Okey dokes, so last time I left you after we had been out mackerel fishing which was a ton of fun! We got back from fishing at around 4:00 and we still had not started cycling. We picked up a few groceries to cook our fish with and grabbed a bite to eat before we started pedaling. It was about 6:00 before we headed out, but we were determined to make it to our destination. Our goal was to make it to Brudenell River Provincial Park and we knew that we would be enveloped in darkness for about half of the ride. At Mount Stewart Ted and I stopped for a quick refuel of M&M's and chocolate milk before we were further east bound. We arrived at Brudenell Provincial Park at 10:30 p.m. with the campsite still to be set up and dinner to be prepared and cooked. The staff at this park were super friendly and made sure we were alright setting up in the dark. Our campsite was great except that I turned into a raccoon warrior! The raccoons at the campsite were incredibly fearless and there was not one scare tactic that I did that turned them away. Finally, after many swinging stick attempts, they decided that they were not welcome! I cooked the fish over the open fire and it was well worth the wait...it was delicious!
The next morning Ted thought we should get a game of golf in, so I hesitantly agreed. I warned him ahead of time that I had only golfed a couple of times before and it was slightly disastrous each time. So, I hoped that he would have the patience to coach me through the nine holes of golf. It turned out to be not so bad and Ted was a great coach, giving pointers here and there, and allowing me to dig more than a few balls out of the sand traps. We finished our game around 2 p.m. and then headed out to our next destination which was Red Point Provincial Park. We arrivexd in a little town called Souris about 10 km away from RPP and decided we would grab dinner. We pushed our bikes from where we stopped to get a rest from the saddle. While we were searching for a restaurant we came upon a gentleman named David who was out walking his dog Pip. We later found out David was originally from Memphis and came to P.E.I. to escape the heat and the business of the city. The first comment David made in his Memphis accent was, 'Y'all got a blowout?' After getting my first flat later on in the trip I could not help but laugh while changing my flat all because of that comment. We must have chatted for about 20 min with David before getting settled into grabbing some grub. After eating we pedalled through some construction and onto Red Point Provincial Park. We had to go down a hill to enter the park, but Iwas that gravity was defying us as the wind was so strong coming off the ocean that it felt like we were being pushed back up the hill. We headed to our campsite and I must say it was especially nice having another set of hands to set up the tent. I thought we were going to get blown away. It was also raining a little bit, so getting the tent set up quickly was crucial so that wet gear was minimized. It was hard to believe that this was our last night camping out as we were resting for a big day.
The next day we pedalled up to the East Point lighthouse. We had breakfast there and realized that we had done it - cycled the island tip-to-tip - each part with it's own quirks. After snapping a few shots we headed towards Elmira where the Confederation Trail starts/ends. We hopped on the trail for about 40 km until we reached St. Peters. The town was very pretty and the seascape was super calming. We stopped for some ice cream and chocolate milk - of which Ted consumed an entire litre. I am not sure what his tummy was thinking with ice cream and chocolate milk - dairylicious overload! From St. Peters we took Hwy 2 back into the city and a wave of excitement came over us as we saw the Charlottetown sign. We did it! We pedalled to the hostel to see if they had any beds available for the evening. We lucked out and were able to stay there for the evening, but not before Ted tried to tell me that he got the last bed - yanking my chain, yet again! That night we went to the Gahan House for dinner where we had great food and yummy ale.
Touring Charlottetown was on the list for today and we started out by doing laundry. While the laundry was going we headed down to Confederation Hall, watched a movie on Confederation, and took a step back in time. The whole experience made us feel like we were walking with the Fathers of Confederation. While walking down the streets I stopped in my tracks - I saw relatives of mine from back home! They were travelling P.E.I. as well, so we caught up, shared some travel stories, and carried on our way. Ted and I picked up some lunch from Tim Hortons and then headed back to the hostel. We relaxed there for awhile and then took a brewery tour of the Gahan House. After taking the tour we went down to the wharf to have a lobster dinner. I had never eaten lobster before, so I was pretty excited for the experience. I did alright, but Ted had some pieces that took flight! For a post-dinner treat we went and had some ice cream from Cows Creamery. It ended up that the guys that were behind us in line were Ontarians. We were talking to them and Ted determined that these guys played volleyball with one of his buddies. Crazy coincidence!
The next day I was due to head out and put on some more kilometers. Ted and I went to Cora's for breakfast and I was fuelled up for the morning. After cycling with a partner for the week it was hard to leave, as I knew I would be without company for the rest of the trip. Ted was headed to Halifax for a few days, so we said our goodbyes and parted ways. I had to relearn to entertain myself for the first few kilometers. It was about 60 km to the Confederation bridge which was where I would say adios to the red sands. The bridge is quite the engineering feat and if you ever have a chance to see it, you should. The guy who took me across the bridge, Robbie, was super nice and offered me a place to pitch my tent for the night, but I wanted to get a few more km in. I made what I thought would be a quick stop at the visitors center, but it turned out to be more of a lengthy one, but for the good. I asked about the campground I was going to stay at and there was a bridge out which meant I would have to backtrack at least 20 km the next morning. I decided against staying there, but there were not many other choices for places to stay. So, the woman at the visitors centre took pity on me and said that her dad loves visitors, so she called him up just to make sure it was alright for me to stay there. So, I pedalled to Port Elgin where I stayed the night with Jim. He was a nice man and we shared some stories before catching some shut eye.
Well folks, that ties up the P.E.I. leg of the trip. I will update more tomorrow and hopefully get through New Brunswick and Quebec. I have arrived home now, but I want to make sure these memories and people are not forgotten.
Stay tuned for more! Smiles,
Ashley :)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Island of the Red Sands Tour aka The Beer and Bakeries Tour ;) - half complete
Now with over 6000 km on my bike and just less than 700 km left to ride, it is hard to imagine this trip is almost over. I will update you as far as I can today as I am in Sault Ste. Marie having a rest day with my friend Lauren whom I taught with up north.
The last time I left off, I had just left on the ferry to Wood Islands, PEI. Upon arriving I met two cyclists from Cape Breton Island who had just spent some time cycling on a tandem around PEI. They were a wonderful couple and encouraged me to come back to Cape Breton to spend some more time cycling in their neck of the woods. From there, I cycled into Charlottetown which was a great ride! I was able to be exposed to a glimpse of what scenery was to come in PEI and just how vibrant the red sands are. Upon arriving in Charlottetown, I met up with my friend Ted at the hostel and I proposed that we ride to Summerside to meet up with my Aunt Susan and Uncle Pete. He thought that was a great idea, but had already checked in at the hostel. The decision was made to ride, so we went to the bike shop, picked up the bike and headed out. We left the city by 4:30 and made it to Summerside around 8:00 p.m. Most of the ride was a little bit soggy, but we were happy to get the rain out of the way early on in the trip. Once in Summerside, I gave my aunt and uncle a ring and we met up with them for dinner. The dinner and beer was fabulous and filled the empty pit in our stomachs! My aunt and uncle invited us to stay with them, so we took them up on their offer. The sleep was great and we enjoyed breakfast with them the next morning as well.
Our goal was to make it to Cedar Dunes P.P., but after considering how far away that was, we decided to head towards O'Leary and stay at Mill River P.P. That day was somewhat overcast, but we knew that sunshine was on its way soon. We stopped for a bagel with some hershey kisses, peanut butter, and almonds for energy at lunch. At the spot where we stopped we met a local and he shared some stories with us and made sure we enjoyed our stay. Onwards we pedalled and that afternoon we stopped at a Tim Hortons to refuel before setting up camp for the evening. On the way to the campground we stopped to watch some young girls practicing for their baseball team. It brought back fond memories of when I played when I was younger. Finding the campground that evening was quite the chore and after riding about 10 km more than we needed to, we determined that the campground was almost directly across from where we were watching the baseball practice. Oh the joys of being in a new area and riding a bike! We decided to have a fire that night, but after being sold wet wood, we did not get too far!
The next day began with some great Tim Hortons coffee, doughnuts, and oat cakes...mmm! We pedalled into O'Leary and our first stop was the Potato Museum. We learned everything there was to know and more about potatoes! We even sampled some potato fudge that was delicious. Before heading out of town, we stopped at a Co-op for some groceries and a cafe to have a sweet bite to eat. That day we also went to Skinner's Pond where Stompin' Tom was born and raised. Our ride there was very pretty as we decided to take a backroad instead of the more frequently used highway. The beach down Skinner's Pond road was absolutely beautiful. We shell searched and took about an hour off the bikes to just relax, smell the ocean, and talk to some other tourists. We decided it was about time to mosey on to North Cape. We cycled along the coast where we saw many wind turbines as we neared the tip. We went past a harbour that represented a typical PEI scene with many fishing boats and lobster traps just waiting to bring home the catch of the day. When we arrived at the tip, we could see evidence of the tides beginning to come back in. We grabbed a bite to eat and then headed back down towards Alberton. It was a long day on the bikes, but my aunt and uncle had told us about King's restaurant in Alberton where there was a great fish and chips dinner. We made it there around 7:30 p.m. and we were both ready for some good food. We enjoyed great conversation and the gentleman, Mike, who ran the restaurant showed us where we could set up camp for the night. He was quite the character and said that where we were camped we would be 'safe as a church!'
