Monday, January 18, 2010
Fin
The ride was finished in Cape Spear the most Easterly point in North America. I was unable to update the blog while riding in Newfoundland due to poor Internet access. I rode 10,421 Kms in a few months.
From my last post in Halifax I rode up to Iles De La Madeleine and Island North of Prince Edward Island. I rode the length of the island and returned to the ferry back to PEI. I rode down to Charlottetown and continued to ride East. I then hammered the Cabot trail around Cape Breton Island. I continued East to North Sydney and took a ferry to the West Coast of Newfoundland. I then road up to Gros Morne National Park and then continued East to Twillinggate where I saw an ice berg. I road down to St. Pierre an Island south of Newfoundland. It is actually a Republic of France. I then continued to St. John's and planned to ride to Cape Spear. I arrived in St. Johns and asked for directions to Cape Spear. I was pointed to the highest point in St. Johns (signal hill) which actually was not Cape Spear but it really had a great View of the city. I then rode the last 21 kms to Cape Spear. The last few kilometers were down a windy turny European style country road. I reached Cape Spear and road the last little bit down a wooden trail. I sat down took a few pictures and realized finishing things is the hardest part. It seemed almost anti-climatic realizing I was finished and that I had to return to everyday type life. I had my moment in Cape Spear, I finished my last cliff bar.
After Cape Spear I continued to Bay Bulls and I stayed with friends which I met on the journey. I really lucked out when I finished the ride having such great place to stay. I am so fortunate to have found such great people to stay with. When I was outside of Fortune, Newfoundland I stopped to get water at a gas station at three pm and I was planning on catching the ferry at six am the next morning. I battled a nasty head wind all day and still had another hundred kilometers to put in. I decided to grab a caffeinated beverage while at the gas station. something I learned to go with out for a few months of riding. While I was at the gas station there was someone who came up to me to chat. I thought it was totally bizarre seeing someone with a snowmobile in their truck in August. We chatted for a few minutes and he invited me to stay in his house in Bay Bulls. He told me he used to bike race a little bit. He did not mention he was a world champion mountain biker. After we chatted my heart was pounding from the caffeine and I hammered on the pedals in the evening and set up my bivy sack outside of the town hall at eleven pm.
Thank you everyone who helped me on my journey. We raised 16,000 dollars for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Canada. We finished our trip in Halifax without a hitch and I saw the East Coast up close and personal afterwards.
Life is pretty amazing, keep riding
Dean the machine
From my last post in Halifax I rode up to Iles De La Madeleine and Island North of Prince Edward Island. I rode the length of the island and returned to the ferry back to PEI. I rode down to Charlottetown and continued to ride East. I then hammered the Cabot trail around Cape Breton Island. I continued East to North Sydney and took a ferry to the West Coast of Newfoundland. I then road up to Gros Morne National Park and then continued East to Twillinggate where I saw an ice berg. I road down to St. Pierre an Island south of Newfoundland. It is actually a Republic of France. I then continued to St. John's and planned to ride to Cape Spear. I arrived in St. Johns and asked for directions to Cape Spear. I was pointed to the highest point in St. Johns (signal hill) which actually was not Cape Spear but it really had a great View of the city. I then rode the last 21 kms to Cape Spear. The last few kilometers were down a windy turny European style country road. I reached Cape Spear and road the last little bit down a wooden trail. I sat down took a few pictures and realized finishing things is the hardest part. It seemed almost anti-climatic realizing I was finished and that I had to return to everyday type life. I had my moment in Cape Spear, I finished my last cliff bar.
After Cape Spear I continued to Bay Bulls and I stayed with friends which I met on the journey. I really lucked out when I finished the ride having such great place to stay. I am so fortunate to have found such great people to stay with. When I was outside of Fortune, Newfoundland I stopped to get water at a gas station at three pm and I was planning on catching the ferry at six am the next morning. I battled a nasty head wind all day and still had another hundred kilometers to put in. I decided to grab a caffeinated beverage while at the gas station. something I learned to go with out for a few months of riding. While I was at the gas station there was someone who came up to me to chat. I thought it was totally bizarre seeing someone with a snowmobile in their truck in August. We chatted for a few minutes and he invited me to stay in his house in Bay Bulls. He told me he used to bike race a little bit. He did not mention he was a world champion mountain biker. After we chatted my heart was pounding from the caffeine and I hammered on the pedals in the evening and set up my bivy sack outside of the town hall at eleven pm.
