110 to 136km
The wind continued today, but it was at our backs! Yahoooo! What a flight. It seems that south and west (and everything inbetween) are fairly common in this area at this time of the year.
The morning started muggy and sunny. Before breaky I checked out and drove the truck nearer the resort to make it easier for loading. Yes, I drove the truck (in a hushed tone: “don’t tell anyone, tee hee”). Our breakfast waitress was kinda overwhelmed. I’ll write a note to myself to ask the resort to be more ready next time. On the last trip we even helped wait on the tables.
Don and Pat offered to drive the SAGs. I sent Don on a grocery store mission to get more fruit, ice and beer for the next tail-gate on Delta-Drummond Road.
I’m glad that I had a checklist of riders because we almost left of them at the resort.
In lieu of Telemark restaurant, some ate in Cable at the Brick House.
I got a jump on most of the riders in order to mark parts of the route that I did not have opportunity the day before. In some cases I was just a few metres in front of some of the riders.
The ride along the 4 km of East Cable Lake Road is one of my favorites. There’s something about the forest that gives it an allure to me. Last fall while studying this section of the route, the brilliant yellow of the falling leaves made a grey day seem sunny.
Next we had a visit to Sara’s Dragonfly Studio. Many were enchanted with her work and her aura. She and husband Gary were gracious enough to wait for our group even though they had to prepare for a big presentation in Seeley the next day. Fortunately we had SAG vehicles because some people bought some of her metal sculptures which would have been too difficult to carry on bike. Some even drove back after our tour to pick up their purchases. Check out her website at http://sarabalbin.com/
Sara’s very eager for me to organize a bike tour in her original country of birth, Cuba. It could happen. Keep your ears to the rail.
Onward we continued and the southwest wind strengthened and encouraged us to ride on. Don was a bit behind some of the cyclists because he was held up at Sara’s. So when the riders waited for him on Delta-Drummond Road, they flagged him down, swarmed the truck and had the table, food, refreshments spread out and in their tummies and thirsty mouths in record time. Something attracted to me to the grape flavored Gatorade. I downed two of them.
Delta-Drummond Road was freshly paved last fall, so the smoothness, low traffic, forest beauty, and the tail-wind made it a dream to ride. It was very little time to get to Frosty’s Bar on CR H. It was buzzing with our riders. Some were watching the Tour de France, some were basking in the backyard sun, some were enjoying a burger (with no filler), and some were enjoying a Bud Light Lime. It was a great stop, what a great scene. Brian and Jamie, the owners were surprised when asked about what kind of filler they put in their burgers. Their burgers were great and have no filler whatsoever. Brian also does boat/fishing excursions in Bayfield. Half day for up to 6 people for $500 or full day for $700. He’ll even fillet the fish for you.
The wind continued today, but it was at our backs! Yahoooo! What a flight. It seems that south and west (and everything inbetween) are fairly common in this area at this time of the year.
The morning started muggy and sunny. Before breaky I checked out and drove the truck nearer the resort to make it easier for loading. Yes, I drove the truck (in a hushed tone: “don’t tell anyone, tee hee”). Our breakfast waitress was kinda overwhelmed. I’ll write a note to myself to ask the resort to be more ready next time. On the last trip we even helped wait on the tables.
Don and Pat offered to drive the SAGs. I sent Don on a grocery store mission to get more fruit, ice and beer for the next tail-gate on Delta-Drummond Road.
I’m glad that I had a checklist of riders because we almost left of them at the resort.
In lieu of Telemark restaurant, some ate in Cable at the Brick House.
I got a jump on most of the riders in order to mark parts of the route that I did not have opportunity the day before. In some cases I was just a few metres in front of some of the riders.
The ride along the 4 km of East Cable Lake Road is one of my favorites. There’s something about the forest that gives it an allure to me. Last fall while studying this section of the route, the brilliant yellow of the falling leaves made a grey day seem sunny.
Next we had a visit to Sara’s Dragonfly Studio. Many were enchanted with her work and her aura. She and husband Gary were gracious enough to wait for our group even though they had to prepare for a big presentation in Seeley the next day. Fortunately we had SAG vehicles because some people bought some of her metal sculptures which would have been too difficult to carry on bike. Some even drove back after our tour to pick up their purchases. Check out her website at http://sarabalbin.com/
Sara’s very eager for me to organize a bike tour in her original country of birth, Cuba. It could happen. Keep your ears to the rail.
Onward we continued and the southwest wind strengthened and encouraged us to ride on. Don was a bit behind some of the cyclists because he was held up at Sara’s. So when the riders waited for him on Delta-Drummond Road, they flagged him down, swarmed the truck and had the table, food, refreshments spread out and in their tummies and thirsty mouths in record time. Something attracted to me to the grape flavored Gatorade. I downed two of them.
