July 12: Beautiful Countryside - A Balm to the Soul

It may have been the warmer weather or maybe just that I love the country, but today’s ride from Sault Saint Marie, Ontario past farms, fields, meadows, marshes, and woods was just the balm to my soul that I needed after two days of challenging driving in poor visibility.

Today got off to a great start with the sun shining and the countryside beckoning. Just a few miles east of Sault Saint Marie on highway 17 I started seeing farms and fields full of fresh rolled grass and hay. Several Amish families passed me in their buggies, and I waved in greeting. Barns appeared in red, brown, and orange and silos dotted the countryside. My route towards Renfrew, a small city just west of Ottawa also took me past vast vistas of meadows and marshlands punctuated by many different rivers, lakes, and tributaries.

I noticed that the people of Canada seemed to have a sense of humor when designating names for their landmarks, streets, and establishments. For instance, I noticed an island named “Woman Island” on the “Blind River.” Shortly after that I passed a street called “Handy Spot Road,” and then later a campground titled “Yonder Hill.” One restaurant had a sign out front saying, “Our food is so good we’re almost famous.” I couldn’t decide if that was a sign of a sense of humor or honesty.

There were generous portions of woody sections during the ride, also interspersed with a variety of rivers and lakes. In several places the trans-Canada highway passed over a river or through the middle of a lake, providing wonderful views on both sides of the road. The road had a generous number of curves but almost no change in elevation, making for an easy ride and more time to enjoy the view.

After traveling another 450 miles east I am now just a few hours away from Quebec City, Quebec.