The Crooked House on San Juan

Not far from this house is the Lavender Farm which was in full bloom:

The Lavender Farm on San Juan

It being a fine sunny day, Dave was put to work doing some groundwork!:

Dave at the plough!

From Friday Harbor we took the Ferry to Orcas Island, where we stayed at The Inn on Orcas a great B&B in Deer Harbor. The owners had spent several years collecting artwork hoping one day to be able to open a B&B where it could all be displayed. We certainly recommend this B&B:

This is just one room, but they are all filled with pieces from their collection!

We cycled across the Island through Orcas Village to Moran State Park with the intention of riding up Mt. Constitution, but the clouds descended, so not being able to see the mountain, we went back to our B&B

Cloud and rain at Cascade Lake<.p>

Our next Ferry ride took us to Lopez Island where we cycled all the way across the Island to our final B&B in Mackaye Harbor:

Sunset over Mackaye Harbor

We spent several hours on the beach here collecting “Beach Glass”, but at the nearby Agate Beach, some detailed searching failed to produce any agates – but others nearby were successful! We cycled the Island once again back to the Ferry Terminal where we left the Islands and went to Anacortes.

From Anacortes, Maxine had to ferry back to Vancouver Island and return to work, but Dave headed east to cross the Cascade Mountain range. Leaving Anacortes at 3pm, he followed Hwy 20 along the Skagit River as far as Concrete and camped for the night. Next day was sunny and very hot but the first sign encountered warned:

Wind warning in the Skagit Valley

There then followed hours and hours of steady climbing in a temperature of 32°C (88°F) with lots of great views:

Looking back over Diablo Lake

Washington Pass - for info, bike plus load weighs 50kgs (110 lbs)!

Needless to say, the ride down the other side to Mazama took only 40 minutes at speeds around 60 kph (37 mph) and on a loaded bike weighing 45 kgs (100 lbs) luckily nothing got in the way on that descent! Next morning took in Winthrop with its Old West style buildings, and then I met up with Peggy and Jerry from Fulsom CA who were also cycling to Pateros where we camped by the Lake:

A campsite with a view!

Next day, we went our separate ways, and I discovered that the road to Grand Coulee was without shade – and again hot and sunny at 34°C (92°F) all day!

No shade in sight in any direction!

Spent the night at a campsite in Grand Coulee, where I was politely advised I “must be crazy” to ride out and up the “Wilbur Hill” in that hot weather! Well, crazy or not, I had to ride the hill next day, and the 6kms (4 miles) took me a full hour!

Looking back to Grand Coulee from the Wilbur Hill

The next leg of the ride took me through the wheat growing area of this part of Washington State, and once again, no shade!

It is a long road travelled!

All that wheat reminded me of earlier rides through the Canadian Prairies:

Wheat all the way to the horizon

Finally made it to Spokane where I caught up with family friends I had not seen since Dubai days some 20 years ago! It was great to visit with them and catch up on family news, and a promise to meet again in a lot less than 20 years! Rather than retrace my steps back to the coast, I took the advice of Peggy and Jerry (met earlier at Pateros) and used Amtrak to get back to Edmonds. Thanks here to Randy at Novelis who helped me make a box and pack my bike – which needed 2 ½ standard bicycle boxes - and to my friend Bob who took me to Spokane Station at midnight!

Un-packing and re-assembling the bike at Edmonds Station

From Edmonds I took the ferry over to Kingston, and headed west along the Olympic Penninsula. Much of this route was traffic free along the Discovery Trail:

The Discovery Trail across an old railway bridge

While on the ferry to Kingston, I met Pat and Jack, a motorcycle touring couple who later passed me on the road, and invited me back for pizza on their 60ft boat in Sequim Marina! It was already late, and I was beginning to wonder where I would find dinner, so this invite was very welcome! Next day I reached Port Angeles, took the Victoria Express to downtown Victoria, cycled up Island to Brentwood Bay and ferry again to Mill Bay where Maxine met me, and we drove home.

Now return to our Home and "click" on our flag counter - we have been visited by people from 53 countries! Can we break 75?!

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Map for Day 1:

Click on the "View Elevation" box in the top right menu panel to access the website as mentioned above.

For the "infamous" hill that awaits all riders on Day 1 around the 98km mark, and for Trek Day 2, click "Continue reading" below:

As above, click on the "view elevation" box in the top right menu panel, and this will show you the steepness of the climb!

Map for Day 2:

As before, click on the "view elevation" button to get the whole picture. See you on the Ride!!

Now click Home and then scroll down and "click" on our flag counter - we have been visited by people from 52 countries! Can we break 75?!

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Cape Town

”Uncle” Dave with Krystal and Jordan – and Table Mountain backdrop.

