Day 69 – 70 Glen Sutton to Deer Lake Friday 26th& 27th June 2015
Last day of the cycle tour and no-one wants to leave. Emails are swapped. Addresses and invites to catch up are genuinely shared. David offers to collate and share email addresses which happens within hours of us leaving.
Tris and Jeff offer any catchup we can manage when we get to Boston. David offers a cycle trip with us to show us a bit of Boston. Lida, Ray and Kathy give directions to their homes which we would love to but may not make.
A final superb brekky, photos on the verandah, hugs and we all depart. Joy takes Hattie, Fred, Chris and I to Montreal airport where we say our final reluctant goodbyes.
With my new found enthusiasm for cycling Joy and Stephen offer suggestions for a bike for me on return to Melbourne.
I suspect Chris told them I was thinking secondhand because Point 1 was go to a good shop, try bikes out, and get a new one that fits. Stressing the “new”.
Other tips were to measure height, inseam and arm length to ensure it fits well. Suggest road tyres, small width that are OK for gravel. Good suspension. Light in weight.
By Mel
We fly off to Deer Lakes via Halifax. After the last heavenly week we find ourselves in Deer Lake, in a less than ideal hotel. It seems to have the freeway as its backyard, a holiday camp for its ground floor, and a clothes dryer in pieces on the floor of the laundry. On our after dinner walk home we miss the path and find ourselves in the dark, crossing not one but two freeways!
Next day we walk around the town not much to see and little other than fast food outlets for meals. “Spud Bar” baked potatoes I thought. Turns out to be named after a man not a potato!!! Some people were not complaining about the deep fried Mac cheese.
Road Scholar Introduction dinner in the evening. Feeling flat and reluctant after our last bonded group. I was convinced it could not compare. This was long before my liver gave out after too many nights in hotel bars, having way too much fun!
Our new leader, Tony Oxford, a local Newfoundlander experienced in local history, local music and guiding. After a very brief overview of the history of the people, in particular the relationship to fish which in Newfoundland means Cod – I had Shock number 1 – to realise we knew so little. Shock number 2 – to learn how fishing communities were treated and that dispossession and exploitation happen everywhere. And this was only the beginning of our learning.
One of the meet and greet questions “What made you want to visit Newfoundland?” I got my wires crossed a tad as I thought it was Newfoundland where one was served a toe in your drink. I was then reminded of this error (it is the Yukon) throughout the tour.
A new process since our last Road Scholar trips in the USA – we only had to put our bags outside our room and they are mysteriously collected, only to arrive in your room at the next stop. Magic, and a nice innovation.
