Day 34: Prawda MB to Kenora ON (115.51 km)

We love the Prairies. They are beautiful, surprising, and full of wonderful people. That being said, we are so glad to see them go! Without exception, Manitoba served us up crippling headwinds and tried to finish us off yesterday with a hefty dose of blistering heat.

What is so difficult about prairie riding is just how vulnerable you are to the will of the elements. Your daily distance and ride time has more to do with the direction and severity of the wind than your physical strength and personal determination.

All this changed yesterday as we passed by Ste. Anne, Manitoba and finally hit tree cover, which has stayed with us right into Ontario. Last night we took our first swim of the season, watched fireflies on the water and began to feel like we were coming home.

The woods and lakes surrounding Kenora feel like those we're familiar with in southern Ontario. The highway winds through the same rolling hills and rocky canyons that are seen throughout Huntsville, Muskoka, the Kawarthas and Georgian Bay. The wildlife and landscape have a wonderfully familiar feeling.

This evening we are fortunate enough to be staying with Barb at her home in Kenora. She was kind enough to put us up for the night and we're very appreciative of the hospitality and company that Barb, her partner David, his son Aiden and Barb's mother Bev have given us. One of the things we love most about this trip is meeting new people and tonight is no exception.

We've planned our route through Ontario to be a bit less strenuous than the pace we've set to date. We plan to swim whenever we can and enjoy the month we're going to spend winding our way into Toronto and beyond. We've said it many times on this journey, but tomorrow is the start of something new and we can't wait to see what Ontario has to offer.

The third bike in the photo belongs to Neil, a bicyclist we rode with for a day and a half. There's a great sense of community on the road and it was great getting to know Neil over greasy breakfasts and ice cream. Neil, we wish you the best and hope you enjoy the rest of your ride.