We’d just reunited with one member of the family when another was added to the family as once again testosterone prevails in Clive’s clan.

Clive and I caught up to Brody, who had leapfrogged us by taking a train to Sudbury from Northwest Ontario, about 90 kilometres east of North Bay on Monday. Shortly after our arrival at our campground – Morning Mist Resort – Brody announced he’d gotten a text from his brother saying the baby had been born in Halifax that afternoon. It’s a boy. Again.

Henry Clive Granger is the ninth consecutive boy born into Ross and Hildegard Granger’s family. They had four boys, Ian and Clive have had two sons each, and now Bryce is a proud papa for the first time, Clive is now ‘Granddad’ and Brody is an uncle. (The Clive middle name, of course, not only honours our Clive, but is also Breanna’s family surname. That’s neat.)

I volunteered to make a beer run to a general store a couple of kilometres back that was also a liquor outlet so we could have something to celebrate with. Clive, of course, wanted some good craft brew, preferably a pilsner or a pale ale. Don’t blame him. Wanted something special for a special occasion. The store had something intriguing called Lakeport Pilsner. But it only came in cases of 24. I had to settle for a tall can of Molson Canadian and another of Labatt Blue. Had to be the worst beer run ever! Sorry about that guys! Too bad Henry didn’t hold off until we got to Ottawa.

Clive finally hooked up with Bryce on FaceTime at a Tim Hortons in Deep River on Tuesday morning, and all appears well with mom, baby and Bryce.

Congratulations to Breanna and Bryce, Clive and Cheryl, Brian and Kathy Clive and Brody!

• Brody pulled off a smooth move on Sunday. The day before he bought a small rhubarb pie at a farmers market in North Bay. He took it to the Franklin Motel and Campground, where we were expected to set up our tents on Sunday night, and left it in the owners’ fridge with a special Father’s Day note for Clive. It caught Clive by surprise, but it was a pleasant surprise, especially at the end of a day where we rode 146 kilometres.

Kilometre count

(Campground to campground)

Day 51: Sudbury to North Bay 146 km; Total: 4,626 k

Day 52: North Bay to Morning Mist Resort 136 km; Total: 4,763

Day 53: Morning Mist Resort to Cobden 116 km; Total: 4,879