I decided to stay here at the hostel rather than take my chances on the road. As I write this, I am watching sheets of rain from the porch. It was the right call.
I feel a little like I’m in an episode of Northern Exposure here. There is a constant stream of people and activities at the stagecoach. A woman and her two young kids from Japan, a partially retired teacher from the northern school (can’t find a link, but it’s a working organic farm just up the hill where 11th graders spend a semester), a mustachioed mechanic/machinist who builds mad max type vehicles for fun and will explain them in explicit detail complete with sound effects, and reams of kids on their last day of the free summer camp hosted by the organization that runs the hostel. Interesting, progressive and deeply community minded place this is. Who would have thought.
I did very little other than sit on this porch and witness the comings and goings. Took an hour and a half ride to the closest grocery store, shaved, fiddled with my bike, chatted with my parents and Karen and plotted tomorrow.
Also trying to figure out what on earth is up with my legs. I almost never feel pain or soreness on these rides. Today I’m struggling a little going down stairs! Oddly, going up them is no problem.
And that’s about all I have to report from this rest day. Tomorrow I’m going to get up and on the bike really early. I have about 240 km to the border and will try to do more than half of that. No promises though, gravity may have other plans for me.
Well, you’ve been doing a lot of uphill riding, using muscles you don’t normally use. Makes sense they’d be sore! Welcome to the world of getting older. Happy you had a day to rest. Sleep well. Wishing for no rain and a pleasant ride tomorrow.
What a cool day to just – witness. The comings and going’s and sense of community can be so lost as we keep moving.
Hope you have a great night sleep, dry days ahead and refreshed legs. Good luck with the distance ahead. Excited to see where you land.
And ps – The hostel building looks really cool. I love front porches sooo much.
Super cool. Hope tomorrow is great.
Like Northern Exposure… or Newhart? 🙂 I love both of course. Was there a hotel in Northern Exposure? I recall the bar that Holling ran, maybe it was also an inn. I should rewatch that show and rekindle my teenage crush on Maggie, because that’s a useful thing to do in my 40s!
No hotel I don’t think, just a random assortment of interesting and good people so far as I recall.
She was super cute. I wonder how well that show has aged. If you watch, LMK.
I’ve had some great times in hostels in Halifax, Quebec, and Cape Breton. I wouldn’t mind adding that one, from your description.
To me, this seems like a wonderful, chance encounter on your journey. What an interesting place and people!
I want to stay there.
I’m hoping for no rain today. It cleared here overnight.
I want to stay here too! Maybe you can visit on your way to Toronto 😉
This place sounds wonderful. I love the little pockets of humanity and community we, and now you, have come upon on this trip. It’s what keeps us going. And your bright orange pedals of course. Love that you made some interesting connections, that’s food for the soul and fuel to get you to the next spot. Happy riding today, stay dry! xo
Chad you have quite a knack for finding beautiful places to ride and writing interesting things about your experiences along the way.
Stretch and warm up those gams, buddy! Maybe you do this already and don’t blog about it? If not, it’s not too late to start!
Don’t rush back from paradise. The city of muffler free irate drivers can wait for your return into gridlock!
I don’t ever stretch. Because I’m dumb I suppose.