Day 91: Erika - 25km

Public Park in Dorset to Carrie’s in Dwight.

Joseph here,

We’ve been having a tired few days. Katie, Jewel and the horses have been quite exhausted. We had taken three days off with Lorrie in Eagle Lake to let the horses rest and heal. But even with the break, after getting back on the road, at 90+ days, it’s not the physical exhaustion so much as it is the mental. And the mental exhaustion expresses itself in many ways - so this past week, small obstacles have felt huge. Making progress hasn’t felt like enough and despite more experience and aid, it feels a little extra difficult.

It’s in these times that we always find that amazing people come to our rescue. Not always right away - but they do. After spending the night camping (not entirely legally) in a park, we set off late, not even knowing exactly where we were headed, or going to sleep that night. I went ahead after 2pm in search of a “moose cafe” to rest at. Biking down the sixty, I came to a small stretch of restaurants and there was a Cafe; it was called Erika’s. It wasn’t the moose one, but I wasn’t sure if there would be another cafe past this and I didn’t feel like hiking it the extra 17k to sit in a Tim’s (again). There's been a few times in the past that directions/google maps have gone awry and I didn't want to risk it for the biscuit.

There was something about Erika’s that made me decide to go in. The place oozed Canadiana, it seemed quite unique and the fact that it promised baked goods- I had to check it out.

And thank goodness I stopped there.

I don’t know where we would be right now if I hadn’t. I went in and ordered a sandwich, a medium coffee and a double chocolate donut (after a good 10 minutes of trying to decide between that and a million other mouthwatering desserts). It came to less than $10 and it was all amazing. I worked away for the next few hours, waiting for the girls until suddenly there was a huge clap of thunder and then the rain came pouring down. I had three thoughts rush through my head at the same time: Oh no! My stuff is getting soaked outside!//Oh no! The girls are getting soaked outside!//HAHA! The girls are getting soooaked outside and I’ve still got my donut, suckersss!

Luckily the rain didn’t last more than 15 minutes and the girls welcomed the refreshing rain. While I was inside, waiting out the rain, news had started to spread through the bakery that there were two girls riding down the road on horses. Eventually, I spoke up and mentioned what they were up to, their cause and everything else, so by the time they arrived, they had a small little welcoming party.

The rain cleared, the horses were untacked and left to graze and Erika fed the girls on the house while they unwound and worked on finding a place closer to stay. 40km was not happening today.

Now, Erika feeding Katie and Jewel one meal would be amazing - so I can’t even begin to say how grateful we are for everything that she, her staff and family did for us.

Erika got us in touch with the Dwight Lions Club president who came out to meet us. She loaded us up with baked goods (some of the best darn tarts I’ve ever had. that’s right mtl, you got nuthin’ on her). She came to pick us up from where we were staying at Carrie’s place and we had a huge dinner at the bakery with her, Brittany & Hayven (staff) and Brittany’s grandparents. This bakery is like a second home, a small community, a full-on family; it’s amazing. We then were driven back to Carrie’s, bellies full and spirits warmed for a rest where we knew the horses were safe in a paddock.

The next morning, the generosity continued as Erika came to pick me up and transport my broken bike (yeah, it’s currently being fixed) to the bike shop in Huntsville. She helped me run more errands and showed me around Huntsville. Taking me back the bakery for some more treats (on the house), I worked until Brittany and Hayven came to pick me up to go get groceries and take me out to meet the girls for a little break.

As my bike hadn’t been fixed, and the girls had continued on their way north, Erika and her family took me in for the night. I have been absolutely spoiled. I have more pizza and desserts than I know what to do with for tomorrow. (Thank goodness I have a 50km+ day of catch up). I’ve been fed, I’ve made friends and I am just - I’m astounded at how welcomed I’ve been into this place that I just happened to stop in at on a whim…

I do want to make it out of Ontario this year. I do want to push myself both physically and mentally. And I want the girls and the horses to power through.

But I need this too, this reminder that it’s about where I am and what I’m currently doing. We share stories, we have fun. I’m already struggling to remember all the names of the towns that we stay in, but stories like these, this is what I’m going to remember. The warmth and kindness and generosity of people, my fellow Canadians.

People give us so much. Katie and I often discuss this idea that we feel like we receive too much. People hand us money, food, water, open their doors, let us share their space, on and on and on. I can only hope we are giving something too. That we will have infinite opportunities to give back now, and in the future. We are raising money for dog guides, and we have met more and more people that have benefited from that cause - but for me - that’s not the main focus. I’m making connections with people.

I’d like to believe that I’m offering people a change from their daily routine. People are generous, and it feels good to be selfless and to help others, and to experience and be a part of a story greater than what you might witness on a normal day. I hope I’m allowing people that opportunity to pay it forwards and that I, in turn, pay it forwards as well.

Now, I’m not saying that I’m extraordinary by any means, but I am saying this story is bigger than me. This story is about all the people that have banded together to help two sisters make their way across this massive country by horseback. It’s people like Erika, who say outright “Oh, I could never do that trip!” help us do exactly that. It’s people like Erika that keep us going.