biked 51.5 miles ascending 550' and descending 520' with no climbs.

I set up my tent behind the old and beautiful stone church before taking a Wheels shower. At 6:30 we had Java chicken, rice with tomatoes, onion, coconut, nuts, etc., chocolate cake with a light icing and lemonade. We ate on the lawn next to the trailer on folding chairs and many lingered into the night talking in the pleasant evening air.

September 20, 2002 Friday Bike Morrisburg to Ottawa, Ontario

Barry woke me up at 6:25 to an overcast sky that turned sunny by afternoon. Packed up a dry tent as we had a breeze all night and my gear loading them on the truck and bus. At 7:00 I had pancakes, sausage, orange juice and milk.

At 8:06 Barry, Karl and I rode from the church west back to Iroquois against a pretty good head wind about 15 miles per hour. We wanted to spend time in Ottawa so we rode in a pace line at a good clip and kept going. We were in the outskirts of Ottawa about 50 miles before we stopped for ice cream C$2 ($1.30). We were averaging over 18 miles per hour against some head wind and a lot of cross wind.

We continued on to downtown and the First United Church our home for tonight. We returned 3 or 4 blocks to the Clockworks Brew Pub for lunch with Coach and Jenech about 11:40. I had Cuban mojo chicken, red potatoes, a 16 oz. draft Bitter and a raspberry cheesecake for C$30 ($19.50).

We returned to church having biked 60.2 miles in 3:28:25 ascending 1280' and descending 1240' with 1 major climb.

We cleaned up in a Wheels shower set up next to the sidewalk. We got some funny looks from sidewalk passersby. Roger Davis, Barry and I walked to the federal district visiting the visitor information center, taking pictures of the Parliament buildings and other sites. We decided to take a Gray Line bus tour but were too late. We then took the last Canada Ducks bus/boat tour with a running commentary for C$20 ($13.00) at 4:30. We bused by the major sights of Ottawa and took a 30 minute ride in the river below the Parliament buildings before returning an hour and 15 minutes later.

We kept running into people from our group as we walked the streets. We headed for the market area stopping in the Fish Market restaurant at 54 York Street for dinner. Jack Bateman, Rose Campany, Lynn Snowden, Chuck Pautler and others were already there. We also saw a couple we talked with on the duck boat ride earlier. I had clam chowder, roll and butter, 16 oz. draft Honey Brown, a big halibut steak, red potatoes, green beans and apple pie ala mode for C$39.68 ($25.80). It was a pleasant walk back where we stopped and talked with a large contingent from our group sitting on a circular park bench near the church.

September 21, 2002 Saturday Tour Ottawa, Ontario

Got up at 6:35 and paced up. Walked to the Bridgehead Coffee House for a bagel with cream cheese, orange juice and milk for C$6.87 ($4.47). It is overcast and literally a few drop fell then it turned sunny.

At 8:00 we bused to the Parliament Buildings for our own tour of the Houses of Parliament. After the tour many of us went to the top of the Peace Tower for some great views of Ottawa.

It was noon so I returned to the market area and went to the Highlander Pub at 115 Rideaux Street for a steak sandwich, potato soup and a pint of Sleeman's Cream Ale for C$14.54 ($9.45). Strolling around the market I bought a strawberry cream tart for C$2.16 ($1.40) that was great. I walked back to the visitor's center and talked to many from our group over a raspberry ice cream cone for C$2 ($1.30). The group met at 2:00 in front of Parliament and Jenech organized us for a group picture on the banked lawn.

We then loaded on the bus for the four hour ride back to Brighton. We stopped near Brighton on the highway for a fast food dinner. Barry and I didn't eat instead opting for a vanilla ice cream cone for C$2.25 ($1.46). Eighteen of us were dropped in Brighton. It took time to unload our luggage, tents and bikes. Everyone hung around saying good-bye to everyone else and seemed reluctant to depart.

Barry and I drove to the Presquile Beach Motel and checked into rooms 7 and 8 for C$89.60. It is about 8:00 so we headed right back to the Wine Cafe Louisa before they closed. I had a pork souvlaki, garden salad, 16 oz. Steam Whistle and a raspberry crepe with whipped cream for C$36.41 ($23.67). The food was excellent and I left very full and contented.

September 22, 2002 Sunday Drive Brighton, Ontario to Columbia, MD

Got up at 5:24 and we were on the road at 5:50. We headed back east on A-20 roughly paralleling our bike route.

We stopped at McDonalds to spend our leftover Canadian money. I got 2 breakfast burritos, home fries, orange juice and milk for C$6.06 ($3.94).

We crossed the bridge into the United States just past Gananoque and paid C$2 ($1.30) toll. We stopped for gas in New York on I-81. We stopped at Applebee's in Wilkes Barr for a draft Yuengling, barbecued pork sandwich, French fries and an apple cinnamon cobbler ala mode for $17.14.

We followed I-81 to Harrisburg where we picked up I-83 to the Baltimore Beltway I-695 to I-70 west to US-29 south. We stopped for gas in Ellicott City and then home to Columbia about 4:30.