CF-100 "Canuck" and I ride near the BC-Alberta border.

Saying good by to Alberta and the last of the Great Plains.

October 9
Year 1 Day 70

End the day in Sparwood, British Columbia

179km (+71km from daily target of 108km)
Moving Average 30.0km/hr & Cycling Time 5hrs 59min
35,712km Total

I have made it to British Columbia!

I have been dreaming about this day for so, so long.  In so many situations, in so many moments of isolation I have thought of when, where and even if I would cross into my beloved province.

To see the coniferous trees hiking up mountains, the BC provincial license plates as the cars roll by, the clean cold rivers, and crisp air.

I living a dream and things are happening so quickly that the dream is fleeting.  I have no time to absorb and contemplate this new goal reached.   My days are spent cycling hard and texting, emailing, and phoning, different team members.  We are all working so hard for this campaign.  The amount of support I am getting is ridiculous, beyond what I ever could have expected.…

I am in the Rocky Mountains.  They so are beautiful with their gnarled back and snow covered shoulders.  But tough?  Ha!

Wind gusts up to 60km/hr.   I am flying.  The Crowsnest Pass is a nice and easy up.  No biggie.   The hard stuff is yet to come…

I wonder if it would hurt if one of these ran me over while riding my bicycle?

Calgary, bright and early.

October 8
Year 1 Day 69

End the day in Fort MacLeod, Alberta

164km (+56km from daily target of 108km)
Moving Average 25.0km/hr & Cycling Time 6hrs 34min
35,533km Total

The interview today on Global TV went well.  I think got my message across loud and clear.  Check it out under the “Articles/Interviews” tab if you so wish.

Strong tailwinds helping me along as I head south.  Clear blue skies with rolling yellow fields of harvested grain.  The quintessential autumn day on the edge of the Great Plains.  I can see the long gnarled back of the Rockies in the distance on my right.  They are pure white from the shoulder high.  Tomorrow I meet them. I am so excited!

The highlight of the day was meeting Eliza.

Lorne had parked the car on a farm road that was perpendicular to Hwy 2 and was waiting for me to cycle by so he could check up on me, offer snacks, more water, whatever I needed. This is typical of his great Car Crew supportive behavior.  As I approached I could see a second car behind the RDH support vehicle and Lorne talking to a lady.  She started to take photos of me of as I approached.

As it turns out, Eliza had come across the campaign several months ago somewhere on the Internet.  She lives in the area, down this country road, and as she was driving along the country road looking to photograph birds, she saw the support vehicle with the campaign’s logo on it…

So they we were two strangers, united with a common cause, me enjoying her gushing words of praise and she enjoying the fact that she got to meet me.  (Ya it sounds arrogant, but I don’t know how else to say it.)

Eliza, it was such an extraordinary coincidence to have met you on the road in the middle of nowhere.  I will carry your encouragement and smiling face forever in my heart.  Thank you!

Cara, Jay, and Sunny.

October 7
Year 1 Day 68

End the day in Calgary, Alberta

100km (-8km from daily target of 108km)
Moving Average 25.1km/hr & Cycling Time 3hrs 59min
35,369km Total

The Calgary Herald article came out today.  I really like it.  I think it might be one of my favourites.

Due to the recently added Global TV interview scheduled for tomorrow, Lorne and I stay in Calgary.  Nonetheless there is no rest for me and I have to add kilometers by cycling somewhere around the city.

The howling wind is coming from the Rockies in the west.  Loren and I drive out to Canmore and he drops me off.  I cycle back to Calgary with the wind mostly behind me.  Is that cheating?

Along the way I drop by Sue Scott’s place.  Sue was my first real girlfriend way back in high school.  I haven’t seen her in something like10 years.  It was great to see her happy in her home with her husband and two sons.  Sue’s parents were also visiting and seeing them together with Sue brought me back twenty-four years to a time and place of innocence and unlimited possibility.  Maybe it’s due to the highly charged and unique situation I am now in, here with the last leg of my ride… I am so sensitive and emotional.

In the afternoon, great guy and lead bike mechanic Dale Firth of Bowcycle worked on the German Rocket free of labour.  I must remember to mention them on the news tomorrow.  Bowcycle is easily one of the biggest and most comprehensive bike stores I have ever seen.  Amazing!

October 6
Year 1 Day 67

End the day in Calgary, Alberta

173km (+65km from daily target of 108km)
Moving Average 28.9km/hr & Cycling Time 6hrs 01min
35,269km Total

A big amazing breakfast prepared by Jay and then I am off riding while Lorne and Jay transfer the luggage and paraphernalia from to Jay’s truck to Lorne’s vehicle (my bro’s truck).  Then vehicle magnetic “Ride Don’t Hide” decals get transferred and Jay instructs Lorne how to be a good car crew member.  The bar has been set incredibly high but I’m sure Lorne is up for it

Car crew change.

Rain on and off with wind at back and so I made really good time coming into Calgary.

Unfortunately, today there was a scheduling mistake and I missed the noon CMHA Calgary appointment.  People were there and media and we dropped the football… sorry.

The Calgary Herald, one of the media outlets that we missed with the botched scheduling earlier in the day kindly accommodates and does a phone interview with me.  They send by a very talented photographer who takes a series of night shots outside that accent the speed of my surroundings while I sit still.  Hmmmm… there is a metaphor in there somewhere.