We stopped for a coffee and a cinnamon bun the next morning before making our way to Cascumpec for breakfast. Today was a short ride as we only needed to make it to Tyne Valley where we were going to attend an Oyster Shucking festival. Breakfast was great and we ended up meeting this couple that was driving their little green sports car around PEI. They had encountered some vehicle troubles and were sharing their story on getting their car fixed as it was a car that not many mechanics had the knowledge to solve the problem. They were in the right place at the right time as an Islander spoke up and said that he had worked on their type of vehicle before. It was fixed and they were off in no time. Upon making it to Tyne Valley we had a chocolate milk (which I am sure we must have consumed over 10 L per person!) and a whoopie pattie (Cream sandwiched between two pieces of cake-mmm). We decided that we would make a stop at the local library to check our emails. When we arrived the library was closed, but another guy pulled into the parking lot. Michael was from Missisauga and he had been travelling around the island as well, taking day trips on his bike. He was also staying at the same campground we were about to head to. We said we would see him back there as he had some errands to run in town. It was an early day to be off the bikes and after setting up camp at Green Park P.P. we threw some laundry in and went to see what sort of adventures we could find on the beach. The beach was mediocre as there was a lot of seaweed. While out in the water, I did find a starfish which was pretty neat. We dove in and had a quick dip only to be covered in a white residue - something I was not used to having only swam in fresh water! We met up again with Michael while walking back from the beach and we asked if he would mind giving us a lift to the Oyster Festival. He said, 'Not a problem.' We made our way to the Oyster Festival that night and had a big serving of oysters and scallops along with some salad, fries, and a delicious piece of pie. We soon found out what a raw oyster tasted like and also found out what shucking was. This was quite the festival and the competitors got right into it. The best part was the one competitors response to the question - 'So what brings you here?' - 'I just wanted to drink some beer and hang out with my friends!' The whole experience was surreal!
The next day we hoped to make it to North Rustico as we wanted to go Deep Sea fishing the following day. We cycled to Kensington and we heard some live music that we wanted to check out. It turned out to be coming from this neat pub, but we had a hard time finding a table. There were some folks that were just leaving, so they said we could have their table. We got talking to them and they mentioned where they were from which ended up being about 20 min away from where Ted lived in southern Ontario. What a small world! After having a beer and some sweet potato fries we checked out some stores around the area and pedalled on to our destination. We cycled through Cavendish, which is one of the most highly sought out places to go in PEI. It was almost as if there was an explosion of tourists after we crested one hill. We had some Cows ice cream and then pedalled the rest of the way to White Sands Campground. That night we pedalled into town to grab a bite to eat and to check out the Deep Sea fishing for the following day. We met up with a local who tried to quiz us on a bird that had built it's nest up on top of a hydro pole. He said, 'I bet you don't know what that bird is up there.' I said, 'Might it be an osprey?' He was absolutely shocked! From there on in, I was termed the bird queen by Ted. We then rode out of town to the liquor store to get some beer for around the campfire. We arrived back at the campsite and I thought that we should split the wood, so we went over to another campsite to ask them if we could borrow their axe. They said, borrow our axe - you should just come and join our fire! So, Ted and I went over there equipped with our wood and beer and got to know these other campers. Marco, Monika, and two gorgeous girls, Viktoria and Kiara would end up being our entertainment for the night. We had a great time sharing stories and watching the stars - they were beautiful that night! Little did I know that I would end up staying with this wonderful family when I arrived in Montreal, which is where they were from.
It was a gorgeous morning the next day and we decided to get a bite to eat before heading out on the boat. After getting some nourishment we headed towards the wharf where we would be leaving from to go catch some mackerel. We got talking to one of our guides and somewhere in the conversation I mentioned that I was interested in the Tour D'Afrique. He then proceeded to say that his aunt and uncle wrote a book about that trip and that they were just having lunch in a restaurant across the way. He took Ted and I over there and introduced us. We quickly chatted about our experiences and Bernie and Beryl gave us each a signed copy of their book.
Well folks, I know I am leaving you hanging, but I have had enough of the computer today. I will be sure to back in touch soon and catch all of you up to speed!
Smiles and laughter,
Ashley :)
The last time I left off, I had just left on the ferry to Wood Islands, PEI. Upon arriving I met two cyclists from Cape Breton Island who had just spent some time cycling on a tandem around PEI. They were a wonderful couple and encouraged me to come back to Cape Breton to spend some more time cycling in their neck of the woods. From there, I cycled into Charlottetown which was a great ride! I was able to be exposed to a glimpse of what scenery was to come in PEI and just how vibrant the red sands are. Upon arriving in Charlottetown, I met up with my friend Ted at the hostel and I proposed that we ride to Summerside to meet up with my Aunt Susan and Uncle Pete. He thought that was a great idea, but had already checked in at the hostel. The decision was made to ride, so we went to the bike shop, picked up the bike and headed out. We left the city by 4:30 and made it to Summerside around 8:00 p.m. Most of the ride was a little bit soggy, but we were happy to get the rain out of the way early on in the trip. Once in Summerside, I gave my aunt and uncle a ring and we met up with them for dinner. The dinner and beer was fabulous and filled the empty pit in our stomachs! My aunt and uncle invited us to stay with them, so we took them up on their offer. The sleep was great and we enjoyed breakfast with them the next morning as well.
Our goal was to make it to Cedar Dunes P.P., but after considering how far away that was, we decided to head towards O'Leary and stay at Mill River P.P. That day was somewhat overcast, but we knew that sunshine was on its way soon. We stopped for a bagel with some hershey kisses, peanut butter, and almonds for energy at lunch. At the spot where we stopped we met a local and he shared some stories with us and made sure we enjoyed our stay. Onwards we pedalled and that afternoon we stopped at a Tim Hortons to refuel before setting up camp for the evening. On the way to the campground we stopped to watch some young girls practicing for their baseball team. It brought back fond memories of when I played when I was younger. Finding the campground that evening was quite the chore and after riding about 10 km more than we needed to, we determined that the campground was almost directly across from where we were watching the baseball practice. Oh the joys of being in a new area and riding a bike! We decided to have a fire that night, but after being sold wet wood, we did not get too far!
The next day began with some great Tim Hortons coffee, doughnuts, and oat cakes...mmm! We pedalled into O'Leary and our first stop was the Potato Museum. We learned everything there was to know and more about potatoes! We even sampled some potato fudge that was delicious. Before heading out of town, we stopped at a Co-op for some groceries and a cafe to have a sweet bite to eat. That day we also went to Skinner's Pond where Stompin' Tom was born and raised. Our ride there was very pretty as we decided to take a backroad instead of the more frequently used highway. The beach down Skinner's Pond road was absolutely beautiful. We shell searched and took about an hour off the bikes to just relax, smell the ocean, and talk to some other tourists. We decided it was about time to mosey on to North Cape. We cycled along the coast where we saw many wind turbines as we neared the tip. We went past a harbour that represented a typical PEI scene with many fishing boats and lobster traps just waiting to bring home the catch of the day. When we arrived at the tip, we could see evidence of the tides beginning to come back in. We grabbed a bite to eat and then headed back down towards Alberton. It was a long day on the bikes, but my aunt and uncle had told us about King's restaurant in Alberton where there was a great fish and chips dinner. We made it there around 7:30 p.m. and we were both ready for some good food. We enjoyed great conversation and the gentleman, Mike, who ran the restaurant showed us where we could set up camp for the night. He was quite the character and said that where we were camped we would be 'safe as a church!'
We stopped for a coffee and a cinnamon bun the next morning before making our way to Cascumpec for breakfast. Today was a short ride as we only needed to make it to Tyne Valley where we were going to attend an Oyster Shucking festival. Breakfast was great and we ended up meeting this couple that was driving their little green sports car around PEI. They had encountered some vehicle troubles and were sharing their story on getting their car fixed as it was a car that not many mechanics had the knowledge to solve the problem. They were in the right place at the right time as an Islander spoke up and said that he had worked on their type of vehicle before. It was fixed and they were off in no time. Upon making it to Tyne Valley we had a chocolate milk (which I am sure we must have consumed over 10 L per person!) and a whoopie pattie (Cream sandwiched between two pieces of cake-mmm). We decided that we would make a stop at the local library to check our emails. When we arrived the library was closed, but another guy pulled into the parking lot. Michael was from Missisauga and he had been travelling around the island as well, taking day trips on his bike. He was also staying at the same campground we were about to head to. We said we would see him back there as he had some errands to run in town. It was an early day to be off the bikes and after setting up camp at Green Park P.P. we threw some laundry in and went to see what sort of adventures we could find on the beach. The beach was mediocre as there was a lot of seaweed. While out in the water, I did find a starfish which was pretty neat. We dove in and had a quick dip only to be covered in a white residue - something I was not used to having only swam in fresh water! We met up again with Michael while walking back from the beach and we asked if he would mind giving us a lift to the Oyster Festival. He said, 'Not a problem.' We made our way to the Oyster Festival that night and had a big serving of oysters and scallops along with some salad, fries, and a delicious piece of pie. We soon found out what a raw oyster tasted like and also found out what shucking was. This was quite the festival and the competitors got right into it. The best part was the one competitors response to the question - 'So what brings you here?' - 'I just wanted to drink some beer and hang out with my friends!' The whole experience was surreal!
The next day we hoped to make it to North Rustico as we wanted to go Deep Sea fishing the following day. We cycled to Kensington and we heard some live music that we wanted to check out. It turned out to be coming from this neat pub, but we had a hard time finding a table. There were some folks that were just leaving, so they said we could have their table. We got talking to them and they mentioned where they were from which ended up being about 20 min away from where Ted lived in southern Ontario. What a small world! After having a beer and some sweet potato fries we checked out some stores around the area and pedalled on to our destination. We cycled through Cavendish, which is one of the most highly sought out places to go in PEI. It was almost as if there was an explosion of tourists after we crested one hill. We had some Cows ice cream and then pedalled the rest of the way to White Sands Campground. That night we pedalled into town to grab a bite to eat and to check out the Deep Sea fishing for the following day. We met up with a local who tried to quiz us on a bird that had built it's nest up on top of a hydro pole. He said, 'I bet you don't know what that bird is up there.' I said, 'Might it be an osprey?' He was absolutely shocked! From there on in, I was termed the bird queen by Ted. We then rode out of town to the liquor store to get some beer for around the campfire. We arrived back at the campsite and I thought that we should split the wood, so we went over to another campsite to ask them if we could borrow their axe. They said, borrow our axe - you should just come and join our fire! So, Ted and I went over there equipped with our wood and beer and got to know these other campers. Marco, Monika, and two gorgeous girls, Viktoria and Kiara would end up being our entertainment for the night. We had a great time sharing stories and watching the stars - they were beautiful that night! Little did I know that I would end up staying with this wonderful family when I arrived in Montreal, which is where they were from.
