Day 1 - 2003: Oshawa - Port Hope (45 mi)


I plan to start riding today around noon from Oshawa, Ont.
UPDATE: I did it!

I may make today a short day, just to stay out of the heat - 90 degrees F is a bit scary for an overweight cyclist doing the first loaded tour of the year. Wish me luck.

Next post - when I get to a phone line.

I got out of Oshawa at 2:00. It was HOT. I don't have a thermometer with me, but I'm sure it was 90+ F. I had some Propel, sports drink from Gator Ade and I filled up a water bottle at the Oshawa VIA Rail station. In downtown Oshawa, I bought a bottle of cold water. I bought Gatorade and got more water along the way. I tried to stay hydrated, but that's a tough bill to fill when it is that hot.

I decided to follow Brian Hedney's excellent Web-based cue sheets for a trip from Toronto to Montreal <http://www.hedney.com>. Most of Brian's route follows the Waterfront Trail.

At the eastern edge of Oshawa, I passed GM's Canadian Corporate Headquarters. Isn't the new truck made in Lansing, not Oshawa?

There were some gorgeous views of Lake Ontario from the Waterfront Trail. The route today was about 90% rural and traffic free.


I got lost at Port Darlington. A crushed gravel section of the trail ended at a tee-intersection, with no signage specifying which way to go. Brian's directions failed me too. I didn't have a local map, so had to stap in the dark for another route. I headed right/south until I reached an impassible hazard, a waterway with no bridge. I then headed about a mile back to where I had erred and then headed another mile north toward "The 401," and old route 2, but I turned back from that choice too when it veered west. Heading south along the eastern side of the waterway, I connected with a pleasant waterfront road that ran along the Lake.

In Newcastle and all along today's route were several examples of first class historical home restoration. I liked this simple farm house.

The heat wore me out like never before. I was exhausted, dehydrated and suffering from asthma symptoms. There were times when I doubted I could make it to Port Hope, but I didn't see any earlier lodging, camping or food choices, so struggled along.

In one of my worst days ever, I managed only 45 miles in 6 hours.

I checked into a motel, mainly so that I could take a shower. At dinner, I drank about 84 ounces of water. I'm starting to feel better.

Tomorrow is expected to be hotter and more humid, with a heat index above 100 F. I may purposefully shorten my progress out of concern for my health.

Posted: Tue - June 24, 2003 at 07:23 AM      

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