Dave is in Cape Town to participate in The Cape Argus cycle race which is held on the Cape Penninsula on March 14th. This is a 109 km race starting and finishing in Cape Town. There are 35,000 entries, including Lance Armstrong – and he need not worry about being beaten by Dave, because they are in different groups! Dave is the 65-69 years old group, and Lance (plus most of the other riders!) are in somewhat younger categories!

Click for my race photos

Now scroll down and "click" on our flag counter - we have been visited by people from 53 countries! Can we break 75?!

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Team Lung Life completes the 25th Anniversary BC Lung Trek

The weekend of 12/13 September saw our Team ride in the 200km Trek along with a total of some 400 other riders. Our Team raised just over $10,000 to support the BC Lung Trek The overall total raised was just over $400,000!

Here is our Team with Scott McDonald of the BC Lung Association:

From the left: Jill; Rene; Jean; Rose; Maxine; Dave and Angela

The BC Lung Association is not alone in supporting research into, and victims of lung disease - see Mesothelioma Web

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Raphael and Julia from Switzerland – check out their great Photos

Marc and Nicole from Edmonton and Prince George touring the West Coast.

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Have you cycled in the open during a thunderstorm, and wondered how to avoid being struck by lightning?

The most common advice is to “remain in your car with the windows closed”! Useless advice for cyclists! We asked an expert, Dr William Burrows, PhD Research Scientist at the Cloud Physics and Severe Weather Research Section - Downsview, Ontario. Click here for his advice: Lightning

Prairie Lightning photo courtesy Andrea Schneider @ PrairieAngels

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Click here to watch our animated slide show of our two trips across Canada and Dave's Icefield Parkway ride:

If you have fast download and the "HQ" tab at bottom right is black, click on it to watch in High Quality (If the "HQ" is red, you are already watching high quality!)

The more you and your friends watch, the higher rankings we get which is good for potential future donors!!

Yes - Dave needed a couple of hours surgery to fix the problem!!

I guess the dog and cat appreciate being allowed to stay inside all day!!

As for Maxine, she is busy running to get ready for theTimes Colonist 10K in April - at least she is running when not otherwise busy cutting-up Dave's food so he can eat one-handed!!

Nice jacket, but unfortunately so much rain, it lost all its waterproof characteristics before Newfoundland, and I had to buy another!

All at rest

And then next morning, this was the sight:

Where have they all gone?

The culprit – a bald eagle!

A long wet ride for a few days to North Sydney and the ferry to Argentia. Ferry had engine problems, so it was “slow steaming” to Newfoundland where we arrived at 1am! Not wishing to cycle in the dark, I simply put up my tent at the side of the Terminal Building, and went to sleep! Next day set out in the rain and very heavy rain to St. John's.

I was very happy to see this sign!

Next day dawned bright and clear – my first day without rain for about three weeks! Here are a couple of views from the top of Signal Hill which I cycled up to the top!

A rare sight! St. John's on a clear day!

Looking south to Cape Spear and wondering if I can cycle out there?

I rode to cape Spear which involved three big hills totaling about 400 metres elevation!

Compare the following photo with the weather at the same spot on our first ride – see : Newfoundland 2005

Back in St John's and the Terry Fox Memorial at Mile Zero.

Just to prove that me and bicycle made it to the top of Signal Hill (150 metres)

Last day in Newfoundland – fog en route to the Airport!

And that is the final entry for the 2008 cross Canada ride! And now for our next adventure ..... Watch this space!

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Click this link to hear Dave on CBC radio and scroll down to Tuesday, August 12, 2008. "Cycling Canada. We meet Dave Livingstone, a 66 year-old B.C. man, who is cycling across Canada to campaign for clean air and also raising money for the Lung Association. Livingstone (runs 7:48)"

By Nancy King - Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY - A British Columbia man brought his cross-Canada cycling voyage campaigning for improved air quality to Cape Breton, Monday. Dave Livingstone is cycling across Canada in support of the Lung Association with a two-pronged message - by cycling to work people can help reduce traffic pollution and by switching to more fuel-efficient diesel vehicles they can immediately impact fossil fuel consumption. "The message is that I'm 66 - if at my age I can cycle all the way across Canada, then other people should be able to at least cycle to work, and stop burning fossil Fuels, and if you do have to use a car, buy a diesel," he said. Livingstone's interest in lung health and air quality stems from the death of his wife due to lung cancer. "That seemed a good cause to support," he said. He left home on May 27th and expects to wrap up his trek in Newfoundland next week. He has had to average about 140 kilometers cycled each day in order to complete his trip according to schedule. He also regularly takes part in a 200-kilometer bicycle ride organized by the British Columbia Lung Association. He noted that the lung Association not only supports research into lung disease, but also campaigns for cleaner air. He noted that he recently switched to a diesel Volkswagen Jetta and cut fuel consumption by more than 50 per cent. Since leaving Ontario, Livingstone has had to endure rainy weather and strong head winds. He was forced to stay in Fredericton for three days due to poor conditions, and it's made camping along the way less enjoyable. It's the second time Livingstone has made the trek - three years ago he was joined by his partner Maxine Bowen, who wasn't able to make the trip this year. "We flew to St. John's and cycled home, and it was 110 days, only 3 days with no head wind so I figured if I did it the other way around I'd have a tail wind," Livingstone said. "It didn't quite work out like that." As for what people he encounters make of his adventure, he admits some ask why he didn't tackle the challenge when he was younger. "They appreciate it, but they think I'm crazy." he said. Livingstone is updating his website www.bicycletrek.org - as he continues his journey.

