Day 3 (52) August 20 - Border Crossing

Mapstance - 90 km.

Distance Travelled - 92.41 km.

Total Time - 7 1/2 hours
Time in Saddle 3:41:57

Average Speed 21.2 km.

Today was the day we would return back to Canada. We had all been instruced the night before that it would be an early start. Everyone needed to be in Marine City (Lighthouse) before 9:45 a.m. That morning John Vandersteen, Thea Hiemstra and myself (Connections Crew) rode together into Marine City.

We were there about 8 a.m. We were not the first to arrive and a local coffee/breakfast place was already packed with cyclists. We went in and ordered our coffees and home made cinnamon buns. It was suggested that perhaps they should call in extra staff as as many as 200 cyclists would most likely be coming in while waiting for our ferry crossing.

Also took a picture of the cyclists from First CRC London while we were waiting.

Finally we were ready to move to the Ferry Terminal for our crossing into Canada. What a Canadian welcome. For me it was very emotional seeing upwards of 300 plus waving flags and welcoming all the cyclists into Canada. There was Tim Horton's coffee and pastries/tarts with Canadian flags. From London were: Irene Vandersteen, Cora Fledderus, Heather Fieten, Heather Wallace, Jody Andody, Alice Winters and Christine Vandendool. Scott Fletcher's parents and in-laws were also there.

Soon it was time to go, and a steady stream of cyclists left for Chatham. I arrived at about 2 p.m., helped unload the gear truck and set up my tent. Scott and I are on SWEEP tonight but we may be freed of our duties as the food is being served by the Chatham churches. However tomorrow morning we need to be ready to work at 5:30 a.m. to help get the breakfast ready and after that is finished to clean up the area and load up the gear truck. That night Peter and Marianna Hogeterp dropped by. While our hosts were busy preparing our supper I noticed a familiar face and found out my cousin Cathy Vandersluis (Bouma) was helping to serve the meal.