It was a gorgeous morning the next day and we decided to get a bite to eat before heading out on the boat. After getting some nourishment we headed towards the wharf where we would be leaving from to go catch some mackerel. We got talking to one of our guides and somewhere in the conversation I mentioned that I was interested in the Tour D'Afrique. He then proceeded to say that his aunt and uncle wrote a book about that trip and that they were just having lunch in a restaurant across the way. He took Ted and I over there and introduced us. We quickly chatted about our experiences and Bernie and Beryl gave us each a signed copy of their book.
Well folks, I know I am leaving you hanging, but I have had enough of the computer today. I will be sure to back in touch soon and catch all of you up to speed!
Smiles and laughter,
Ashley :)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Rest Day at home to New Glasgow, NS
Hello everyone! Hope you are all well and enjoying the summer as it winds down. I feel that I have not been pulling my weight with respect to updating this blog, but that is what happens when there are so many wonderful people to meet along the way. I am in Montreal as of now, but I am going to update this in smaller chunks.
So, to begin (which seems so long ago now!) when I was at home my Mom and I made a trip to Peterborough to take care of some school business for this Fall. Just south of Omemee I saw two cyclists on the side of the road. I said to my Mom, "I am pretty sure that is Gaston and Simon, the two cyclists I met in BC!" She said, "There is no way you know those two!" So, at the top of the hill, we pulled over and sure enough it was them. They didn't recoginze me at first because I didn't have my bike with me, I was actually clean, and I was so far away from where we met. It was great to see them on the road and to realize just how far they had made it.
The next day - the 28th of July - I flew out to St. John's, Newfoundland. My Mom drove me down to the airport and after she left it occurred to me that I was missing something. I had left my front wheel in the trunk of my Mom's car. So, here I was flying out east to complete the rest of the trip, sans a wheel of my bike. OOOPS! Upon arriving in Halifax, where I had a quick layover, I turned on my phone and it rang almost instantly. It was my Mom, and we both laughed at our stupidity over forgetting the front wheel. We determined that the most cost effective approach was to just buy a new wheel once I was in Newfoundland. On my flights over I met some great people. I spoke with a gentleman from Nfld who explained the history of the language in Nfld and then from Halifax to Nfld, I met a firefighter named James from Missisauga who was travelling out east with his nephew for some holidays. I arrived in Nfld around 11:00 p.m. and I was greeted by Nicole and Stacey. It was so great to see them and catch up! We headed back to Nicole's family's house and there we met up with Nicole's family and Lauren and Dan. I enjoyed some good company and good food before heading to bed that evening.
We awoke at a decent hour the next morning as Bud, Nicole's Dad, wanted to take us out to Cape Spear, the most eastern point in Canada. We took a drive out there and it was beautiful, but a little chilly and windy as we were so close to the ocean. After, Bud dropped everyone else off back at the house and we went to get a new wheel for my bike from Canary Cycles in St. John's. The guys there were super helpful and had a little laugh over my forgetfullness! When we arrived back at the house we enjoyed a wonderful brunch with everyone and then we all went in our separate ways. Nicole, Lauren, Dan, and Stacey headed to Placentia where the wedding was to take place and I headed out on the road. Elaine and Jason, Nicole's sister-in-law and brother, guided me out of the city which was super helpful. This day definitely tested me, as it was my first day pedalling towards the west and there must have been 40 km/h head winds. The scenery was a lot like northern Ontario and I had to keep my thoughts focused on seeing all of the Newfie's that evening and not on how hard the wind was blowing. I didn't arrive until late that evening and once I was in Placentia, Janet and Stacey came to pick me up and we all headed back to the rehearsal party. What a great time...a bunch of newfie's and a few beer = awesome memories!
Lauren, Dan, Stacey, and I, as well as Nicole and her boyfriend, stayed at a B & B that evening. The next morning we had our java and breakfast and chatted with some other folks who were from Ontario, but travelling in Nfld. That morning Nick, Janet's boyfriend, took us around the town for a little tour. He also cooked up some moose meat and halibut for lunch that was super tasty. The wedding was soon to begin, so we all finished getting ready and headed to the church. There were a lot of people in attendance and the ceremony was very nice. After the wedding, everyone in the wedding party was picked up in a party bus (a huge bus, that by the end of the night looked pretty well used!) and taken up to Castle Hill to have their photos done. The rest of us headed back to Nick and Janet's place to relax before the reception. At the reception we had a great dinner and met some great people. We were also screeched in to become honourary newfies. To get screeched in, we stood up in front everyone at the reception (about 300 people) and had to do a jig dance, say a newfie phrase, kiss the cod, eat a piece of bologne, and drink a shot of screech. It was actually a lot of fun for us and the people watching! The rest of the night consisted of a lot of dancing and memory making. That night will not be soon forgotten! Thank you guys so much for having us out there!
We awoke late the next day as we didn't get to bed until 4:00 a.m. We met up with Paula (I am pretty sure she is Nick's niece??) who took us to meet up with one of Nick's friends (Amherse) for a boat ride on the ocean. It was beautiful and we were able to get a view of the bridge in Placentia and a view of the scenery around the town. Shortly after I headed back to the house to get ready for the short ride (about 10 km) to the ferry and to say goodbye to everyone. It was hard leaving everyone behind, but I knew that more adventures were awaiting me on the road. It was great to arrive at the ferry as I was lined up with many motorcyclists that were super friendly. I met Jake and Douglas from Pennsylvania and Kinda, Steve and Prob from the King City area near Toronto. After having a much needed shower I joined Jake and Douglas for dinner. We chatted for awhile and then decided it would be a good idea to pack it in (and their Gravol was starting to take effect!) as we all had long days ahead of us. We arranged a breakfast date and said so long.
After a much needed rest, I ate a good breakfast as I knew I would be pedalling a little bit of distance that day. I was joined by the motorcyclists I met the previous day as well as three others from Vermont. We all shared stories and marvelled about trips that were to come in the future. It seemed like no time at all and we had arrived in North Sydney, NS. Upon arriving, I pedalled into town and grabbed a bite to eat and I was on my way. It was a great day to ride and I saw some gorgeous scenery in Cape Breton. That evening I made it to a place near Port Hawkesbury, NS. I thought I was going to be near a campground, but I had no luck finding one, so I knocked on someone's door and they were generous enough to let me camp out in their yard. Their names were Grant and Patti and they were two very sweet people who invited me into their home and let me cook my dinner as well as have a nice, hot shower.
I had coffee...mmm...and breakfast the next morning with Grant and Patti and then I headed out on the road again. I stopped in Antigonish for a chocolate milk and to pick up some stove fuel. There, I received a message from my Aunt Susan and Uncle Pete as they were travelling in P.E.I. We made plans to meet up once I was on the island which would only be a couple of days away. The rest of the ride that day was enjoyable and I had to laugh when I summited a hill that was about 2-400 m above sea level. It seemed like a bump in the road compared to the mountains out west! The terrain in Nova Scotia was quite hilly and the winds were not helping me make any time, but I always thought it could be worse and to take it just one pedal at a time. I met a wonderful couple that night in New Glasgow as I went to Sport Chek there to see if I could replace a pair of comfy pants I had left in Nfld. It turned out that I didn't find the pants, but I did meet Sirus (?) and Shannon - a couple full of life, very aware of who they are, and wanting to experience every ounce of adventure they can get their hands on. I spoke with them for awhile and they offered me a place to stay if I was taking the ferry from Pictou. I turned the offer down as at the time I was still set on pedalling to the Confederation Bridge to get to P.E.I.
The next morning I made a decision two minutes before leaving that I was going to take the ferry to P.E.I. I knew the hills on the way through the rest of NS would probably wear my legs out and I was getting anxious to get to P.E.I. Knowing I would get to see my aunt and uncle as well as meet up with my friend Ted (a paramedic from where I was teaching in northern Ontario) was getting me excited. The ferry ride over was great and I was able to plan out my route in P.E.I. as I had not originally planned to come over on the ferry. When I arrived at Wood Islands, P.E.I. I met the president of the Cape Breton cycling club and his wife. They had just finished riding around part of P.E.I. They were wonderful people and had a great zest for life!
Okey dokes...this is where I will leave you in suspense! They are still lots of adventures to tell, but this is all the time I have at this moment to update you. Stay tuned for the adventures on the island of the red sands as well as touring through NB and QC.
Smiles and hugs,
Ashley :)
So, to begin (which seems so long ago now!) when I was at home my Mom and I made a trip to Peterborough to take care of some school business for this Fall. Just south of Omemee I saw two cyclists on the side of the road. I said to my Mom, "I am pretty sure that is Gaston and Simon, the two cyclists I met in BC!" She said, "There is no way you know those two!" So, at the top of the hill, we pulled over and sure enough it was them. They didn't recoginze me at first because I didn't have my bike with me, I was actually clean, and I was so far away from where we met. It was great to see them on the road and to realize just how far they had made it.