A nice day along the St Lawrence - Riviere du Loup in the distance!

Confederation Bridge from the New Brunswick end

Over the Bridge and in more rain made my way across PEI via Charlottetown, and yes if you followed our 2005 entries, the "Naked Lady" is still there! (Follow the link and scroll down to June 16th!

Got a farewell rain soaking from PEI and went on the ferry across to Nova Scotia. As we crossed, I could see the big thunder clouds gathering over my route ahead, so just went into Pictou and stayed the night hoping for better weather next day....!?

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Pont du Quebec

An all too common a scene - fixing a flat along the highway!

My tent appears so tiny compared to the big RV's in the campsites!

Typical campsite scene

It was very picturesque cycling along the St Lawrence Seaway north of Montreal.

My bike along the Seaway on a rare sunny day!

An interesting ride out of Quebec following Hwy 132 up to Riviere-du-Loup with tail winds I was able to cover a lot of ground. Once in Riviere-du-Loup the Hwy ends, and only route to Edmuntston is the Route 85 - a freeway and cyclists not permitted! There is a bike path, but gravel, so only alternative is to pedal fast along the 85 for about 8kms until it ends, and becomes the 185! (Since found out Rue Lafontaine to Rue Temiscouata in fact joins the 185! But, no signs in town!

Once in Edmunston the rains began again, and I spent a wet couple of days following the St John River to Fredericton. The last hour into Fredericton was in a torrential downpour with the water on the road up over my wheel rims! I went to a motel thoroughly soaked! Forecast for the next 4 days is more rain, so I guess it will be a wet ride to PEI!

Now there are wireless zones everywhere, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find internet cafes, and libraries don't allow USB plug-ins, so can't download photos! So, here in Fredericton the guys at Radical Edge Cycle and Ski are letting me use their computer while they fit new tires to my bike! So if you need bike stuff here, please support them!

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I am now in Quebec staying a day in Montreal. I have been soaked through so many times, hard to remember what it was like to ride in the sunshine! At least the rain has stopped long enough each day for me to dry my tent!

Had a nice morning enjoying the cycle paths through Ottawa, but then spent the afternoon in real heavy rain finally making 191kms before a brief dry period enabled me to put up my tent, and then it rained most of the night

In front of Parliament - Stephen Harper did not come out and see me!

The Governor General's house

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Mom and not so small baby moose! Steve took this one with his good camera!

These are 7 of the 8 riders that all came together our last night in Manitoba to camp near Rennie

While on the ferry to Prince Rupert, a young lady crew member spoke to me about her mother who likes cycling, and said she was planning a cross Canada ride this year. I met up again with Josef in Ignace and he arrived with Lauren who turned out to be that young lady's Mom! What a coincidence.

Lauren and Josef somewhere west of Thunder Bay.

Ontario really does go on forever!

This is me supporting our sponsor in my wet weather gear!

One of several hills in Horseshoe Valley west of Orillia. I didn't need rain to get me soaked riding up his hill - the perspiration drenched me head to toe! It was very humid.

I am receiving great support from Volkswagon Dealers en route who have been very generous in their support to the Lung Association.

This is Colin presenting me with a cheque for the Lung Association at Orillia Volkswagon

Storm approaching near Ontario Border

I missed the bears, but finally found a deer that stayed long enough for a picture!

A white tailed deer (I think!)

And on to Ontario......

Ontario!

Crossed the border into Ontario, and the weather seemed to improve, and I had a sunny day to ride into Kenora. Some cross wind, but nothing to worry about. I was welcomed at the home of Don and Judy just North of the town, and had a great stay and wonderful food! Many thanks for that, and for the sandwiches and fruit "to go"! It was cloudy as I left, and by the the time I hade covered 20kms I was in very heavy rain with thunder and lightening all around!" I was hungry, but not wanting to stop as I knew I would freeze, but finally hunger overcame the cold and I stopped for Judy's sandwiches! By the time I reached Vermilion Bay I was thoroughly soaked through, so decided to opt for a dry motel! Next morning again rain and generally bad weather weather, so with the forecast being better for tomorrow, I stopped in Dryden where I am writing this at the library.

Dry tomorrow as I head for Thunder Bay - I hope!

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