Thank you everyone who helped me on my journey. We raised 16,000 dollars for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Canada. We finished our trip in Halifax without a hitch and I saw the East Coast up close and personal afterwards.
Life is pretty amazing, keep riding
Dean the machine
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
just a quick heads up
I have been in Halifax for almost a week, I am off to see more of the country and when I have better access to a computer I will fill you in on my journey. I am off to Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg, Isles De La Madeleine, Newfoundland and St. Pierre Miquelon a French republican Island
Friday, June 29, 2007
Le tour Section Five Day Nine Section Completed in Ottawa
June 27, I woke up early in Pembroke beside my new neighbour with the massive mullet. I decided to be as noisy as possible after the mullet man almost ran me over with his truck. We were quickly on the rode to our Nation's capital Ottawa.
The temperature again was upwards of forty degrees Celsius with the humid ex, I was drinking a liter of water almost every half hour. It was very hot and there was no shoulder on the road. We were finding the rode pretty sketchy to be cycling on but only had a hundred kilometers left to ride when a police officer pulled over. Our new mo do was to kill the officer with kindness and it seemed to be working well. The fact that we were in spandex and she was a female officer was working in our favour. She informed us that there had been several fatalities along the upcoming stretch of road and to be careful. We took her advice and rode with a little extra caution throughout the rest of the day. As We approached Ottawa I hit the five thousand kilometer marker on my odometer. At this point I was excited to see Ottawa, the road then became a very busy freeway out side of the city. A large purple van with police officers informed me that I was not allowed on that stretch of road and to get off of it asap! I then took the next exit and a fellow cyclist pointed me in the vague direction of my friend Aimee's home.
I arrived at six and Aimee and I chatted for a bit before we went out to a great Italian restaurant downtown called, Fratelli's on Bank street. The food was so great, I had an order of plain pasta with parmigiana and olive oil. I also had my favorite pizza that they made for me by request, it had mozzarella, anchovies, tomatoes and arrugula with a generous serving of olive oil poured on top. Aimee and her boyfriend John then drove me around the city and showed me Ottawa by night which was simply breathtaking.
The temperature again was upwards of forty degrees Celsius with the humid ex, I was drinking a liter of water almost every half hour. It was very hot and there was no shoulder on the road. We were finding the rode pretty sketchy to be cycling on but only had a hundred kilometers left to ride when a police officer pulled over. Our new mo do was to kill the officer with kindness and it seemed to be working well. The fact that we were in spandex and she was a female officer was working in our favour. She informed us that there had been several fatalities along the upcoming stretch of road and to be careful. We took her advice and rode with a little extra caution throughout the rest of the day. As We approached Ottawa I hit the five thousand kilometer marker on my odometer. At this point I was excited to see Ottawa, the road then became a very busy freeway out side of the city. A large purple van with police officers informed me that I was not allowed on that stretch of road and to get off of it asap! I then took the next exit and a fellow cyclist pointed me in the vague direction of my friend Aimee's home.
I arrived at six and Aimee and I chatted for a bit before we went out to a great Italian restaurant downtown called, Fratelli's on Bank street. The food was so great, I had an order of plain pasta with parmigiana and olive oil. I also had my favorite pizza that they made for me by request, it had mozzarella, anchovies, tomatoes and arrugula with a generous serving of olive oil poured on top. Aimee and her boyfriend John then drove me around the city and showed me Ottawa by night which was simply breathtaking.
Le Tour Section Five Day Eight North Bay to Pembroke Ontario
June 26, After a great rest day in North Bay we headed out towards Pembroke Ontario. Leaving the city around seven thirty a.m., it already felt as if I was in a humidor and I was a cigar wearing freshly cleaned spandex on a flight to Pembroke from Cuba.