The next day - the 28th of July - I flew out to St. John's, Newfoundland. My Mom drove me down to the airport and after she left it occurred to me that I was missing something. I had left my front wheel in the trunk of my Mom's car. So, here I was flying out east to complete the rest of the trip, sans a wheel of my bike. OOOPS! Upon arriving in Halifax, where I had a quick layover, I turned on my phone and it rang almost instantly. It was my Mom, and we both laughed at our stupidity over forgetting the front wheel. We determined that the most cost effective approach was to just buy a new wheel once I was in Newfoundland. On my flights over I met some great people. I spoke with a gentleman from Nfld who explained the history of the language in Nfld and then from Halifax to Nfld, I met a firefighter named James from Missisauga who was travelling out east with his nephew for some holidays. I arrived in Nfld around 11:00 p.m. and I was greeted by Nicole and Stacey. It was so great to see them and catch up! We headed back to Nicole's family's house and there we met up with Nicole's family and Lauren and Dan. I enjoyed some good company and good food before heading to bed that evening.
We awoke at a decent hour the next morning as Bud, Nicole's Dad, wanted to take us out to Cape Spear, the most eastern point in Canada. We took a drive out there and it was beautiful, but a little chilly and windy as we were so close to the ocean. After, Bud dropped everyone else off back at the house and we went to get a new wheel for my bike from Canary Cycles in St. John's. The guys there were super helpful and had a little laugh over my forgetfullness! When we arrived back at the house we enjoyed a wonderful brunch with everyone and then we all went in our separate ways. Nicole, Lauren, Dan, and Stacey headed to Placentia where the wedding was to take place and I headed out on the road. Elaine and Jason, Nicole's sister-in-law and brother, guided me out of the city which was super helpful. This day definitely tested me, as it was my first day pedalling towards the west and there must have been 40 km/h head winds. The scenery was a lot like northern Ontario and I had to keep my thoughts focused on seeing all of the Newfie's that evening and not on how hard the wind was blowing. I didn't arrive until late that evening and once I was in Placentia, Janet and Stacey came to pick me up and we all headed back to the rehearsal party. What a great time...a bunch of newfie's and a few beer = awesome memories!
Lauren, Dan, Stacey, and I, as well as Nicole and her boyfriend, stayed at a B & B that evening. The next morning we had our java and breakfast and chatted with some other folks who were from Ontario, but travelling in Nfld. That morning Nick, Janet's boyfriend, took us around the town for a little tour. He also cooked up some moose meat and halibut for lunch that was super tasty. The wedding was soon to begin, so we all finished getting ready and headed to the church. There were a lot of people in attendance and the ceremony was very nice. After the wedding, everyone in the wedding party was picked up in a party bus (a huge bus, that by the end of the night looked pretty well used!) and taken up to Castle Hill to have their photos done. The rest of us headed back to Nick and Janet's place to relax before the reception. At the reception we had a great dinner and met some great people. We were also screeched in to become honourary newfies. To get screeched in, we stood up in front everyone at the reception (about 300 people) and had to do a jig dance, say a newfie phrase, kiss the cod, eat a piece of bologne, and drink a shot of screech. It was actually a lot of fun for us and the people watching! The rest of the night consisted of a lot of dancing and memory making. That night will not be soon forgotten! Thank you guys so much for having us out there!
We awoke late the next day as we didn't get to bed until 4:00 a.m. We met up with Paula (I am pretty sure she is Nick's niece??) who took us to meet up with one of Nick's friends (Amherse) for a boat ride on the ocean. It was beautiful and we were able to get a view of the bridge in Placentia and a view of the scenery around the town. Shortly after I headed back to the house to get ready for the short ride (about 10 km) to the ferry and to say goodbye to everyone. It was hard leaving everyone behind, but I knew that more adventures were awaiting me on the road. It was great to arrive at the ferry as I was lined up with many motorcyclists that were super friendly. I met Jake and Douglas from Pennsylvania and Kinda, Steve and Prob from the King City area near Toronto. After having a much needed shower I joined Jake and Douglas for dinner. We chatted for awhile and then decided it would be a good idea to pack it in (and their Gravol was starting to take effect!) as we all had long days ahead of us. We arranged a breakfast date and said so long.
After a much needed rest, I ate a good breakfast as I knew I would be pedalling a little bit of distance that day. I was joined by the motorcyclists I met the previous day as well as three others from Vermont. We all shared stories and marvelled about trips that were to come in the future. It seemed like no time at all and we had arrived in North Sydney, NS. Upon arriving, I pedalled into town and grabbed a bite to eat and I was on my way. It was a great day to ride and I saw some gorgeous scenery in Cape Breton. That evening I made it to a place near Port Hawkesbury, NS. I thought I was going to be near a campground, but I had no luck finding one, so I knocked on someone's door and they were generous enough to let me camp out in their yard. Their names were Grant and Patti and they were two very sweet people who invited me into their home and let me cook my dinner as well as have a nice, hot shower.
I had coffee...mmm...and breakfast the next morning with Grant and Patti and then I headed out on the road again. I stopped in Antigonish for a chocolate milk and to pick up some stove fuel. There, I received a message from my Aunt Susan and Uncle Pete as they were travelling in P.E.I. We made plans to meet up once I was on the island which would only be a couple of days away. The rest of the ride that day was enjoyable and I had to laugh when I summited a hill that was about 2-400 m above sea level. It seemed like a bump in the road compared to the mountains out west! The terrain in Nova Scotia was quite hilly and the winds were not helping me make any time, but I always thought it could be worse and to take it just one pedal at a time. I met a wonderful couple that night in New Glasgow as I went to Sport Chek there to see if I could replace a pair of comfy pants I had left in Nfld. It turned out that I didn't find the pants, but I did meet Sirus (?) and Shannon - a couple full of life, very aware of who they are, and wanting to experience every ounce of adventure they can get their hands on. I spoke with them for awhile and they offered me a place to stay if I was taking the ferry from Pictou. I turned the offer down as at the time I was still set on pedalling to the Confederation Bridge to get to P.E.I.
The next morning I made a decision two minutes before leaving that I was going to take the ferry to P.E.I. I knew the hills on the way through the rest of NS would probably wear my legs out and I was getting anxious to get to P.E.I. Knowing I would get to see my aunt and uncle as well as meet up with my friend Ted (a paramedic from where I was teaching in northern Ontario) was getting me excited. The ferry ride over was great and I was able to plan out my route in P.E.I. as I had not originally planned to come over on the ferry. When I arrived at Wood Islands, P.E.I. I met the president of the Cape Breton cycling club and his wife. They had just finished riding around part of P.E.I. They were wonderful people and had a great zest for life!
Okey dokes...this is where I will leave you in suspense! They are still lots of adventures to tell, but this is all the time I have at this moment to update you. Stay tuned for the adventures on the island of the red sands as well as touring through NB and QC.
Smiles and hugs,
Ashley :)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Fernie, BC to Thunder Bay, ON - Woo hoo halfway!
Holy doodles it has been awhile! I apologize for not getting at this sooner, but it has been a couple of weeks of long days of cycling and great visiting with newfound friends! Here goes, prepare for a long one...
I think where I last ended was in Fernie after meeting a cycling friend. So, I continued on that evening to Sparwood, BC. I met the most wonderful woman that evening at the campground I stayed at as she was so pleasant and it was super nice to have that at the end of a long day.
The next day I cycled 190 km from Sparwood, BC to Coaldale, AB. It was a hot one - about 33oC - and it was a long day in the saddle - 9 hours! However, it was a great day to celebrate as I crossed the first of many provincial borders and my tires welcomed Alberta. I crossed the last pass of my adventure which was Crowsnest Pass and this led into Alberta which was absolutely beautiful. I ended my first day of cycling in Alberta in Coaldale where I stayed with relatives of friends of mine in Pickle Lake. I could not have asked for more welcoming people to stay with and yummy, tummy-filling food at the end of the day and a great breakfast the next morning to send me on my way. Thank you so much Brigit, Robyn, Spence, and Bob!
My goal for the following day was to bike to Medicine Hat which would mean that I would make it through Alberta in two days. I met up with some cyclists (that I met earlier in my journey) from Almonte, near Ottawa, and we cycled together most of the day. Cycling with those folks was great as I was able to draft some of the time and save some energy as well as getting in some decent conversation. They left me at Bow Island and I continued on to reach my goal at Medicine Hat. I made it there at 8:30 p.m. and I was feeling a little pooched. I decided a hotel stay was in order. I went to the Best Western and asked the woman (this was on a Saturday evening) if they had any rooms available. She said, "We have two, one is a jacuzzi suite and the other is..." After the word jacuzzi I was pretty much sold! However, I was hesitant on paying the price as I kept thinking in my head how many nights at a campground the price of a hotel room would provide. But, I went out to my bike stood there a few moments, and thought, "Ashley, you work so hard for what you have earned, you deserve to treat yourself." With that said, I went back into the hotel and said to the woman (who was very sweet and gave me the corporate rate because she said I looked like I came a long way and that I was a nice gal) that I would like to take the room. It was a fabulous choice as I was able to relax in the jacuzzi, catch up on the news (of which I feel somewhat removed from the world without daily news updates), and enjoy two queen-size beds! What a great evening!
So, the next day brought a wonderful continental breakfast which was a great start to a day that would bring me into Saskatchewan. Oh yes, I also cannot forget the part of my morning that made me giggle. I had taken two hard-boiled eggs from the continental breakfast and thought it would be a great idea to heat them up. I popped them into the microwave and voila, that is how the blown up hard-boiled egg came to be. So, after the laugher I enjoyed the other hard-boiled egg that ceased to blow up! I cycled the rest of the day and met up with two cyclists from Montreal (Lucie and Pierre) that were riding a tandem bike. As I entered Saskatchewan I determined that there would be a lot of rolly hills, an absence of trees, a lot of ranchland and oil rigs. To pass the time, I started having races with the gophers on the highway! I had a late evening and arrived at my campsite in Gull Lake, SK at around 9:00 p.m.
