After a few beers and scotch in the evening, we had a lie in until 7am this morning. Bob and Helen insisted on taking us to breakfast at The Buccaneer, where they were married, and we didn't put up a fuss! So a leisurely start today. We were on the road for quarter past ten, with full stomachs and tired legs; Not a combination for fast cycling. A short day then.
The coastal road along the lakeshore was relatively flat, although it had a couple of hills to keep us on our toes. We hit Port Burwell after two hours. On crossing the bridge we spotted something unexpected to our right: a large Diesel Electric Submarine! HMCS (the name escapes me, formerly HMS Onyx under construction), she was set up as a museum, with regular tours. There was no large visitor centre, or establishment, just a portacabin selling tour tickets and the submarine itself. The tour was interesting, although some of the facts were incorrect as Jake later discovered. The submarine was Cold War era. The hull was caved in in some sections from the external water pressure, presumably from diving too deep. The accommodation on board was comparable to HMS Ocean; bunks smaller than 6ft in length, and rarely a ceiling high enough to stand straight in, made all the more impressive with the knowledge that the captain was 6'9"! At the end of the tour, an ex submariner from the HMCS Okanogan was volunteering to answer questions, and told stories of his time in service. It was a real privelage, and totally unexpected.
We stayed in town for lunch before reluctantly moving on. The road became more hilly, dipping down into coastal towns much like riding back home. We made Turkey Point for half past five, and decided to stop for a cool drink and find some wifi in town. Internet access was elusive however. We considered camping on the lake for the evening, but thought we should find internet to check on Warm Showers first. While riding around the town, a couple passed us on their bikes, we smiled and said hello, which got us talking, and they offered us use of their internet at their parent's house. We had a small crowd of family members asking us about our travels, and family friends too! They called a friend who owns a winery which we passed just before dropping down the hill to the town, and secured us a free place to pitch a tent, a shower, and a BBQ dinner with a large group of mountain bikers!
At the bike park, over the road from the winery, we stopped and pitched our tent by an old rusty water tower, and waited for the owners to come back from their ride. One by one, mountain bikers rolled in out of the wood line, and we greeted each other. Dave Pond, the co-owner of the site, set us up with showers and introduced us to the group. A group of around twenty cyclists were out for a final ride with a member of the group who was moving to Vancouver soon. We felt privelaged to share in the festivity. Dave brought us a cooler full of cold lager, and we enjoyed a plentiful supply of sausages from the grill, courtesy of Luke. Jennifer, from back in Turkey Point, even stopped by to check on us. Apparently my "smile was so sweet she had to help us out." We shared stories of our travels, enjoying hearing of their own (mis)adventures! Mike McArthur, the owner of the winery, even used his connections at the Niagra wineries to secure us a place to stay for tomorrow night!
We polished off the farewell cake with the party, said our goodbyes, shared our details, and now we are sat around the campfire with the last of the beers, and the last of the wood, looking at the stars (and writing this blog!)
Edit: HMCS Ojibwa!
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