Minnesota Mike's Ride Across America

Day 17, Sunday, Sept 21st, Wallaceburg to Port Stanley, Ontario, 86 miles, Total miles 1,052

Oh man, this mornings ride was a tough one. Of course, I am riding Eastbound and the wind is coming out of the East. I have the dreaded headwind to contend with on these long, straight, boring flat roads. I can’t believe I actually like rolling hills where I can shift thru gears and break up the monotony of pedaling. I am in farm country, with corn on one side of the road and soybeans on the other.

Afternoon ride was much easier. I took a turn heading northeast and got a cross breeze, not nearly as bad as straight on winds. No shoulder for the most part of ride, but traffic was light on a Sunday and no big trucks wizzing by. I made it to Port Stanley right on Lake Erie, a cool Port town and got a room at the Inn on The Harbor, overlooking the channel.

Off to dinner across the bridge on other side of channel, think I will walk it. Looks like rain is coming. Yup, we got dumped on, luckily I made it back to my room before the downpour, hope it is over by morning so I don’t have to ride in the rain.

Day 18, Monday, Sept. 22, Port Stanley to Port Dover, Ontario, 68 miles, Total miles 1,120

This was an enjoyable ride today. I had peeks of Lake Erie over my right shoulder and was on some smooth roads that even had a shoulder! Mostly crosswinds today coming off the lake, keeping the windmills humming.

Lots of small Port towns I rode through, but seems like all of them descend down in to town and then a hellacious climb to get back on my route. I guess good training for what is coming up in NY, Vermont and New Hampshire.

I really enjoy talking with my new Canadian friends I have met. Met a couple ladies at the bar next to me as I was eating my pasta dinner. We exchanged our stories. Tragically, one of the ladies just lost everything in a house fire, but was able to save her dog. This morning at the motel breakfast, I sat with a lady that was still mourning the loss of her companion, a dog that was a big part of her life. People have hardships, I wished them the best! Stay positive and good things will happen. They both said they were donating to Baskets From JoJo to support my cause. So nice!

I was surprised by another cyclist as I was chugging up a hill from one of the Port towns, he rode alongside me and started chatting, I told him wait till I get to the top, I am out of breath, I am carrying 35+pounds of gear. We chatted as he rode next to me and warned me about the hills that were coming up. He is 73 years old and rides 30 kilometers three times a week. He said he was in awe of us long distance riders with all our gear packed on our bikes.

A good perch dinner tonight at the Beach House across the street from my hotel and nice view of the lake. I need to cover over 80 miles to get close to Niagara Falls tomorrow. Need to get to bed early.