After leaving Gull Lake, my next goal was to make it to Moose Jaw. However, I had no idea what the day was to hold with respect to the weather. It was a beautiful morning and I made it to Swift Current in decent time. There, I had enjoyed a treat from Tim Hortons and visited a local bike shop - Big Sky Cycles - for some air. Not far out of Swift Current I was poured on. I could see the storm coming, but there was no where to hide. The rain was coming down so hard I thought that it may leave welts on my arm and the wind was nearly pushing me off my bike, but I kept riding. The storm passed, but the wind stuck around and made riding that afternoon quite difficult. I wa rained on a second time that afternoon and decided to take refuge at a farm house where an elderly couple resided. They (Martin and Bertha) were very sweet and offered me towels to dry off and a roof over my head until the storm cleared. Shortly after, I was on my way to Chaplin. So, I did not make it to Moose Jaw, but the crew of guys I met in Chaplin sure made that night one of the most fun in SK. The guys and I shared some good conversation, good laughs, and great jukebox tunes before calling it an evening. It was just what was needed after a long day on the saddle and some not so great weather.
The following day I headed out at around 9:00 a.m. and made it to Moose Jaw by noon. I decided to stop at a Smitty's and have a decent breakfast. It was delicious! I pedalled onward and slipped off of the #1 hwy and headed towards Weyburn, SK. That evening I made it to Milestone and stayed at a small campground there. The evening brought soggy weather as I was rained on, but my tent kept me dry.
The next day, I had my mind set on making it to Manitoba. The day began with rain and I packed up my tent and other gear while it was sopping wet. The sunshine of the day first began when these folks a trailer or two over from me invited me in for a coffee. It was great to chat with Valerie and Bruce as they had been out travelling and were heading back home. I made it to Weyburn in decent time and stopped for a stretch and a granola bar break. This young guy approached me and asked me where I was cycling and if I was cycling for a cause. I explained to him what I was doing and so he handed me a $20 bill. His generosity was amazing and he decided that he would like the donation to be made to Jumpstart. It is so refreshing to see this side of people and on my trip I have seen enormous amounts of outreaching in all forms. I stopped in Stoughton for lunch and then continued on my way. The wind was great and I was making great time and pedalled onwards towards Manitoba. That afternoon a young guy named Chris stopped me on the side of the road and said he saw me earlier in Stoughton. He offered me dinner and a place to stay for the evening, but I thanked him for his generosity, but I was determined to succeed at my goal. That evening I made it to Reston, MB at 9:45 p.m. after cycling 254 km. It was a long day and to top it all off there were an insane amount of mosquitos at the campground I stayed at! Oh well, that evening I was ever so grateful for a shower, food, my sleeping bag, and pillow!
The next day was a great day to ride. The weather was beautiful and I made good time to Souris which is where I stopped to have a bite to eat for lunch. I actually started to encounter some hills again and it was great to see that trees existed, compared to the canola, wheat, and grain covered lands of Saskatchewan. As I kept spinning, I landed myself just outside of a small town called Holland when I noticed a vehicle had pulled over. Out of the car came a couple who approached me to say hello. They (Josiane and Robert) offered me a place to stay in their home in St. Claude for the night. They were attending a meeting elsewhere and said they would be home later in the evening, but to make myself at home. I still had about 40 km to make it to their place and I was starving. I stopped at a Co-op in Treherne and picked up some bagels and peanut butter...mmmm! The snack was much appreciated! I pedalled onto St. Claude and attempted to find Josiane and Robert's place. I couldn't remember their exact address, so I rode up the street until I saw some young boys playing baseball. I went over and asked them if they knew who I had met and they gave me the exact directions I needed to get to where I needed to be. The kids were so polite and inquisitive about my trip, that I could not have asked for better people to get directions from. Josiane and Robert arrived home around 10:30 that night and invited me in for tea and carrot cake. We had a great chat and I had a wonderful sleep in their spare bedroom.
In the morning, Josiane made the best oatmeal around and to top it off there were fresh raspberries to make it even more tasty. I continued on my way and started pedalling towards Carman which is where I was hoping to meet up with a friend (Hannah). I arrived in Carman around lunch time and tried calling Hannah. I couldn't get ahold of her so I decided to make a pit stop a bakery to put in some time and enjoy a pastry and a coffee before trying to call Hannah back. The people in Carman, I must say, probably top the list for friendliest town thus far on my trip. Everyone has been so generous, kind, and hospitable, but these people went over the top. At this bakery, which was family owned, the father offered me soup and more coffee after he found out what my trip entailed and how far I had come. He also told everyone who entered the bakery about my trip! His 16 year old son does a lot of the baking which was absolutely delicious and it was great to see a guy so young baking up a mean turnover! The gentleman sent me out the door with about 5 lb of goodies that we managed to cram into my panniers. I got ahold of my friend, Hannah, and we went for lunch at a coffee house in Carman. The food was great and the mango smoothie topped it all off. It was an awesome lunch and sharing it with Hannah made it even better as she had just arrived back from a solo trip to Iceland and had many adventures to share. After lunch, I pedalled onto Kleefeld where I stayed with friends. I met some great people at the Dairy Chef there who offered me a cone of their best ice cream...what a way to end the day!
I made a decision to take a rest day in Kleefeld to spend time with my boyfriend's sister and her family. As well, I was reminded that it would not take me four days to get to Ignace which is where I would be meeting a friend to be taken up to Pickle Lake for a few days of visiting. I had a wonderful breakfast and then during the afternoon a few of us ventured out to Huntfest in Winnipeg. I actually ended up meeting some trappers I knew from Thunder Bay. Oh, such a small world! The day ended with a great dinner and a card game before a restful night to prepare for a big day. Thank you Mike, Connie, and the boys for an awesome stay!
The next day my goal was to make it to Kenora, so I knew I was in for a long day. The morning began when a red-winged black bird decided to use my helmet as a landging strip! I am sure this bird had to be confused or must have thought my helmet (being black, gray, white and red) was the alpha of all birds! Also, during the morning, I met up with friends of mine from Pickle Lake. It was great to see some familiar faces and get some encouragement for the ride. Shortly after, I met up with a cyclist (Nyle) from Calgary and we were both heading to Kenora, so we stuck together for the rest of the day. We had some great chats and got to share a border crossing together, which as cyclists, is a major victory to be celebrated! During the ride we determined that the two of us really enjoyed cheesecake, so we made a pact that the first place we were stopping upon arriving in Kenora was Safeway so that we could buy a cheesecake. Well, we arrived in Kenora at 8:20 p.m. and can you guess what time Safeway closed at? 8:00 p.m. so we enjoyed a laugh in the empty parking lot before searching out a restaurant! We then decided we would eat at a restaurant that ended up NOT having cheesecake and then we ventured to Boston Pizza and finally found our prize! Finding the campground that evening was another adventure in itself, but we made it there safely and were super excited for a shower, a sleeping bag and a tent over our heads.
The next day was beautiful and I was east bound to Dryden. I made it to Dryden around 6:30 p.m. that evening as I had a bit of later start leaving Kenora and I stopped in Vermillion Bay for a bagel, some peanut butter, and a chocolate milk. I stopped in at the people's place I was staying at (good friends I know from trapping) they couldn't believe I was there already! I had a wonderful dinner that evening and it was great to catch up with some fabulous friends. Thank you so much Rhonda, Tony, Kyle, Shannon, Kayden, and Karsten for the great visit and good times!
I cycled to Ignace the following day, which was a short ride so I stopped at Timmy's in Dryden for a coffee before heading out. I spoke with some folks there about my trip and they were blown away that I was cycling by myself. Just as I was leaving Dryden a vehicle pulled over and I then realized it was friends of mine from Mishkeegogamang which is where I have been teaching for the past two years. It was great to see them and to also let them know I would be up to the reserve to visit in a few days. As well, on my travels I saw this man wearing a rice hat and pushing a shopping cart - maybe across Canada - I am not sure, but stay tuned for more on his whereabouts! I arrived in Ignace at around 5:00 p.m., grabbed some Subway, talked to two cyclists from Holland (Mashall and Noor), and then headed to the campground - of all places I have travelled so far, can you believe it, Ignace, ON has been the most expensive for a campsite! Who would have guessed!
The next morning I had breakfast at the Tempo and then I was picked up by my friend Miles and driven to Pickle Lake for a few days of rest. It is crazy how far and fast you can get somewhere in a motorized vehicle! I enjoyed a fabulous few days visiting in Pickle and down in Mish (I saw the kids I had been teaching - oh, so wonderful as some of them were so surprised!) as well as some super fantastic fishing with some fabulous company. Thank you so much Linda, Ken, Lucie, Roy, Miles, Roger, and Abbey for making sure I was well nourished and that there was a place for me to stay at the end of the day. And, thank you Garrick especially for making sure that my visit and ride back down to Ignace was super special. ;)
I stayed at the White Otter Inn in Ignace to ensure that the next morning I would be able to depart fairly early as I wanted to make it to Thunder Bay which ended up being 226 km. I started at 7:00 a.m. and cycled to Upsala and had a bite to eat for lunch. While I was there I met two other cyclists. The guy, Ben, was from BC and the gal was from Germany. We shared stories and adventures and then I hit the road again as I still had about 150 km to go. On this stretch of road I determined that Ontario motorists are probably the least courteous to cyclists, especially the transports. How many times do we have to be reminded that we share the road and just because the four or more wheeled vehicles are larger and faster does not mean they have the right to plow us off the road?? Oh well, the spinning continued! I again passed the rice hat man and gave him a hello and who knows, maybe when I head out east I will see him on my way back to Ontario! I made it to Thunder Bay at around 8:00 p.m. and shared a great meal with my relatives before cleaning up and catching some zzzz's.