Delta-Drummond Road was freshly paved last fall, so the smoothness, low traffic, forest beauty, and the tail-wind made it a dream to ride. It was very little time to get to Frosty’s Bar on CR H. It was buzzing with our riders. Some were watching the Tour de France, some were basking in the backyard sun, some were enjoying a burger (with no filler), and some were enjoying a Bud Light Lime. It was a great stop, what a great scene. Brian and Jamie, the owners were surprised when asked about what kind of filler they put in their burgers. Their burgers were great and have no filler whatsoever. Brian also does boat/fishing excursions in Bayfield. Half day for up to 6 people for $500 or full day for $700. He’ll even fillet the fish for you.
Photo below: Frosty's Bar - with the backs of Pam, Carol, and Christine S.
From Frosty’s, most of the riders went through Moquah (pronounced “Makwa”). It means bear in Ojibwa (and maybe Chippewa too).
Moquah, a gem of a place is an old railroad town. I’m guessing that the population is maybe 40, yet they have 3 bars. They are (in order of seeing them as you ride by from the west) Moquah Bar (plywood palace), Neps Bar, and Pine Creek Pit Stop.
A bylaw allows only two of the three bars to sell beer and liquor. Neps Bar is run by an 86 year old lady. Moquah Bar is in major need of repair, but has a beauty in it’s decrepedness. It is said that you should drink out of the bottle or can, and even make sur the can’s top is wiped off if you drink from it. The outhouse is interesting and the juke box has great older music. These two bars hold the beer and liquor licenses, while the Pine Creek Pit Stop (not very close to Pine Creek) can only serve beer and wine. The Pit Stop (which is in very good shape) is open the most. They are waiting for the woman at Neps to kick the bucket so the Pit Stop might be able to get the liquor license. However, the Neps liquor license might get passed to a relative when she dies. She’s hardly ever open, but to keep a license, an establishment must be open at least two hours per month. That’s not a mistake – let me say it again “two hours a MONTH”!
Neps and Moquah Bar were closed, so we hid our bikes in the tall, tall grass, jumped into Shamu (Bob/Jeanne’s van) and drove over the gravel to get there and have my favorite new beer of Bud Light Lime and a burger. The bartender’s name was Desiree so we had a lot of fun talking about Neil Diamond and singing his hit song. In fact, Bob pulled out his MP3 player, took out the speakers and played the song in the bar. Lots of smoking still happens in the bars until the law prohibits it starting July 2010.
The main route went right beside the visitor’s center, so a number of people arranged to get their vehicle to Bayfield. Other’s dropped off their Sara Balbin creations in their vehicle.
The few DFL’ers (Doug, Jeanne and I) missed the tail-gate stop at Cherryville Road, so we took the long gradual climb up Ondossagon Road, to Nevers Road. Instead, I talked my riding mates to go one road further to Wanneboo Road. It was steeper and shorter than Nevers. I hit 76kph while breaking! The top was smooth, but it got rougher and scarier near the bottom. I’m glad my brakes worked because Hwy 13 came fast. What a flight!
The three of us were the last to ride into Greunke’s First Street Inn in the bustling tourist town of Bayfield. A smile went on my face when I saw a big contingent of our riders in lawn chairs sharing a beer, munchies and many laughs in the green space of the backyard of Greunke’s. That’s what this is all about. Even Kenny (cook) and the kitchen staff were hanging out and chatting with us as we relaxes after the ride.
The character of Greunke’s First Street Inn was charming including Judith, the owner. She showed me a photo of herself and Ronny (woman), when they were in their early twenties. She said that they were trouble. I believe that. She also increases the average number of husbands – she’s been through a few.
It was so cool to have had the entire place to ourselves for two nights. Like the previous trip I was in the Wildrose Room which was the easiest one to access at night.
Diane, Lynn, and Susan had a great condo across the street. Nancy H. could not make the trip last minute, so the other three moved from the Bayfield Inn rooms to the spacious condo.
A number of riders had their longest ride ever today. Some (Peter, Sophie, Wendy, and ???) took the longest alternate route which took them up the enchanted Forest Road 236, then CR C to Cornucopia, throught Redcliff, then to Bayfield. I tip my hat at Carol and Cynthia who attended even though they had some relatively recent physical challenges.
Many of us had dinner at Maggie’s. We had big laugh when a little 4 year old boy named Jonah outside Maggie’s making a harmonica request for me to play “Keep on Rocking in the Free World”. Ha, I was expecting something like Twinkle, Twinkle.
