This was the toughest day so far. The early morning ride was cool and the scenery was beautiful. Misty fog covered the road in slow puffy waves, very little traffic and now that we were off the trail and onto the paved road, the deer flies were a little kinder to us. We still had squads following us, but they weren’t as determined to strike us as the ones on the trail. We learned that swatting at them just made them more determined to bite. So we settled down and allowed them to join our ride. Less bites more company. Haa!
We had a beautiful sunrise this morning and took time to stop and enjoy it.. it didn’t take long before the heat started to come on. We started to get concerned about where we were going to pitch for the night because as we rode up to our chosen spot we realized it was going to be a very long hot day and there was no shade to stay cool under. We knew we weren’t going to be able to stay there. It was time for plan B. So, we got onto our Facebook groups right away and posted a request for hosting for the day. We just needed shade and a 4 x 6 patch of grass to pitch on for the night. We received so many offers of hosting that we were overcome with gratitude. Our LGBTQ community is really amazing here in Ontario!! Unfortunately, I wasnt able to connect with a host close enough to ride to in the heat. So plan C – Dax and I set our hopes on the hospitality of Tillsonburg and they didn’t disappoint!
The humidity was also increasing and by 9:30 am it was too hot and humid to safely continue riding, not just for Dax but for me too. Fortunately, we were just arriving in Tillsonburg, On. Since we were running out of water and food for me, it was a good opportunity to stop and rest, find a way to get out of the heat and resupply.
We decided to head towards the Tillsonburg Community Centre to get water, washroom and information about where we could shelter for the day and possibly find a pitch for the night, since it was going to be impossible to continue riding.
The staff at the Tillsonburg Community Centre were awesome! They totally welcomed Dax and me into the Centre, gave us all the water we needed for the day and the next. Provided washrooms, electricity to recharge my phone and power bank and a nice place to rest for the rest of the day. We had full access to the facilities, although it was busy with the circus being there that afternoon/evening. We didn’t mind. They played great music from the “Greatest Showman” – all my favourites!! Ha!
During our conversations with the staff about places to pitch my tent, it was decided to give the local police a quick call to get their permission to pitch on the Community Centre’s property, since the staff said they didn’t have a problem with me doing that. With all the legal permissions granted, groceries bought, water refilled and even laundry done and drying in the sun, Dax and I settled down in the cool air conditioning for the rest of the day. Eating, reading my book and taking occasional walks outside to stretch our legs and remind us how grateful we were that this community is so caring and supportive of bike tourers and that I wasn’t going to have to pull the chicken switch and bail out of my bike tour because of the weather.
The OPP came around to check in on us around 8pm just as I was setting up my pitch for the night. Nice young officer. I thanked him for checking in on us, but didn’t mention I was once an OPP Officer with the Auxiliary and that Dax was provided to me through a grant for first responders. That the reason I qualified for a Service Dog(Dax)was because I had been in the OPP. I will always be grateful and proud for having that opportunity to serve my community in that capacity. Had the officer asked about Dax, I would have mentioned all this.
Dax and I were in our tent by 9 pm that night and up and on the bike by 5:30 am the next morning heading out of Tillsonburg.
Dog Gone Biking Adventures!! 