to Deep River, ON

I should have gone farther yesterday... as it was I had to ride 13 hours today, some 105 kilometers instead of my target 80.  And it was a really hot, humid day.  I went through 5 liters of water plus a liter of other drinks -- that's more than I drank in a day while hiking the Grand Canyon in the peak of the summer!  At least the roads were flat; I hear tomorrow I won't be so lucky in that regard.

I stopped for lunch (poutine!) and ate it outdoors so I could dry my camping gear, so that i wouldn't have to worry about it tonight.

I was able to stay off the highway most of the day, but I joined Route 17 -- which will be my companion for the remainder of my time in Canada -- outside Petawawa.  I stopped for a rest and watched a backpacker approach the city limit.  When he got there, he put down his pack, got out a sign that read "ALBERTA," and put the pack back on in preparation for walking down the highway.  The very first car to come along stopped for him!  He hadn't had that sign out of the pack longer than 30 seconds!

I stayed the night with members of Leela's congregation in Deep River.  Kit is a retired forester, originally from Australia, and Norma is a retired nurse.  They raised four kids in Deep River, but now two are on the west coast, one is in New York, and one is in Ottawa!

87.4 mi