I was just about to complete the usual breakfast and packing up routine when a guy camping nearby offered me a cup of coffee. I knew I’d be on the highway all day and would make good time so I wasn’t in a huge rush and gladly accepted. Sat and chatted to Ian and another nearby camper and by the time he’d brewed the second pot it was almost half 10 by the time I left.

 

As expected, it was a fairly uneventful run before stopping at a roadside food truck for some lunch - which rather improbably suggested it was open 24hrs a day with customers encouraged to ring the owner’s mobile if he wasn’t at the counter. 

 

I ordered my food and as I was stepping back outside I was greeted with a ‘it is you’, which is quite a surprising thing to hear when you’re so far from home. Turned out to be the guy from Dunster Store I’d met yesterday and who had also stopped in for some food with his wife. Sat and spoke to the two of them as we all ate our burgers and fries. Then the owner came out to ask about my trip and then talked at length about the things he’d done in life (jet pilot, commercial airline pilot, truck driver, bike racer). Given he was now running a fairly ramshackle food truck on a remote highway I initially viewed some of this with a degree of scepticism. But the knowledge and passion with which he spoke made me inclined to believe him, or at least want to. The near two hour lunch stop meant it was shaping up for a fairly late finish despite the relatively short riding time. 

 

I still made time in the afternoon to stop at a preserved section of ancient forest which contained some enormous 1000 year old red cedar trees. They were due to log this whole area before it was protected by the local university. 

 

It was past 6pm when I rolled into the campsite to be greeted with a ‘full’ sign - much to my dislike as I didn’t fancy the prospect of riding on. Thankfully the campsite host got me into one of the bigger pitches to share with another family. Which turned out great as Andrew offered me a beer and then invited me to sit by the fire with them to discuss football and our shared horror of Trump.  

 

A day of being treated to the full gambit of Canadian friendliness and hospitality - even if it did hamper efficient progress.