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 :)
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