Forty Six days on the road, Fourteen rest days, and thirty-two days
of cycling from coast to coast, Vancouver to Halifax. This is what it
took me to cycle across this great country of ours. There was a lot of
food and liquids consumed, a lot of calories burned and a lot of sweat
shed propelling myself across the vastness and endless Kilometers of
Canada. There were many mountains climbed in the Western Rockies many
rolling hills in the Prairie's and many unexpected and challenging hills
in Northern Ontario with little or no cycling shoulders all in record
or near record heat. However, when I reached the beautiful province of
Quebec I was in cycling paradise. Quebec had wonderful cycling
infrastructure from fabulous bike paths to excellent bike lanes on its
roads. What a Joy it was to cycle along these roads known as the "Green
Route", along the banks of the scenic Saint Laurence. No hills or
mountains here, just gentle rolling countryside with picturesque towns
and villages that dotted with rich farm land, running down to the
majestic Saint Laurence River. It was then on to Grand Falls New
Brunswick,with cooler temperatures and it's wide and smooth cycling
shoulders.This was another great province to cycle through with lots of
friendly people. From New Brunswick it was then on to Amherst, Nova
Scotia. with its rolling hills and pastoral farmland and great people.
The end was almost in sight. I could almost smell victory. One more day
to Halifax and relief mixed with celebration. I arrived in Halifax
around 6:00pm on August 12, the same day as the closing ceremonies of
the London Olympics. No podiums this weary cyclist though. I just got my
feet and bike tires wet wet in the Atlantic at Halifax forty six days
after I went through a similar ritual in beautiful Stanley Park in
Vancouver, British Columbia. The Odyssey was over it was time to think
about getting back to reality which I was happy to return to.
Not too much left to say except to thank my wife
Mary who supported me between Vancouver and Calgary and later on at the
other end between Quebec City and Halifax. Also thanks to my daughters
Victoria, Sarah and Grace for their unwavering, moral support.
A special thanks to Beansie and Greg Clark for making me feel at
home on my first rest day in Penticton, British Columbia. Thanks also to
my cousin Gary who fed and nourished me in Winnipeg, Manitoba while I
was mustering up courage to face Northern Ontario. A huge thanks also to
Beth and Kerry Keogan in Ottawa who made this road weary traveller feel
so much at home with their tremendous hospitality. Thanks Kerry for the
photographs, the blog and the wonderful tour of Parliament Hill, and Beth
for the wonderful food. You Guys are amazing!! And last but not least a
huge thanks to Sheila Laursen in Point Claire Quebec who took care of me
in in my hour of need and nourished me back to health after a day of
cycling into head wind with the humid ex at 45 Celsius. Thanks Sheila
for your wonderful hospitality and the enlightening tour of your
beautiful city of Montreal. A huge thanks to Cathy from Sturgeon Falls,
Ontario who drove me all the way to Sudbury and back to my bicycle after
we found my lost bike pannier, a distance of 126 Kilometers. Cathy I
will pass it on. People like you are amazing!
It was great cycling with you David between Wawa and Espanola
Ontario. Also To my friend Pierre from Laval, it was great cycling with
you, for three days, from just past Montreal to Montmagny Quebec. We
will cycle again Pierre in the west, and this time we will take our
French, English dictionaries along for the ride.
These are just some of the great people that I was fortunate to
meet in on my cycle trip from the West Coast to the East Coast of our
great country Canada.
Your cycling friend,
Saturday August 04. It's early morning and I'm leaving Ottawa, off to Montreal. It's going be a hot one, 35 celcius
