An overnighter. Just enough to figure out what works and… what doesn’t

I set out from Ottawa on a two day overnight bikepacking trip — Trans Canada Trail to Carleton Place, long gravel roads through eastern Ontario, a night camped by Sharbot Lake, then back through the K&P Trail and the Lanark Highlands. The plan was simple but a lot to learn about what works and… what didn’t. Along the way I made a navigating mistake that cost me twenty kilometres into a headwind, lost a basket to a puddle, found some wildlife I wasn’t expecting, and discovered that a one dollar foam pad and a bag of Korean toasted rice - noorongji - might be the two best things I’ve ever packed. This one covers what worked, what didn’t, and what I’ll do differently next time — including some honest thoughts on riding a single speed through the Lanark Highlands. If you’re thinking about trying your first overnighter, or you’re just curious what a loaded Surly Karate Monkey looks like after a full day on gravel — stick around. ☕ Support the channel by becoming a member, or If you enjoy these kinds of rides, consider buying me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/pedallingthe...