DEREK
We were relaxing on the deck of the Pickles and Quilts quilt shop and deli in Wilno, Ontario, catching up on emails, enjoying some coffee, groovin’ to some music, playing cards, reading books, and waiting to build up an appetite for dinner, when Helene, the owner, approached us with a proposition. She offered us dinner, laundry, a hot shower, and beds for the night in her lakefront home if we were willing to endure a twenty-minute drive with a couple of errand stops along the way. How could we say no?
We heaved our bicycles into her shop and vaulted ourselves into the car. Twenty minutes later, we rolled up to her lakefront paradise known as "The Answer." We were given the grand tour and our choice of any of the five queen-sized beds on the top floor. As soon as her husband, Kirk arrived from work, burgers were on the grill and the party was underway.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t cooperating and we decided to skip out on a cruise on their pontoon boat. Instead, we took a ride back into Wilno and joined the party at the local pub, where we enjoyed some live music and dancing.
Local artist "Dancing Andy," sketched our picture in the pub while the musicians rocked out nearby.
ERIKA
We had first noticed Dancing Andy when he got up to hang a woman’s portrait on the pub's bulletin board. I was impressed by how lifelike it was. Andy was dynamic: not a minute had passed by after he tacked up the portrait before he was grooving like a pro on the dance floor.
Helen and Kirk suggested that Derek and I be drawn. Dancing Andy was keen and took his work very seriously. We sat still together for half an hour.
DEREK
After a few more drinks and songs, we cruised back to the lake for a snug night’s sleep on a real mattress, with sheets and blankets to boot! The following morning was made complete with a satisfying and sizable breakfast. We were then chauffeured back to our awaiting bicycles at Pickles and Quilts, where Helene hooked us up with some Wilno t-shirts and drinks to go. Fantastic! Thanks to all the people of Wilno for showing us a good time!
We said our goodbyes and were off, refreshed and ready to take on Algonquin Park. But our plans took a sudden change as we cycled alongside Bark Lake. We were crossing a bridge when we took notice of a family laughing and hollering at the waterfront not far from the highway.
ERIKA
Rope swing! I thought as I rolled across the bridge watching some folks swinging into the water. A glance at the sky showed dark clouds, and an all-too-familiar feeling in the air said rain was coming soon. This is what happens when you go an entire month with only one rain-free day. You can smell it miles away; you can tell it like a clock.
We pulled into the dirt road by the lake, intending to find a place to pitch the tent. As we passed the clearing with the rope swing, we saw that the family was clearing out. There weren’t any private property signs, and no one was around except the occasional canoeist on Bark Lake. We ate dinner and jumped into the tent just as the rain started. Our timing was perfect.
Our quiet and rainy night went undisturbed by neither partying teenagers nor disgruntled property owners, and in the morning we waited for the clouds to part so we could swing in the sun. Sure enough, the sun came out and we were soon swinging like monkeys.
The setup was fantastic: a huge tree with massive roots sticking out in all directions sat high up, leaning out toward the water’s edge. A ladder had been built for climbing the six feet or so from the water level to the ground. We were having a blast.
After so many swings, I was ready for something more daring. I told Derek I was going to swing out as far as possible, as the rope was very long with a lot of potential for distance. I needed to get some momentum to do this, so I jumped up on the tree root I was standing on, intending to curl up and hold on while I was propelled far out onto the lake.
I did everything too fast, and hadn’t accounted for my hands being slippery with lake water. The extra force incurred on my hands was too much for them to hold on, so I swung a short curve before my hands slipped off and I fell, face down, SMACK onto the water, narrowly missing the edge of the bank.
DEREK
10! 10! 10! A perfect score six-foot belly flop complete with a resonant smack. At first I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or jump in and help. I couldn’t keep the laughter down as she waded back to the ladder, cracking up with embarrassment at what just happened. Slightly dazed and traumatized, we enjoyed a few more swings before departing towards Algonquin Park.
ERIKA
Later at a picnic table, an extremely gregarious squirrel approached us who seemed to want to say he liked our bikes. His name could only be Gunther. We forfeited the peanut butter he sought. Ask and you shall receive.
DEREK
We’re continuing westward, dodging the daily violent thunderstorms to the best of our ability, enjoying the remote beauty of the Muskoka region, at war with the mosquitoes, and hopeful for an improvement in the weather and a safe ride through northern Ontario.
