Kingston to Brockville, ON

August 15, Thursday

53 miles Kingston to Brockville   

Awake at 5:20 with 8 hours of very good sleep.  Up at 6:45, but no rush as we have only 30 miles and three hours to ride to a boat tour of the 1000 Islands.  

In case you are curious our gear trailer is our collective walk-in closet where all 125 of us have our personal clothing, etc.  It gets stored in 2 laundry baskets each: 

 It is rather cool as we leave (58 degrees) so I ride wearing my thermal jersey.  I ride with a guy named Jeff from Ontario and we have a nice easy pace until the first sag stop at 15 miles and then join Peter and Elly.  In the nice village of Gananoque Jeff and I stop at the Panache Bakery for a very good almond / raspberry tart and coffee:  www.panachebakery.ca 

 .  In talking with the proprietor she made a $25 donation to our cause. :-)  

   We made it to boat at 9:45 for a 10:30 sailing. 

  A lovely, albeit, very windy day for a one hour tour of the 1000 Islands from Ivy Lea including riding under the 1000 Island Bridge (USA - Canada) 

 and views of the Boldt Castle.  

 Back on the road at noon with only 20 miles to ride.  There is a wonderful stiff (15mph) wind at our back the entire way.  It is a very easy and flat ride all along the St. Lawrence River.  Arrive at the St. Lawrence Park in Brockville at 1:45 and am greeted by friends Jane and Jack Van de Hoef.

Set up the tent and bathe in the St. Lawrence River...

... before heading to town for internet at the Library.  

  Dinner tonight is being provided by the Brockville CRC – “stompot” – which they tell me is a Dutch specialty of potatoes and kale smashed up and sausage added.  We’ll see how that goes.  With everything here being British and “Loyalist” and lots of fish and chip shops around I was thinking some F&C would be good local fare!  But so far, the food has been generous and wonderful and I feel like we are eating our way across Canada.  

Today marks halfway for me and I've ridden 726 miles so far.  Only one fall and no flat tires.