Last Day on the Saddle

After pedaling in the heat today for nearly 45 miles, we have a brief ride of 18 tomorrow bringing the total to slightly over 300 miles. We have had a wonderful adventure with all the Canadians that we have met being kind and accommodating. So we leave the OVRT/Algonquin Trail with the following thoughts.

The OVRT/Algonquin Trail Is A Hidden Gem

For our 6 1/2 day ride, if we saw two dozen cyclists it would be a lot. The OVRT has everything going for it: Good surfaces, lots of stops for food/refreshments/accommodations, potential trips of varying lengths, etc. In contrast, Le P’tit Train du Nord north of Montreal is similar in length and beauty but is more widely used by cyclists.

The Bugs Ain’t That Bad. . .

. . .if you use the right bug spray. I was so worried about being sucked dry and bitten on the trail I even purchased head netting for Ted and myself. But with the exception of one area on a military base where a division of flies attacked us, our respective bug sprays kept bites to a minimum when we needed to stop.

ATV Drivers Are Often Respectful But . . .

. . .there are always exceptions to the rule. This was another thing I worried about prior to our trip but found that 9 out of 10 ATV drivers were kind, slowed down, and followed the rules. On Sunday, when ATV numbers skyrocketed, it was more 50/50 in terms of courtesy.

The Best Places To Stay Are The Tiniest

Ted and I plan our trips in January so we can ensure a room for each of us in small and unassuming establishments. That worked out great this time as two B&Bs as well as a caboose gave us unique sleeping experiences.

Keep An Eye Peeled For The Unusual

Unusual harbor lights, a bike repair shop that is out of an episode of the Twilight Zone, blueberry fritters and scones to die for, and a sawmill that fabricates telephone poles are just of a few of the unexpected things we discovered. 

Lots of Cool Barns/Farms

I was blown away by al the picturesque barns and farms along the OVRT. Even more amazing was the number of farms having large solar-cell-panel structures.

This is the ninth unique bike trip that Ted and I have taken in so many years. It will be interesting to see where our next journey will take us.

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