That brings me to today...or I guess yesterday, as I have now been typing this blog for about two and a half hours! So, I spent the day in Thunder Bay and ventured to Cyclepath to get a bike box and then to the Persian Man to pick up some Persians for my family. I had a great lunch with my relatives at The Blue Parrot before heading up Mount McKay. I had never been up the mountain prior to this trip and it was a great way to overlook the city. We headed back to the house to enjoy a wonderfully scrumptious meal before I had to head to the airport to catch my flight. I am now at home for a short time and then heading out east to Newfoundland to attend a wedding and then I will head west bound towards Ontario.
It has been a great trip thus far and it is hard to believe that I have traversed half of the country on my bike with my own two legs as the power that drives the machine. To date, there are just over 3100 km on my bike and I am excited to see what the next few thousand km hold for adventure and wonderful new friends that I will meet on the way! Stay tuned and hopefully I can keep the updates coming more frequently!
Smiles, hugs, and happy spinning!
Ashley :)
I think where I last ended was in Fernie after meeting a cycling friend. So, I continued on that evening to Sparwood, BC. I met the most wonderful woman that evening at the campground I stayed at as she was so pleasant and it was super nice to have that at the end of a long day.
The next day I cycled 190 km from Sparwood, BC to Coaldale, AB. It was a hot one - about 33oC - and it was a long day in the saddle - 9 hours! However, it was a great day to celebrate as I crossed the first of many provincial borders and my tires welcomed Alberta. I crossed the last pass of my adventure which was Crowsnest Pass and this led into Alberta which was absolutely beautiful. I ended my first day of cycling in Alberta in Coaldale where I stayed with relatives of friends of mine in Pickle Lake. I could not have asked for more welcoming people to stay with and yummy, tummy-filling food at the end of the day and a great breakfast the next morning to send me on my way. Thank you so much Brigit, Robyn, Spence, and Bob!
My goal for the following day was to bike to Medicine Hat which would mean that I would make it through Alberta in two days. I met up with some cyclists (that I met earlier in my journey) from Almonte, near Ottawa, and we cycled together most of the day. Cycling with those folks was great as I was able to draft some of the time and save some energy as well as getting in some decent conversation. They left me at Bow Island and I continued on to reach my goal at Medicine Hat. I made it there at 8:30 p.m. and I was feeling a little pooched. I decided a hotel stay was in order. I went to the Best Western and asked the woman (this was on a Saturday evening) if they had any rooms available. She said, "We have two, one is a jacuzzi suite and the other is..." After the word jacuzzi I was pretty much sold! However, I was hesitant on paying the price as I kept thinking in my head how many nights at a campground the price of a hotel room would provide. But, I went out to my bike stood there a few moments, and thought, "Ashley, you work so hard for what you have earned, you deserve to treat yourself." With that said, I went back into the hotel and said to the woman (who was very sweet and gave me the corporate rate because she said I looked like I came a long way and that I was a nice gal) that I would like to take the room. It was a fabulous choice as I was able to relax in the jacuzzi, catch up on the news (of which I feel somewhat removed from the world without daily news updates), and enjoy two queen-size beds! What a great evening!
So, the next day brought a wonderful continental breakfast which was a great start to a day that would bring me into Saskatchewan. Oh yes, I also cannot forget the part of my morning that made me giggle. I had taken two hard-boiled eggs from the continental breakfast and thought it would be a great idea to heat them up. I popped them into the microwave and voila, that is how the blown up hard-boiled egg came to be. So, after the laugher I enjoyed the other hard-boiled egg that ceased to blow up! I cycled the rest of the day and met up with two cyclists from Montreal (Lucie and Pierre) that were riding a tandem bike. As I entered Saskatchewan I determined that there would be a lot of rolly hills, an absence of trees, a lot of ranchland and oil rigs. To pass the time, I started having races with the gophers on the highway! I had a late evening and arrived at my campsite in Gull Lake, SK at around 9:00 p.m.
After leaving Gull Lake, my next goal was to make it to Moose Jaw. However, I had no idea what the day was to hold with respect to the weather. It was a beautiful morning and I made it to Swift Current in decent time. There, I had enjoyed a treat from Tim Hortons and visited a local bike shop - Big Sky Cycles - for some air. Not far out of Swift Current I was poured on. I could see the storm coming, but there was no where to hide. The rain was coming down so hard I thought that it may leave welts on my arm and the wind was nearly pushing me off my bike, but I kept riding. The storm passed, but the wind stuck around and made riding that afternoon quite difficult. I wa rained on a second time that afternoon and decided to take refuge at a farm house where an elderly couple resided. They (Martin and Bertha) were very sweet and offered me towels to dry off and a roof over my head until the storm cleared. Shortly after, I was on my way to Chaplin. So, I did not make it to Moose Jaw, but the crew of guys I met in Chaplin sure made that night one of the most fun in SK. The guys and I shared some good conversation, good laughs, and great jukebox tunes before calling it an evening. It was just what was needed after a long day on the saddle and some not so great weather.
The following day I headed out at around 9:00 a.m. and made it to Moose Jaw by noon. I decided to stop at a Smitty's and have a decent breakfast. It was delicious! I pedalled onward and slipped off of the #1 hwy and headed towards Weyburn, SK. That evening I made it to Milestone and stayed at a small campground there. The evening brought soggy weather as I was rained on, but my tent kept me dry.
The next day, I had my mind set on making it to Manitoba. The day began with rain and I packed up my tent and other gear while it was sopping wet. The sunshine of the day first began when these folks a trailer or two over from me invited me in for a coffee. It was great to chat with Valerie and Bruce as they had been out travelling and were heading back home. I made it to Weyburn in decent time and stopped for a stretch and a granola bar break. This young guy approached me and asked me where I was cycling and if I was cycling for a cause. I explained to him what I was doing and so he handed me a $20 bill. His generosity was amazing and he decided that he would like the donation to be made to Jumpstart. It is so refreshing to see this side of people and on my trip I have seen enormous amounts of outreaching in all forms. I stopped in Stoughton for lunch and then continued on my way. The wind was great and I was making great time and pedalled onwards towards Manitoba. That afternoon a young guy named Chris stopped me on the side of the road and said he saw me earlier in Stoughton. He offered me dinner and a place to stay for the evening, but I thanked him for his generosity, but I was determined to succeed at my goal. That evening I made it to Reston, MB at 9:45 p.m. after cycling 254 km. It was a long day and to top it all off there were an insane amount of mosquitos at the campground I stayed at! Oh well, that evening I was ever so grateful for a shower, food, my sleeping bag, and pillow!
The next day was a great day to ride. The weather was beautiful and I made good time to Souris which is where I stopped to have a bite to eat for lunch. I actually started to encounter some hills again and it was great to see that trees existed, compared to the canola, wheat, and grain covered lands of Saskatchewan. As I kept spinning, I landed myself just outside of a small town called Holland when I noticed a vehicle had pulled over. Out of the car came a couple who approached me to say hello. They (Josiane and Robert) offered me a place to stay in their home in St. Claude for the night. They were attending a meeting elsewhere and said they would be home later in the evening, but to make myself at home. I still had about 40 km to make it to their place and I was starving. I stopped at a Co-op in Treherne and picked up some bagels and peanut butter...mmmm! The snack was much appreciated! I pedalled onto St. Claude and attempted to find Josiane and Robert's place. I couldn't remember their exact address, so I rode up the street until I saw some young boys playing baseball. I went over and asked them if they knew who I had met and they gave me the exact directions I needed to get to where I needed to be. The kids were so polite and inquisitive about my trip, that I could not have asked for better people to get directions from. Josiane and Robert arrived home around 10:30 that night and invited me in for tea and carrot cake. We had a great chat and I had a wonderful sleep in their spare bedroom.
In the morning, Josiane made the best oatmeal around and to top it off there were fresh raspberries to make it even more tasty. I continued on my way and started pedalling towards Carman which is where I was hoping to meet up with a friend (Hannah). I arrived in Carman around lunch time and tried calling Hannah. I couldn't get ahold of her so I decided to make a pit stop a bakery to put in some time and enjoy a pastry and a coffee before trying to call Hannah back. The people in Carman, I must say, probably top the list for friendliest town thus far on my trip. Everyone has been so generous, kind, and hospitable, but these people went over the top. At this bakery, which was family owned, the father offered me soup and more coffee after he found out what my trip entailed and how far I had come. He also told everyone who entered the bakery about my trip! His 16 year old son does a lot of the baking which was absolutely delicious and it was great to see a guy so young baking up a mean turnover! The gentleman sent me out the door with about 5 lb of goodies that we managed to cram into my panniers. I got ahold of my friend, Hannah, and we went for lunch at a coffee house in Carman. The food was great and the mango smoothie topped it all off. It was an awesome lunch and sharing it with Hannah made it even better as she had just arrived back from a solo trip to Iceland and had many adventures to share. After lunch, I pedalled onto Kleefeld where I stayed with friends. I met some great people at the Dairy Chef there who offered me a cone of their best ice cream...what a way to end the day!
I made a decision to take a rest day in Kleefeld to spend time with my boyfriend's sister and her family. As well, I was reminded that it would not take me four days to get to Ignace which is where I would be meeting a friend to be taken up to Pickle Lake for a few days of visiting. I had a wonderful breakfast and then during the afternoon a few of us ventured out to Huntfest in Winnipeg. I actually ended up meeting some trappers I knew from Thunder Bay. Oh, such a small world! The day ended with a great dinner and a card game before a restful night to prepare for a big day. Thank you Mike, Connie, and the boys for an awesome stay!
