Day 75 - Hawkshaw, NB to Jemseg, NB

July 27 (Monday)

Start Time: 6:00 am

Stop Time: 2:00 pm

KM Travelled: 110.2 km

Elevation: +602/ - 614 m

Special Stuff: Great sleep, Fredericton, Local knowledge

I had a GREAT sleep last night - out like a light from 8:00 pm until 4:00 am. I'm charged up and ready to hit the road again today!

When I was in elementary school, I learned the names of Canadian provinces and territories and their capital cities. I specifically remember learning "Fredericton" because it's a tricky name to pronounce and spell (I even got it wrong spelling it the last few days - big red "X" for me). Today's ride will take me through the outskirts of Fredericton! It feels like a really special day.

Deciding my route was challenging mostly because there are so many options for biking. Based on a conversation I had with another biker beside an ice cream shop in Woodstock, it sounds like I can bike on Highway #2, but I've opted to stay off the main highway and travel the south side of the Saint John River - destination Coys Lake.

As I've mentioned before, I like to play games while riding my bike - these help to pass the time, but more importantly, they help me remember the journey. After my 'city recall' game (where I recite every city I've stayed at along my bike route), my second favorite game to play is the 'A-Z city name'. Basically it involves going through the alphabet and naming a city that I've travelled through on this trip that starts with the alphabet letter. I've had difficulty with the letters "J", "Q", "X" and "Z", which is frustrating. I've noticed that there are a lot of cities that start with the letters "C" and "S". I've decided that my favourite city name, on account of it's uniqueness, is 'Donnacona'.

The morning ride goes nice and smooth. It is much easier to ride well rested. Early in the ride, I come into some fog, which is not too thick. In this foggy zone, I stop in the middle area of the road (a big sectioned off area - safe for me to stand in) so that I can confirm which direction to go. As I'm looking at my map, a car from the oncoming lane pulls into the sectioned off area where I am standing. "This should be interesting" I think to myself. A man in his 60's hangs out of the window of his car, starts talking to me and asks, "Where are you headed off to?" I let him know I'm off to Newfoundland. He then suggests that I consider taking the 105 on the north side of the highway to Jemseg instead of Highway 2 - it's way more scenic and flatter. He says "I know these parts really well, you'll be happier with that route. I let all the bikers I come across know about the 105 - it's just much nicer." I thank him for sharing his local expert knowledge. (He does not even mention the route that I have planned to take - I add this to my information bank.) A completely golden piece of information that he does not even know he has shared is the name of a town that starts with a "J"!!! I try not to get get too excited because it may sound like a "J", but actually is a "G".) The fellow then pulls a U-turn behind me and heads back in the direction he came from - this means that he turned around with the specific intent to come and share this information with me - how amazingly kind and generous of him to make this special effort to help me out!

When I get to Fredericton, I do the most touristy things and take a picture of the Welcome to Fredericton sign right beside a long line-up of cars in a construction zone - I feel like I can get away with these things because it's pretty obvious that I'm a tourist.

Earlier when en route to Fredericton, I called Brian and let him know that I need to reconsider my bike route today. He is at the Walmart parking lot waiting for word on 'what's next'. I take break at a classy little Japanese bakery on the outskirts of town and have an amazing creme filled croissant, a soft lemon cookie and a coffee. I look over the route suggested by the man this morning, and it all looks good. I will head over the bridge in Fredericton and travel along the north side of the St. John River. I notify Brian of the new plan and I will message him when I get to Jemseg.

In order to get to the north side of the river, I need to cross a bridge with 2-way single lane traffic that does not have a pedestrian, nor biker lane. I watch the flow of traffic, and when there is a gap, I boot it and bike as fast as I can across to the other side. I am so grateful that the people behind me are pacing the traffic to give me the space I need to cross over. There are a lot of scary moments on the bike - bridges and tunnels rank amongst the highest among them.

Another graveyard (there are soooo many of them). The oldest one so far dates back to the circ. (which means approximately) 1850.

I get to Jemseg and learn that we can camp overnight in the Esso parking lot. I call Brian and let him know that our campsite plans have changed. He looks for a break in his schedule and drives the short ways down the road to catch up with me.

As I wait for Brian, I take joy in knowing I now have a town, Jemseg, that starts with "J" for my A-Z game.

Shortly after Brian gets to the Esso station, I start getting into the detailed planning of tomorrow's ride when another Escape (the brand of our fibreglass trailer) pulls up beside us. Brian is busy on a call, so I chat with the couple. They live in Fredericton and are on their way back from dropping their granddaughter off in St. John, NB. They love outdoor adventure and know the area very well. The woman pulls out a paper map of New Brunswick. I mention Coys Lake and the woman lets me know she spent summers there when she was growing up. They give me a heads up that Highway #2 has a lot of construction going on and suggest that I consider taking Route 112. These two dropping in at JUST the right time is once again AMAZING!

When Brian wraps up his day, he heads over to the Esso station and orders dinner - it only makes sense to order from their restaurant when we are staying in their parking lot for free.

I have a hard time falling to sleep again tonight - we are the only ones in the parking lot. I ask Brian if he locked the truck (he locks it again), if he locked the trailer door (he locks it again), and if he took the trailer keys out of the door - something he occassionally forgets to do (he shows me the key). I asked him to turn off anything that makes noise (e.g. fans & inverter), so we can hear if someone is around the trailer. When he comes to bed, I ask if maybe we should bring the bear spray (which is on my bike in the back of the truck) into the trailer - he says, "I'll protect us". I look at him in his pajamas and finally know what that one emoji with the raised eyebrow is referring to - and think to myself "I should have got the bear spray".