Day 84 July 29, 2011 Wawa to Hammer Lake 61km – Mike’s View

A 5:00am wake-up followed by a quick emptying and filling of the MCC.  Riley was on the road and running by 7:00am.

The morning passed rather quickly, only being interrupted by a bunch of cyclists riding in the opposite direction.  A number of them stopped to talk to Riley and applaud him on running the incredible distance.  A large group of cyclists passed us and did not stop to say hi as they rode from Victoria to St. John's. Sharon and Marya were the wife and daughter of a cyclist (who was riding on his own), and they stopped to chat with Riley and I.  Sharon was so excited about talking to him.  She had heard about him from other cyclists up ahead that had passed us, and ran into them.  They took a photo with Riley, donated to Step Into Action and then before going our separate ways, she warned us of the large hills to come…

Throughout the day I was listening to an audiobook called "Inside Delta Force", which is the first audiobook I have listened to.  The readers voice is incredibly captivating and so smooth.  As I was watching Riley run later on, I envisioned this voice narrating the story of Riley's run across Canada, and it made it even more epic than it already is.  As hard as I tried, I was unable to replicate it.

We finished the day on highway 17, at what looked like a driveway, but when we looked to see where it went, it turned out to be a boat ramp into Hammer Lake. You guessed it, we went swimming!

We drove back into Wawa to take a photo with the World's Largest Canada Goose and to check into a Motel.  Tomorrow is a rest/administration day, and it is always nice to have a calm, clean and slightly more spacious spot to set up. 

We had dinner at the restaurant/pub that is attached to the Motel.  As we were ordering a beer with dinner, we asked "What's on tap?"  The waitress’s response was "Nothing.  We forgot to order it.  We won't have anything on tap until Tuesday!"  Riley and I began laughing at the thought of this.  It wasn't ordered?  Who forgets to order the beer?  This would never happen in any other city!  She then told us that the owner had a heart attack and had to be taken to hospital.  That is why the beer had not been ordered.  Our laughing immediately stopped.  We just ordered 2 bottles of Canadian.  

Riley then went to order the Perogies for dinner.  They weren't ordered either.  "Pizza?" -"Nope."  

He settled on the French Onion Soup, Bruschetta AND Spaghetti.  I had a good old-fashioned hamburger.

Bed shortly followed dinner.

-Michael Downie