We all got up early and Coal was running around and climbing the picnic shelter and just generally being silly. I didn't get a great sleep last night mostly because he kept poking me in the face with his head I guess trying to find something to nurse from.I let the others go on ahead of me and played with Coal for a short time before I decided I'd better leave. I lead him back to the yard I had found him in and opened a can of cat food I had bought at the store the day before, leaving it on the ground as a distraction for him while I snuck off with a heavy heart. I went back and retrieved my bike and did a quick run past the yard I left him in to see him sitting atop the fence looking at me. So sad but I couldn't do any more. I hope someone in that town cares for him.
I rode on into the afternoon against headwinds and hot dry weather. I was hoping to meet the couple in (look up town name later) but I wasn't making good time because of the wind and I was still very tired from Coal's pokes for attention all night. On top of that I got a slow leak in my back tube so I was not in the best mood at this point.
I did eventually come to the turnoff for (have to find town name) where I met another cyclist named Paul who was heading to Vancouver. He had been across Canada 9 times! We both went into the town and went for a swim while the sun was blazing and fixed my flat. It was a small metal bit again...
I found $20 on the road as we left the pool so I bought us some slushies to enjoy until a crazy wind picked up coming from the west. We picked up and left then parted ways, me into a nice tailwind and Paul with a terrible headwind.I was blown a ways up the road and made it to Holland by nightfall. A short lap around town didn't find me the couple so I camped behind the "Friendship Center" rather then pay a $15 charge at the local camp grounds.
