Today being a rest day, I took time to do some bicycle maintenance. I changed a chain, but I didn't test it hard in this area, due to the wet gravel roads here. Tomorrow will be soon enough.
I found Canadian coins interesting. Coins, as well as a number of the bills have an image of Queen Elizabeth II on one of the sides, since Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and a former member of the British Empire. On the other sides are as follows: 5 cents, a beaver, 10 cents, a sailing ship, 25 cents a Caribou, 1 dollar coin, a loon (the one dollar is famously called, "the loonie"), 2 dollar coin, a polar bear, affectionately called the "twoonie". The ship depicted on the 10 cent piece is "Bluenose", a Canadian schooner from Nova Scotia, and a celebrated racing ship, the symbol of the Province of Nova Scotia. A selection of the referenced coins are shown below, along with a photograph of a Canadian 20 dollar bill.
The bill appears to be a bit wrinkled, and it really is. I keep it folded in my wallet. Because it is made of a type of plastic material, rather than paper, it takes a set when folded. The Canadian bills resist moisture well. (I wonder why????) Canadian bills must be extremely difficult to counterfeit, as there are metal foil sections embedded within each one. Of course, Queen Elizabeth is front and center of this bill, but there are other bills that feature someone other than the Queen.
Tomorrow's ride is another Imperial Century, 105 miles, and we expect a nice temperature with no rain, so we will savor the good conditions. There are five riding days in our next segment. Two of them are century days, and one short day with a ferry ride. The other two days are about 80 miles each. Our next rest day will be in Tottenham, north of Toronto. Visit again to learn about our adventures in the next segment.
Jim, I've enjoyed "traveling" with you along the "top side" of Lake Superior, having lived on the Michigan side of the lake on two occasions. Sorry to read this after your rest day, as I would have suggested you ride, if it wasn't too far, to the American Locks you described in today's post. It's fascinating to watch them in operation, particularly if one of the large lake freighters pass through. I hope your rides over the next few days are pleasant.
ReplyDeleteTo see the American locks would I have needed to carry my passport and be on the American side? I could have managed that, had I known. As it turned out I hunkered down at the campsite, worked on my bike and rested.
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