Day 67 Cranberry Camp Ground to Lake Ainslie 103 miles

We got up extra early as we knew it was going to be hot so I was packing away the tent in the dark whilst being savaged by the blessed Mozzies. A quick bowl of porridge and a coffee and we were off.

A slightly smaller group today as Tom was on Galley duty and we had forgotten to tell One Sock about the early start and he wasn't ready in time. In the best traditions of the tour so far we decided to leave rather than wait for him!

We made our first stop of the day with just less than 500m completed as we passed a shop and some of the group filled up with goodies for the trip.

The first 45 km of the route was wonderful, rolling countryside in dawn calm conditions with very little traffic. It got a bit steeper after a few km but they were gentle gradients and perfect for a warm up in slightly cool conditions.

We rolled into Antigonish and stopped fro breakfast and then ploughed on as we knew we had a long way to go. We stayed on the highway which wasn't as picturesque but funnily enough because of several bits of road works the traffic was coming along in lumps and you got large sections of road where there was no traffic at all.

The wind started to turn against us though and we had to work quite hard at times to make headway.

Our lunch stop was at the Canso Causeway where we drove onto Cape Bretton, and then we turned head on into the wind for the next 60km or so. It was quite finicky though as one minute you were being blown sideways and then the next it was pushing you along, it must be the effects of the mountains as it was really inconsistent.

After a 50km slog we stopped for a milk shake at a local farmers market and then ploughed on directly into the wind for the last 14km into camp. I was knackered and so were most of the group.

Post tent erection and showers time is being dedicated to what should be the final wash of the trip, we have 4 riding days left and I have 4 sets of kit so emergencies allowing that should be it. I have every intention to start throwing our socks etc now that I am nearly finished; I dread to think what the customs officer at Heathrow might say if I was to carry some of my gear back to the UK.

Tomorrow is the”beast day” of the trip 140km (80 Miles) all hilly and two big climbs over 450m so should be a challenge. If the wind is in our faces it will be a long long day.





Other news is that Hurricane Earl is on its way North from the Caribbean, the remnants of it are forecast to arrive in Newfoundland on Friday, this coincides nicely with our departure on a 14 hour ferry trip at midnight on Friday, sounds interesting, watch this space for details.

Onwards and Upwards!