From: "Jean-Francois Charette" To: [...] Subject: North Bay... Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2004 09:54:55 -0400 What a trip so far... It seems as if Northern Ontario wishes only to show me what it looks like under thick grey clouds and tons of rain :) Since Ottawa I've biked another 360Km in three days. The rain, wind and mostly the hills in the area are starting to wear me down. No worries however... I have no plans of quitting just yet. Other then the weather, I honestly don't have much to complain about. The road is pretty much as I thought it would be. Hard going but not impossible. As well, most of the people I meet up on the road or when I take short breaks are more then generous. At one point I was scared to run out of water and stopped at an information center. They told me they only sold water bottles at one dollars a piece... I told them no and that's when they asked where I was going. By the time I finished telling them my plans, one of the girls left and came back with two bottles of water (Ice cold on top of that) and said "take these... free of charge and good luck on your trip" That's the kind of hospitality I've been getting the whole way through. Right now I'm just about to leave my mom's cousin's place. Suzanne and her family were kind enough to let me crash at their place over night. A warm meal, shower and laundry... Wow... what wonders that can do to the body espeasially when in good company as well :) I really should be going however... I've got about 130km to go before I reach Sudbury today and I need to buy a new raincoat before I leave North Bay (looks like I'll be biking in the rain today as well). To all... Keep in touch... It's really nice to hear from you when I get a chance to read my E-Mails... Loo - Hang in there girl... I do know the pains and worries... It's all a question of seeing the right side of things... Take me and Northern Ontario with the bugs, hills and weather... Yet in the end, who cares... look where I'm at... I'm doing it and that's what's important. :) Eric - SWEET... I'm glade to hear the boat went off like a charm... Can't wait to see the next one ;) Leo - Smile girl... and try to take a break every now and then.... just to get away for a few days might help... In any case... I'm sure things will work out... Say hi to Bruno for me.... Adeline - MERCI MERCI MERCI... I'll call her as soon as I get off the Internet. At least now I might have a place to crash in Kenora.... Thanx babe... Annie -Pardon si c'est encore une fois en anglais mais au moins ca vas te pratiquer :) Luv ya... Val/ Steve - It's nice to hear from you... give me some news when you can... Pat/ Mel - Told ya I'd do it :) And No... There NOT getting my bike... I've been drinking Bug Nuke for the past three days... You should see the look in their eyes when they catch my scent :) I really have to get going but I'll try to write back as soon as I can... To all of you out there... wish me luck. JF