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July 30, 2005
Cycle Across Canada | This is our day of glory
Yes, we have a tail wind! Now we know what it would have been like to do it the right direction. After leaving Darrell and Evelyn and the kittens (sooo cute) we fly!
Everything is perfect. The wind, the weather. We found a new part of the Trans Canada that wasn't in operation yet so we had a whole highway to ourselves for awhile. It was such fun just cruising at 30 k an hour with little effort. We had dinner at Indian Head at a place called the Craft - Tea Elevator. It was a cafe in an restored grain elevator. Very cool. Great food. We were so proud of ourselves we decided on a B&B....again.
Next day the wind was back in our face. Still our spirits were high and Steve, Dave's son, met us on the road and took us into Saskatoon.
He was leaving town Monday so he didn't want to miss us. Not to worry . He will drop us where we left off on Sunday.
We saw a great version of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, all hip-hop and rap. It was a blast. Steve made a wicked lasagna and now we're off to bed early to get up at 6 and return to our ride.
So until we find cyber space again......Love and Peace Maxine
Posted by Dave at 09:50 PM | Comments ()
July 27, 2005
Pride of the Prairies | Cycle Across Canada
The last two days have been great! 122 k to Carberry and then 100 k to Oak Lake. The land has flattened out but the rain is starting. We have done about 96 k, arrive in Moosomin, we are tired so we decide on a room for the night but everthing is booked! Then the Pride of the Prairies and its' generosity shows itself.
After getting " sorry we are full" I go into the last motel and I am ready to see if they know anyone who wants to be an unofficial B&B. I go in and he looks at me and sees me wet and can tell I am cold and before I can say too much he has offered us his motor home and has thrown the keys to his truck to Dave and tells us to go get something to eat and he will set us up when we get back! Unbelievable but true. So when we come back from eating Darrell says the wife thinks we should use their spare bedroom. So once again we have fallen onto the kindness of strangers. What nice people. If we are ever back this way we will stop there for sure. They are fantastic. Not uptight about every detail. They make you feel welcome. Their Motel is named Prairie Pride and they live up to it. Thank you Evelyn and Darrell. Your generosity is not forgotten.
Here they are:
Hope to see you folks again one day - fishing in Cambell River?
Posted by Dave at 09:29 PM | Comments ()
Photo Gallery No. 4 - Prairies Part 1
Maxine's nose still acute as ever! Wild strawberries along the roadside - they tasted great!
We help a fellow cyclist! Matt was just starting his trip from Winnipeg, and we hear he is now well on his way - with a new bicycle pump!
No more hills!!! Welcome to Manitoba and the Prairies!
Saskatchewan, and we have a whole highway to ourselves! The "in" word for this is "riding in the DMZ"!
Indian Head SK
I was going to bring back one of these for Shawn, but couldn't choose. Maybe next time!
Regina on the skyline - we bypass big cities!
Posted by Dave at 08:03 PM | Comments ()
July 24, 2005
Cycle Across Canada for some R&R in Winnipeg
Riding into Winnipeg we were pumped about seeing good friends Caroline and Gary, Kreesta and John.
We were about 23 k out and we saw a rider in need.
It was young Matt who had just started his journey from Winnipeg to Toronto and had a flat tire already and a broken pump. We stopped and helped him get back on the road. There is a snap shot of him and Dave in one of the galleries. Hope the rest of his trip goes smooth.
Soon we arrived at Caroline's home where we are treated to warm showers, comfy bed and home cooking that was real food. We took two days off and had a great rest. It was so nice to spend time with them and I think we need to see each other again soon. It's their turn to come out our way. It was so fun to see Kreesta after about 10 years. It was hard to pull ourselves when it was time to go. I can't wait to see the pictures of Caroline in her PJ's and bike helmet sending us off. Kreesta rode with us for a while, then pointed us in the right direction and we were off. Into the head winds. Yup, again. They were so bad we called it off after 45k. It sucked! We camped beside a retaurant and poor Dave was just about eaten alive by bugs. They had a real variety of hungry ones there hiding in the grass just waiting for some fresh meat. They prefer him to me! cheers Maxine
Posted by Dave at 09:06 PM | Comments ()
July 22, 2005
Cycle Across Canada | Manitoba - at last!!
Ontario really did "go on forever"! But we made it, hundreds of hills and 2,343 kms!
Here we are in Massey, Central Ontario, about to face the real hills ahead alongside lake Superior! (Note behind us the traffic, and what - in Ontario - passes for a "hard" shoulder that we cyclists have to use to keep away from the traffic!!??)
