Day 43 - Marathon, Ont. (Rest Day)

June 25, 2026 

Start Time: N/A 

Stop Time: N/A 

KM Travelled: 0 on the Bike 

Elevation: 0 on the Bike 

Special Stuff: Catching up, Celebrating 3,500 km and the moments – so many moments! 

I have access to a computer now, so today is a day to focus on catching up on 5 days of blog posts. Creating a blog post using my ipad mini has been an all-day procedure – it take 15 minutes or more to upload each picture. I took a risk and reinstalled the Wix app to my ipad mini (to try to get it work better) and lost access to several drafts and the ability to create and publish posts. Knowing that Brian was on his way with a fully functional computer for me, I documented each day in Word – to transfer to a post later. Today was the day for cleaning up my notes and developing posts. 

Reviewing my progress, I see that I’ve crossed 3,500 km – let that sink in 3,500 km! A year ago, this bike ride wasn’t even a thought in my mind. I was focusing on my wellness by biking around Squamish, gradually making a bit more progress up the hills (advancing by one driveway each subsequent ride) and I had been participating with a weekly pilates class (I was the chubby kid in the class). Back then, if you told me that a year from now I would be in the middle of Ontario riding my bike across Canada, I would have thought you were crazy! 

The official ‘half-way’ point is about 55 km north of Sault Ste. Marie (about 3-4 more days away by bike). I think that half-way point includes the long route through Newfoundland (I will be taking the short route). It may well be that I’m at, or over the half-way point already. 

The half-way point on my daily ride is an important metric. It’s the indicator that determines which direction I’ll need to walk to get to the nearest town if for some reason I can’t bike. Mentally, I see the half-way point as the top of the hill, whereafter everything gets easier – even if it isn’t actually an easier ride. 

In our conversation today, Brian and I talked a little bit about places along my ride and his drive. When asking him specifics of what he saw and experienced, he says things like, “somewhere in that area”, “I can’t quite remember”, or “I recall something like that”. Driving at 100 km/ hour through the provinces and experiencing the drive from an air-conditioned car with music playing is a much different experience than a journey that feels the elements, hears the bird songs and leaves rustling, and smells the earth. 

Off the bike it is easy to forget the details. If I try to whistle the song of that beautiful songbird to describe it to someone, I can’t seem to remember it. 

I document the ride not only so I can share it with others who are interested or may not be able (or want) to make such a journey themselves, but also so that I can remember it. After a while the moments all blur together and it just becomes “the ride of the day” or “the ride across Canada”. The ride is actually a symphony of sights, sounds, smells, and thoughts.

• It is the glistening of my sweaty, brown forearms as I climb a hill in the hot sun.

• It is the moment of surprise when I see the blood dripping down my finger onto my pannier (when I somehow cut one of my partially numb fingers) – and think, “The bears are going to just love this!”

• It is the moment that I pause to rest on a steep uphill climb and turn around to see an amazing vista of Lake Superior.

• It is the moment where I summon all my wit and strength (and remind myself that my only job right now is to keep the bike upright) as I navigate a tricky stretch on a steep downhill ride.

• It is the moment when I reach the summit of a mountain pass and break out into tears.

• It is the moment when I see the ripples on Ripple Lake.

There are so many moments - I am never bored. 

Tomorrow, I ride to White River – the birthplace of Winnie the Pooh. I will start early to get a jump on the heat. I’d like to get up and out of Marathon to the highway by 7:00 am and then start the long, gradual uphill climb to White River.