The next day my goal was to make it to Kenora, so I knew I was in for a long day. The morning began when a red-winged black bird decided to use my helmet as a landging strip! I am sure this bird had to be confused or must have thought my helmet (being black, gray, white and red) was the alpha of all birds! Also, during the morning, I met up with friends of mine from Pickle Lake. It was great to see some familiar faces and get some encouragement for the ride. Shortly after, I met up with a cyclist (Nyle) from Calgary and we were both heading to Kenora, so we stuck together for the rest of the day. We had some great chats and got to share a border crossing together, which as cyclists, is a major victory to be celebrated! During the ride we determined that the two of us really enjoyed cheesecake, so we made a pact that the first place we were stopping upon arriving in Kenora was Safeway so that we could buy a cheesecake. Well, we arrived in Kenora at 8:20 p.m. and can you guess what time Safeway closed at? 8:00 p.m. so we enjoyed a laugh in the empty parking lot before searching out a restaurant! We then decided we would eat at a restaurant that ended up NOT having cheesecake and then we ventured to Boston Pizza and finally found our prize! Finding the campground that evening was another adventure in itself, but we made it there safely and were super excited for a shower, a sleeping bag and a tent over our heads.
The next day was beautiful and I was east bound to Dryden. I made it to Dryden around 6:30 p.m. that evening as I had a bit of later start leaving Kenora and I stopped in Vermillion Bay for a bagel, some peanut butter, and a chocolate milk. I stopped in at the people's place I was staying at (good friends I know from trapping) they couldn't believe I was there already! I had a wonderful dinner that evening and it was great to catch up with some fabulous friends. Thank you so much Rhonda, Tony, Kyle, Shannon, Kayden, and Karsten for the great visit and good times!
I cycled to Ignace the following day, which was a short ride so I stopped at Timmy's in Dryden for a coffee before heading out. I spoke with some folks there about my trip and they were blown away that I was cycling by myself. Just as I was leaving Dryden a vehicle pulled over and I then realized it was friends of mine from Mishkeegogamang which is where I have been teaching for the past two years. It was great to see them and to also let them know I would be up to the reserve to visit in a few days. As well, on my travels I saw this man wearing a rice hat and pushing a shopping cart - maybe across Canada - I am not sure, but stay tuned for more on his whereabouts! I arrived in Ignace at around 5:00 p.m., grabbed some Subway, talked to two cyclists from Holland (Mashall and Noor), and then headed to the campground - of all places I have travelled so far, can you believe it, Ignace, ON has been the most expensive for a campsite! Who would have guessed!
The next morning I had breakfast at the Tempo and then I was picked up by my friend Miles and driven to Pickle Lake for a few days of rest. It is crazy how far and fast you can get somewhere in a motorized vehicle! I enjoyed a fabulous few days visiting in Pickle and down in Mish (I saw the kids I had been teaching - oh, so wonderful as some of them were so surprised!) as well as some super fantastic fishing with some fabulous company. Thank you so much Linda, Ken, Lucie, Roy, Miles, Roger, and Abbey for making sure I was well nourished and that there was a place for me to stay at the end of the day. And, thank you Garrick especially for making sure that my visit and ride back down to Ignace was super special. ;)
I stayed at the White Otter Inn in Ignace to ensure that the next morning I would be able to depart fairly early as I wanted to make it to Thunder Bay which ended up being 226 km. I started at 7:00 a.m. and cycled to Upsala and had a bite to eat for lunch. While I was there I met two other cyclists. The guy, Ben, was from BC and the gal was from Germany. We shared stories and adventures and then I hit the road again as I still had about 150 km to go. On this stretch of road I determined that Ontario motorists are probably the least courteous to cyclists, especially the transports. How many times do we have to be reminded that we share the road and just because the four or more wheeled vehicles are larger and faster does not mean they have the right to plow us off the road?? Oh well, the spinning continued! I again passed the rice hat man and gave him a hello and who knows, maybe when I head out east I will see him on my way back to Ontario! I made it to Thunder Bay at around 8:00 p.m. and shared a great meal with my relatives before cleaning up and catching some zzzz's.
That brings me to today...or I guess yesterday, as I have now been typing this blog for about two and a half hours! So, I spent the day in Thunder Bay and ventured to Cyclepath to get a bike box and then to the Persian Man to pick up some Persians for my family. I had a great lunch with my relatives at The Blue Parrot before heading up Mount McKay. I had never been up the mountain prior to this trip and it was a great way to overlook the city. We headed back to the house to enjoy a wonderfully scrumptious meal before I had to head to the airport to catch my flight. I am now at home for a short time and then heading out east to Newfoundland to attend a wedding and then I will head west bound towards Ontario.
It has been a great trip thus far and it is hard to believe that I have traversed half of the country on my bike with my own two legs as the power that drives the machine. To date, there are just over 3100 km on my bike and I am excited to see what the next few thousand km hold for adventure and wonderful new friends that I will meet on the way! Stay tuned and hopefully I can keep the updates coming more frequently!
Smiles, hugs, and happy spinning!
Ashley :)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Grand Forks, BC - Fernie, BC
Hello friends!!
It has been an incredible journey so far and it seems the more east I head the hotter it gets!
So, I left you last in Grand Forks, BC which was a beautiful town and I much enjoyed the people there. That night I stayed at Christina Lake and what a wonderful evening! I encountered so many people that were interested in my trip, I didn't think I was going to rest. There were two couples (Heather and Fred, Carol and Ed from Edmonton) that insisted I have some of what they made for dinner - salmon, shrimp, and potatoes. It was heaven in my belly!
I left the next day and pedaled onwards to Nelson, BC. I summited the Blueberry-Paulson pass and did not make it to Nelson until later that evening. I contacted a gentleman I heard about from a couple I met in Grand Forks and stayed with him for two nights. There was also a WOOFer staying with him - an organic farmer named Caryn who is from Newmarket, ON. I ended up taking a rest day and Caryn showed me around the city. It was fabulous and I was also able to cook some real food for Nelson and Caryn.
The next morning I left Nelson and headed towards Creston. This was a long day and I also had to summit Kootenay pass which is 1774 m above sea level. Four hours from the base to the summit - it was a long ride, but absolutely beautiful. There was still snow at the summit and I was able to see some bighorn sheep. Also, that day I met two cyclists from Oregon - Matt and Susan who I had lunch with in Salmo at the delicious Sacred Grounds. Mmmmm.... That evening I stayed in Creston and at the park there I met a couple - Ed and Susan - from Ottawa. They had me over for a delicious dinner and we shared in some wonderful conversation.
July 8th brought a journey from Creston to Cranbrook. It was a beautiful ride, but was starting to get warm! In the morning I met two motorcyclists from Ottawa and chatted with them as they had just come from Calgary and were continuing their journey west. I stopped for lunch in a little town called Yahk and had a delectable chicken wrap. I pedalled onwards to Cranbrook and made it there at about 7:00 p.m. mountain time. Upon arriving, I headed to the campground where I met a fabulous woman, Kate Walker with whom I had breakfast with this morning. Her daughter is actually the Creative Director for Momentum magazine which is based on cycling. We had a nice breakfast and then I was on my way.
So, that brings me to today. I have arrived in Fernie and I am about 30 km away from Sparwood where I will spend the evening. Tomorrow I am headed on to Alberta and who knows where that will bring me. I have had the pleasure of cycling with a guy from Colorado who has been on the road for 5 weeks and will still be riding for another 3 weeks. It was great to have some company on the road again for most of the day as he is spending the evening and tomorrow exploring Fernie.
Well, thank you everyone for following this adventure thus far and I look forward to catching up with all of you when the journey is complete.
Take care, miss you all lots, and I am sending hugs and smiles your way!
Ashley :)
It has been an incredible journey so far and it seems the more east I head the hotter it gets!
So, I left you last in Grand Forks, BC which was a beautiful town and I much enjoyed the people there. That night I stayed at Christina Lake and what a wonderful evening! I encountered so many people that were interested in my trip, I didn't think I was going to rest. There were two couples (Heather and Fred, Carol and Ed from Edmonton) that insisted I have some of what they made for dinner - salmon, shrimp, and potatoes. It was heaven in my belly!
I left the next day and pedaled onwards to Nelson, BC. I summited the Blueberry-Paulson pass and did not make it to Nelson until later that evening. I contacted a gentleman I heard about from a couple I met in Grand Forks and stayed with him for two nights. There was also a WOOFer staying with him - an organic farmer named Caryn who is from Newmarket, ON. I ended up taking a rest day and Caryn showed me around the city. It was fabulous and I was also able to cook some real food for Nelson and Caryn.
The next morning I left Nelson and headed towards Creston. This was a long day and I also had to summit Kootenay pass which is 1774 m above sea level. Four hours from the base to the summit - it was a long ride, but absolutely beautiful. There was still snow at the summit and I was able to see some bighorn sheep. Also, that day I met two cyclists from Oregon - Matt and Susan who I had lunch with in Salmo at the delicious Sacred Grounds. Mmmmm.... That evening I stayed in Creston and at the park there I met a couple - Ed and Susan - from Ottawa. They had me over for a delicious dinner and we shared in some wonderful conversation.
July 8th brought a journey from Creston to Cranbrook. It was a beautiful ride, but was starting to get warm! In the morning I met two motorcyclists from Ottawa and chatted with them as they had just come from Calgary and were continuing their journey west. I stopped for lunch in a little town called Yahk and had a delectable chicken wrap. I pedalled onwards to Cranbrook and made it there at about 7:00 p.m. mountain time. Upon arriving, I headed to the campground where I met a fabulous woman, Kate Walker with whom I had breakfast with this morning. Her daughter is actually the Creative Director for Momentum magazine which is based on cycling. We had a nice breakfast and then I was on my way.