Now all those hills are finally behind us, and here we are in Winnipeg, Manitoba looking forward to several weeks of cycling on flat ground! But, time is running out, so we are now figuring out the quickest way home that includes both Saskatoon and Edmonton.
We also now seem to have finally left winter behind, and even when it rains, it stays warm. Still having lots of fun, meeting interesting people, and now we begin to give serious thought to those Rocky Mountains we have to cross!
Our next most immediate task is to try and figure out how to get all our photos out of the digital camera and into this site .....!
Posted by Dave at 01:51 PM | Comments ()
July 21, 2005
Photo gallery No.3 - Ontario
Finally, we got sunshine!
One of our typical campsites but surrounded by Beaver poo!
A much better night's sleep on board Windy Affair!
Hey David (Turcotte) - good to see where you spent your summers!
We are on the shores of Lake Superior
White River, Ontario where Winnie the Pooh all started!
Still in Ontario and the sign reads: "Victoria 3,400 kms"
Finally - Manitoba! It took us 30 days to cross Ontario!
Manitoba had a lot of rain - many fields were flooded like this! Hey favourite youngest son, what do you think about the size of the shoulders on these roads?!
Posted by Dave at 07:46 PM | Comments ()
July 16, 2005
We meet West-East Riders | Cycle Across Canada
(and some wolves!) OK - so we didn't know about the headwinds everywhere! Lots of others did, and we have met some interesting people cycling across Canada the "right" way!
After we left the Soo, we came across quite a few riders beginning with Ryan Dong who, believe or not, started out from Comox BC! A young guy with lots of energy pulling an incredible 200 kms a day! Good luck Ryan, and we will look out for you on www.xcanadabike.blogspot.com Shortly after Ryan came Andrew Ross who had pedaled with Ryan earlier in the trip. Next day we came across Scott and Dave taking abreak in the shade as they head for Newfoundland. Later in White River we met Jocelyne from Levis PQ on her way home (we will mail a Manitoba decal to you if we find one!) and were joined by Pat (he stayed in a motel, while Jocelyne and ourselves camped out!) Finally met someone going our way - Dave on his recliner who rode with us a couple of days - where are you now, Dave? We were impressed by James and Olivier (Olivier also from Levis) with their heavy loads in tow, and yesterday came across Jason Lancaster trying to catch up his group - see www.otesha.ca
Posted by Dave at 01:16 PM | Comments ()
Cycle Across Canada where Ontario is really BIG!
After a late start from the Soo (only hit the road at 5:30pm!) we headed towards the hills of Lake Superior. All the riders we have met travelling towards us warned us of these hills! By 5th of July we were at Agawa Bay sharing a campsite with hundreds of mosquitoes, and steeling ourselves for the start of the big hills next day!
Sure enough, next day en route to Wawa, we climbed a total of 1,200 metres including these "biggies" 87M 46M 37M 80M then a rise of 100M over 20 or so kms followed by hills of 157M 30M and 150M!! Next day saw us arrive at White River - home of Winnie the Pooh - after climbing another set of hills for a combined day's total of 1,050 metres. From there to Marathon next day was not so bad - only 430 metres total! Next day to Terrace Bay made up for it though, with a set of hills totalling 1,300 metres - and all this climbing in a humid heatwave!! Next to Nipigan and a welcome shower and laundry at the Husky truck stop (after a total climb of 1,200 metres to get there!)
We then made a 115 km day (plus 1,000 metres of hills!) to Thunder Bay - passing by the Terry Fox Memorial. What courage he showed to get this far. A night with John and Barb Mason, Andrew and Natasha who kindly put up a big tent in the garden for us, and fed us - many thanks!! Lots more hills, several days of over 100kms each coupled with daily climbs in excess of 1,000 metres, and we are now in Ignace.
We have a lot of photos, but these small town libraries where we can access the Internet, don't have enough software for us to download the pictures! Ah well - maybe when we get to Winnipeg!
Posted by Dave at 12:57 PM | Comments ()
July 04, 2005
The Feldmanns Cycle Across Canada
The Feldmanns are a family we have been keeping in touch with and watching their progress while we have been going along. They left Kelona before we did and we were hoping to see them as we went.
As we were leaving Town I looked across the road and over the top of the hill I see a cyclist. Soon I see he is foolowed by three others. At this point we are separated by 5 lanes of traffic. I don't have time to explain to dave as I park my bike and run over to the road side. I shout but they can't hear. They heard my whistle though and they stopped and I asked if thet wer the Feldmanns and when they said yes we walked over and shook hands and they knew who we were. We all needed a bike shop so we all went to one close by and chatted between getting business done.