Throughout the day I was stared at more often than go threw the Rockies because of the extreme heat. The weather was not only hot but it was humid, apparently reaching forty degrees Celsius with the humid ex. We arrived to Pembroke late around eight thirty p.m. and had trouble finding the campsite. Once we found the campsite I was attacked viciously by a swarm of mosquitoes, I then continued to tip over my precious pasta noodles off the camp stove. I really had to pull myself together or I was doomed. I quickly sprinted one hundred meters to the shower and tried to clean myself in a military type of shower that as soon as the water was off the mosquitoes were on me again. I thought I was cool but I was still on the edge, I decided to eat and then quickly get to sleep as soon as possible. I sprinted back to the pasta and ran back to the bathroom and tried to make the best of my five star meal. I quickly pounded some noodles and ran back to my tent. I then stripped down while the piranhas nibbled away at the last pieces of skin exposed. I now was in my bivy tent with my head lamp on sweating trying to kill any last mosquitoes around. I was now bleeding, tired and ready for sleep, I quickly passed out.
Around an hour after going to sleep I hear a diesel truck a few feet from my head, I quickly awake to the sound of a fifth wheel about to back over my tent and poor deano soon too be dean the pancake. The truck then stopped and a short man with a massive mullet wearing construction boots clunks by my tent. I hear myself yelling relax dean, relax dean, he is not worth freaking out at even though he almost ran you over with his fifth wheel. He then continued to set up his fifth wheel and turn on his generator. I decided it was best for him that I just moved my tent. It was a very long day and I was happy to end it in my tent as far away from this inconsiderate fellow as possible. We rode Two hundred and twenty three kilometers in temperatures as high as forty degrees Celsius and no mullets were hurt.
Throughout the day I was stared at more often than go threw the Rockies because of the extreme heat. The weather was not only hot but it was humid, apparently reaching forty degrees Celsius with the humid ex. We arrived to Pembroke late around eight thirty p.m. and had trouble finding the campsite. Once we found the campsite I was attacked viciously by a swarm of mosquitoes, I then continued to tip over my precious pasta noodles off the camp stove. I really had to pull myself together or I was doomed. I quickly sprinted one hundred meters to the shower and tried to clean myself in a military type of shower that as soon as the water was off the mosquitoes were on me again. I thought I was cool but I was still on the edge, I decided to eat and then quickly get to sleep as soon as possible. I sprinted back to the pasta and ran back to the bathroom and tried to make the best of my five star meal. I quickly pounded some noodles and ran back to my tent. I then stripped down while the piranhas nibbled away at the last pieces of skin exposed. I now was in my bivy tent with my head lamp on sweating trying to kill any last mosquitoes around. I was now bleeding, tired and ready for sleep, I quickly passed out.
Around an hour after going to sleep I hear a diesel truck a few feet from my head, I quickly awake to the sound of a fifth wheel about to back over my tent and poor deano soon too be dean the pancake. The truck then stopped and a short man with a massive mullet wearing construction boots clunks by my tent. I hear myself yelling relax dean, relax dean, he is not worth freaking out at even though he almost ran you over with his fifth wheel. He then continued to set up his fifth wheel and turn on his generator. I decided it was best for him that I just moved my tent. It was a very long day and I was happy to end it in my tent as far away from this inconsiderate fellow as possible. We rode Two hundred and twenty three kilometers in temperatures as high as forty degrees Celsius and no mullets were hurt.
Le Tour Section Five Day Seven Sudbury to North Bay
June 24, I woke up nice and early in Sudbury to a nice greeting from my new friend Meridith. I had a great sleep in my bivy sack and enjoyed the comforts of sleeping on a freshly mowed lawn. Our host's Margot and Tony served us a great breakfast of French toast, fresh berries, local maple syrup, ( two different types!) yogurt and back bacon. Tony is a Optometrist in town and explained to me that there isn't a huge deal of difference between buying expensive sunglasses and cheapys. The couple has two really cute daughters who were great company. Margot treated us very well and she represented a long lost mother for the two of us dirty cyclists. We really enjoyed the way they took care of us and were a great support, Thanks again!
