23 to 30 June: The ferry brought me over to Saint-Siméon, from where I cycled NW towards Saguenay. The fjord of the Saguenay River was very impressive and mystical. The rain and low clouds contributed a lot to this atmosphere. A day ride further I arrived in La Baie with blue sky and sunshine.
From there I made my way to Lac Saint-Jean, where I joined onto the "Véloroute des Bleuets" ("Blueberry cycling route"). I was told, that this is the prime location for cyclists and I definitely should cycle around the whole lake. Well, I skipped the whole Maritimes, therefore had enough time to explore. So I did it. Easy riding, small towns around the lake, perfect infrastructure. A small bicycle ferry in Alma and the best sunset on my whole trip. Friendly guys in the local bike coop "Vélo-jeunesse" and a beer in a local brewery - the highlights of that detour.


Link to the overview map of my route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19HGeuwywfxIG7hsWxz1Pdj8HcnoYfpK8&usp=sharing

01 July: I left the "Véloroute des Bleuets" behind me and reflected my journey through Québec on "La Route Verte", the provincial cycling network. I talk shortly about my safety preparations for the long stretch ahead, after all I was going into the unknown. Once I reached the turnoff from the HWY my concerns were gone - the dirt road was damn busy. A lot of cars and trucks meant, I wasn't alone but also had to deal with clouds of dust and flies, sometimes even at the same time.

I also tell a short anecdote about a very unexpected encounter. Last but not least in this longer video, I recorded a clip in a forestry camp, where I spent the night. Life is full of surprises.


Link to the overview map of my route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19HGeuwywfxIG7hsWxz1Pdj8HcnoYfpK8&usp=sharing

02 to 09 July: I left the pow-wow place of Obedjiwan and followed the dirt roads through Québec's North. Unlike the section from Saint-Félicien to Obedjiwan, this stretch had less traffic. Furthermore, once around the North of the Gouin Reservoir, I followed a road leading South and luckily I did not take a look at my map and followed the signs instead.

Apparently the main way leading to Senneterre was changed to another dirt road which isn't mapped nor in Google Maps or in OSM. The previous road still exists, but probably has even lesser to none traffic.
Normally I would not have cared but the universe was on my side. Exactly on that stretch my tire burst. Nothing I could do. Imagine this would have happened on that other road.

I had a huge stroke of luck getting a ride into Senneterre and even more luck getting a new tire in that small village. Going further West I took the decision based on the location of some warmshowers host, to go to La Sarre and to continue to Ontario on a forestry road North of Lake Abitibi. A very unconventional route for a cyclist too.


Link to the overview map of my route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19HGeuwywfxIG7hsWxz1Pdj8HcnoYfpK8&usp=sharing

10 to 16 July: First Ontarian settlement was the small town of Cochrane. All of a sudden people spoke English again, which after over six weeks in Québec took a little to get used to again, hehe.
After the city of Timmins I could have gone straight West towards Wawa, BUT two Ontarian Brothers I met on Gaspésie told me, I should go around the whole Canadian shoreline of Lake Superior, I would not regret it.
So it came that I went South instead, on the HWYs 101 and 129 all the way to Thessalon. A detour for sure, but HWY 129 is beautiful to ride and the small isolated towns of Foleyet and Chapleau worth a visit as well.
There was quite some wildlife along my way - big birds, moose, bears, millions of blackflies and mozzies. The latter count as wildlife, too, right?

At the shore of Lake Huron I reached the Waterfront Trail again and met a wonderful couple, who did everything to make me feel comfortable, from a bath in their outdoor bathtub, to wine and food. Amazing. Thank you, guys!


Link to the overview map of my route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19HGeuwywfxIG7hsWxz1Pdj8HcnoYfpK8&usp=sharing

17 to 24 July: The ride around Lake Superior is called breathtaking and scenic. And I totally agree with that. However, the only existing road, the HWY 17 is a dangerous bottleneck. Right after Sault Ste. Marie one can avoid the HWY by taking a few side roads, but soon there is only one way. Everyone has to take it, motorized or non-motorized, trucks and cyclists. You can imagine...
Additionally to that, one has to cycle through the very long Lake Superior Provinical Park, in which steahlt camping is prohibited and strictly enforced. Staying at official campgrounds can get very expensive.

Enough negativity - I loved cycling there. Arriving in the small towns along the shoreline, each roughly 100 kms/1day apart and the amazing views in between - just incredible.
In S.S.M. I met two cyclists from Montreal and we unintentionally leap frogged for a few days, which means, we saw each other in the upcoming small towns, then separated again, then met again and so forth. We had the same daily average and pace and at some point we decided to cycle together and I can say, we became friends. It was amazing to share the way with them. Eventually we arrived in Thunder Bay and left the lake behind.


Link to the overview map o my route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19HGeuwywfxIG7hsWxz1Pdj8HcnoYfpK8&usp=sharing

25 to 30 July: After a resupply stop in Thunder Bay (I am still surprised how I always manage to find space on my bike for the huge amount of food I buy, haha), my buddies from Montreal and I left Lake Superior behind us and continued westwards. We passed the impressive Kakabeka Falls where we found out, that official camping in Provincial Parks is just a shameless rip-off - over 40 CAD for a spot, no matter if you are one or three people. No thanks!
The next day my friends continued on HWY 17 (the busier one), while I followed HWY 11 and 71. However, we planned to meet again in Kenora, despite my route being 70 kms longer. Challenge accepted.
I passed through Fort Frances and Emo, the latter actually is a very nice little town, directly at the border river to the USA. The local park there even has clean showers, a covered BBQ area and power. I as a cyclist call that a hotel, haha.
And indeed, we met in Kenora and had a beer and some food in the local brewery. Yeah.

Link to the overview map of my route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19HGeuwywfxIG7hsWxz1Pdj8HcnoYfpK8&usp=sharing

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