Dinner was good. I was fully before dinner because I accepted all the shrapnel (leftovers) that were given to me. Louise was taken aback when she was charged $9 for an appetizer of a few meager slices of cheese and meat and a bit of bread. We were kinda insulted, but never got the nerve to complain about it – we thought it was maybe worth $2.
Gordie showed up with her friend Susan, and Jim S. also joined us that evening, while Dick from North Carolina had to leave.
It was a good day!
From Frosty’s, most of the riders went through Moquah (pronounced “Makwa”). It means bear in Ojibwa (and maybe Chippewa too).
Moquah, a gem of a place is an old railroad town. I’m guessing that the population is maybe 40, yet they have 3 bars. They are (in order of seeing them as you ride by from the west) Moquah Bar (plywood palace), Neps Bar, and Pine Creek Pit Stop.
A bylaw allows only two of the three bars to sell beer and liquor. Neps Bar is run by an 86 year old lady. Moquah Bar is in major need of repair, but has a beauty in it’s decrepedness. It is said that you should drink out of the bottle or can, and even make sur the can’s top is wiped off if you drink from it. The outhouse is interesting and the juke box has great older music. These two bars hold the beer and liquor licenses, while the Pine Creek Pit Stop (not very close to Pine Creek) can only serve beer and wine. The Pit Stop (which is in very good shape) is open the most. They are waiting for the woman at Neps to kick the bucket so the Pit Stop might be able to get the liquor license. However, the Neps liquor license might get passed to a relative when she dies. She’s hardly ever open, but to keep a license, an establishment must be open at least two hours per month. That’s not a mistake – let me say it again “two hours a MONTH”!
Neps and Moquah Bar were closed, so we hid our bikes in the tall, tall grass, jumped into Shamu (Bob/Jeanne’s van) and drove over the gravel to get there and have my favorite new beer of Bud Light Lime and a burger. The bartender’s name was Desiree so we had a lot of fun talking about Neil Diamond and singing his hit song. In fact, Bob pulled out his MP3 player, took out the speakers and played the song in the bar. Lots of smoking still happens in the bars until the law prohibits it starting July 2010.
The main route went right beside the visitor’s center, so a number of people arranged to get their vehicle to Bayfield. Other’s dropped off their Sara Balbin creations in their vehicle.
The few DFL’ers (Doug, Jeanne and I) missed the tail-gate stop at Cherryville Road, so we took the long gradual climb up Ondossagon Road, to Nevers Road. Instead, I talked my riding mates to go one road further to Wanneboo Road. It was steeper and shorter than Nevers. I hit 76kph while breaking! The top was smooth, but it got rougher and scarier near the bottom. I’m glad my brakes worked because Hwy 13 came fast. What a flight!
The three of us were the last to ride into Greunke’s First Street Inn in the bustling tourist town of Bayfield. A smile went on my face when I saw a big contingent of our riders in lawn chairs sharing a beer, munchies and many laughs in the green space of the backyard of Greunke’s. That’s what this is all about. Even Kenny (cook) and the kitchen staff were hanging out and chatting with us as we relaxes after the ride.
The character of Greunke’s First Street Inn was charming including Judith, the owner. She showed me a photo of herself and Ronny (woman), when they were in their early twenties. She said that they were trouble. I believe that. She also increases the average number of husbands – she’s been through a few.
It was so cool to have had the entire place to ourselves for two nights. Like the previous trip I was in the Wildrose Room which was the easiest one to access at night.
Diane, Lynn, and Susan had a great condo across the street. Nancy H. could not make the trip last minute, so the other three moved from the Bayfield Inn rooms to the spacious condo.
A number of riders had their longest ride ever today. Some (Peter, Sophie, Wendy, and ???) took the longest alternate route which took them up the enchanted Forest Road 236, then CR C to Cornucopia, throught Redcliff, then to Bayfield. I tip my hat at Carol and Cynthia who attended even though they had some relatively recent physical challenges.
Many of us had dinner at Maggie’s. We had big laugh when a little 4 year old boy named Jonah outside Maggie’s making a harmonica request for me to play “Keep on Rocking in the Free World”. Ha, I was expecting something like Twinkle, Twinkle.
Dinner was good. I was fully before dinner because I accepted all the shrapnel (leftovers) that were given to me. Louise was taken aback when she was charged $9 for an appetizer of a few meager slices of cheese and meat and a bit of bread. We were kinda insulted, but never got the nerve to complain about it – we thought it was maybe worth $2.
Gordie showed up with her friend Susan, and Jim S. also joined us that evening, while Dick from North Carolina had to leave.
It was a good day!
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