Wiarton to Shelburne

July 15
I don't know how Mel made it to Wiarton yesterday, It was such a late start, a tough ride and we had been through alot of stress. At the end of the ride all we wanted to do was get dinner and get to bed. Uh, but I couldn't find the campground. Talk about stress, I had to produce, and fast. Luckily a campground just appeared before us. I went in... "Do you have any campsites available for tonight?"
"We're really a seasonal facility and we don't rent for a single night"
"gasp"
"But, we do have one spot. . ."
Turned out to be a nice relaxing night.
Unfortunately the day before, the day of troubles, we were not able to ride from Wiarton to Shelburne as planned.Yesterday was the No Ride Ride for riders Al and Dave. Sorry about that. Today, however,we were to meet a rider at the coffee shop in Wiarton and today was a better day, things were working out. Phil was there right on time with his transportation coutesy of Kim and Baxter. Lindsay and I saw the riders off on their way, chatted with Kim for a bit then headed back inside for a little something.
It was a long and windy ride - and we knew it was windy because there must have been about a hundred wind turbines along the way, and they were moving. Hmmm,I wonder if you hook one of those up to the back of a bike . . .
Phil was a strong and experienced rider and knew the area better than we did. He was able to show us the quiet, scenic route. Nice to get away fom the traffic.
After the ride of 124 kms we said goodbye to Phil in the parking lot of Pete's Donuts. We were off to look for the campground (Primrose Campground) and Phil, he was riding home to Collingwood. That's right, riding his bike - that's another 65 kms. Way to go Phil! Thanks for a great day. And good luck in yor riding event in August.
I don't need to tell you what tomorrow is. We're going home. We've got 6 riders joining Mel and Lindsay and they will be heading for the Richmond Hill Curling Club.
It's by far the best way to spend a winter - a pretty darn good place to be on a Monday evening. And it's going to be a great place to be tomorrow afternoon too.
And the best place to be for lunch on Friday will be Triniy Square in the Distillery district. C'mon out from 12 to 2 and see what this Ride is all about.

Espanola to Tobermory

July 13/14

After the rest day - no rain and no Rob and Bill, it was a long trek for Mel across Manitoulin Island. Lindsay usually helps out and rides with Mel each day for about 20 or 30 km. Highway 6, which is fairly hilly, snakes it's way across Manitoulin Island and in turn runs south, east, west and even at times north west. Pretty hard to totally avoid a headwind. Today it almost seemed like the wind followed the same highway we were on. Needless to say it was slow going. Mel and Lindsay soldiered on and we made it to South Baymouth by late afternoon.
We decided to take the ferry across to Tobermory then instead of waitingg til the morning. We were to meet two riders in the morning and it wouldn't do to miss the boat.
Loading the RV onto the ferry was OK - pretty narrow, but we made it. Exiting the ferry was another story and I crashed into the ferry doing enough damage that we couldn't drive the vehicle. That would have been a good time to miss the boat.
So now what? Long story short, we got lots of help to get through this little, uh, set back. Sheila, an employee of Owen Sound Transport that operates the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry was both sympathetic and helpful. Greg at Toronto Motor Home Travel Canada was totally understanding. We were to sit tight and they would come up from Bolton in the morning. We had a fitful night. What if we couldn't drive the RV? Would I have to ride a bike too? Looks like we"re going to miss a day of riding. Can we make it up? What will become of the big event in Toronto if we're still here?
Next morning we waited anxiously for Greg to arrive. Infact Greg brought his wife and crew, Amy, and in an entertaining fashion they got us all patched up and ship shape. We were back on course and Mel was able to resume the ride. We got underway around 4:30 and in record time sailed into Wiarton.
Another storm weathered. Only two more days til we're home for a bit. Can't wait to see everyone. Don't look too closely at the RV.

Espanola and Goodbye

July 11/12
We have been fortunate to have been joined by many good friends and great riders so far and each and every one is appreciated – Mel usually makes them draft for him (block the wind). These past 5 days Mels’ two brothers Rob and Bill have joined the party. It’s been a pile of fun. One can only imagine what they were like growing up.
Our last day was terrific. Sunny, warm and windy – a tail wind. Another day over 100for brother Rob and record time – averaging 28.9 km* (note the asterisk – wind assisted time)
This part of northern Ontario is not as isolated as you might think. It’s true, the towns are small but they are plentiful and close together. Lots of cottage areas and resorts. And, on the weekend anyway, lots of traffic. The riders had to be alert yet relaxed when the long line of trucks and cars passed.
Bill and I had many discussions while waiting for the riders. He is a former teacher and principal and has a special insight into the problems mental illness presents for families and kids. He has seen young kids confused and scared when a parent is hospitalized - being shuffled to a relative's and no one able to explain. He has seen troubled kids whose disruptive behaviour is really a plea for help.
Greater knowledge of mental illness could help teachers identify the signs and symptoms in children and adolescents could make all the difference for early treatment and positive outcomes.
With four days of riding logged in the computer it was time to relax before Rob and Bill had to leave. We enjoyed another great bbq dinner at the campground and later we were treated to an amazing sky full of stars.

