Gail's Riding Journal

Muskoka Bound

I haven't been able to travel very far on my bike this year. I guess my goal of doubling last year's mileage is actually pretty far from reach. I imagine I'll be lucky to match it!

But at least amidst the hustle and bustle of our busy lives as new homeowners, Andrew and I were able to join my parents

Small tanks on the Blast and Lightning mean frequent fill ups. This is the first, in Perth.

and their good friend Walter on a nice long motorcycle trip to Muskoka.

Ah, Muskoka. Cottage country. Land of the moose and loon. Second home (or at least a place to visit very frequently) to some of Hollywood's celebrities, including Martin Short, Goldie Hawn, and Kurt Russel.

I packed my saddle bags with the minimum of essentials. We would only be staying one night at my Granny's house on the water, so I needed shorts to change into when we got there, and a bathing suit to enjoy the warm waters of Muskoka Bay. I also carried a new bottle of oil for my Blast to drink, and wore a kidney belt to save my back. I didn't end up quenching my bike's thirst until we got back home, but I was very glad to have the kidney belt.

We left early Saturday morning (if you count 7:30 as early, which I do, though only on weekends). In Perth, we enjoyed

Normally we would stop right in Bancroft, but the ongoing mineral festival caused great traffic jams, and it was hard enough just to get around the town. We stopped instead at the OPP Station on the other side.

breakfast at a nice family restaurant. The food was pretty good, but it's a shame they served frozen home-fries.

As usual, the trek along Highway 7 was long and uneventful. We did get stuck behind a few other inconsistent Harley riders that never waved at oncoming bikes and didn't know what staggered formation was, but that's about it.

Many of the curvy roads were between Madoc (the end of Highway 7 for us) and Bancroft. Had Andrew and I remembered this from our earlier drives to the area, we

Andrew cools off in Haliburton.

would have taken the front positions so we could have a little fun. As it was, we were under my Mom's lead. While she does a good job up front, we would have liked to give a little gas in most places that she slowed down.

Andrew was delighted to stop at the coffee and donut shop when we rolled into Haliburton in early afternoon. He was really looking forward to the homemade donuts, and we weren't disappointed with the chocolate cruller we ordered. Of course, we ate some real lunch first.

After our bite to eat, we all headed to the nearby park for a little R&R in the sun before starting the last stretch of the journey. Some kids were jumping into a nice man-made stream off of the lake with a rope tied from a tree. Other kids were selling lemonade and jewelry, commemorating one of the eight tornados that had touched down days earlier. There were plenty of snapped trees along the road for us to see. Andrew and I bought some 25 cent lemonade and joined my parents under a tree.

Ahh, finally - a chance to relax at our luxurious
accomodations: Granny's cottage on Muskoka Bay.

For the last stretch, Andrew and I took the lead. The roads weren't quite as twisty here, but were interesting nonetheless. I love rolling down the long hills looking into the Canadian Shield's rocks on either side and up ahead.

After a few missed turns a couple of detour stops, Andrew and I finally made it to Granny's house - after Mom and Dad. We relaxed until Walter showed up from his home near Toronto, and swam once he arrived.

The next day we were off again with one more in our party and a new route to follow. After getting to Huntsville on Highway 11, we rode through Algonquin Park and on to Barry's Bay. Here, Walter showed us around his old stomping grounds at the Polish Scouts camp.

One of the many lakes in Algonquin Park, one of Ontario's largest and probably nicest provincial park, makes a great rest stop.

Walter brought us the Polish Scouts camp, where this poignant memorial for the scouts that died during the Holocaust as part of the ghetto uprising stands.

On the other side of the memorial, we learned how the Polish
Scouts used the sewer system to help ghetto residents escape
into the Gentile area of Poland.

The view from this Wilno church on a hill was spectacular.

While some waited for their food inside, others,
like Andrew, spent their time outside swimming in Golden Lake.

We stopped for a late lunch on Golden Lake at an unassuming little hotel with awesome food. Outside was a long, sandy beach. Andrew and I went outside while we waited for our food when he suggested we go for a really quick swim. I knew I couldn't get changed in time, but I suggested that he should. So he ran and got his swim shorts from the bike, changed under the stairs, and dove in. He was out and changed just in time for food to arrive.

Then it was homeward bound for two hours, passing through Renfrew for a gas stop on the way.

This marks the longest bike trip I have ever taken. It was a fair bit longer than our journey to Trenton for the Ride for Sight, and we had less resting between riding days.

The only vehicular problem was my front right fork seal leaking, but because I'm light, it didn't make a lot of difference.

I know my Dad's knees got pretty sore during the trip, and Andrew's seat bothered him after a while. For me, despite saving my back from pain, I couldn't save my neck/shoulder and left leg. I suppose a Corbin seat might help my legs, and rearset pegs might improve my overall posture (yes, really). Still, despite the pain I think we all enjoyed ourselves.

My dad, having just recovered from multiple previous stings incurred a week earlier, has received several more when a wasp (?) flew into his shirt while riding, just like before.

Next year, I'll double my mileage for sure... no, really... I swear...