Celebrate Canada 150 Bike Ride: Day 29

Thursday, June 15, 2017

This morning was a cool foggy start for Ritchie & Caroline. It was a struggle for them to keep warm the first few hours. They had to take a longer way around as they weren't allowed to ride on this section of Hwy 11/17 as it is four lane with narrow shoulders. This means that it is not possible to visit the Terry Fox Monument on foot or on bike which in my mind is a bit of a travesty.
Lynn and I followed 11/17 and didn't get a chance to get a picture, but noted that there are signs 12 km east of the monument to designate the spot where Terry Fox's Run ended.
We finally caught up to the duo after they had stopped for coffee. We met a little later at the road that leads into Ouimet Provincial Park, home of a deep canyon. Ritchie & Caroline mounted their bike on the bike rack and we drove the 11 km to get to the Park. We weren't sure we were going to be able to see anything!!

Once we parked the RV we had to hike about a km to get to the observation platforms. We immediately saw this on the trail! Looks like bear skat to me!😮

If you look in Lynn's right hand you'll see a can of bear spray.......I was carrying the other can😏

We crossed a suspension bridge.

After a bit of a hike, we finally got to the first viewing platform. Lynn wants to know where's the canyon??

By the time we got to the second platform the fog had cleared enough for a spectacular view.

This is called Indian Head.

An amazing view!

The theory is that the glacial age caused pressure and the rock split here and slid across smoother rock below. Time, wind and erosion did the rest. There are plants that grow at the bottom of the canyon that can only be ordinarily found 1000 km north in the Arctic!
It was spectacular and well worth the drive!

Caroline wasn't taking any chances with mosquitos.

We returned Ritchie and Caroline to where they stopped and they took their bikes and rode off. While we were proceeding to our next stop we came across Kim from Seoul, South Korea and Larry Hoope (on the right), who we've met a few times.

Kim started his trek in Alaska in early March and almost froze. He is riding to St. John's Newfoundland and hopes to arrive there before the cold weather. He brought his bike from Korea and it is belt driven (no chain, fixed gear) with very tiny wheels. He averages 10 kph pulling his buggy behind him. He was very thankful for the supplies we left him with (especially the COLD drinks).