Day 40: Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada

Day 40: Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada

July 22, 2016

Miles: 38


Average Speed: 10.5 mph

Grand Falls, NB to Edmunston, NB



It was already past 9am when Di and I woke up this morning.  I guess we were still tired from the last two days of riding!  We went to the motel restaurant for breakfast and sat near the windows so we could have a view of the actual grand falls.  The view was a disappointment because a very ugly dam has been built right over the falls.  I'm not totally against technological progress, but dams should be more subtle than this one.

A dam obtrusion

I was so tired this morning that I forgot to take the breakfast shot.  I remembered just before we left the restaurant, so I snapped a postprandial shot.  

Di with her early morning pose

We headed back to the room and Di said we should watch a little of the Tour before we headed out.  I knew then that Di was really tired because she would never suggest delaying our departure after breakfast.  I must admit that I was really tired also, so I was happy to comply.  We rested until we felt sufficiently enthused to get riding and this occurred at 11:45am.  Almost noon!  That's a pretty late start, even if we were riding only 38 miles.

It was overcast as we started our ride and it definitely looked like it was going to rain.  We had a wide breakdown line in which to ride, so it was comfortable riding.  What made the ride most comfortable, however, was that the first half of today's ride was mostly flat.  Yeah!  We definitely were in need of level road. 

Di is enthused to be riding!

We agreed we would stop at the first gas station or convenience store to buy some gatorade.  Mile after mile went by and still no gas station or store of any kind where we could by something to drink.  In fact, despite passing through a number of small towns, we rode the entire day without seeing a gas station or store.  Where is everybody getting their gasoline and snacks?

We finally saw a restaurant at the halfway point and stopped in for a bite.  Di ordered the chicken sandwich and I the chick wrap.  As Di put it later, "I'm getting a little tired of chicken."

Notice the chocolate milk - I'm not getting tired of that

Is it a coincidence that Di is so often the only patron?

We were back on the bikes by 2:30pm and it was definitely becoming more overcast.  We rode steadily because we wanted to beat the impending rain.  We stopped only once and that was to visit with some fellow bike tourers.  Three bikers were travelling in the opposite direction and we crossed the road to chat with them.  We weren't very successful in chatting, however, because they spoke French and knew very little English and as we are American we speak English and nothing else.  We were able to introduce ourselves (they were Francois, Olivier and Suzette) and then we struggled to communicate. (Point finger in direction of road. "Hills? Yes? No?").  Francois and Olivier had flown from France to visit Suzettle and were in week one of a two week tour.  After we left them Di and I remarked that they looked pretty tired and beat for having been out for only one week and then we laughed thinking about what they must be saying about us.  It made me think I probably should shave soon.

We had fewer than eight miles to go when I heard the first peals of thunder.  We picked up our pace in hopes of arriving at the hotel before the rains came.  We had about three miles to go when the thunder and lightening started to surround us and the first heavy drops of rain began to fall.  The rain was like a faucet had been turned on full blast; there was no gradual increase of rain drops, just an incredible downpour.  We quickly parked our bikes under a tree and ran onto the first porch we saw.  We had gotten wet, of course, but we had made it to the porch without getting completely soaked.  And, we could watch the rain in relaxation from the comfort of the porch.

Bikes getting a well needed bath

That's a downpour!

Di checking the weather on her phone

Di can read radar

The heavy rain stopped after 30 minutes and we rode the rest of the way in a pitter-pattering rain.  We checked into our hotel and decided to order room service.  Despite the short mileage, we're still tired and we just didn't feel like going out.

That's how you enjoy room service

We are taking a rest day tomorrow, but we may have to move to another hotel two miles away.  I think we can make it.  I'm looking forward to a day of relaxation and reading (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which I have never read and am excited to do so).  Also, for those followng the Saga of Diane's Hand, I am happy to report it is much better and looks almost human-like.