What a fine family. The youngest boy Tristan who is 10 and the oldest boy Stefan, 13 are a real inspiration.
Computer time is up . Think Computers easy access for us Love M
Posted by Dave at 01:14 PM | Comments ()
Windy Affair | Cycle Across Canada
July 2nd cycling against the wind into Thessalon, we were looking for another piece of grass. While at the Info Centre, we were approached by Jack and Sheila who were very interested in our jouurney. They invited us to stay on their 42 ft dream sail boat (Jo and Steve eat your hearts out!!) How could we say "no"? We shared a pizza, and sailing and cycling stories. They are sailing ther Great Lakes all summer, and maybe the US East coast next year.
Sheila has a pet on board. A Japanese fighting fish which she keeps in a vase and every night she tortures the poor thing by putting up a mirror next to it. She calls it "exercise". OK, you think that's weird, she also takes it out of the water, holds it in her hand, and pest it and talks to it. It is the lengths she has gone to because Jack won't let her have a dog or cat on board! Seriously though, they are a very kind and interesting couple, and we hope one day to return the favour. When we get the opportunity we will let you see them and our boat when we get the chance to download some photos for a picture gallery (Ingrid and Esta please note!)
After coffee and another visit early in the morning, a hug "goodbye" we tore ourselves away, and headed for Echo Bay and lunch where we met Bob and Theresa who gave us valuable information about the road ahead and a donation for the cause.
A motel overnight in The Soo (Sault Ste. Marie to the non-Canadians!) I was overjoyed by the prospect of aa long soak in a hot bath while trying to decide what is for dinner tonight. Peace out - Maxine
Posted by Dave at 11:32 AM | Comments ()
Home away from home as we Cycle Across Canada
If Kate and Steve are reading this, we met your relatives in Sudbury. Really nice people, Albert and Joyce Daniels who welcomed us into their home.
Joyce and Albert welcomed us with a lovely dinner, showers and a comfortable bed. We enjoyed an eveniing with them, but had to decline on the wine! Maybe next time!
After breakfast, we made an early start to pedal west from Sudbury, and soon came across yet another "No cycles" sign on the road with no directions as to where we should ride! And anyway, there was no exit from the highway! Wake up Ontario Roads Department, and recognise there are thousands of cyclists in your Province! It is an obvious problem, as a police cruiser passed us without pause, so we must not be the only cyclists ignoring these signs!
Lots of heavy headwinds, but we made it to the Chutes Park campground in Massey and a good dinner at the Dragonfly restaurant.
Posted by Dave at 11:02 AM | Comments ()
July 02, 2005
Iron Bridge | Cycle Across Canada
Breakfast at Tims' and met fellow cyclist from Quebec who was pedaling home with wife in tow in van! Through broken French and broken English we had a nice visit.
Once more against the wind we wound up at the Red Top restaurant in Iron Bridge for a great meal equal to the Atlas - my favourite home restaurant. There we met Jason Chalifoux working as a Waiter. He told us he cycled twice a week 100 kms up steep hills for training as a wrestler. We will watch for him mid August at the Summer Games. He says he will win, and from there his goal is the Olympics. He is only in Grade 11 and we are totally impressed! He is an inspiration to us as well.
Posted by Dave at 11:25 AM | Comments ()
July 01, 2005
Cycle Across Canada | Photo Op
Next morning in the Chutes park, we woke to really heavy wind, and at breakfast in the town, we met Jackie and Ross who entertained us with tales of the hills ahead all against the wind!
They were headed for a concert in Elliot Lake to see Randy Bachman who lives in our backyard on Saltspring Island. They offered to take a picture of us on the road, which they did about 20 kms later. They were impressed we had got so far against the wind! There must have been a lot of people going to see Randy, as after the Elliot Lake turnoff, the traffic thinned out. Thank goodness as there was hardly any shoulder and cycling required total concentration to stay on the narrow strip of shoulder with heavy traffic and riding against the wind.
We wound up in Blind River, no campsite or motel willing to give us a piece of grass, so we camped hidden in the trees next to "No overnight camping" sign at the Tourist Info place! Great place to stay as flush toilets, warm water and a warm place to change is open all night long.
Where will we be tomorrow? Stay tuned, love M.
Posted by Dave at 11:12 AM | Comments ()