Day 34 Quetico Provincial Park to Thunder Bay, Ontario

 104.2 miles, 3,360 ft ascent, coldest, rainy day I have ever ridden

This was the third consecutive Imperial Century Day, and it was perhaps the most challenging of all.  I was barely able to complete the 3rd century due to an extreme change in temperature and winds of over 10mph which made my hands so cold, I could barely operate the gears on my bicycle.  The Tour du Canada scheduled the 3 consecutive centuries, so to keep to the schedule, we had to grit our teeth and ride them, or call Uber XL, which probably does not even operate in the area where we rode.

I only consumed 1/2 bottle of water in 104 miles today.  It was overcast all day, and as already noted, the weather was far worse than predicted.  The day started with a heavy Irish mist for about 20 miles.  If you have ever cycled in Irish mist, you know that it clings to one's lenses, rendering the glasses nearly useless.  After that point the temperature dropped to 48F with heavy rain and the wind previously described.  This was by far the coldest I have ever ridden, and the first 62 miles had no services, so there was no chance for a break for warmth and shelter.  Cyclists were spread out, everyone on the lookout for a place that offered a warm place to rest.  It was a quest for survival for those of us not dressed warmly enough for the conditions.  Toward the end I had to use the palms of my hands to shift gears, as my fingers were too cold and stiff to do that.  

Finally, at 62 miles, there was a cafe where I chowed down on chili, a bowl of soup, and 2 coffees to warm myself enough to quit shivering and shaking.  After that a woman who was riding on a tandem bicycle gave me one of her tops to wear with my jersey and rain jacket.  She was being shielded from the wind by the front rider on the tandem, so she didn't need her extra top, and for her kindness, I was extremely thankful.  In hindsight I have to believe, that had the wind been a headwind, I don't think that I could have made the  62 miles to the cafe where warmth and sustenance were available.

I was toasty riding the last 43 miles, as the rain had finally stopped and the extra layer insulated me from the bitter cold.  The challenge at that point became keeping up with the tandem that roars down hills much faster than a single rider does on a bicycle.  I had to pedal on the downhill and pedal hard on the flats, as well as up hills, to keep up.  We were riding considerably faster than usual to get out of the inclement weather.  

Due to the driving rain, I was unable to get many photos.  Here is one proclaiming our presence in the Atlantic Watershed.  It was taken during a break between the mist of the morning and the later heavy rain.  The cyclist in this photo was warm and had no idea what lay ahead in the afternoon.

The picture below was taken looking east from the watershed sign toward the region that drains into the Atlantic Ocean.  At this point in the journey I was about 20 miles east of where the ride began in Quetico Park.

 

At the end of possibly our most challenging day so far, we reached Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and the Eastern Time Zone.  Below is a photo of my welcome accommodation in the university dormitory.  This is only  our second night of the TDC where we are able to sleep inside, rather than in our tents, as I have previously documented.  

 

Below you see Kakabeka Falls near Thunder Bay.

 

 

Epilogue

Nearly all Canadian cyclists carry bags on their bicycles with extra clothing, food, and water.  Apparently they have learned that the weather conditions are unpredictable and what is necessary to survive those frigid conditions.  I intend to add bags to the bike to carry more "emergency" gear.  In the week ahead, as we ride adjacent to the cold waters of Lake Superior, I will definitely carry a third upper layer of clothing to have it available in the event the weather is worse than predicted.