We were relaxing on the deck of the Pickles and Quilts quilt shop and deli in Wilno, Ontario, catching up on emails, enjoying some coffee, groovin’ to some music, playing cards, reading books, and waiting to build up an appetite for dinner, when Helene, the owner, approached us with a proposition. She offered us dinner, laundry, a hot shower, and beds for the night in her lakefront home if we were willing to endure a twenty-minute drive with a couple of errand stops along the way. How could we say no?
We heaved our bicycles into her shop and vaulted ourselves into the car. Twenty minutes later, we rolled up to her lakefront paradise known as "The Answer." We were given the grand tour and our choice of any of the five queen-sized beds on the top floor. As soon as her husband, Kirk arrived from work, burgers were on the grill and the party was underway.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t cooperating and we decided to skip out on a cruise on their pontoon boat. Instead, we took a ride back into Wilno and joined the party at the local pub, where we enjoyed some live music and dancing.
Local artist "Dancing Andy," sketched our picture in the pub while the musicians rocked out nearby.
ERIKA
We had first noticed Dancing Andy when he got up to hang a woman’s portrait on the pub's bulletin board. I was impressed by how lifelike it was. Andy was dynamic: not a minute had passed by after he tacked up the portrait before he was grooving like a pro on the dance floor.
Helen and Kirk suggested that Derek and I be drawn. Dancing Andy was keen and took his work very seriously. We sat still together for half an hour.
DEREK
After a few more drinks and songs, we cruised back to the lake for a snug night’s sleep on a real mattress, with sheets and blankets to boot! The following morning was made complete with a satisfying and sizable breakfast. We were then chauffeured back to our awaiting bicycles at Pickles and Quilts, where Helene hooked us up with some Wilno t-shirts and drinks to go. Fantastic! Thanks to all the people of Wilno for showing us a good time!
We said our goodbyes and were off, refreshed and ready to take on Algonquin Park. But our plans took a sudden change as we cycled alongside Bark Lake. We were crossing a bridge when we took notice of a family laughing and hollering at the waterfront not far from the highway.
ERIKA
Rope swing! I thought as I rolled across the bridge watching some folks swinging into the water. A glance at the sky showed dark clouds, and an all-too-familiar feeling in the air said rain was coming soon. This is what happens when you go an entire month with only one rain-free day. You can smell it miles away; you can tell it like a clock.
We pulled into the dirt road by the lake, intending to find a place to pitch the tent. As we passed the clearing with the rope swing, we saw that the family was clearing out. There weren’t any private property signs, and no one was around except the occasional canoeist on Bark Lake. We ate dinner and jumped into the tent just as the rain started. Our timing was perfect.
Our quiet and rainy night went undisturbed by neither partying teenagers nor disgruntled property owners, and in the morning we waited for the clouds to part so we could swing in the sun. Sure enough, the sun came out and we were soon swinging like monkeys.
The setup was fantastic: a huge tree with massive roots sticking out in all directions sat high up, leaning out toward the water’s edge. A ladder had been built for climbing the six feet or so from the water level to the ground. We were having a blast.
After so many swings, I was ready for something more daring. I told Derek I was going to swing out as far as possible, as the rope was very long with a lot of potential for distance. I needed to get some momentum to do this, so I jumped up on the tree root I was standing on, intending to curl up and hold on while I was propelled far out onto the lake.
I did everything too fast, and hadn’t accounted for my hands being slippery with lake water. The extra force incurred on my hands was too much for them to hold on, so I swung a short curve before my hands slipped off and I fell, face down, SMACK onto the water, narrowly missing the edge of the bank.
DEREK
10! 10! 10! A perfect score six-foot belly flop complete with a resonant smack. At first I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or jump in and help. I couldn’t keep the laughter down as she waded back to the ladder, cracking up with embarrassment at what just happened. Slightly dazed and traumatized, we enjoyed a few more swings before departing towards Algonquin Park.
ERIKA
Later at a picnic table, an extremely gregarious squirrel approached us who seemed to want to say he liked our bikes. His name could only be Gunther. We forfeited the peanut butter he sought. Ask and you shall receive.
Gunther very much enjoyed the PB!
DEREK
We’re continuing westward, dodging the daily violent thunderstorms to the best of our ability, enjoying the remote beauty of the Muskoka region, at war with the mosquitoes, and hopeful for an improvement in the weather and a safe ride through northern Ontario.
Erika,
ReplyDeleteI am so VERY, VERY PROUD of YOU!!! 1,000 miles... what an extrodinary accomplishment! I have thoroughly enjoyed your blogs (and Derek's, too) and look forward to reading on as you cycle on! Enjoy the rest of your journey and I look forward to seeing you when you return! Love, Aunt Lori