So, that brings me to today. I have arrived in Fernie and I am about 30 km away from Sparwood where I will spend the evening. Tomorrow I am headed on to Alberta and who knows where that will bring me. I have had the pleasure of cycling with a guy from Colorado who has been on the road for 5 weeks and will still be riding for another 3 weeks. It was great to have some company on the road again for most of the day as he is spending the evening and tomorrow exploring Fernie.
Well, thank you everyone for following this adventure thus far and I look forward to catching up with all of you when the journey is complete.
Take care, miss you all lots, and I am sending hugs and smiles your way!
Ashley :)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Vancouver to Grand Forks, BC: June 28th - July 3rd
Hey there everyone!
So, I have been on the road for six days now and have had a load of adventures and travelled some very interesting country.
My trip began on June 27th when I arrived in Vancouver. Upon arriving at the Holiday Inn, I decided to grab a bite to eat in the restaurant. I met a gentleman named Zain from Waterloo, ON. Crazy, I come all the way out here and meet someone that lives only hours away from my home in Woodville. Zain was very generous and besides buying my dinner for the evening he offered to take me to MEC the next morning and to Kit's Beach so I could dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean. I was so grateful for all of his help and the time he took to ferry me around. Thank you Zain!!
I began cycling that afternoon and made it to a town called Pitt Meadows. I had no idea where to stay so I went searching the backroads in this area. I came upon a house with a playset out front and cows. I thought to myself, "This looks decent." So, I went to the door and asked the family if they knew of anywhere that I could pitch a tent. The gentleman, John, said there was a campground 20 km down the road... Then he talked with his wife, Yvonne and they said I could just throw my tent on their lawn. Shortly after, while I was setting up my tent, they then offered me to stay downstairs in their home. I felt completely welcomed into their family and I had a great stay. Their little girl, Alison was quite cute, and she told her Mom that she was going to write about me in her journal!
I continued on my way and made it to Hope, BC that day and stayed in a campground for the night. I cycled a total of about 120 km and felt pretty good as I had not yet encountered the mountains...
On day 3 of cycling I left Hope and headed towards Manning Park. During this ride I tackled a mountain that was about 1200 m high-eeek - Alison Pass. It was a good challenge and I must admit, I did get off and push for a bit. Upon arriving in Manning, I checked into a hostel. I met a man named Roy who was hiking the PCT Trail. Roy was 64 years of age and it completely blew my mind that he was hiking that distance at that age!
During Day 4 I cycled from Manning to Keremeos. Early in the morning I stopped to put another layer on as it was raining and chilly and I met up with three other cyclists. Two were headed my way and Jeanine was headed towards Vancouver. I had a nice chat with them while they were having breakfast. Gaston, Simon (father and son), and I headed out towards Keremeos. It was a good day for cycling as it was not too hot and we had to climb Sunday Summit. We saw two mule deer on our ride and also saw bighorn sheep and elk caution signs. We made it in good time, had some cherries from a local fruit stand, and then went for a Thai dinner on Canada Day.
The next morning we went out separate ways as they were headed towards Kelowna and I was still travelling on Hwy 3. I made it to a small town called Midway and ended up staying in a motel as it was a tough day. You have to wonder if you are sane, when the cows are even looking at you funny! I climbed Anarchist Summit, just outside of Osoyoos which is a 26 km climb. Ouchee! I made it with lots of breaks and stops to check out the Okanagan Valley.
That brings me to today! I woke up this morning and I was a little achy from the yesterday's climb, so I decided to take it easy. I am in the library in Grand Forks at the moment and I have met some neat people today as well. When I stopped at a cycling shop here, I met Justin and Stenya, who were very neat and adventurous people to talk to. As well, I went into a small bakery, in which Dave and Therien were fabulous to talk to. I will end up cycling about 80 km today by the time I reach Christina Lake where I will stay at a campground. I was going to go to Castlegar, but the Blueberry-Paulson Summit is a good climb and I want fresh legs tomorrow to tackle that. Then onto Nelson and I will probably stay in Salmo tomorrow night as after that, there is a 30 km climb to summit Kootenay Pass. I should end up in Alberta by Tuesday evening if everything goes well.
Okey dokes, this is the update as of now. There are a lot more adventures, but I only have a limited amount of time here before hopping back on my bike and cycling the last 20 km of the day.
Take care everyone, I miss you lots, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Smiles always,
Ashley :)
So, I have been on the road for six days now and have had a load of adventures and travelled some very interesting country.
My trip began on June 27th when I arrived in Vancouver. Upon arriving at the Holiday Inn, I decided to grab a bite to eat in the restaurant. I met a gentleman named Zain from Waterloo, ON. Crazy, I come all the way out here and meet someone that lives only hours away from my home in Woodville. Zain was very generous and besides buying my dinner for the evening he offered to take me to MEC the next morning and to Kit's Beach so I could dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean. I was so grateful for all of his help and the time he took to ferry me around. Thank you Zain!!
I began cycling that afternoon and made it to a town called Pitt Meadows. I had no idea where to stay so I went searching the backroads in this area. I came upon a house with a playset out front and cows. I thought to myself, "This looks decent." So, I went to the door and asked the family if they knew of anywhere that I could pitch a tent. The gentleman, John, said there was a campground 20 km down the road... Then he talked with his wife, Yvonne and they said I could just throw my tent on their lawn. Shortly after, while I was setting up my tent, they then offered me to stay downstairs in their home. I felt completely welcomed into their family and I had a great stay. Their little girl, Alison was quite cute, and she told her Mom that she was going to write about me in her journal!
I continued on my way and made it to Hope, BC that day and stayed in a campground for the night. I cycled a total of about 120 km and felt pretty good as I had not yet encountered the mountains...
On day 3 of cycling I left Hope and headed towards Manning Park. During this ride I tackled a mountain that was about 1200 m high-eeek - Alison Pass. It was a good challenge and I must admit, I did get off and push for a bit. Upon arriving in Manning, I checked into a hostel. I met a man named Roy who was hiking the PCT Trail. Roy was 64 years of age and it completely blew my mind that he was hiking that distance at that age!
During Day 4 I cycled from Manning to Keremeos. Early in the morning I stopped to put another layer on as it was raining and chilly and I met up with three other cyclists. Two were headed my way and Jeanine was headed towards Vancouver. I had a nice chat with them while they were having breakfast. Gaston, Simon (father and son), and I headed out towards Keremeos. It was a good day for cycling as it was not too hot and we had to climb Sunday Summit. We saw two mule deer on our ride and also saw bighorn sheep and elk caution signs. We made it in good time, had some cherries from a local fruit stand, and then went for a Thai dinner on Canada Day.
The next morning we went out separate ways as they were headed towards Kelowna and I was still travelling on Hwy 3. I made it to a small town called Midway and ended up staying in a motel as it was a tough day. You have to wonder if you are sane, when the cows are even looking at you funny! I climbed Anarchist Summit, just outside of Osoyoos which is a 26 km climb. Ouchee! I made it with lots of breaks and stops to check out the Okanagan Valley.
That brings me to today! I woke up this morning and I was a little achy from the yesterday's climb, so I decided to take it easy. I am in the library in Grand Forks at the moment and I have met some neat people today as well. When I stopped at a cycling shop here, I met Justin and Stenya, who were very neat and adventurous people to talk to. As well, I went into a small bakery, in which Dave and Therien were fabulous to talk to. I will end up cycling about 80 km today by the time I reach Christina Lake where I will stay at a campground. I was going to go to Castlegar, but the Blueberry-Paulson Summit is a good climb and I want fresh legs tomorrow to tackle that. Then onto Nelson and I will probably stay in Salmo tomorrow night as after that, there is a 30 km climb to summit Kootenay Pass. I should end up in Alberta by Tuesday evening if everything goes well.
Okey dokes, this is the update as of now. There are a lot more adventures, but I only have a limited amount of time here before hopping back on my bike and cycling the last 20 km of the day.
Take care everyone, I miss you lots, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Smiles always,
Ashley :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Introduction
Hello everyone!
I hope this post finds you all kicking up your feet and beginning to enjoy the summer! As many of you already know, I start cycling across Canada on Monday, June 28th, 2010. This blog will serve as a way for you to stay in touch with me and also to track me as I progress through our country. If you are near where I am cycling, please do not hesitate to try and find me. I would love to catch up with you on the road!
This blog is also serving as an area where you can donate to the organizations that I have chosen to support. Cycling across Canada has been a personal goal of mine since 2004, but I am also trying to help others through this venture. Each of the organizations has a certain meaning to me as I know people who have had to use the organizations resources. If you feel the need to give, please choose the organization that has most applied to you or to people you know. Any donation is appreciated and will be welcomed by the people who use these organizations.
I will try to post as often as I can, but the frequency of the posts will depend on how often I am near the internet.
Smiles always, happy trails, and sunshine,
Ashley :)
I hope this post finds you all kicking up your feet and beginning to enjoy the summer! As many of you already know, I start cycling across Canada on Monday, June 28th, 2010. This blog will serve as a way for you to stay in touch with me and also to track me as I progress through our country. If you are near where I am cycling, please do not hesitate to try and find me. I would love to catch up with you on the road!
This blog is also serving as an area where you can donate to the organizations that I have chosen to support. Cycling across Canada has been a personal goal of mine since 2004, but I am also trying to help others through this venture. Each of the organizations has a certain meaning to me as I know people who have had to use the organizations resources. If you feel the need to give, please choose the organization that has most applied to you or to people you know. Any donation is appreciated and will be welcomed by the people who use these organizations.
I will try to post as often as I can, but the frequency of the posts will depend on how often I am near the internet.
Smiles always, happy trails, and sunshine,
Ashley :)
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