Today, I'm in Espanola, Ontario and boy, I've never been more happy to leave a particular stretch of road as Highway 17 in Canada. Since it's the only trans-Canadian highway running through this part of Canada, it gets all of the 18-wheeler traffic. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but most of Highway 17 from Sault Ste Marie to Espanola is 2 lanes. Worst of all, there's barely any paved shoulder...I mean barely any...and what shoulder there is drops off about 2 inches into soft gravel. Soft gravel is not something you want to ride into on a fully loaded bike. Lots of close calls yesterday and today, but both the bike and I made it through in one piece.
Tomorrow, I head for Manitoulin Island, what I hope to be a really really beautiful stretch of Lake Huron shoreline. I take a ferry from South Baymouth to Tobemoy and from there I'm heading for Niagra Falls. I should be in New York State by this Thursday. I think I'm a little ahead of schedule.
1 comment:
We spend our summers just north of this Hwy and travel it often. With TOP and other local maps, it is possible to travel secondary roads north of Hwy 17 for a good part of your bike journey from the Soo to Espanola. We recommend you do that, even if it takes longer. This person is right - not a highway for cyclists. Period.
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