After leaving the Nickel city we battled road construction on our way to North Bay Ontairo. Acclimatizing to the humidity in Ontario took some adjustment, I often felt as if I was in a sweat lodge and that the trees were talking to me.
We stayed with Matt's extended family in North Bay, Bob and Maureen. Bob is a financial planner and Maureen is a physiotherapist. We stopped in town for a quick bite to eat before heading up the lake to their home which was nestled in the woods on the lake.
That evening we spent some time getting to know the couple and learning about Bob's passion for shooting anything that moved, mostly moose. Bob was a true Northern Ontarioite, he had a great assortment of fishing boats, all terrain vehicles, a tractor and a few other internal combustion vehicles. It was a great learning experience, meeting Bob and getting a great insight on his way of life and his pass times. Bob taught me how to see wildlife, this is a really great skill to having when touring a huge country like Canada. Basically look for movement in the woods, this really helps in seeing wildlife as opposed to looking for something sedentary. After a few hours of chatting I was ready to hit the hay hard and prepare to take a rest day in North Bay.
After leaving the Nickel city we battled road construction on our way to North Bay Ontairo. Acclimatizing to the humidity in Ontario took some adjustment, I often felt as if I was in a sweat lodge and that the trees were talking to me.
We stayed with Matt's extended family in North Bay, Bob and Maureen. Bob is a financial planner and Maureen is a physiotherapist. We stopped in town for a quick bite to eat before heading up the lake to their home which was nestled in the woods on the lake.
That evening we spent some time getting to know the couple and learning about Bob's passion for shooting anything that moved, mostly moose. Bob was a true Northern Ontarioite, he had a great assortment of fishing boats, all terrain vehicles, a tractor and a few other internal combustion vehicles. It was a great learning experience, meeting Bob and getting a great insight on his way of life and his pass times. Bob taught me how to see wildlife, this is a really great skill to having when touring a huge country like Canada. Basically look for movement in the woods, this really helps in seeing wildlife as opposed to looking for something sedentary. After a few hours of chatting I was ready to hit the hay hard and prepare to take a rest day in North Bay.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Le Tour Section Five Day Six Blind River to Sudbury
I quickly packed up my camp gear and rode down to Tim Horton's to socialize with the locals in Blind River Ontario. I had a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese while I chatted with two Quebecois brothers who were riding from Quebec to British Columbia and were planning on riding threw Michigan and avoiding Northern Ontario.
The day flew by rather quickly after meandering up and down small hills enjoying the warm weather. Matt rode ahead in efforts to find a bike shop to fix his wheel that had shed a few more spokes. I then met him at a grocery store in town where he was charming the local moms in his spandex. When I met up with Matt he was ecstatic about this nice woman he met at the grocery store. Our soon to be new friend Margot offered us a place to camp and told Matt that she and her husband Tony had done some bicycle touring in the past. Margot really loved it when people invited them into their homes. Matt and I then continued over to there home where we were greeted by Jenny who was a friend of theirs taking care of Ontario's cutest sisters, Meridith and Jill. We spent sometime getting to know the girls and learning about Sudbury the nickel capital. We were now on the 4545.7 Km mark and ready for bed.
The day flew by rather quickly after meandering up and down small hills enjoying the warm weather. Matt rode ahead in efforts to find a bike shop to fix his wheel that had shed a few more spokes. I then met him at a grocery store in town where he was charming the local moms in his spandex. When I met up with Matt he was ecstatic about this nice woman he met at the grocery store. Our soon to be new friend Margot offered us a place to camp and told Matt that she and her husband Tony had done some bicycle touring in the past. Margot really loved it when people invited them into their homes. Matt and I then continued over to there home where we were greeted by Jenny who was a friend of theirs taking care of Ontario's cutest sisters, Meridith and Jill. We spent sometime getting to know the girls and learning about Sudbury the nickel capital. We were now on the 4545.7 Km mark and ready for bed.
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