Day 60 - Renfrew, Ont. to Kanata, Ont.

July 12, 2026 (Sunday)

Start Time: 6:00 am 

Stop Time: 11:10 am 

KM Travelled: 85 km 

Elevation: +545/ - 596 m 

Special Stuff: First glimpse of Ottawa 

I forget to set my alarm but my circadian rhythm is working like ‘clockwork’ and I wake up 3 minutes past 4:00 am. I slept like a log after yesterday's long ride – waking for only brief moments to notice that my legs feel like they’ve had a workout. It's so interesting to still have this 'post workout' feeling after having done so much riding over the past 60 days. 

In keeping with the theme of the ever-changing environmental concerns, my attention now shifts over to forest fires and air quality. I thought once I got out of BC, I wouldn’t have to worry about forest fires, but unfortunately my suspicions from yesterday have been confirmed today on my weather app with a Yellow Alert - Air Quality (Level 5). 

As I get ready for my ride, I do research on the location of the fires. Right now...we are right under the blue dot at the bottom of Quebec - on the Ontario side of the line.  

https://api.cwfif.nrcan.gc.ca/static-maps/static_maps?source_url_key=framework_wms&opacity=1&show_north_arrow=false&layers=public:cwfif_national_activefires&language=en&styles=public:active_fires&_gl=1*34ht3l*_ga*MTg3NzcxNDAwMy4xNzgzODQ1ODA5*_ga_C2N57Y7DX5*czE3ODM4NDU4MDkkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODM4NDU4MTAkajU5JGwwJGgw

I also learn about what the different air quality ratings mean. I look for information to answer the question: Is it safe for a healthy 55-year-old woman to be biking today? I discover that air quality ratings from 1-3 are safe; 4-6 I need to use caution and stop exercising with symptoms; 7-10 I need to consider a rest day as these are unsafe to exercise outdoors. I will use this as my metric for a ride/ no ride day going forward. 

I add some disposable high filtration masks that I had from my COVID days to my gear. I decide that if I get to the point that I feel I need to use them, it's time to get off the road.

As I leave the RV this morning, I feel like I’ve stepped into a tweetie bird convention! It is so loud with birds chirping! They are celebrating the start of a brand-new day. (Have I ever mentioned how much I love mornings?!?!)  

Early morning rides are quiet, but early morning rides on weekends and holidays are amazing! Today’s ride is so smooth. I get to experience many of my favourite things: 

• Farm animals (I don't know what kind of birds these are, but they were out in a field)

• Fields (the corn is quite high over here) 

• Old graveyards (this one says 1877 - likely when it was established)

I just can't seem to get enough of farmland rides! I have definately found my happy place.

All across the farmlands areas of Ontario, I’ve been observing post boxes. Unfortunately I did not taken pictures of some of the super cute ones - like the wind powered horse carousel, the fish being caught and the old English cast iron letter box. I laughed at one that had a 4' x 3' piece of plywood installed about a foot before their mailbox - the owner had probably had enough of his mailbox being a casualty of mailbox baseball (a drive-by sport often taken up by troublesome country youth). One VERY popular mailbox is the unattractive green plastic one - I think it looks like a rubbermaid container. I have no idea how or why it became so popular – maybe it has proven to be resilience to the high speed swing of a baseball bat. 

Along my ride today, I start to notice other bikers (I guess riding in a Yellow Alert – Air Quality Level 5 is just fine). First it was a group of six speed bikers (I love the sound when those groups of speed bikers blow by me). Then it was bikers riding solo and in pairs. None of them are saddled up with panniers, but I’m still super-excited to see them. I shout out a “good morning” to all of them, some bikers say “good morning” back, but many do not even acknowledge my existence (I think that wis a bit rude, but they may have had earphones on and do not hear me. Up to now, if I come across a biker, I feel a certain kinship with them – even if they are not carrying panniers. I feel sad when I am not even acknowledged with a nod or a smile. 

As I get to Carp and notice the coffee shops have many bikers enjoying morning coffee with their friends. In that moment, I realize that I am in 'the suburbs' - we are within commuting distance of Ottawa. Of course there will be a biking culture change, there are probably too many people biking around to acknowledge every fellow biker. 

I wonder if this change will continue onto St.John’s, Newfoundland. There will be more bikers in Quebec and the Maritimes - it’s the peak of riding season. I prepare myself emotionally for this change AND I make a decision to stay open to the kindness of others. I will continue to say “good morning” and “hello” and have small chit chats - I think these gestures are important for opening doors to kindness. 

I arrive just outside the campground and am greeted with an amazing surprise – off in the distance I get my very first glimpse of Ottawa. It is one of those surreal moments that I realize what I am actually doing and what I have actually accomplished – I have travelled 4,800 kilometers by bike in less than 2 months. I feel the tears welling up, but I hold it together. The bikers and cars that pass me are oblivious to the amazing energy that is radiating from my heart and soul. Like on the ferry back in BC I want to shout out and share with people what I am doing and how I am feeling in the moment, but I hold back – mostly out of fear that others will just not care about or understand the magnitude of this moment. 

I get to the campsite at 11:10 am and discover that Brian has just left our previous campsite. He arrives an hour later and then spends 2 hours finding the 'perfect' camp spot that has a clear shot of the satellite for his Starlink (he needs a good connection to be effective in his work). I spend 3 hours scrolling through Instagram and Facebook – wishing I was still riding my bike – and crossing over into Quebec. There are tradeoffs when travelling with someone else (and I need to practice patience – a trait which I do not have an abundance of).

While I am waiting for Brian, I get to see some of the biggest squirrels that I've ever seen. They are not nimble like the squirrels I am used to - these ones seem to creep slowly along on all fours - like dogs and bears. For a moment I think that maybe I should be concerned for my safety, but my Instragram feed gets pretty interesting with Erling Haaland and Tour de France posts - so I just make sure my food is securely packed away and I pay the squirrels no more attention.