"Where you from and where you going?"
This line has followed us around delightfully all through New Brunswick. We're loving the friendly people we meet in every little town, as well as the scenery and the small highways.
We left Woodstock, stopped at Tim's for coffee and gathered tons of tips for the day's route from the locals. We even meet two elderly ladies who were friends and had cycled to many places together over the years. After our chat with them, we realized two things: that we are gonna be those ladies one day, and that our next trip is going to be to PEI.
Due to our late start and some tough terrain, we had a difficult day. Hills on hills on hills on mountains beyond mountains. Just when we thought we had climbed our last one, another showed its face. Or the hill would continue around the bend out of sight. Or there would be a plateau and then another hill. BUT. The best part of the hills were the descents! We had never bombed down hills as fast as we did yesterday, so much so that we were laughing out of the pure joy of it. Downhill for kilometers. It felt so good.
But, by 4pm, we were beat. We couldn't do another hill. Realizing we had 30 km to go, we stuck out a thumb and hitched a ride with Dave, a yurt builder from Dalhousie, NB.
"We're just two tired cyclists trying to make it to Fredericton."
After he dropped us off at the city limits, we picked up groceries and headed to Johnny's apartment. Oh Johnny. Thank you so much. Johnny wasn't even at his place to host us, but he left us the keys and we had a blast at his place. Laundry, a full kitchen, a bed, a shower and bath tub, TV, a couch, this place had it all. We rested, rejuvenated and felt so happy. (Read: ate oven pizza and ice cream and watched reruns of Modern Family).
And then we finally had an easy day today! Easy = sunny, reasonably hilly, and leaving by 9am.
We packed sandwiches because we saw nothing but one-horse towns (hee hee) on the way to Grand Bay-Westfield. However, on our way to get water at a gas station in Welsford, we stumbled upon Georgette's Diner. Yay! Yum! And the waitress gave us pitcher after pitcher of ice water for our water bottles. Such luxury!
We arrived in Grand Bay-Westfield at 2:30. Smile smile smile. We were a little early to get to Gill's cousins-in-law's place, so we perused a used clothing store, picked up some corn and potatoes to add to dinner, and of course, got ice cream.
When we arrived at Leigh and Tanya's, we were greeted by their daughter, Zoe, aka our new bff aka queen of smiles. We all hung out and played and then after a delicious dinner, went to her soccer game!
We're now cozied up in their trailer and so grateful to have had two nights in a row being hosted by friends and family. Thank you for being so lovely and for making us feel so welcome!
Okay so these pictures do need descriptions.
1) Dave! Thank you for saving us from 20 km of hilly sadness. And for building yurts.
2) The ONLY good thing about Johnny's apartment sans Johnny: Gill can cook without pants.
3) What would have been a picture of Johnny reading us a bedtime story ...
4) In a search for post it notes to put all over Johnny's house, we came across his student card. Finally we could get a pic with him!
5) What would have been a picture of Johnny saying goodbye after breakfast ...
6) Friar Lake
7) One of life's truths
8) Selfie with the smile queen
9) Soccer stars
10) Biking in our casual wear!
11) Leigh and Tanya :) thank you thank you thank you!
Beautiful!
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