Tour of Southwest Ontario 600K Brevet Ride Report and Photos

From a rookie's point of view I was just one 600k short of a series. My initial goal for this year was to do a 200 and 300, both in the Huron Chapter with all my familiar riding buddies. I felt so good after the 300 I decided to go for the 400 and to my surprise I finished that too. I would like to write more about that later. Well, only the 600 stood in my way, I was cocky, I did a 400. Everyone tells me that the 400 is the hardest, the 600 can be done no problem. So I set out on the March to the Marsh. I had to abandon at 488k. I was not going to make the next control. It was disheartening, I wanted my SR so bad. I went home and looked for a 600 in the Toronto Chapter and found the TOSWO. The date looked good and I was pumped. I did not look at my DNF as a failure but a learning experience. Here I was going to meet new riders, new friends. Five of us started out but it was not too long before Phil, Henry and I were riding together.

Riding past one of many fields of tobacco, here before Tilsonburg. (L-R: John, Henry)

At the control in Tilsonburg - where else? Timmy's (L-R: Henry, Phil, John, photo by kind stranger)

The pace was comfortable, the conversation was great and we stopped and smelled the roses. We may have lingered longer than necessary at each stop but personally I was determined not to blow up again.

Henry against cloudy sky and farm fields on the way to Port Stanley

Bright sunshine as we head north to Melbourne on the way to Strathroy

We were able to get 4.5 hours of sleep (at least I was able to as I did not set my alarm clock an hour earlier than I had to).

We had a great breakfast in Stratford and met an interested cyclist from Indiana. Again we stopped and chatted when we could have been on the road but it was worthwhile.

Sunrise above the fog, on the way to St Mary's

Out breakfast stop - good omlettes with home fries, toast and coffee

Outside of Drumbo Phil noticed a sign that said "Go John Go". My niece, Cheryl and her husband, Julius knew I was going to go by and made it for me. Again we stopped and said hello and thank you and had pictures taken. That gave me such a boost. Even though we finished in 39 hours there was no sense of urgency as we comfortably rolled into each control and left knowing we did not have to hammer to make the next one.

John gets moral support from family in Drumbo

Getting ready for dark but nearing the end - Britannia and Miborough Line