Echo Bay to Blind River

July 10

Well, we're beyond the mighty Lake Superior now and on to Lake Huron, a great lake in it's own right. There has been a striking change in terrain - still the rugged Canadian Shield rocks but not the hills and mountains found along Superior's shores.
When we woke up today we almost thought it was a rest day - sky was black and threatening, forecast called for thunderstorms. We scurried around to get on the road early to outrun the weather. It worked. As the kilometers clicked by the clouds disappeared. The route was fairly flat and took us past farmland and cottage country and we followed the mighty Mississaugi River to Blind River.
Today was a big day for brother Rob - he hit three digits. That would be over a hundred kilometers ridden in a day - 104 actually. (He could have gone farther but the rest of us were tired.)
When we stopped in Iron Bridge today for a Gatorade break a car pulled up behind us. An older gentleman approached and pressed a donation in my hand. "Here. It's for a good cause." He shared with us that he is a cancer survivor and he recently lost his wife to cancer. Depression in the elderly as a group is common, and often goes undiagnosed and untreated. The stress of serious chronic illness can bring on new symptoms of depression or exacerbate chronic underlying depression in individuals. The Ride for Mental Health is for him too.

Toronto Event

July 10

The downtown Toronto Event on July 17th at Trinity Square in the Distillery District promises to be a biggie. There will be entertainment, and speakers and some surprizes. As well, a block of tickets at a significant discount have been arranged for the Blue Jays vs Boston game on Friday evening. If you are interested and want to join us, c'mon out. The invitation goes for family, friends, co-workers, sponsors . . .

Here is the URL for Blue Jay tickets: https://tickets.audienceview.com/bluejays/seatSelect.asp?WSadmissions::admission::performance_id=F201EED2-D1E7-4F49-9644-48F3EE616F69

You will need the Promo Code: GP-RMH09

Sault Ste. Marie

July 9

We left the perfectly crescent shaped beach at Pancake Bay and followed the no longer rugged shore of Lake Superior south toward Sault Ste. Marie. It took us around Batchawana Bay where we found long flat stretches of sandy beaches and calm, quiet inlets. Good news for the riders- they like flat. But don't look now . . . dum da dum dum. Oh yeah,then there was "Mile High Hill".
We were invited to visit Club 84, a clubhouse that is part of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Sault Ste. Marie. Parking an RV downtown anywhere can sometimes be a challenge but we lucked out when we came around behind their building. Not only did we find metered street parking but we also found a whole bunch of the members outside enjoying the sunny weather. What a nice greeting. Club 84 was born in 1984 and Don has been a member almost since the begining.
"People assume too much about mental illness." said Don. "They assume what they hear from people and what they see in the media is the way it is. It isn't. "
He expressed what all of the members feel. "Club 84 is a place where we can feel good about ourselves."
Here at Club 84 a diagnosis or label is not important. "You are not a schizophrenic. You are are person who happens to have a mental illness. You are not defined by an illness."

Update

July 9

. . . . . . LATE BREAKING NEWS FOR TORONTO!! . . . . . .

No, as far as we are aware there is no change in the garbage strike. However the strike has neccessitated a change in location for the July 17th Toronto Event. I know, I know, this stinks. No longer at Nathan Phillips Square,the good news is that The Ride for Mental Health Toronto Event has been moved to Trinity Square in the Distillery District, at Parliament and and Front Streets from 12 to 2 pm.

This won't change a thing. We are still focused on raising Awareness about Mental Illness and determined to get the message out. And we need you.
Please join us in Trinity Square Friday, July 17, 2009

For further information contact Lesley at 416-733-6881.



Driving Directions To Trinity Square, Distillery District

From the East:

• Don Valley Parkway to Richmond St. exit, west on Richmond to Parliament, south on Parliament to Mill St. (one block south of Front St.), then left onto Mill St.


• Kingston Road to Eastern Ave. Then proceed to Front St. West on Front to Parliament, then south on Parliament to Mill St. Left onto Mill St.

• Queen St. west to Parliament then south on Parliament to Mill St. then left onto Mill St.

From the West:

• QEW east to Gardiner Expressway. Take Jarvis St. exit, then north on Jarvis St. to Front St. , East on Front to Parliament St. then south on Parliament to Mill St. , Left onto Mill St.

From the North:

• 427 south to QEW. QEW east to Gardiner Expressway. Take Jarvis St. exit, then north on Jarvis St. to Front St. , East on Front to Parliament St. then south on Parliament to Mill St., Left onto Mill St.

• Don Valley Parkway south to Richmond St. exit, west on Richmond to Parliament, south on Parliament to Mill St. (one block south of Front St.), then left onto Mill St.

Parking

• At the Distillery Historic District parking lots accessible from Parliament and Cherry St. Nominal parking fee.

• At local municipal lots.

Public Transit

Subway
• Take Subway to Castle Frank station on the Bloor line. Connect to Bus 65A Parliament. Ride bus straight down Parliament. Exit at Front St. and walk one block south to Mill St.

King streetcar
• Take 504 King street car. Exit at King and Parliament. Walk 2 blocks south on Parliament to Mill St.

Bus
• Cherry St. Bus 172 , Front & Bay St. to Cherry Beach via The Esplanade and Mill St.

GO Transit
• Take GO Transit to Union Station. Connect to Bus 65A Parliament or Bus 72 Pape or Bus 172 Cherry Beach