Part Five: Ontario. Chapter Six: An early finish in Sault Ste Marie

Dear friends

It is with a sad heart that I'm letting you know we are finishing this journey a few weeks early for this year. It was my intention to ride from Manitoulin Island to Sault Ste Marie, arriving mid October some time, and then over-wintering the boys there while I returned home to Tasmania to work for the northern winter months. We arrived on Manitoulin in good spirits, with many thanks to Brooke for trailering us across on the ferry, and Pete and Corby for hosting us in South Baymouth, and Zoii for looking after us so well near Providence Bay. I was so looking forward to exploring this beautiful part of the world at such a perfect time of year.

However, I have on-going family concerns back home, and the pull of obligation to return home became too strong. I just don't know how I would feel if the worst happened and I hadn't done everything in my power to be there as soon as I could. So I called up the legendary Kristen, where the boys will be staying for the winter, and she agreed to come pick us up early. This means we missed the last 250km into the Soo, and I'm packing up my gear and settling the boys in readiness for flying home later this week.

This is obviously a devastating decision for me, but I have every intention of picking up the trail again in Manitoulin Island next May. I sincerely apologise to everyone who has reached out to me in the area, but hopefully our paths will cross next year!

Until then, stay tuned for updates from Jack and Wilson in the Soo, and some southern summer trail riding content from Tassie! Thank you so much to everyone for your support, it really means the world to me 🙏