46   Wednesday, October 15   Shallow Lake, ON

As time goes on, I've noticed that my entries become 
less and less frequent. Not that I have nothing to say. 
Rather, at the end of the day, I have less and less 
energy, and sleep becomes more and more inviting; I 
don't want to put that off so I promise myself I'll make 
it up and write in the morning. I never do. I have made 
it to Southern Ontario. I think I am still in one piece, 
and that one piece is still showing some signs of life.

   I did not take the main highway all the way. Rather, 
I turned south at Espanola, and went across Manitoulin 
Island. It's the big one that divides Georgian Bay from 
the main part of Lake Huron. The largest island in the 
world completely surrounded by fresh water, or so it 
bills itself. Anyway. Took the ferry across the mouth of 
the aforementioned Georgian Bay to Tobermory, then down 
the Bruce Peninsula into Southern Ontario, where I am 
now, 150 miles NW of Toronto. I had several reasons for 
doing this. (1) The main highway goes straight through 
Sudbury. I have no desire to see Sudbury, the "Armpit of 
Ontario." (2) It saves 150 miles. (3) It includes a 
30-mile ferry ride, saving me some time. (4) I figured 
Manitoulin Island would be a nice ride. In these last 2, 
I was wrong, through no fault of my own. The last 3 days 
on Manitoulin have seen hurricanes and gales. Blowing 
from the South, of course. Manitoulin isl. is 60km from 
North to South. This took me 2 days. Why? I walked it. 
Faster than riding into the wind. Couldn't set up my 
tent because of the wind, afraid it would tear in half. 
Besides, nothing to weigh it down with (while I'm 
setting it up). Stakes don't work, and it carried my 
pack with it when I tried that. So no sleep for 2 days. 
Spent one night huddled in an abandoned barn, with the 
roof threatening to blow off. Spent the days trudging 
into the wind as if through gelatin. Power lines down 
everywhere. Watching trees being uprooted and felled 
before my eyes. Get to South Baymouth (finally). Ferry 
terminal. Ferry  canceled. Winds too strong. Spend day 
and a half in S. Baymouth. Finally winds die down and 
ferry sails, taking 3 1/2 hours. Arrive in Tobermory and 
it starts to rain. So now I am soaked and freezing. 
Hoping it will be sunny tomorrow and I can dry stuff 
out. 2 days to Toronto. On-on!