The day before we reached ``the Soo`` (local term for Sault St. Marie), we had just started taking down our tent in the morning when it started to drizzle. We quickly packed the tent away so it would not get all wet but within about 2 minutes we found ourselves in an almost torrential downpour. Darn it! We should have left the tent up and slept another two hours. There was no way we could set it up fast enough now without getting the entire inner tent soaked. Luckily there was an outhouse not too far away so we grabbed our bikes and ran over to it. Another outhouse to the rescue! It only had two tight stalls, a mens and womens, and it smelled NASTY! But the smell was still more appealing than getting soaked in the rain. I was already a bit damp and my feet were wet so I had trouble staying warm. A boxing match and some restricted dance moves kept us from getting too cold though. After I think about 2 hours the weather finally eased up a little so we could continue on. Later that day, the sun even came out so we could dry our wet clothes!!!!
When we got to the Soo the next day, we stopped by a bike shop called Velorution. Josh from Winnipeg had recommended it to us because the shop offers free camping and bathroom facilities to touring cyclists. Great!!!
So James and I just sat there on the bench, staring into space, glad that we made it to the Soo, FINALLY!!! when an older gentleman walked up to us and started questioning us about our trip. He even seemed to poke some fun at our, what he thought, overloaded bikes. We were too tired to give more than the basic answers to his questions. He then asked us where we were staying that night. We said we planned on camping behind the bike shop. He then asked if we wanted to stay at a nice place where we could relax and chill out. Well, sure. He started digging in his wallet and eventually dislodged a stuck business card, handed it to us and invited us to come stay at his hotel. Huh? It turns out that he was the owner of the nice Water Tower Inn across the street. It's in the house he said and left. WHAT!
We were a bit dumbfounded by this incident but then took our bikes and headed over to the Hotel. It turned out that the owner, JJ was his name, is an avid cyclist himself and he regularly invites exhausted cyclists to stay at his hotel. Just a bit over 24 hrs ago we were stuck in a smelly outhouse, and before we knew it we were soaking in the Water Tower Inn's hot tub, swam in the pool and made good use of the sauna. We were even allowed to take the bikes in the room with us and were later notified that we also get free breakfast the next morning. AMAZING!!! THANK YOU JJ!!!!!
The following afternoon we set up our cards by the waterfront. We were told that Sunday's are very dead in the Soo but we had a successful afternoon with the small trickle of pedestrians that stopped by. One lady even came back with a bottle of wine, three beers and three Smirnoff ice. Another lady had left over snacks from a party so she gave them all to us plus we got an invitation to stay in Ajax and Ottawa from a kind couple. Before we had set up our booth, we started chatting with four ladies who were out for a Sunday stroll. One of them, Karen, (see below) invited us to stay at her house that night. We gladly accepted.
The Soo bridge which leads over to the USA.
Karen, James and I. THANK YOU FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL HOSPITALITY AND THE GREAT STORIES, KAREN! IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE STAYING WITH YOU!
Oops, maybe I should stop reading Gulliver's Travels.
As we were riding towards Thessalon, a man pulled over and invited us to come stay in his old church. He had bought it a few years ago and turned it into a music studio/ concert venue. Cool, thanks!
Tom then invited us for dinner at his house. He told us about the various artists and travelers that have performed and stayed at "the Auld Kirk".
Next morning he came over to the church quite early, made us coffee and played us some amazing cello music by Zoe Keating. Awesome!!!
THANKS TOM FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY. BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR MUSICAL ENDEAVOURS!!!!!
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