Canada by Bicycle

Day 37: MacIver’s Motel and Campground to Sudbury’s Carol’s Campsite & RV Park

Today’s ride is an extremely long one. By this time I am assuming that you are in fabulous shape and getting excited about reaching Ottawa and Québec. If biking 174 kilometres does not appeal to you, spend the evening in Espanola. There is a campground and affordable hotels available.

Leave your campground and head through Blind River. Continue biking towards Spragge and then Serpent River.

Espanola, population 5 314, is a good spot for a rest on your way to Sudbury. The name Espanola is attributed to a story about an Ojibwa tribe raiding a village far to the south and returning with a white woman who spoke Spanish. She married a chief and taught her children to speak Spanish. When French Voyageurs came to the area they heard some of the people speaking Spanish and remarked, “Espagnole.” It was later anglicized to become Espanola. The name was also given to the river in the area. Espanola is largely a forestry town. Camping is available in Espanola at Lake Aspey Resort, just south of town.

Sudbury, population 157 857, is the largest city in northern Ontario. During construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883, blasting and excavation revealed large deposits of nickel in this area. These nickel deposits have largely influenced how Sudbury has developed as a city. As a resource town, the city has rode cyclical demand for its products and has been through many boom and bust cycles.

The mineral extraction that has occurred in this area has not happened without ill effects to the areas ecosystems. Air pollution and urban sprawl wreaked havoc on nearby lakes, vegetation and wildlife. In the 1970s the city and industry began to clean their act up as best they could. Part of this effort includes the Inco Superstack, the 380 metre chimney that rises above the Inco Copper Cliff Smelter. The chimney is the second tallest freestanding structure in Canada.

Don’t be surprised to hear French being spoken in Sudbury. Approximately 30 percent of the population is francophone. Laurentian University is bilingual and College Boreal is exclusively francophone. With 330 lakes within its boundaries, Sudbury boasts more lakes than any other municipality in Canada.

If you have time, make sure to visit Science North, an interactive science museum on the shore of Lake Ramsey. Also, check out The Giant Nickel, next to Dynamic Earth, a science exhibition and multimedia show that exhibits the unique geology and rich mining heritage of the area.

The most efficient way to enter Sudbury is on HWY 55. Exit onto this highway on the west side of Sudbury at Whitefish. Return to HWY 17 and cycle on the south shore of Kelly Lake. On the way to the campground you will have an opportunity to purchase groceries on Regent Street. Your destination for the evening is Carol’s Campsite & RV Park.

Kilometre Log

0.0	Leave MacIver’s Motel & Campground heading east on HWY 17.
4.6	Enter Blind River on HWY 17 / Causley Street.
5.9	Cross over Blind River.
30.2	Spragge.
34.2	Spragge KOA Campground.
36.4	Intersection of HWY 17 & HWY 108 and Serpent River.
41.3	Cross over Serpent River.
54.8	Spanish. Services available.
76.3	Spanish River. Cross over the Spanish River.
101.2	Intersection of HWY 17 & HWY 6. Turn right here to visit Espanola.
116.9	Nairn Centre.
136.3	HWY 17 changes to double lane at the intersection of HWY 55 & HWY 17. Turn right here onto HWY 55.
139.2	Whitefish.
140.1	Graham Centennial Park & Campground.
148.4	Naughton.
156.5	Intersection of HWY 55 & HWY 17. Stay right to gain HWY 17 East.
159.8	Cycle beside Kelly Lake.
164.6	HWY 17 & Long Lake Road. Turn left here.
166.7	Intersection of Long Lake Road & Regent Street. Turn right here. Grocery stores are located here on Regent Avenue.
170.3	Regent Street passes HWY 17 and becomes HWY 69 S. Remain on HWY 69 S.
173.8	Turn left into Carol’s RV Park & Campground on the south shore of Richard Lake.
173.9	Carol’s Campsite and RV Park.

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